BA Gold recognition on Cathay flight
Apr 15, 2019, 2:23 pm
#17
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: All over the place often South Wales and Lake District
Programs: BA Gold for Life Accor Platinum
Posts: 4,552
Yes the recognition on BA flights as a Gold Member is often not existing and on Cathay it’s outstanding. Personal greeting on both ways from/to Seoul bottle water and champagne on both legs and a cheese plate on the way to Seoul. When you fly intra Europe with BA no greetings no water nothing.
I was in J on Cathay from LHR - HKG recently and didn't get any kind of recognitions as a Gold Member. Neither was I on a KA flight from HKG - CSX (Changsha). I have a flight to Seoul later on KA/CX via HKG. Will see if I get recognition on either. It doesn't really bother me, but it demonstrates that recognition isn't always outstanding.
Apr 15, 2019, 7:08 pm
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2008
Programs: AA EXP/LTP, BA GGL/CCR/GfL, HH D/LTD, SPG/MR Plat/LTP
Posts: 10,075
Having had status in all three alliances at one time or another I would say that each airline upgrades its own members in advance of other status holders from the alliance. The only variation on this I've ever seen is LH who seem to upgrade purely on the value of the ticket rather than status which also seems fair enough.
Apr 15, 2019, 9:15 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,542
Yes this is true...
But they also track the spend and value of other OW members on their airline, particularly the ones that live in HKG and spend on F/J tickets and will override that especially if you give them reason to... like if you were to volunteer to take a later flight or be restated to accommodate a family.
But they also track the spend and value of other OW members on their airline, particularly the ones that live in HKG and spend on F/J tickets and will override that especially if you give them reason to... like if you were to volunteer to take a later flight or be restated to accommodate a family.
From personal experience, I can confirm that CX algorithm is more sophisticated than just elite status. They have a huge database and look at your spend on CX, even if you are BAEC member. I do get frequent opup on regional flights. If not, I get the special treatment outlined above (champagne and upper-class meal).
Apr 15, 2019, 9:16 pm
#21
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Brighton UK
Programs: BAEC-Silver, AMEX-BA Prem' Plus & Standard, Accor Gold, HH-Silver, IHG,IBIS On Business
Posts: 955
As an aside you can simply ask CX to status match you that way you'll then be one of their own FFP. I asked a few days ago and after submitting proofs of BA travel and upcoming CX bookings they happily obliged and are in the process of creating the accounts for both myself & Mrs CLAM and have promised to get back to me when it's all setup. Initial email took all of a minute to type and send and I guess 5-10 gathering all the screenshots to show bookings/ mileage & current BA status.
I appreciate that the whole concept of having OW is that your status carries over across carriers however there are times when being in X airlines own little club has a benefit such as the OP's and when you encounter a newer member of staff on your travels who isn't as well versed in how the OW system works.
For a data point we're both Silver/ OWS and have been granted Marco Polo Club Gold so a like-for-like matching as their highest is Diamond which equates to OWE / BA Gold ( for those unaware).
Personal choice of course and as I said I wont argue the fact you shouldn't/ don't need to but being higher on the potential upgrade list is hardly a bad thing for such a small time requirement.
I appreciate that the whole concept of having OW is that your status carries over across carriers however there are times when being in X airlines own little club has a benefit such as the OP's and when you encounter a newer member of staff on your travels who isn't as well versed in how the OW system works.
For a data point we're both Silver/ OWS and have been granted Marco Polo Club Gold so a like-for-like matching as their highest is Diamond which equates to OWE / BA Gold ( for those unaware).
Personal choice of course and as I said I wont argue the fact you shouldn't/ don't need to but being higher on the potential upgrade list is hardly a bad thing for such a small time requirement.
Apr 15, 2019, 9:29 pm
#22
Join Date: Nov 2017
Location: Germany
Programs: BA GGL, CCR - TK G
Posts: 809
As an aside you can simply ask CX to status match you that way you'll then be one of their own FFP. I asked a few days ago and after submitting proofs of BA travel and upcoming CX bookings they happily obliged and are in the process of creating the accounts for both myself & Mrs CLAM and have promised to get back to me when it's all setup. Initial email took all of a minute to type and send and I guess 5-10 gathering all the screenshots to show bookings/ mileage & current BA status.
I appreciate that the whole concept of having OW is that your status carries over across carriers however there are times when being in X airlines own little club has a benefit such as the OP's and when you encounter a newer member of staff on your travels who isn't as well versed in how the OW system works.
For a data point we're both Silver/ OWS and have been granted Marco Polo Club Gold so a like-for-like matching as their highest is Diamond which equates to OWE / BA Gold ( for those unaware).
Personal choice of course and as I said I wont argue the fact you shouldn't/ don't need to but being higher on the potential upgrade list is hardly a bad thing for such a small time requirement.
I appreciate that the whole concept of having OW is that your status carries over across carriers however there are times when being in X airlines own little club has a benefit such as the OP's and when you encounter a newer member of staff on your travels who isn't as well versed in how the OW system works.
For a data point we're both Silver/ OWS and have been granted Marco Polo Club Gold so a like-for-like matching as their highest is Diamond which equates to OWE / BA Gold ( for those unaware).
Personal choice of course and as I said I wont argue the fact you shouldn't/ don't need to but being higher on the potential upgrade list is hardly a bad thing for such a small time requirement.
