Agreed that the stopover in YVR or ANC is an inconvenience but you are compensated by the cheaper air fare. The price difference appears substantial especially if you're flying 8X a year. I'll fly CX if I were you and will easily reach their equivalent of SE status. The current CX promotion is probably another incentive to fly them: http://www.cathaypacific.ca/offers/d...subdefault.asp