May 22, 2019, 7:13 am
Last edit by: JDiver
Earning American Airlines AAvantage Miles Flying CX / Cathay Pacific Airways (consolidated)
Including known issues (e.g. upgrades) with AA / CX
Including known issues (e.g. upgrades) with AA / CX
Earning AAdvantage Miles flying Cathay Pacific Airways
NOTE: Travel on Cathay Pacific and its affiliate airline counts toward qualifying for AAdvantage elite status membership. However, please refer to aa.com here for fare classes that earn AAdvantage miles, not Cathay Pacific.
AAdvantage Elite members members traveling on Cathay also enjoy:
If you fly CX as an AA codeshare / marketed flight, you will earn as if you were flying on AA.
Flying CX as CX, most discounted economy fare classes do not earn AAdvantage miles; See the chart. See Link to AAdvantage chart on earning miles and EQD flying CX.
Note: the CX website incorrectly indicates no AA miles for E fare; AA.com does and is correct
*Premium Economy fare W on a flight operated by Cathay Pacific will earn an additional 10% class of service bonus with the exception of W fares between Hong Kong and Bangkok, which will not earn a class of service bonus, and Premium Economy R or E, which earn no class of service bonus.
NOTE: Travel on Cathay Pacific and its affiliate airline counts toward qualifying for AAdvantage elite status membership. However, please refer to aa.com here for fare classes that earn AAdvantage miles, not Cathay Pacific.
- Economy / coach fares other than Y, B or H on CX do not earn AAdvantage miles
- B and H only earn fractional (75%) credit on AA
- Upgrades may book into ineligible fare classes, causing challenges getting AA to credit the originally purchased fare class
- there are a few fare classes that CX says do not earn AAdvantage miles, whereas aa.com says they will, as do members reporting their experiences here
- JFK-YVR and YVR-JFK do accrue EQ and miles on eligible fares. JFK-YVR-HKG accrues as if nonstop JFK-HKG.
AAdvantage Elite members members traveling on Cathay also enjoy:
- [*]
Flying CX as CX, most discounted economy fare classes do not earn AAdvantage miles; See the chart. See Link to AAdvantage chart on earning miles and EQD flying CX.
Note: the CX website incorrectly indicates no AA miles for E fare; AA.com does and is correct
*Premium Economy fare W on a flight operated by Cathay Pacific will earn an additional 10% class of service bonus with the exception of W fares between Hong Kong and Bangkok, which will not earn a class of service bonus, and Premium Economy R or E, which earn no class of service bonus.
Upgrading to First on CX / Cathay Pacific Airways and U, Z Fare Class Issues
Upgrading a paid Business fare to First on Cathay Pacific Airways puts the flight into fare class "Z", a class that is ineligible for AAdvantage miles accrual (as reflected on the accrual chart) because it is also an award classification for a First Class award.
Upgrading a paid Premium Economy fare to Business puts it into U class, another award fare class that earns no AA miles.
Members have recently reported success at having their upgrades acknowledged as miles-garnering (mid-June 2015).
and
Upgrading a paid Business fare to First on Cathay Pacific Airways puts the flight into fare class "Z", a class that is ineligible for AAdvantage miles accrual (as reflected on the accrual chart) because it is also an award classification for a First Class award.
Upgrading a paid Premium Economy fare to Business puts it into U class, another award fare class that earns no AA miles.
Members have recently reported success at having their upgrades acknowledged as miles-garnering (mid-June 2015).
I had the same issue. I upgraded from Biz to F using Asia Miles, but left my AA number in the reservation.
The outbound flight credited automatically without intervention.
The inbound flight did not credit and I submitted the Missing Mileage Request. That request got denied due to ineligible fare class. All I did was call the ExecPlat desk and ask for AAdvantage Customer Service, who had record of the denied claim. I explained I paid for Biz, upgraded to F, and provided them with my original ticket number (both ticker numbers were on CX stock). Call took about 5 minutes and miles (and EQM/EQP) posted to the account the next day.
The outbound flight credited automatically without intervention.
The inbound flight did not credit and I submitted the Missing Mileage Request. That request got denied due to ineligible fare class. All I did was call the ExecPlat desk and ask for AAdvantage Customer Service, who had record of the denied claim. I explained I paid for Biz, upgraded to F, and provided them with my original ticket number (both ticker numbers were on CX stock). Call took about 5 minutes and miles (and EQM/EQP) posted to the account the next day.
