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Originally Posted by QRC3288
(Post 18316549)
This policy, combined with the policy at the end of 2010 to have both legs confirmed before you burn the miles, puts a real dent in the value of DM. Unseen on the airplane but probably the most significant devaluation since I joined 5 years ago.
One of the great things about DM was it made personal travel a lot cheaper and convenient. Basically, it was CX's way of giving you a discount on a few flights every year. I could buy a H or D ticket, for example, and use miles (often on flights that were quite full, with very short notice) to ensure I flew J or F instead of having to pay for them as usual. Seats were usually released and it was extremely easy to know what you were going to get (aka, before the 2010 change you could guarantee J class on the flight you wanted, because of the DM Y class guarantee. You first confirmed or waitlisted the award, and then you made the booking in H or K. So you could basically make your J booking, without any hassles or confirmation issues, while making use of all those miles you accumulated. It was a nice way of saving some $). This felt like a genuine perk in exchange for how many miles I had booked on CX over the years (usually well over the 120k mileage threshold annually, in Y short haul and J and F longhaul), so now I feel like I'm just going to end up with a lot more miles in the account since it's going to be harder to burn them. I guess it just got incrementally more attractive to book your miles to AA. I probably still won't switch over, because the op-ups are great when they come through. And the new lounge is likely quite good if the new J Wing is anything to go off. But this is indeed a bummer. During the flight, the ISM told me that they had three empty J class seats...amazing how CX allows for empty seats to go where they could have pleased a DM member by releasing this at departure (even on V class ticket) and a reduction of 45,000 miles (or 35,000 for oneway portion of the return redemption of 80,000 miles). CX, if you are reading this forum, please amend your internal policy if you are to get any goodwill from your longstanding DM members. DO NOT DOWNGRADE YOUR BENEFITS as THIS WILL ONLY HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACT!!! |
Originally Posted by 380Flyer
(Post 18317621)
Just got off HKG-LAX flight and whilst CX could not confirm a J class upgrade redemption at the time of booking, I didn't want to risk paying more (K class inventory) so opted for V class for HKG-LAX to save USD 200 in the event U class inventory doesn't come through...I could use this for something more useful!
During the flight, the ISM told me that they had three empty J class seats...amazing how CX allows for empty seats to go where they could have pleased a DM member by releasing this at departure (even on V class ticket) and a reduction of 45,000 miles (or 35,000 for oneway portion of the return redemption of 80,000 miles). CX, if you are reading this forum, please amend your internal policy if you are to get any goodwill from your longstanding DM members. DO NOT DOWNGRADE YOUR BENEFITS as THIS WILL ONLY HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACT!!! |
Originally Posted by bagold
(Post 18306370)
Do you know the London your flight you want? If it is near full I've also had difficulty getting it released. No problem is not too full.
Not being able to burn, makes me wonder its not worth sticking to CX and perhaps consider HK airlines competative HKD 17k for Business seats, especially if CX plan to stick to this new internal policy. |
Originally Posted by kevkmkwok
(Post 18313567)
So I politely asked the agent to seek authorization from his supervisor to get a clearance and then the agent told me from 22 March onwards, they can no longer ask to release seats on a full flight even for a DM! He apologized and say it is a change of internal policies.....
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I concur to observations. No longer possible to get a U-confirmed even on a fairly empty flights. Flip-side, in all fairness, is that you can still do waitlist and chances of clearing has been relatively good. So if you can't get it "released" on first shot, maybe ask for waitlist... give it 2 days, if still not cleared... oh well.
