Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - When should I join MPC?

Hi all,
I'm new here and new to the frequent flyer thing as well.

I am thinking of joining the marco polo club but I just have a few questions.

1) When should I join? I won't be travelling on a CX flight until mid june but am going to book it quite soon. I may be travelling on a dirt cheap BA flight in May but I doubt this will give me any miles so I don't have to worry about that. Do I need to have joined MPC at the time of booking to get the miles credited to my account? As i won't be travelling at all between Feb-May, i don't see the point in joining so soon if i can avoid it. How long does it usually take for them to send out the card as I'll probably need it for my first flight as a MPC member?
2) Re: the 4 sectors for renewal thing for green tier, does it have to be on a CX or CX codeshare flight for it to count or does any OW flight count towards it?

1) It doesn't really matter. Joint now or later you'd still have to pay $50. Well, say at least 1 month ahead, so you are sure to get your card. OR, you can join now, and monitor your bookings on cx's MPC website.

2) Rule say on CX metals only, but I can almost certainly say even if you fly 0 times, your membership will NOT be terminated.


It sounds like you won't be doing much of a flying. If you don't make it to Silver minimum, there really isn't any benefit. (except for using business class check-in at HKIA, but that's really all)

Thanks for the tip.
I only travel for leisure and most of the time I go to HK to visit my family.
I'm going to be in HK for 3 months during the summer and am planning to use HK as a base to go to the rest of east and south east asia. I'll be using CX for all of this so i thought I might as well rack up some miles while I'm at it. And the exchange rate between US$ and GBP is so good at the moment, it makes joining MPC really cheap.
I am also planning to go travelling in October/November and february/march 2006.
i should have no problem making silver during my first year and I'll just have to see how much holidays i'll get when I start working to determine how much flying I'll be doing (hoping it'll be 2 weeks holiday for every 3 or 4 months worked).

Also just want to check something about discounted economy and mileage accrual. V class on CX earns 100% miles and 1 sector for each sector flown. I got told by my travel agent that V class doesn't earn any miles. Also cos I'm doing MAN-LHR-HKG-LHR-MAN, if the MAN-LHR has a BA prefix on it, which they sometimes do, does that mean i earn 50% miles for V class travel?

Many thanks.

Also just want to check something about discounted economy and mileage accrual. V class on CX earns 100% miles and 1 sector for each sector flown. I got told by my travel agent that V class doesn't earn any miles. Also cos I'm doing MAN-LHR-HKG-LHR-MAN, if the MAN-LHR has a BA prefix on it, which they sometimes do, does that mean i earn 50% miles for V class travel?

V class earns 100% miles and 1 sector for each segment flown. Refer to this site: http://www.asiamiles.com/am/1,,22481__eng__1,00.html#airtravelcredits

CX had a minor realignment of mileage earning classes several months ago. If your travel agent says S class earns miles and V does not, then the agent is referring to an old table. S earns nothing now.

According to the chart above, V on BA does not get you any miles.

From the sound of it, you are using the asia passport deal? (or whatever they call it up north). Just make sure that fare is counted for mile accural, because I'm not 100% sure.

2) Rule say on CX metals only, but I can almost certainly say even if you fly 0 times, your membership will NOT be terminated.

fakecd, AFAIK all OW flights count toward Marco Polo Club requalification/tier upgrade?

shevygol, you might want to consider joining Asia Miles instead of Marco Polo Club if you just want to earn the miles.

According to the chart above, V on BA does not get you any miles.True, but if the entire trip MAN-LHR-CX is booked in V class using CX flight numbers then I believe it will earn 100% miles and sectors. (CX doesn't operate MAN-LHR, but most/all of the BA flights can be booked as a CX codeshare.)

fakecd, AFAIK all OW flights count toward Marco Polo Club requalification/tier upgrade?



I thought but i could be so wrong, but for green tier only, the rules were that you needed 4 CX sectors for renewal purpose. I just checked cx.com but couldn't find any such clause...

but once again, this 4 sector for green tier is almost never enforced. otherwise my mother would be paying $50 every year for her green tier, when her miles balance is almost negligible.

for green tier only, the rules were that you needed 4 CX sectors for renewal purpose. I just checked cx.com but couldn't find any such clause...
https://www.cathaypacific.com/intl/ff/theclub/members/benefits/1,,82287,00.html (but it seems you need to be logged in since that is in the MPC members' area)

If you don't make it to Silver minimum, there really isn't any benefit. (except for using business class check-in at HKIA, but that's really all)I believe you need Silver for the business class check-in. Green gets you the Marco Polo Club check-in lines where there exist.

