It's a shame that they'll lose business from someone who is flying the # of miles you are, which incidentally is putting a lot of $ in their coffers. They really should give something...maybe an upgrade cert or two...when people cross 150 or 200k a year in elite miles. They just need to more clearly WHAT the benefits are you'll receive, instead of all these "unofficial" (official, in our minds) benefits. So if they say, "you will definitely get an upgrade cert at 150k, and at 200k, and at 250k as you keep accumulating past your DM status this qualifying year", that might take the sting off not receiving these "unofficial" benefits, like op-ups.

Right now they like the system of "unofficial" benefits because it reduces any liability they feel they'd have, and has created a trove of FT members who rejoice in saying things like "don't expect it" and "you get what you paid for". But hey, guess what, when you're contributing $150k a year in revenue to an airline and some other guy is only giving $10k, something just doesn't feel right about that when they're getting upgraded over you because they checked in first, or some other silly metric. So by clarifying a few things (aka, adding an "official" benefit or two past the 120k mark), it might do them great things in keeping valuable passengers like yourself.

I actually think there are great benefits to CX allowing lesser-spending pax to receive DM, get upgrades, etc. It builds incredible loyalty. They just need a way, however, to clearly go above and beyond rewarding those who are both loyal and highly profitable, without diluting the elite status. Upgrade certs or miles bonuses at the very high end (maybe even only at the 180k or higher mark in a 12 month period) is a good way to do that.

Wow! With the amount that you are flying AND paying, they passed you over??!!! I think you actually deserve it especially given the fact that there were non-DM getting the op-ups.

My partner splits between CX & UA, giving enough business (all in J,C,D or I) just to maintain DM, the rest goes to UA, especially when flying to the US. True the service and hard product is better on CX (with the exception of the coffin seats), but on UA the fare (75% extra for above Z) and status bonus (100%) is way better. Plus all those upgrades using GPUs (nothing equivalent on CX that we know of). Paying for the UA tickets using United Visa also gives triple miles - it all adds up very quickly. And we love using UA miles to get award on UA (a bit harder) and *A carriers - esp. TG.

Since DM+ is out of reach, there is absolutely no incentive to go beyond 120K, as a matter of fact, we decided to reset the qualification period and move it up early (reached DM at 10.5 months) so whatever is beyond 120K doesn't go to waste. We are based in HKG.

Jane,

Do you know why you were passed over? Did anyone tell you?

This is contrary to the belief on FT that Ds get upgraded first!

Incy.

No idea. Though I never believed the op-up policy was based strictly on status, and then strictly on BN as a tie-breaker among tiers. Have def seen enough data points in my own experience to believe that there is more mystery to the process.

Those won't be on miles I suppose as that would be too late to process deduction of miles etc?

There is a logic to op-up rules, if CX made it too subjective it would be a mad house. Many reasons why Jane would be passed over. Perhaps there was DM booking-linked with his colleague, with lower BN, and CX op-up them together. Perhaps there are families op-up together. On many TPE routes my wife (GR) and I (DM) were op-up together, to the other DMs that didn't get upgraded they may wonder how can my wife be op-up with only GR.

Empirical evidence (myself) suggest I get so much op-up ever since I made DM, and as DM + BN1 and overbook I haven't been passed over yet for an op-up.

Life after Diamond?
 

Comrades - I’ve been a Diamond member since 2007. I’ve renewed my Diamond status for next year in less than four months. Now, with eight months left in my qualifying year, I find myself wondering if I should continue religiously flying CX or if I should start building status on another carrier?

I don’t see myself getting to Diamond plus again, and, even if I did, the benefits I received the last time I reached that level didn’t seem significant.

CX still has a quality edge over most other carriers, but many other airlines now have flat seats in business class (not to mention far lower prices) and CX seems to be slowly deteriorating, especially with the quality of meals.

I used to enjoy the occasional complimentary upgrade from business to first, which was reason enough to fly CX, but now there is no first class to upgrade to on many, if not most, the flights I’m on. Business is as good as it gets.

Is there life after Diamond?

For a second, I thought you are talking about CB's complete opposite http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...ns-advice.html :D


There was a old thread relevant to your topic: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...r-diamond.html

Which routes do you usually fly?

The topic is indeed more related to this thread. I moved the thread over here.

cxfan1960
CX CoMod