Plus you earn 100% of miles for all economy class fares on BA if you opt for Avios. Even you buy deep discount fares, you still get 100% of the miles, plus the bonus tier miles. But this does not happen for CX. Buying deep discount fares on CX may not earn Asiamiles.
I would certainly choose BAEC.

Based on SQ KrisFlyer Gold from 100% discounted Y travel and no travel on CX at all.

wow,i became BA gold mainly by flying CX J and crediting to BA a/c and they refused to give me anything higher than MP silver which is BA ruby. i find it much easier in BA to Get/keep status than MP. I asked them because i am not so sure about getting the minimum 4 B.A flights this year

That's a pretty good deal

Based on the many threads I've seen, getting Silver comped is very easy.

Thank you very much for all the useful inputs.

Just a couple of clarifications. My colleague is not emerald currently, just BA silver (OW saphire) and he has no chance to make emerald on BA with travel in Y, eventhough he is going to share his time between this region and London. On the other hand he will make DM fairly easily in the near future (CX just offered an MPC silver comp). I agree that for J travel, it is easier to qualify emerald on BAEC (my case), but that is not his travel pattern.
I do get the argument that status is not the only attraction in a FFP and that staying with BAEC will let him earn significantly more miles and awards require less miles. So being OW saphire on BAEC relative to OW emerald on CX might not be unattractive. What I am also pointing out is that CX treats well its DM, so that there is more opup potential if he flies CX (although BA upgrade policy is not bad). He prefers BA Y seat to the current nonreclining CX seat, so that is a factor but CX is installing a better seat. And being British he tends to prefer the flag. Clearly if he chooses MPC, he will fly relatively more on CX than if he chooses BAEC.

Well that is his decision now.

To be frank, tell him that op-up is quite unlikely to happen for London/Hong Kong route. Even if there is op-up, it's just to Premium Economy class, which makes minimal difference to Economy class. I'm sure he is hoping for J-class when he means op-up.

I assume your friend is in HK but if it's an option for him, could he open up a UK AMEX Plat to gain instant MP Gold? Might be a nice little boost for him (albeit with a year annual fee to amex) but he'll get the gold, plus a heap of bonus miles etc...

It really depends, during peak period of school holiday it is almost guaranteed u get opup on this route. I recall almost every January when I travel on this route I am almost in F class all the time. Of course It is harder now with the 77w.

It is not about being the top elite, but about how you can maximize the benefits.

OP-up is not really a benefit. Beside - based in LHR, it will be difficult to see the chance (as your friend will only travel LHR-HKG). A lot of people actually get op-up with other CX routes.

To be honest - current nonreclining CX seat was the "new" seat. CX simply need a time machine to go back.

Doesn't he know that Swire is a British company?

Has everyone forgotten about AAdvantage ... ?

Pay US$240 to do a challenge...http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-platinum.html

Just one round trip on BA in economy (in any booking class) between LHR and HKG will bring you to AA Platinum which is Oneworld Sapphire. On AA Platinum you will immediately earn 100% bonus on many Oneworld carriers... including BA, IB, AA, AS, RJ, JL, CX (certain booking classes only). Note that with BAEC, he only earns bonus miles when flying on BA, IB and AA. AAdvantage has so many more partners.. see below:

See : http://www.aa.com/i18n/AAdvantage/el...itestatusbonus

But when travelling on BA or AA, you get extra baggage allowance in economy on any route.. 2 pieces bag at 32kg EACH !

TO continue to AA Exec Platinum (Emerald), you will still need the total base miles of 100K. But it makes getting there plus bonus miles so much more nicer..!

And the best bonus? ... No fuel surcharges on award flights (except with BA).. !

No...but since OP is "comparing" BAEC and MPC. For the sake of argument, bringing up the dAArkside may not be a solution at all (Beside - OP's friend is LHR-based. There is a chance that OP's friend can't earn 100% elite bonus.)

Thanks Guy Betsy. Indeed, he had not considered AA, but should. He will have a HK address as he will spend significant time here.

This forum is really extremely useful, thank you guys.

Garyhunk, it seems that CX has used a time machine
http://www.cathaypacific.com/cpa/en_...eweconomyclass

Reminder that AA status requires 4 flights on AA per year to renew. Also while AA may have the easiest qualification requirements, I would tend to question the value of having status on an airline that one never (or rarely) flies with. As an AA Emerald member, I'm sure that one would expect nothing more than perfunctory service and published benefits on both CX and BA.

I don't have a huge amount of experience on BA, but I know that when it comes to unpublished benefits, CX values their own Gold (Sapphire) members much more highly than other carrier's Emerald members.

Would AA be suitable for this pax, though? Flying discount Y on CX would rule out any mileage earning at all (AA doesn't codeshare on LHR-HKG). And while it's a bit better on BA, you'd still have to keep a constant eye on booking code.