Originally Posted by
Dom_Dinis
The travel pattern is always HKG-OPO, which I have been doing mostly with CX to MAD and onwards to OPO with IB. Last year August used QR, but connection to Portugal is always with IB or BA.
Understand CX provides lounge access to silver (Ruby) but only on CX flights. When I land at Madrid, and have to wait 4 hours for connection flight to OPO, I am
not admitted into the IB lounge with CX Silver. Regarding CDG or AMS, there’s no OW connection from these places to Portugal.
Why IB+ Oro:
- OW Sapphire
- Access to OW business lounges
- Priority boarding
Why IB+:
- less number of flights to reach sapphire level
- EP points from partner airlines are not massively devalued compared to CX
- accepts Avios transfers from BAEC (I have credit cards that transfer points to BA avios)
I think overall seems a better alternative to keep some status (Sapphire) at a much lower cost (less flights) and less cost per flight (Finnair vs BA vs CX). Hopefully, IB+ will value my “Classic Eco” L/K as Full economy so that long haul is worth 350 EPs on the HKG-HEL leg.
Operator/route wise, has to be OPO and not LIS? BA does LGW OPO no LHR OPO so not until CX resumes HKG-LGW, AY only LIS and QR has no PE, then through CX/MAD makes sense.
IMO flying CX as IB OWS, I get the personal greeting, first pick of meals as bulkhead window is free to choose for OWS, not that different from being CX OWS, even got op-ups, helps that MAD is a low status route. The problem is CX CS, calling them as a non CX elite is a pain (even if calling the HK Cantonese line), and when they pick up the agents are not the elite team and not empowered to do much, this is particularly problematic with CX's infamous schedule change and zero-ing out before cancellations. I'm sure you get much better CS as CX gold. Will you be spending more time in Asia flying CX or in Portugal flying intra europe with IB though. Ultimately most airlines treat their own better. If your set on leaving CX then it's between BA and IB, BA would be natural choice, would your 2x PE long hauls get you to BA silver/sapphire?