I just wanted to post the conclusion to my saga, that started with the brilliant idea to upgrade two CX flights in February (yes, 4 months ago).
Well, I Fedex'd a letter to the executive's office, which arrived Friday. Today, I received an email from an "executive liason" who said they agreed that "R" to "U" via an upgrade should be mileage earning and manually adjusted my account to receive credit. Account and status now reflects those flights.
So despite certain aagents and lower-level SUPs saying this is CX's problem and to go pound sand, AA actually can do something about it (albit at a higher level than a regular SUP, I assume). By the phrasing of the answer, I would say this isn't a one time exception but rather what is supposed to happen for these flights.
Godspeed to any other souls on this journey.
Well, I Fedex'd a letter to the executive's office, which arrived Friday. Today, I received an email from an "executive liason" who said they agreed that "R" to "U" via an upgrade should be mileage earning and manually adjusted my account to receive credit. Account and status now reflects those flights.
So despite certain aagents and lower-level SUPs saying this is CX's problem and to go pound sand, AA actually can do something about it (albit at a higher level than a regular SUP, I assume). By the phrasing of the answer, I would say this isn't a one time exception but rather what is supposed to happen for these flights.
Godspeed to any other souls on this journey.
Possible snail mail or FedEx to:
Suzanne Rubin
President – AAdvantage Loyalty Program, American Airlines
4333 Amon Carter Blvd
Fort Worth, TX 76155
Suzanne Rubin
President – AAdvantage Loyalty Program, American Airlines
4333 Amon Carter Blvd
Fort Worth, TX 76155
Wikipost as of 2018
ARCHIVE: Earning AA AAdvantage Miles on CX / Cathay (including Upgrade Issues)
Sep 28, 2017, 4:34 am
#316
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
MPC is not the worst among OW - it is hard to climb up the ranks, but once there, renewal is not too bad. It gives SWUs that are way better than the AA form of it, just because inventory for upgrades are almost always available. Mileage accrual does kind of sting, but again Asia miles are transferable from many more major currencies, and are easy to earn in both the US and HK. It also is significantly of better value than AA (or even AS) miles, for those that bother enough to look into the program details with care. DM/GO get through the waitlist at certain times that AA/AS grabbers can only dream about. CX hardly cares about service recovery for OW elites, but a lot for their DM/GOs.
Trust me, once you switch to MPC, you will immediately start to hope for CX to leave oneworld
Trust me, once you switch to MPC, you will immediately start to hope for CX to leave oneworld
IMO if CX switches to *A or ST, CX HKG lounges will be even more packed, which I believe you hate the most. If CX goes boutique like EK, well then good bye AA
(If CX is sold to CA then good bye CX)To all, not trying to start another "CX needs OW more/OW needs CX more" discussions, as there are already too many on CX and IMO not very helpful. Let's stick to the topic.
Last edited by andersonCooper; Sep 28, 2017 at 10:03 am
Sep 28, 2017, 8:54 am
#317
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,422
Reason for Denial
CX HKG LAX Posted to Other FFP
This is a load of junk - I don’t even have Marco Polo/Asiamiles number. My AA number was on my original reservation both ways.
Edit: Wow looks Like I am not the only one getting this fake denial notice. Luckily have a picture of my boarding pass, etc.
CX HKG LAX Posted to Other FFP
This is a load of junk - I don’t even have Marco Polo/Asiamiles number. My AA number was on my original reservation both ways.
Edit: Wow looks Like I am not the only one getting this fake denial notice. Luckily have a picture of my boarding pass, etc.
Sep 28, 2017, 9:54 am
#318
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,422
What number are you calling? The standard EXP line?
Sep 28, 2017, 9:55 am
#319
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: AA EXPLT, Marriott Titanium (LT PLT), HHonors Gold, AMEX PLT, UA Silver, National EXC
Posts: 1,059
At least this is a well known issue now. I mentioned I saw a half dozen people with the exact same problem and same week of travel online.
Sep 28, 2017, 10:01 am
#320
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Sep 28, 2017, 10:30 am
#321
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 158
Called again today and the agent I spoke with (well intentioned but useless) mentioned she had talked to multiple people today alone about CX flights posting to "other FFP". Obviously a well known issue at this point. She also said she would fill out a form and it would be 30 days or longer from today. I confirmed they received my documents last week but she said nothing was initiated. Hoping she was wrong because this is getting ridiculous...
