i don't know the answer to Jamie's question, but my selfish suspicion as to why this thread didn't gain more traction is this is the CX / MPC forum. While we rant a lot about CX here in general, I do think many forum members here are AM / MPC etc, and are flying on CX as such. Most of us are indeed "road warriors" in jamie's definition, but the last thing I want are a bunch of AA partner award tickets running around HKIA when the crowds are the worst, ranting and raving with the rules in hand and ruining my chances of getting rebooked. Of course, as a DM, I prefer CX prioritize us!. I hope no offense is taken here just putting my cards on the table!

I am clueless to the exact rules, but I guess if this anecdote is helpful as a long-time DM, I can say that my beefs with CX aside, accommodations / rebooking / etc when problems arise are things CX has absolutely gone above and beyond the pale for me , on multiple occasions, leading me to suspect CX has an incredible amount of discretion to solve problems if they deem you're worth it. My own experiences are due to a.) storms, b.) pilot work to rule, c.) tech planes (x multiple times), d.) items left on the plane and once dropped on the tarmac..(oops), and e.) a few idiotic things completely of my own fault that I cannot print here but suffice to say I was 100% to blame, two of the situations were quite serious, and yet some CX staff took it upon themselves to save my a$$. Very very grateful. In these situations, it was completely discretion and I have no doubt the rulebook was not followed to a "T", so to speak. Because if it was my problems were not getting solved.

I strongly suspect CX will prioritize a DM in trouble over a partner award, particularly now with this "CIS" or "CIV" thing where CX basically ranks their members. Even flying in J or Y I've been bumped to flights I had no business being on, I know of at least one instance where I have been rebooked priority over another F passenger...we were standing in line trying to get on the same KA flight to PVG after a cancellation of the CX service. He was an F pax continuing on to PVG originally in F but now KA was 2 class. I strongly suspect he was either a partner award or a cash ticket without any status. Granted, that flight was J only but the guy wanted on it badly, and didn't score the seat, and I did....as a Y-class passenger, and was promptly op-upped to J (I can also recount instances, PEK and PVG come to mind, where I utterly failed in my ability to get help, presumably due to the sheer # of DMs on those flights).

CX has a decent idea who pays their bills (including non-status, US-based passengers who buy cash tickets...I think they're tracking you folks too, which is certainly to your benefit). As to whether or not there is a written policy a la American style, I don't know. I don't think a written policy helps us CX elites! Although I understand why you would want that. But I know that when I've needed it, I have been accommodated without issue. it seems CX has a lot of flexibility to help their own members if they so decide it's worth it.

**edit, could be a moot point...strike looks averted...for now***