Originally Posted by
kawaii
I'm relocating to HKG for work and will be doing a lot of intra-Asia flying.
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(2) How many miles do you usually fly each year & in what class? (<25K, 25k-50k, >50k)
Reply: I anticipate 15-20 intra-Asia flights out of HKG for business, with 3-4 flights back to the States.
(3) What types of fares do you usually buy ? ( First, Business, Economy etc.)
Reply: Economy for pleasure, business for work.
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(7) What is most important to you in a FFP?
Reply: Upgrades, when possible, and lounge access.
(8) Preferred Airlines
Reply: CX, being based in HKG. Their transpacific service, I hear, is great. I really enjoy JAL as well (I used to fly JAL/QF a lot, as well as AA domestically).
4 flights to the USA would yield more than 50K EQM. If the intra-Asia flights are mostly in the J cabin, they will credit to all FF programs. And within Asia and transPacific, CX certainly have the reputation of taking care of their elite members very well. Better than partner OneWorld Sapphires.
The issue I see is whether you can earn the initial mileage to reach CX Gold. As I understand it, 30K points will earn you CX Silver, then the date resets and you have one year to earn (and retain) CX Gold with 60K points (48K miles in J). Whereas AA needs 50K miles/points each calendar year.
While AA may have a slightly better earn/burn ration for awards, it is unclear at this point, how the upgrade possibilities on the new DFW-HKG flight will emerge. And the AA flights via NRT will take longer (but earn more miles).
If planning to be in Asia for more than two-three years, I would think about CX. Less, then AA. But after 50K to AA, I would examine whether I could earn (an additional) 30K with CX. 900K for LT Gold on AA is a now long call unless you can earn EXP in multiple years.
Last thought. PEY fares on CX are much less expensive exUSA. And should be valid for a year. Better conditions for flying than Y and earn better with both AA (1.5 EQP) and CX (at least 110%).
Happy wandering
Fred