Sep 28, 2017, 10:49 am
#322
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,422
Update: called AA CS agent who was very helpful - he spoke with a supervisor - while on hold I got an email asking me to submit Boarding Pass/Receipt. However, phone agent said not to email anything as he just had to fill out a form as the supervisor was aware of this issue. Was asked to wait 5 days for it to post.
At least this is a well known issue now. I mentioned I saw a half dozen people with the exact same problem and same week of travel online.
At least this is a well known issue now. I mentioned I saw a half dozen people with the exact same problem and same week of travel online.
Thanks, that's what I figured.
Sep 28, 2017, 10:49 am
#323
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
CX MPC is a very local program. For us who live in the U.S., it is extremely hard to obtain GO or DM and fully enjoy the program benefits; but for HKers some travel patterns make it very easy. CX is generous enough to offer its Business lounge access to SL (OWR). Unless you do a lot of partner travel outside of CX lounge coverage, you don't lose too much by being "downgraded" to OWR or OWS. So on paper it's worse, but if you fly CX a lot, it works better with MPC SL/GO than other OWE, whose op-up priority is lower. The other difference is Business lounge vs First, which is something I don't really care. After being couple months of AA PLT I am not really sure about how valuable it is other than lounge access (and usually CX's lounge or Flagship access from CX, not AA, ironically) and free MCE, both of which MPC GO gets. (You also get Admiral Club access if you are MPC GO flying AA domestically, which EXP/PPro/PLT do not get.)
Sep 28, 2017, 11:04 am
#324
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
What would be some travel patterns for HKers where making GO/DM would be easy? I'm LAX based and I mostly fly CX in E class from US to Asia and South Pacific (And this also runs up my EQDs). For AA Domestic, I'm already covered by my Admirals Club membership, so I get into ACs no matter what.
Op-up priority, as well as other unpublished benefits (anniversary upgrade, birthday upgrade etc), are the key differentiators. Also, CX has this fanfare thing for HKers, price is nice, so maybe MPC is just not for U.S.-based OW elites, but for HKers it's still decent. And that's why I hope they could make it more a global program so loyal MPC won't be upset by how easy other programs are; whereas overseas CX fans could credit their flights to CX instead of other FFP.
Refer to this quote:
It really depends on the class you fly. If you fly J, GO is insanely easy. Far too easy IMO. I mean, the idea you could fly two longhauls in J, and 4 short haul in J, and get GO is a little whacko to me. (Round trips I'm referring to). Especially with the cheap outport pricing, you could have someone based in Shanghai or Beijing effectively just flying 2x annually to Europe, and 2x extra round trips to HK and they're basically done. Because the round trips to Europe will go via HK and get something like 230+ Club Points each round trip. Meanwhile the pricing out of these ports is crazy cheap, especially compared to what HK people are saddled with. I guess CX does the math these outport people don't use the resources of lounges etc. like a local HK person might.
Sep 29, 2017, 10:34 am
#325
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: AA EXP
Posts: 158
Finally received credit 
- who knows if calling yesterday helped but glad it's done. Best of luck to everyone else awaiting credit!
- who knows if calling yesterday helped but glad it's done. Best of luck to everyone else awaiting credit!
Sep 29, 2017, 12:07 pm
#326
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Looks like a standard wait time of 3 - 5 days is normal. Hopefully they don't have this FFP mismatch again.
Sep 30, 2017, 2:03 pm
#327
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SAN
Programs: Lots of faux metal
Posts: 6,422
I called AA last night and the CS agent put in a report to their CX liaison. He said it could take another 30 days to get it resolved. I also submitted a claim for a BA flight, which requested a BP via email. He had to do a similar report after speaking with a supervisor.
Should be interesting to see which flight posts first.
Should be interesting to see which flight posts first.
Sep 30, 2017, 10:01 pm
#328
Join Date: Jun 2010
Location: ROC/NYC/MSP/LAX/HKG/SIN
Posts: 3,212
I am already on MPC and by "worst" I mean how hard it is and the segment-oriented TP (which does not work for U.S. domestic travel at all). Completely understand the other benefits and differences you mentioned, I think CX does need to come up with a global program (not necessarily giving out more benefits, but at least make my JFK-SFO flights get more credits than EWR-ORD) to form a more consistent brand (AM??MPC??CX??KA??)