I believe you need Silver for the business class check-in. Green gets you the Marco Polo Club check-in lines where there exist.


christep, that's correct for all ports except HKIA in recent days.

Previously, the section "B" business class counters have been only accessible for silver members, and the designated club counters at the "C" asile near internet-checkin counters.

However, when i was there recently, I saw signs of "Marco Polo Members (hence "green" is also allowed?)" in the "B" asile Biz counters. Matter of fact, I did see quite a few people lining up with green cards there. It was quite annoying during the peak times, when a parties of 3-5 with 1 green member each are lined up at biz counters where supposedly only the elite members are supposed to be allowed. Perhaps someone else can shed light on this, but i don't know the exact arrangements.

shevygol, you might want to consider joining Asia Miles instead of Marco Polo Club if you just want to earn the miles.


Thanks for thhe advice.
yeah i was thinking of joining just Asia Miles but thought that I might as well join the marco Polo Club given that the exchange rate is so good at the moment (~£25-30 to join) and if they are not that fussed about the 4 CX sectors thing then it might be OK for me. I know I'll be doing MAN-HKG via wherever at least once a year because my gran lives in HK and she hates flying and living in the UK so I'll have to do the trip if I want to see her. This is most likely going to be on CX even if it's one of the more expensive fares around cos I don't like flying with the other airlines that offer this route so I should have no problem getting renewal. It would obviously be alot easier for me if the four sectors were on any oneworld flights as i can easily rack them up with BA with trips down to LHR and MAN from EDI. Obviously things might change and I just want to know whether i will have to repay that US$50 in the future to rejoin if my membership was terminated for not flying.


Anyway, i think I'll join around April. If I have already made a booking before April with my travel agent (most likely to be H class because of the flexibility it gives me - free to make date changes on the inbound and outbound leg), will i be able to add my itinerary to my MPC account to monitor my booking online?

Also I probably should start a new thread on this but does anyone have any suggestions as to where to go in asia for a short weekend break from HK? Currently I am spending about a week in Sapporo and a long weekend in Singapore and was thinking of Perth in australia but the weather there at the time I'll be going is shockingly poor or Cairns to meet up with some friends but can't think of a way of synchronising our trips so that we could meet up. I have so many weekends in HK during July and August (working/studying the rest of the time) that i don't know what to do with them. Is Bangkok and KL feasible destinations for a short weekend break? (It would be a flight on Friday nite or Sat morning to the place and be back by early Monday morning at the latest) A friend told me that I can do Tokyo in 3 days or less if i wanted to.

will i be able to add my itinerary to my MPC account to monitor my booking online?You would need to ask your travel to enter your account number in the Record and then you will see it online.
Also I probably should start a new thread on thisIndeed you should - preferably in the Asia forum, not here :)

I joined Asiamiles (not the MPC) by the beginning of last year and after doing 30.000 Miles on CX, I got invited to the MPC and received my silver card. I never paid the 50 US$. I was calling CX in Germany (as I am a German Resident) about that when joining AM and they confirmed me in advance that this is normal procedure - although it isn't written down anywhere.

I read the same in this forum a while ago from other FTers. So I guess this will happen to you as well. Just to be sure, you might wish to call them.

In my opinion there is really no point to join at a green level and pay the 50 US$ - no matter how good the exchange rate might be. As mentioned before green gives you virtually no benefits at all and you will get your silver card as soon as you qualify. :)

fakecd, AFAIK all OW flights count toward Marco Polo Club requalification/tier upgrade?


When I asked MPC for clarification, they told me (via email) that they checked the requirement for at least 4 CX sectors only for Green renewal. If you make it to at least Silver, then the four-CX sector minimum doesn't apply, and all OW flights count. But as fakecd noted, maybe this rule isn't strictly enforced.

When I asked MPC for clarification, they told me (via email) that they checked the requirement for at least 4 CX sectors only for Green renewal. If you make it to at least Silver, then the four-CX sector minimum doesn't apply, and all OW flights count. But as fakecd noted, maybe this rule isn't strictly enforced.

Thanks for the clarification, jjpb3. :)
I too don't think that CX enforce the 4 minimum sectors rule.

Not too long ago, I was comped to silver status on MPC and the $50 joining fee waived based on my 1K status with UA. If you have elite status with other airlines, it's worth a try.

i think I'll just join AsiaMiles for now and leave MPC for a later date.

Thanks for all the advice.

I was looking at MPC vs the QF program. Do all OW flights earn staus credit towards Emerald?

