Torn between BAEC and Marco Polo
Feb 26, 2020, 11:30 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 5
Torn between BAEC and Marco Polo
I recently relocated to HK from mainland, I have been a silver fortune wings member for a few years now but with the increased availability of airlines in HK, I am looking to move to BAEC or MP.
I predominantly make short haul flights around south east Asia and 2-3 long haul flights to Europe each year. I currently make the use of the benefits of my status (lounge + extra luggage) rather than any air miles collected, is BAEC the better way to go? As I read that BAEC was easier to collect and maintain tier points compared to MP?
I predominantly make short haul flights around south east Asia and 2-3 long haul flights to Europe each year. I currently make the use of the benefits of my status (lounge + extra luggage) rather than any air miles collected, is BAEC the better way to go? As I read that BAEC was easier to collect and maintain tier points compared to MP?
Feb 27, 2020, 1:37 am
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 5
Would the following for example HKG > LHR > EDI / EDI > LHR > HKG be counted as 4 qualifying?
For lounge access and extra luggage, I would need silver tier, would that be easy to get with BA? Compared to silver tier Marco Polo which requires 300?
For lounge access and extra luggage, I would need silver tier, would that be easy to get with BA? Compared to silver tier Marco Polo which requires 300?
Feb 27, 2020, 1:43 am
#5
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: BA OWS, A3*G
Posts: 262
Feb 27, 2020, 4:25 am
#8
Fontaine d'honneur du Flyertalk
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: Morbihan, France
Programs: Reine des Muccis de Pucci; Foreign Elitist (according to others)
Posts: 19,179
Frankly and sadly, I wonder if CX will survive this catastrophic downturn in traffic. The impossible seems possible.
Feb 27, 2020, 5:05 am
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 5
A mix of economy and premium with the odd business.
I do have the capacity to spend a few days doing tier point runs to speed up the process however, its just picking the right frequent flyer program first.
Am I be able to collect BAEC tier points flying with OneWorld partners such as a Cathay? Or would it only be British Airways that would award them?
I do have the capacity to spend a few days doing tier point runs to speed up the process however, its just picking the right frequent flyer program first.
Am I be able to collect BAEC tier points flying with OneWorld partners such as a Cathay? Or would it only be British Airways that would award them?
Feb 27, 2020, 5:38 am
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,890
Yes, you an earn TPs on all oneworld airlines.
Be aware that CX's cheaper economy buckets, especially K, L, M and V, earn notably fewer points in BAEC than in MPC.
E.g. for short haul (between 751 and 2000 mile) flights booked into K, you'd earn 20 club points in MPC, taking30 46* such sectors to make sapphire. But in BAEC you'd earn 5 TPs, taking 120 such sectors to make sapphire.
On the other hand, a premium economy longer flight (but under 3700 miles) booked into E, you'd earn 90 TPs on BAEC, taking 7 such sectors to make sapphire. In MPC you'd earn that same 20 club points.
In particular, if you are just over 2000 miles on most flights than BAEC may well be better; if just under, MPC may well be better; but you will need to do the maths based on your own travel patterns.
Be aware that CX's cheaper economy buckets, especially K, L, M and V, earn notably fewer points in BAEC than in MPC.
E.g. for short haul (between 751 and 2000 mile) flights booked into K, you'd earn 20 club points in MPC, taking
On the other hand, a premium economy longer flight (but under 3700 miles) booked into E, you'd earn 90 TPs on BAEC, taking 7 such sectors to make sapphire. In MPC you'd earn that same 20 club points.
In particular, if you are just over 2000 miles on most flights than BAEC may well be better; if just under, MPC may well be better; but you will need to do the maths based on your own travel patterns.
Last edited by typical; Feb 27, 2020 at 6:26 am Reason: Edited sectors needed to sapphire based on sxc's post
Feb 27, 2020, 6:16 am
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
CX program will take you longer to go up the ranks. Have a look in the FAQ thread in the Cathay forum for more details on the “reset” mechanism as you move through the status tiers.
Feb 27, 2020, 6:28 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2020
Posts: 5
Yes, you an earn TPs on all oneworld airlines.
Be aware that CX's cheaper economy buckets, especially K, L, M and V, earn notably fewer points in BAEC than in MPC.
E.g. for short haul (between 751 and 2000 mile) flights booked into K, you'd earn 20 club points in MPC, taking 30 such sectors to make sapphire. But in BAEC you'd earn 5 TPs, taking 120 such sectors to make sapphire.
On the other hand, a premium economy longer flight (but under 3700 miles) booked into E, you'd earn 90 TPs on BAEC, taking 7 such sectors to make sapphire. In MPC you'd earn that same 20 club points.
In particular, if you are just over 2000 miles on most flights than BAEC may well be better; if just under, MPC may well be better; but you will need to do the maths based on your own travel patterns.
Be aware that CX's cheaper economy buckets, especially K, L, M and V, earn notably fewer points in BAEC than in MPC.
E.g. for short haul (between 751 and 2000 mile) flights booked into K, you'd earn 20 club points in MPC, taking 30 such sectors to make sapphire. But in BAEC you'd earn 5 TPs, taking 120 such sectors to make sapphire.
On the other hand, a premium economy longer flight (but under 3700 miles) booked into E, you'd earn 90 TPs on BAEC, taking 7 such sectors to make sapphire. In MPC you'd earn that same 20 club points.
In particular, if you are just over 2000 miles on most flights than BAEC may well be better; if just under, MPC may well be better; but you will need to do the maths based on your own travel patterns.
My dilemma is I would be flying lots of short haul flights such as Hong Kong to Japan (<2000m) or Hong Kong to Thailand (<1000m) so I would get less BAEC points compared to MP, but then when I fly long haul to UK, I would always get an extra leg each way as I'd transit Heathrow first compared to Cathay which could fly direct to Manchester for example and I would lose a leg.
I've read about the reset with MP but I would just want Silver with MP but for the equivalent lounge and baggage, I would need to get Silver with BAEC too but there's Bronze in the way...
Feb 27, 2020, 6:39 am
#13
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2005
Programs: BA Gold, A3 Gold, FB Gold, Bonvoy Titanium / LTP, Accor Plat
Posts: 13,890
Bronze isn't "in the way" in BAEC. You don't reset the year when you level up.
Bear in mind the benefits of BAEC Silver are across oneworld airlines as oneworld Sapphire, whereas MPC Silver is only oneworld Ruby which doesn't really offer much. But if you mean that with MPC you'll direct your flights to CX only (and not, say, JL or MH or even BA or QR), that may not matter.
Bear in mind the benefits of BAEC Silver are across oneworld airlines as oneworld Sapphire, whereas MPC Silver is only oneworld Ruby which doesn't really offer much. But if you mean that with MPC you'll direct your flights to CX only (and not, say, JL or MH or even BA or QR), that may not matter.
Feb 27, 2020, 9:19 am
#15
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: BA SL, CX GR, IHG Plat Amb
Posts: 579
Based in HKG, I think the difficult part for BAEC is the 4 BA segment, as well as the lower points earned on low CX fare buckets which you would encounter frequently. If you do enough flying, especially in premium, BAEC is easier to attain higher status than CX MPC.
On the other hand, being a CX MPC member and flying in CX metal, you might get a bit more op-ups than being a member of other OW airlines.
On the other hand, being a CX MPC member and flying in CX metal, you might get a bit more op-ups than being a member of other OW airlines.