IMO if CX switches to *A or ST, CX HKG lounges will be even more packed, which I believe you hate the most. If CX goes boutique like EK, well then good bye AA (If CX is sold to CA then good bye CX)
CX MPC is a very local program. For us who live in the U.S., it is extremely hard to obtain GO or DM and fully enjoy the program benefits; but for HKers some travel patterns make it very easy. CX is generous enough to offer its Business lounge access to SL (OWR). Unless you do a lot of partner travel outside of CX lounge coverage, you don't lose too much by being "downgraded" to OWR or OWS. So on paper it's worse, but if you fly CX a lot, it works better with MPC SL/GO than other OWE, whose op-up priority is lower. The other difference is Business lounge vs First, which is something I don't really care. After being couple months of AA PLT I am not really sure about how valuable it is other than lounge access (and usually CX's lounge or Flagship access from CX, not AA, ironically) and free MCE, both of which MPC GO gets. (You also get Admiral Club access if you are MPC GO flying AA domestically, which EXP/PPro/PLT do not get.)
Dave, I think we all agree airlines are 100% to screw up something, no matter how good they are. Service recovery is unavoidable.
To all, not trying to start another "CX needs OW more/OW needs CX more" discussions, as there are already too many on CX and IMO not very helpful. Let's stick to the topic.
IMO if CX switches to *A or ST, CX HKG lounges will be even more packed, which I believe you hate the most. If CX goes boutique like EK, well then good bye AA
(If CX is sold to CA then good bye CX)CX MPC is a very local program. For us who live in the U.S., it is extremely hard to obtain GO or DM and fully enjoy the program benefits; but for HKers some travel patterns make it very easy. CX is generous enough to offer its Business lounge access to SL (OWR). Unless you do a lot of partner travel outside of CX lounge coverage, you don't lose too much by being "downgraded" to OWR or OWS. So on paper it's worse, but if you fly CX a lot, it works better with MPC SL/GO than other OWE, whose op-up priority is lower. The other difference is Business lounge vs First, which is something I don't really care. After being couple months of AA PLT I am not really sure about how valuable it is other than lounge access (and usually CX's lounge or Flagship access from CX, not AA, ironically) and free MCE, both of which MPC GO gets. (You also get Admiral Club access if you are MPC GO flying AA domestically, which EXP/PPro/PLT do not get.)
Dave, I think we all agree airlines are 100% to screw up something, no matter how good they are. Service recovery is unavoidable.
To all, not trying to start another "CX needs OW more/OW needs CX more" discussions, as there are already too many on CX and IMO not very helpful. Let's stick to the topic.
I talked to a FA when I was in LHR-HKG segment in PE+. Asked which FFP I based on, I replied to her that AA suits me the best at the moment because it's not easy to credit domestic AA flights to CX. However, when one gets Premium in AA domestic, would you choose to put it in AA or CX? Then BA is better. So CX is sitting in a tough spot for us as FFP travelers because when you want fast accrual in elite qualification, AA and BA are both better, not to mention the fact that there is no LT program to speak of for MPC.
Oct 1, 2017, 10:13 am
#329
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
The reason why MPC looks local is because they don't look enticing for other people in the world to choose from. If CX MPC has something like eVIPs once you reach DM, or DM threshold similar to BA GOLD threshold, or even better, MPC LT GLD/DM, I would have been among the first few to jump on it.
I talked to a FA when I was in LHR-HKG segment in PE+. Asked which FFP I based on, I replied to her that AA suits me the best at the moment because it's not easy to credit domestic AA flights to CX. However, when one gets Premium in AA domestic, would you choose to put it in AA or CX? Then BA is better. So CX is sitting in a tough spot for us as FFP travelers because when you want fast accrual in elite qualification, AA and BA are both better, not to mention the fact that there is no LT program to speak of for MPC.
I talked to a FA when I was in LHR-HKG segment in PE+. Asked which FFP I based on, I replied to her that AA suits me the best at the moment because it's not easy to credit domestic AA flights to CX. However, when one gets Premium in AA domestic, would you choose to put it in AA or CX? Then BA is better. So CX is sitting in a tough spot for us as FFP travelers because when you want fast accrual in elite qualification, AA and BA are both better, not to mention the fact that there is no LT program to speak of for MPC.
I don't mind being downgraded to OWS, especially when EXP is getting to become a second tier status given the presence of CK (and BA Gold) and limitations of SWU. And the benefits of CX SL/GO were mentioned above, which I appreciated CX doing for its low/mid tier FFs.
Oct 1, 2017, 12:23 pm
#330
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443