i know it's a bugger. But i've seen it so well so many times devaluation of FFP value/benefits. That's why I never ever (1) keep too high of balances, keep on using them as I go, and (2) never do CX any favor for example by up-sell to a higher class ticket. If you get DM, perhaps as part of work travel, well great fringe benefit... if you are the fortunate type to have got DM on personal travels, you can demonstrate your anger/frustration by taking the business elsewhere. reality is would you? Even for these "devaluations" CX DM is perhaps still where you would bank your miles to... if you had alternatives, you would have done so, and I guess most guys are just stuck here. CX knows that :mad:. |
Originally Posted by 380Flyer
(Post 18317621)
Just got off HKG-LAX flight and whilst CX could not confirm a J class upgrade redemption at the time of booking, I didn't want to risk paying more (K class inventory) so opted for V class for HKG-LAX to save USD 200 in the event U class inventory doesn't come through
It will also likely cause more people to do airport upgrades with Asia Miles, which ties in with the customer having less ability to plan his class of service ahead of time. I guess they've made the decision that the risk of having empty J or F seats outweighs the benefits of a.) allowing DMs to waitlist, and b.) clearing DMs early into those cabins on upgrade awards. |
No More "guaranteed upgrades"
The "guaranteed upgrade" is something we've enjoyed for years and the only justification in my mind for working hard to keep DM status.
If it's any consolation, the difference between J and F (long haul) is so minor now, it's not worth "burning" miles for an upgrade anyway, so this is no loss. The question now becomes: What is the benefit of being DM? |
Originally Posted by paisan96
(Post 18323071)
The question now becomes: What is the benefit of being DM?
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Originally Posted by QRC3288
(Post 18323654)
Hopefully the new F lounge at the Wing blows it away when it opens?
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It's true. Policy did change
I didn't believe the thread starter, 380Flyer, that CX would do this, so I phoned CX.
I just got off the phone to upgrade my flight to LAX next week using miles and they confirmed they no longer offer this service for Diamond Members and that upgrades cannot be waitlisted. What do we do with all the miles we have accumulated? Those miles have now been grossly devalued. |
Furthermore......
Furthermore, since CX will likely not confirm a miles upgrade now until flight time (when they know they won't be able to sell that seat) , we will be forced to use two (2) 50,000-mile one-way upgrades rather than being able to plan ahead and use one (1) 85,000-mile return upgrade for long haul travel. We are also left to compete for upgrades with other airlines passengers, Green, Silver and Gold members of the Marco Polo Club.
As most DM's have busy schedules, we don't have the luxury of planning our trips around flights/days when an upgrade might be available. With CX's frequent flights and great connections, I suppose they don't need to worry about many of us defecting to other airlines (also known as "taking your best customers for granted".). |
Stingy upgrades - Who's still valuing Asia Miles at >HK$0.2 now?
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Originally Posted by paisan96
(Post 18324110)
I just got off the phone to upgrade my flight to LAX next week using miles and they confirmed they no longer offer this service for Diamond Members and that upgrades cannot be waitlisted.
This inability to stay on a waitlist up to departure is one of only two things about Asiamiles/MPO that drive me absolutely bonkers. The other of course being the must-issue-upgrade-as-segments-clear rule, meaning that the published roundtrip mileage amounts for upgrades are a fiction -- and in a better world would come under scrutiny from a fair trade commission somewhere. |
Originally Posted by paisan96
(Post 18324217)
With CX's frequent flights and great connections, I suppose they don't need to worry about many of us defecting to other airlines (also known as "taking your best customers for granted".).
Roll on competition I say. Even tho Jetstar HK's not it. |
CX, take note that DM members are not happy with your policy for not been able to use our mileage for upgrades. :eek:
In difficult environment such as the one we are currently in, you cannot afford to side ways with your members. :o My other concern is that if I have to issue the revenue economy class ticket in specific revenue booking designator class code and waitlisted for a U class upgrade to business class, then I am paying extra for nothing if the upgrade doesn't come through. :mad: Why should I give you the extra revenue when you can't be flexible with our requirements! :confused: I feel that CX is feeling all superior these days since it has performed much better than its regional peers and that it can bully its most valuable supporters. :D As much as I like CX, I am beginning to get slightly irritated with the non-sense that's going with the MPO/Asia Miles service centre and the difficulty in getting through to them. :td: I also noticed that there is another change in policy relating to seating. Now, you can only make changes to your seat allocation online within 55 hours and until online check-in opens. Otherwise, you have to pray that you will get through to CX call centre. :td: I am not going to buy into the excuse of the recent reservation system upgrade and the lengthy delays due to system slow down...that has been nearly two months ago now and a fix should have been initiated and implemented by now. :td: |
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