Originally Posted by
Soros
I am deciding among BA, Cathay, and AA. What's the best option for me given that I live in HK? I am inclined to do Cathay but I hear that the diamond service is not as good as before (low prob for opup, poor redemption, etc).
1. What is most important to you in a frequent flyer program (FFP)?
Reply: Comp upgrade; good award redemption rates (within Asia and long distance)
2. How many miles do you usually fly each year? How many flights/sectors?
Reply: >140,000 miles and >50 flights
3. What fare class do you usually buy?
Reply: Business (Oneworld RTW business tickets) or economy (intra-Asia; most likely not full fare)
4. Are you able to choose your airlines and/or class of service? Do you travel for work and/or pleasure?
Reply: Yes within Oneworld - work
5. Which routes do you fly most often
Reply: HKG --> JFK --> LHR --> HKG (RTW) AND intra-Asia routes
6. What is your home airport?
Reply: HKG
7. Do you have status in any FFP? What is it? How miles do you have banked in a FFP, if any?
Reply: UA 1K banked zero miles (I burned them already)
8. What are your preferred airlines, if any?
Reply: Cathay Pacific (although I heard its FFP is not as good as before), British Airways, and AA.
Thank you, and I look forward to hearing from you!
I'm a CX DM and a former AA EXP and I find CX to be a much better program.
If you're expecting comp upgrades with CX, don't expect them to give you one unless the flight is oversold. Your chances of getting them on busy routes such as ICN, BKK, SIN, BOM, etc might by high but don't expect them to give you one just because you're DM.
Since you're based in HK, you really should stick with CX. Since you plan on getting some cheap Y class fares, you will be able to accrue miles with CX. You'll have a tougher time banking it with another airline with cheap tickets on CX.
As far as redeeming miles, you definitely have more options being a DM as opposed to another oneworld program. I've had times where I've been wait listed for the flight to clear using miles and they have cleared 90% of the time. I know with AAdvantage, they won't let you wait list for a particular flight. It's available or it's not.
AA is a great program at the moment, but with this merger that's being phased in, there is no question there will be changes with the AA program. You can't expect the redemption rate to be the current levels they're at now and the earning rates.