I think the new program is a way to entice customers to fly with Cathay more and also to reward loyal customers, but I feel that the diamond members are being neglected.

Apart from a personal relationship manager (RM), there’s really no stark difference. Under the current system, people who reach 1800 SP or 2400 SP can both nominate gold members. The additional 600 SP you earned previously didn’t provide you with many more benefits. The only thing they’re snatching is the gold membership. If you have secretary or book your own tickets, the RM isn’t so lucrative.

Also, will Diamond members maintain their Oneworld Emerald status?

I feel they could have offered more benefits for every SP earned to the Diamond members. Introducing a whole new membership class now feels like a way of dismissing diamond members. You know you’re not the most important even if you earn 2000 or 2200 SP a year. Yes, you can roll over and get Diamond Exec the next year, but it creates a cycle of being Diamond and then Diamond Exec for those who fly between 1200-2000 SP a year.

They should have kept the diamond status and instead rewarded members more. For example, if you hit 1800 SP, give at least a silver membership to a companion. If you reach 2400 SP, grant a gold membership, and if you hit 3000 SP, offer more bookable upgrades or another gold membership. Keeping the diamond group unaffected would feel better psychologically. For those who reach 2400 SP, provide the privilege to bring not two, but three guests to the lounges.

Now, all diamond members will not feel any different from gold members. Check-ins are very smooth and quick at Cathay counters anyway. As a diamond member, you don’t experience a check-in process that’s like ten times faster. It feels the same. Gold members don’t have buggy service; they have a smooth check-in experience. Losing the buggy service is a blow for diamond members. Do we get a courtesy channel as diamonds now?

If I were Cathay, I wouldn’t introduce Diamond Exec and would instead revamp the benefits of diamond status based on the way you progress. I would keep the calendar year as January 1 to December 31. The rollover system can be tricky. I understand what Cathay is doing; they don’t want us to waste our points, but now everyone can be diamond. It doesn’t feel exclusive. They could perhaps offer extra miles for surplus SP or limit gold to 150 SP and diamond to 300 SP.

Change it to the following:
- 1400: Lounge Pass
- 1600: 2 Bookable upgrades till business (not 4)
- 1800: Silver Member (not gold as gold members will now not have the chance to nominate a silver member)
- 2000: 1 additional Lounge guest (unlimited) for the entire year , i.e. 3 guests now instead of 2
- 2200: 2 Bookable upgrades (up to first class)
- 2400: Gold Member and a personal RM