Originally Posted by
smithrh
Just found out I need to be in Manila in the late spring for an event.
Clearly, there are a lot of ways to do this, but some insight/advice is always welcome. I've been on ORD-NRT on AA 787 "metal" and it was... OK.
Since I'd be in the area, I'd like to also stop by Hong Kong and Thailand for a couple of days each.
I'm gold - with spend for platinum, so maximizing miles to get me to platinum for 2020 would be nice. I tend to fly a whole lot of short segments.
I see Cathay Pacific has been added, but Qatar is questionable at this point? I've been on Qatar a few times, it's been fairly good.
Ideas/suggestions?
I’ve used Cathay to Manila, as I found connecting in TYO to be prohibitive if connecting through NRT and the option of using the Friendly Limo Bus to HND for a Manila connection is a PITA. Perhaps you can find connecting flights through TYO that don’t incur a penalty - in which case if you fly Business, flying JL will now earn you 2.0 EQM instead of being capped at 1.5 like last year.
If you fly Economy, CX offers AA EQ instruments on a very few fare bases.
Malaysia / MH is a decent
oneworld airline and well worth looking at.
Qatar is fine. Though the QR CEO has threatened to leave
oneworld, it’s difficukt to say if it’s bluster at the US3 whining or genuine. I find it difficukt to assign much credibility to Akbar Al Baker when he authoritatively announced Qatar Airways would
never join
oneworld - the day before the announcement was made they would.