It seems you need a lot more flying on CX for MPC Diamond than QF Emerald? If I am looking at things correctly, I just flew a RTW which is very close to requalifying me for QF Platiunum, but it looks like I would need 3 of these RTW trips to make MPC Diamond? Assuming BA flights count:

1. JFK-HKG (A) = 12,105
2. HKG-NRT (A) = 2,742
3. NRT-HKG (A) = 2,742
4. HKG-LHR (A) = 8,987
5. LHR-DME (D) = 1,970
6. DME-LHR (D) = 1,970
7. LHR-BOS (A) = 4,883

Total = 35,399

I have some more US segments to go which will earn another 5,000 miles or so...but this would require 3 RTWs, assuming BA and AA flights count, to get to 120,000 miles required for Diamond.

While on QF the above trip would earn 1,060 out of the 1,200 Status Credits needed to requalify for Platinum, or the 1,400 needed to qualify for the first time, with another 380 to go with my remaining US segments).

Am I missing something here?

I was looking at MPC vs the QF program. Do all OW flights earn staus credit towards Emerald?

It seems you need a lot more flying on CX for MPC Diamond than QF Emerald? If I am looking at things correctly, I just flew a RTW which is very close to requalifying me for QF Platiunum, but it looks like I would need 3 of these RTW trips to make MPC Diamond? Assuming BA flights count:

1. JFK-HKG (A) = 12,105
2. HKG-NRT (A) = 2,742
3. NRT-HKG (A) = 2,742
4. HKG-LHR (A) = 8,987
5. LHR-DME (D) = 1,970
6. DME-LHR (D) = 1,970
7. LHR-BOS (A) = 4,883

Total = 35,399

I have some more US segments to go which will earn another 5,000 miles or so...but this would require 3 RTWs, assuming BA and AA flights count, to get to 120,000 miles required for Diamond.

While on QF the above trip would earn 1,060 out of the 1,200 Status Credits needed to requalify for Platinum, or the 1,400 needed to qualify for the first time, with another 380 to go with my remaining US segments).

Am I missing something here?


PLEASE NOTE that if you are NO BODY in CX it will take longer and harder to geto to Diamond (Oneworld Emerald).

As CX reset the Club Miles when you reach a certain status.

To get to Silver = 30,000 miles
To get to Gold = 60,000 Miles
To get to Diamond = 120,000 Miles.

Therefore you need a total of 210,000 Miles.

On CX you can earn Club Miles on ALL Oneworld Airlines (subject to subclass limitation) But you are fine as you are in A and D.

QF on the other hand it much easier to achieve and maintain. But CX Diamond gives you more intangible benefits!

I was looking at MPC vs the QF program. Do all OW flights earn staus credit towards Emerald?

It seems you need a lot more flying on CX for MPC Diamond than QF Emerald? If I am looking at things correctly, I just flew a RTW which is very close to requalifying me for QF Platiunum, but it looks like I would need 3 of these RTW trips to make MPC Diamond? Assuming BA flights count:

1. JFK-HKG (A) = 12,105
2. HKG-NRT (A) = 2,742
3. NRT-HKG (A) = 2,742
4. HKG-LHR (A) = 8,987
5. LHR-DME (D) = 1,970
6. DME-LHR (D) = 1,970
7. LHR-BOS (A) = 4,883

Total = 35,399

I have some more US segments to go which will earn another 5,000 miles or so...but this would require 3 RTWs, assuming BA and AA flights count, to get to 120,000 miles required for Diamond.

While on QF the above trip would earn 1,060 out of the 1,200 Status Credits needed to requalify for Platinum, or the 1,400 needed to qualify for the first time, with another 380 to go with my remaining US segments).

Am I missing something here?
I've been toying with the idea of where to credit some of "surplus" miles on my trip starting tomorrow. I have a large balance of CX miles already so that would seem to be the logical place, and that's probably what I'll do. However, it is striking the differences between the various programs as far as achieving elite level. For example, I have two BA flights next two weeks, BKK-SYD and MEL-LHR. Those two flight alone would get me 85% of the way to BA Silver (and I have tons of other flights on this itin as well) while for MPC status it would take many more A/D flights to get to Ruby.

Thing is, I have no BA miles to speak of (and would like to keep it that way), so, I'll either keep putting them in AA or put at least some of 'em in CX, haven't decided yet.

Yup, I too feel the tension between status attainment and miles redemption. I've done some calculations based on my travel patterns, and QF and BA would allow me the occasional shot at OW Emerald, whereas CX DM would just be too hard for me to attain. But Asia Miles redemptions are so much more humane than either those of BAEC or QFFF (maybe just slightly for BAEC MFUs).

