Is Cathay devaluating other oneworld member?
 

I remember I read a thread regarding Cathay changed the op-up priority for all MPC elite member over other oneword emerald or sappaire.

I don't know it's important or not.

I remember the pre-departure boardcast, they used to thank both MPC and oneworld members.

Today I was on NRT-TPE. The boardcast (both chinese & english) was only thanking MPC member for taking the trip. But not ever mention other oneworld partner members. Just at the end was saying something like Cathay was oneworld partner airline.

Did they tried to focus more on their own elite? or they are trying to neglect other partner's elite in order to make their own elite more special?
Well I don't think it's a smart move since pax was still travelling CX and paying for CX, although they were other oneworld's elite.

I think all airlines treat their own frequent fliers better than the fliers in their alliance. I think it has something to do with the fact that MPC members have been flying CX exclusively while OneWorld fliers may have been loyal to other airlines such as American Airlines.

While true most of the time, it is very possible for an AA elite to only fly CX or for a CX elite to only fly AA. Sometimes flyers credit to a different airline than they fly because they like that airlines' program better.

Yes, many AA members fly more on CX than AA. In fact, many pay more in order to get mileage.

Banking miles on a FF programme also means the passenger expects a certain FF programme to be more useful to him/her. There is, however, no double-edge sword. Crediting CX flights on AA also means getting less recognition from CX but enjoying more perks on AA. If the passenger buys a CX ticket on CX flights and credit the miles to Asia Miles, CX needs not share the revenue with its partner. CX, of course, values that passenger more.

The same applies for CX's partners.

Whenever I fly BA or AA I don't feel my MPC DM adds that much value. Never got an op-up etc. Seems like CX is returning the same level of service now... fair to me.

Whenever I fly other OW partners, I get lounge access, priority check-in and boarding. CX is already offering all these to OW Elites, I don't see what the problem is for treating CX's own member a little better.

At the end of the day, it was just a public announcement. :confused: I am sure the OP had enjoy all other "entitled" OW Elite benefits, otherwise we would have already read about it on his post.:D

If the announcement really has been changed and was not a one off then that's a big change in attitude. Remember, the greeting costs nothing. If they went to the effort to tell all their ISMs to change their greeting, then it's a big deal - possibly the tip of an iceberg.

I think it's exceptionally unlikely for a CX elite to only or even predominantly fly AA primarily because being CX elite on AA gets very little benefits and certainly not the one benefit most elites would like (upgrade).

However, I know of a few AA elites (based in HK) who fly CX 99% of the time (and only fly AA when they have no choice such as on a US domestic flight) and to them being OW emerald on CX isn't that much further down than CX DM.

This is exactly ME! I am willing to pay 1366 (H class) instead of 839 (V class) for JFK-TPE trip. Since there is 100% status bonus with AA, I think I didn't lose much, instead 17120 miles closer to AA lifetime platinum.

Although I am currently based in US, I was born and raised in HK, to be honest, I liked CX better, That's also the reason I was keeping both elite status. However, AA's earn burn ratio was farrrrrrrrrrrrr better than CX. Actually if I only kept one airline FF, I would became Emerald, which I was considering to do this year. (48K with AA, only 6K with CX so far.)


Also, I totally agree with SXC. Greeting is free, didn't hurt to spend the 2 sec, but being a loyal customer for both program, feels like um......

Nothing wrong with airlines treating their own FFers better, regardless of how people choose which FF program to sign up with.

True and nothing wrong. Maybe it's just about the change & attitude made me wonder. I will get over it.

It's pretty much standard across all carriers of all 3 alliances. On CA flights, they only welcome PhoenixMiles members onboard (along the lines of "For our PhoenixMiles members, it's a pleasure you again").

Flying AA:
-- Priority check-in at US airports... not really priority to me
-- Lounge access: let's compare the Wing/Pier with the Admirals Club...

Flying BA: no complaints on the pre-flight experience.

Unfortunately I've been more on AA than BA recently.

I think CX is making cuts on unnecessary cabin announcement intrusions. They have cut away the exercise video that they used to waste our times with. Also I noticed they stop the standard announcements in Mandarin in my last two long-haul flights (however, during flight when they ask people to sit down and buckle up, some Mandarin still happens, LOL). So maybe this cutting short of welcoming OW people is just part of the paradigm. Seriously, in the past I feel like the first 45 minutes of the flight it's non-stop talking and talking and talking, and I for one am glad they made a conscious effort to leave us alone with needless babble.

^^^ Used to be my biggest pet-hate flying CX. Especially considering the volume it was often broadcast at.