Apr 15, 2019, 9:45 pm
#23
Join Date: Jun 2018
Location: Brighton UK
Programs: BAEC-Silver, AMEX-BA Prem' Plus & Standard, Accor Gold, HH-Silver, IHG,IBIS On Business
Posts: 955
Yes income and the fact that Mrs CLAM flatly refuses to do TPR's and demands a minimum of 4 days wherever we get off a plane means hitting Gold is highly unlikely ( never say never and all). That said one even as a MPC member if I so desired I could still credit points to my BAEC account as CX ask during the booking process so it's not an issue.
Having had to argue the case with other OW carriers staff about rights/ privileges due to us we've got an AA account ( again matched) and as we're off to the far east this year decided to ask CX if they'd do the same. Once again I wont argue that you shouldn't have to but for the sake of 2 emails and lets say 15 mins of my life compared to a 10-30 minute argument with staff who don't know the rules & having to show them because they cba to check/ do their job when you're supposed to be relaxing on holiday it's a no brainer for ourselves. If it also has a benefit on the complete lottery that is any airlines upgrade algorithm then in the words of Tesco's - every little helps
Having had to argue the case with other OW carriers staff about rights/ privileges due to us we've got an AA account ( again matched) and as we're off to the far east this year decided to ask CX if they'd do the same. Once again I wont argue that you shouldn't have to but for the sake of 2 emails and lets say 15 mins of my life compared to a 10-30 minute argument with staff who don't know the rules & having to show them because they cba to check/ do their job when you're supposed to be relaxing on holiday it's a no brainer for ourselves. If it also has a benefit on the complete lottery that is any airlines upgrade algorithm then in the words of Tesco's - every little helps
Apr 15, 2019, 10:20 pm
#24
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: Confirmed
Posts: 1,091
I was flying out of Seoul last night on in an overbooked Economy Class flight with 7 Seats left in Premium Economy. I asked at the Check in for an Upgrade to Premium Economy but they refused as the Emerald Status is to low because they Upgrade all Marco Polo Members Tier members incl diamond / Gold and for my surprise Silver before they Upgrade the OW Emerald. The supervisor showed me the upgrade procedure in her system as I could not understand that they preferred their MP silver before OW Emerald. It’s comparable to the bronze status of BA. Does anybody know how the procedures are within BA or other OW member or is it just a Cathay case? Anyway flight was really great also in Eco on an A350 aircraft with emergency exit seats and 2 champagnes from the puser.
Apr 16, 2019, 12:34 am
#25
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 7,464
There are so many MP Diamonds on CX flights and in HKG, that Gold is not going to help much in all reality.
Apr 16, 2019, 1:33 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2006
Programs: AAdvantage Asia Miles Air China
Posts: 870
I don't know about CX specifically, but I have indeed had multiple check in agents telling me how tired they get of people asking for free upgrades, and in some cases how much they dislike it. There have even been a couple of completely separate cases when I was upgraded at the check in counter and when thanking the agents was told in no uncertain term that it was because I had not asked anything.
Just as an aside, during my many years as a CX DM (OWE) I scored an upgrade success rate of 3%. Now an AA EXP I noticed I get treated no differently when flying CX/KA than when I was a CX DM.
Apr 16, 2019, 7:50 am
#28
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: LHR
Programs: BAEC Gold, SkyTeam Elite Plus, Sixt Gold
Posts: 418
Similar situation happened to me. Asked a few times in the lounge to upgrade from J to F (with a half empty F cabin), I was told to keep checking closer to boarding time and then denied the upgrade.
Once boarded, the F cabin was full as they probably gave precedence to CX Gold and Diamond. Nothing scandalous, although I was disappointed at the poor communication.
Once boarded, the F cabin was full as they probably gave precedence to CX Gold and Diamond. Nothing scandalous, although I was disappointed at the poor communication.
Apr 16, 2019, 8:34 am
#29
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,542
Similar situation happened to me. Asked a few times in the lounge to upgrade from J to F (with a half empty F cabin), I was told to keep checking closer to boarding time and then denied the upgrade.
Once boarded, the F cabin was full as they probably gave precedence to CX Gold and Diamond. Nothing scandalous, although I was disappointed at the poor communication.
Once boarded, the F cabin was full as they probably gave precedence to CX Gold and Diamond. Nothing scandalous, although I was disappointed at the poor communication.
As mentioned above, asking for an opup does not increase your chances as it is decided automatically. All you can do at the lounge is check if your opup came through but you will usually know when you board the plane and the plane and hear a nice beep.
Also note that a lot of CX pax have an airport upgrade certificate (because of some previous irrops or other commercial reason). They are very difficult to use to upgrade from J to F as there are only 6 F seats. These will kick in before other general opups. And my experience is that it is rare to be able to use them. Also, CX staff can purchase fairly cheap F tickets on waitlist. Again those will kick in before any general opup.unless J is overbooked and the opup from J is necessary.
Apr 16, 2019, 10:17 am
#30
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: Las Vegas
Programs: BA Gold; Hilton Honors Diamond
Posts: 3,226
It seems you are trying to solve a problem that isn't there. I fly CX more that I fly BA, but my OWE status is issued by BA, and never have any problems whatsoever of not getting things that I should including upgrades. Frequently there are upgrades going on regional CX/KA services (I normally book short flights in Y), and then I was also upgraded by CX on my last work flight of 2018 from HKG back to Europe from J to F - a very nice Christmas present indeed ^
In terms of on-board recognition, this varies as well. CX are usually very good - I have had water, champagne, first meal choice, dessert from F etc. as part of the "recognition" they provide for OWE. AA can be a bit more hit and miss but I've had a few proactive staff who will check their PDA and remind me that I can have a complimentary snack and beverage. I certainly don't throw my toys out of the pram when I don't get recognised but it's nice when it happens.