I haven't quite decided which way to go, but I'm leaning towards CX. CX GO shouldn't be too bad. And me likes using me miles for a bit o' pamperin' in CX J. :)

PLEASE NOTE that if you are NO BODY in CX it will take longer and harder to geto to Diamond (Oneworld Emerald).

As CX reset the Club Miles when you reach a certain status.

To get to Silver = 30,000 miles
To get to Gold = 60,000 Miles
To get to Diamond = 120,000 Miles.

Therefore you need a total of 210,000 Miles.

On CX you can earn Club Miles on ALL Oneworld Airlines (subject to subclass limitation) But you are fine as you are in A and D.

QF on the other hand it much easier to achieve and maintain. But CX Diamond gives you more intangible benefits!

So if you have MPC gold, do you only need 60,000 miles (I was comped to Gold)...I suspect not.

What I think you are saying is that if you aren't Gold, you need 210,000 to qualify; if you are Gold or Diamond, you need 120,000 milesto qualify/re-qualify?

The way I see it, to requalify annually you therefore need 120,000 miles, which translates into:

3 F/A RTWs (AONE3 -- not maximized),
or
4 F/A JFK-HKG round trips?

Am I missing something here?

I was looking at MPC vs the QF program. Do all OW flights earn staus credit towards Emerald?

It seems you need a lot more flying on CX for MPC Diamond than QF Emerald? If I am looking at things correctly, I just flew a RTW which is very close to requalifying me for QF Platiunum, but it looks like I would need 3 of these RTW trips to make MPC Diamond? Assuming BA flights count:
Am I missing something here?

Yes, with QF's recent frequent flyer programme change, it is now far more easier to gain/retain status is travelling in premium cabins (J is now 4 times more status credit as compared to discount Y and 2 twice the amount of full Y instead of 3 and first earning 6 times more status than discount Y...etc). Thus a platinum status (OW emerald) can be easily achieve with a DONE4, racking up approximately 40000 miles. This is way easier compared to CX's status earning rates. (or one return F SYD-LHR with a break of journey/change of flight sector in Singapore for extra status earning (of about 120) will yield 840 SC out of the 700 SC required for OW sapphire for initial qualification) However, one down side to this is the higher redemption level of awards to offset the easier status earning... :td:

PS is it true that CX resets the counter once an status is reached? Or does it just accumulate on top of the existing ones like in the QF programme?

Yes, with QF's recent frequent flyer programme change, it is now far more easier to gain/retain status is travelling in premium cabins (J is now 4 times more status credit as compared to discount Y and 2 twice the amount of full Y instead of 3 and first earning 6 times more status than discount Y...etc). Thus a platinum status (OW emerald) can be easily achieve with a DONE4, racking up approximately 40000 miles. :

Even without the program changes, one AONE3 basically requalifies for QF Platinum.

Somoene should rank the ease of OW Emerald qualification on a QF = 1.0 scale, using RTW's as a approximation, comparing F/A and C/D.

I think the order would be BA would be second and then AA? But I know nothing about LAN Chile, etc.

Even without the program changes, one AONE3 basically requalifies for QF Platinum.

It's a pity that xONE3 is not available for purchase in Australia the routing usually passes through asia en route to europe even though only as a transit point... :td: ...that makes most of the RTW fares more expensive

PS is it true that CX resets the counter once an status is reached?Yes. CX Diamond is quite a small club, and now business is good again the benefit in terms of guaranteed seat on cheapest published fare and upgrades is pretty good. (Just got a J class return HKG-SIN-HKG this week for HK$1100, for example.)

So if you have MPC gold, do you only need 60,000 miles (I was comped to Gold)...I suspect not.

What I think you are saying is that if you aren't Gold, you need 210,000 to qualify; if you are Gold or Diamond, you need 120,000 milesto qualify/re-qualify?

The way I see it, to requalify annually you therefore need 120,000 miles, which translates into:

3 F/A RTWs (AONE3 -- not maximized),
or
4 F/A JFK-HKG round trips?

Am I missing something here?

Just to clarify once you are a Gold MPO which will require 90,000 miles if oyu are nobody, then you just need 120,000 miles to qualify and requalify for Diamond.

Actually I jsut calculated you jsut need around 2 DONE4 (Maximise all 20 sectors) then you can get Diamond easy. 1 DONE4 is around 70,000 Club Miles (accounting for the cabin bonus) therefore 2 DONE4 will be easy to get into the 120,000 mark.

I am just around 9000 Club Miles shoty to make Diamond! So Excited to get there. I will also make QF Gold soon as well.