Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Dragonair Elite program to be merged into MPC

Effective 1 January, Dragonair's Elite programme will cease to exist and the Marco Polo Club will become the single loyalty club for both airlines. Members will earn credit towards their membership status when flying on KA, on top of CX and oneworld carriers. This will be announced next week and more details on this major change will be announced soon.

It was bound to happen sooner or later...

I won't be surprised if the DragonAir lounges will go next at HK airport.

It was bound to happen sooner or later...

I won't be surprised if the DragonAir lounges will go next at HK airport.
If they do, they better expand te capacity of the existing Wing / Pier.

Great news.

So will the KA top tier members (Platinum) become Diamond members?

I can't deny that I am missing my Diamond card even though AAdv has better service for Emeralds.

And BTW, I recently learnt that if a Diamond banks no Club Miles in a membership year they become Silvers, not Golds.

Wonderful. Assuming Blue becomes CX Silver/OW Ruby I will now have Emerald, Sapphire and Ruby in my wallet!

But I wonder if they will change the mileage requirements for the tiers.

Currently for Plt. you only need 150,000 in there years to requality (the status has 3 yrs validity) or 60,000 a year from Gold.

Great news.

So will the KA top tier members (Platinum) become Diamond members?

I can't deny that I am missing my Diamond card even though AAdv has better service for Emeralds.

And BTW, I recently learnt that if a Diamond banks no Club Miles in a membership year they become Silvers, not Golds.


It is good and bad news as there will be a serge of DM members. I hope CX will not hand out DM so liberally.

Also if you bank NO club miles in oen year, u will get reset to GREEN, not Silver. However there are special considerations allowed.

Also if you bank NO club miles in oen year, u will get reset to GREEN, not Silver. However there are special considerations allowed.

That is exactly what I did, and I became Silver.

That is exactly what I did, and I became Silver.

Sheet, they are pretty ruthless. DM->SIV.
I have that feeling for silver Qualifications will be made harder for sectors flewn to become silver. 20 sectors in KA is not hard IMO... when you have business interest in cities that KA flys to...

I have been KA Plat for 4 years now, and my current Plat membership is valid till end 08 or early 09...I'm very curious / concerned, if this really gets converted to CX Diamond, whether it would still keep the original expiration or whether it'll be just 1 year...if just 1 year I really would rather they don't merge the two programs...

and, if I understand this preliminary description right...KA flights will probably still just count towards status with CX/MPO...and not oneworld in general, e.g. AAdvantage...that means I need to start thinking about my strategy on how I wanna keep my AAdvantage vs. Elite/MPO status...

Regarding the merger - if you look at the KA platinum benefits - they are very similar to CX Gold. To gain Platinum - you need 60,000 or 60 sectors, again similar to CX Gold. Also - 150,000 miles in 3 years again is similar to CX Gold. I think it's likely therefore for Plat members, who have no or green MPO membership to be given CX Gold. For Plat members who have CX gold or silver - they will probably be entitled to diamond membership.

For KA Gold members - they will probably end up as CX silvers if they have no MPO membership. If they hold a CX silver or gold - may end up as Gold MPO Members.

KA Blue members - may also end up with silver membership

PLATINUM MEMBER BENEFITS
Reservations
• Member Service Hotline in Beijing, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung,
Shanghai and Taipei
• Club Co-ordinators at on-line stations
• Advance Seat Reservation for a maximum of four travelling
companions*
• Priority Waitlisting for a maximum of four travelling
companions*
• Guaranteed Seat on Economy Class with 48 hours notice
Check-in
• Priority Check-in at First Class or Business Class Counters
and dedicated The Elite Counters
• Online Check-in* (Bangkok, Beijing, Hong Kong, Kaohsiung,
Shanghai and Taipei only)
• Telephone Check-in* (Beijing, Chengdu, Fuzhou, Hong Kong,
Kaohsiung, Shanghai and Xiamen)
• In-town Check-in (Hong Kong only)
• Return Check (Beijing, Hong Kong and Kaohsiung)
• Priority Go-show Acceptance*
Baggage
• 15kg Extra Baggage Allowances^
• Priority Baggage Handling when flying Dragonair and
on codeshare service between Hong Kong and Bandar
Seri Begawan / Beijing / Chengdu / Chongqing / Dalian /
Guangzhou / Hangzhou / Kota Kinabalu / Tianjin / Wuhan
Lounge
• Access to Dragonair Lounges and Dragonair appointed
lounges at Dragonair destinations with two guests when
flying Dragonair–operated flight†
• Access to Dragonair Lounge in Hong Kong and Dragonair
appointed lounge in Beijing with two guests when travelling
on codeshare services with tickets issued by Dragonair†
Boarding
• Priority Boarding*
In-flight
• 20% In-flight Sales Shopping Discount
Member Communications
• Quarterly Magazine / e-Magazine
• Travel Statement
• System Timetable
• Website
• KA e-News
• Priority Notice of Special Promotions
Events
• Invitation to various activities
Remarks
Unless otherwise specified, benefits are only available to
a Member flying on eligible class of Dragonair-operated
services and extra sectors
*Member's spouse can also enjoy this benefit for himself/herself when
travelling together with the Member on the same Dragonair-operated flight
^Also applicable on codeshare service between Hong Kong and Bandar Seri
Begawan / Guangzhou / Kota Kinabalu
†Guests should always be accompanied by Members and must be travelling
on the same flight

but, of course, while comparing the mileage/sector requirements...one thing that might be worth noting is...only until recently, KA's elite points are earned 100%+ only for full-fare economy and business/first, discounted fares only earned 50%...vs. in CX MPO where discounted fares count 100% too for a while already...many CX Golds or even Diamonds I know got it by 60k / 120k of discount Y - which in KA's program means 30k / 60k miles only...

so in terms of revenue generation most Plats are actually quite high, at least flying 60 full-fare/premium flights a year...I am yet to know any KA Plats doing it by flying 120 discount-fare flights a year (of course there are some, but doesn't look like there are many)...most of the Plats are really the more premium flyers I'd say (esp if these people can spend company's money in business/first on these short-haul with KA, it's very likely that they are allowed to fly business/first on medium/long-haul too)