Question becomes which routes will they try to shift to UO and which to CX. For me, RGN, DAC, HAN and potentially KTM the key ones. Okay, HAN is a short hop. But the overnight return flights from RGN, DAC and KTM weren't exactly great on KA (in Y). If they go to UO without UO upping its game then I'll need to look at alternatives - and in doing so could well jeopardise my Marco Polo status (as I typically have a mix of CX and KA and an occasional trip on other OneWorld). If MarcoPolo status is lost, then there's little-to-no point in paying extra $ for CX - and I'd need a different airline/ programme to consolidate everything with.
And another thought - apologies if answered elsewhere but can't find it - doesn't look like UO gets you any MarcoPolo points?
The KA route split between CX and UO is one question I'll be posing at this arvo's media session, and will also ask your one about UO-MPC if I can.
Update: bugger, we had less than 30mins of Q&A and I didn't get any of my questions in, but I have sent them through to CX PR and will share answers here if/when I get 'em.
Update 2, Electric Boogaloo: no useful answers from CX PR. My own take on the KA carve-up would be that premium routes with solid margin are handed to CX, leisure routes with more price-sensitive travellers are handed to UO. Could be mix and match for some countries, eg Manila has premium travellers ex-HKG due to call centres, one reason there's a CX lounge there, so that might be handed over to CX; but Cebu might be far more leisure and low-cost, so it goes UO. Doesn't mean a city can't have both airlines, too – Manila has a lot of low-cost traffic so maybe some flights CX and some UO.
Last edited by djsflynn; Oct 21, 2020 at 3:26 am