Originally Posted by
benzemalyonnais
I see you're PEK based. Lost of MU/CZ flights are non-qualifying on most/all programs. Often it helps to buy a discounted CZ PEcon fare which is qualifying and has a few nice perks. My flight this morning was in PE, and was only 80RMB more than a non-qualifying fare in the back.
"Lots" means two fare buckets on FM/MU (W, X) and two on CZ (R, N), which are arguably very cheap, highly restricted fares - and fares somebody on business trips wouldn't use anyway.
FlyingBlue works out great for me, China based, c. 100 flights per year. MU/CZ would give lounge access for plats on domestic flights, however miles expire in their programs. Noteworthy, within the CZ/MU/FM programs, a first class flight counts as
two qualifying segments and many lower fares don't count at all. That's an important detail in the original overview.