Compensations Possible?
 

Below is a complaint letter I wrote to CX, is it possible to receive any compensations?

To Whom It May Concern,

I was originally booked on CX 509 NRT to HKG then connecting CX 882 HKG to LAX. Due to weather issues, CX 509 was delayed so that I couldn't make my LAX flight. The schedule change message was sent to me on Jul. 28th night so there was no way for me to make alternative arrangements. I called CX NRT staff the next day at 9am, as soon as the office opens, and was told that CX has put me on the AA170 flight directly from NRT to LAX. I wasn't completely satisfied with the arrangement because 1)I will earn substantially less miles flying NRT-LAX instead of NRT-HKG-LAX; 2) AA business class service is nowhere near the level of CX business class service and I was assigned a middle seat; 3) I paid for both NRT-HKG and HKG-LAX legs seperately and flying NRT-LAX directly on AA is worth much less than the amount I have paid. I was hoping CX can get me a seat on the CX 880 flight which leaves HKG at 11:40 pm that day so that I can make the connection even if my NRT-HKG flight was delayed. However, I did not get a seat since the flight was over booked. It is understandable but I was under the impression that Diamond members have access to guaranteed business seats.

Throughout the whole event, CX ground staff at NRT were very helpful, however, they didn't have the authority to make a more satisfying arrangement. Given the reasons above, I believe I deserve explanation and compensation from Cathay Pacific. As a loyal Diamond member, I plan to fly exclusively with CX and its One World partners in the future and hopefully what happened on July 29th would not change my mind.

Regards,

What exactly are you hoping for? Your letter merely describes the circumstances beyond control of CX (weather... hellooo?). OK I see your point is about not getting onto the CX880, ... well it's overbooked as you mentioned. They managed to get you on direct NRT-LAX albeit on inferior 3rd world airline but it seems to me they've done you a favor by getting you to the final destination in best way they deemed, to me, and to 99% of travelling public I would say that was the desired outcome.

I honestly don't see any grounds for "compensation" and I think you are lucky to get 5000 asiamiles of goodwill gesture. In future "complaints" letter I suggest you clearly state what you are asking. is it 10,000 asiamiles? Are you asking for refund of NRT-HKG leg? or are you asking for future upgrade certificate? eitherway your grounds are minimal especially it was weather. Just my 2 cents^

Its weather, they reaccomodated you despite you having booked on separate tickets and therefore not needing to be 'protected' and got you there quickly.

On most airlines I think the best you could ask for would be "Original Routing Credit" (ie get the CX miles)

Alternatively I presume you could have rejected the flight and asked to be booked on the next available HKG-LAX flight.

The weather in HK affected all outbound flights and thus, in a domino effect, flights due to return to HK. It was a system wide, thing that travellers, especially regular ones, have to learn to deal with. It's hard for CX to know what customers really want. They may well assume that you have to/want to/need to be in LA at all costs, and thus an AA J class seat would be acceptable.

For point (1) in the OP,

OP can should be able to request the mileage in the original ticket NRT-HKG-LAX despite he/she traveled on NRT-LAX directly. This is according to Asiamiles -> Terms & Conditions -> Air Mileage Credits -> (2)

As someone mentioned above, it probably was difficult for CX to know exactly what you want. I believe in the world of airline economics it costs more to put pax on other airlines than your own, however if the following LAX flights were full as you said the economics might have swung differently (meaning they'd have to bump someone for you, which may be more pricey in their eyes than buying you a ticket on AA). Then, they probably combined that with the fact that they got you quickly to your destination - many pax aren't like FT regulars, and want to get to the destination at all costs.

Regardless, since you booked the HKG-LAX flight separately and since you really wanted to fly CX, what you should have done is probably demand to be forced into J class on a HKG-LAX flight 24 hours or later (assuming you bought a C or J class fare, which is what they'll guarantee DMs). CX does not have to give a seat unfortunately if it's within 24 hours, or if you want I or D class. I sympathize with your situation given it's AA, but I think it's probably a stretch to ask for $$$ compensation since it was really on you to refuse their option and then fly CX. Many people would be thankful they didn't have to fly the roundabout way NRT-HKG-LAX, which is definitely a bit of a detour towards LAX. You should, however collect the miles.

As a Diamond member I am very surprised you are not aware of the rules governing this kind of situation and I cannot see CX offering you anything other than a thank you for flying with us letter

I sent a complaint letter through the form on the MPC website more than four months ago and am still waiting for a reply, so I would keep my expectations of any reply quite low.

Its called the Ostricht means of dealing with problems and its works

Updates
 

I faxed a missing mileage request form to MPC for my AA flight (I didn't see my MPC # on my AA BP so I'm pretty sure the ground staff at NRT forgot to give that info to AA when transferring me). Guess what? CX did not reimburse the AA mileage from NRT-LAX, BUT reimbursed mileage for both legs NRT-HKG-LAX. I guess that's because I paid full fare for both legs and I think they are indeed very reasonable.