CX MPC vs BA BAEC
 

Hello guys,

If you have a choice between banking the club points/tier points into CX MPC/BA BAEC to become CX SL/BA Silver or CX GO/BA Gold respectively, which one would you guys pick? Based on my fly pattern, it seems I can achieve a one level higher OneWorld status with BA than with CX. Yet, I am flying with CX most of the time. Thanks! :)

I chose BAEC - higher opportunity for status, better redemption rates (for shorter distances)

I assume you can achieve the 4 sectors on BA requirement for BAEC?

Yes yes! I can do that!

CX Gold (Sapphire) vs BA Gold (Emerald):
- CX Gold I think puts you higher up on the CX op-up list than OW Emerald
- CX Gold gives you the guaranteed economy class seat (as least for full fare economy)
- CX Gold doesn't require the 4 sectors on BA
- BA Gold gets you OWE benefits including F lounge access
- BAEC generally has better earn/burn ratios
- BAEC eventually gets you lifetime Emerald but it sounds like you are borderline Sapphire so it will take you a long time to get there

What about CX SL vs BA Silver? Does CX put CX SL a higher priority on the CX op-up list than the OWS? Thanks!

No, OWS is ahead of CX SL:

VIP (Heads of State, Government Bodies, or Canto Pop/Movie stars)
CX Diamond Plus
CX Diamond Invitation, Diamond
CX Gold
CX management staff on travel duty
oneworld Emerald
CX staff on duty nominees , other airline staff nominees, CX staff on personal travel
oneworld Sapphire
CX Silver
oneworld Ruby
CX Green
Asia Miles
Non status

You have to carefully think over what are the fare classes you will be purchasing on CX for your HK-Asia/Aus/NA trips. If you stick to PEY and above, you should be fine. But if you will be purchasing sub Y fares, chances are you won't be meeting your desired BA Silver/Gold.

This 'order' has been 'broken' in so many anecdotes these few years, I would consider this to be for reference only.

Do you fly US Domestic? BA Silver will give you lounge access when not flying on CX.

Your profile says you already have BA Silver - what do you like about BA silver vs CX?

I rarely fly US domestic. But I thought CX Gold will allow me to get into the AA domestic lounge as well?

BA Silver is has a good earn/burn ratio and the household account comes in handy! Also, there is a 50% avios bonus which is great! Especially, I can even earn TPs when I am flying on cheap intra-EU fares. But the one consideration is, it seems CX gives better soft-perks to its own MPC members...

No brainer for me. BA Gold is a tier higher than CX Gold. F lounge access and check-in/boarding far trump the occasional, non guaranteed upgrade. Unless you are DM I wouldn't be counting on many upgrades anyway.

Actually I don't know why I specifically called out US domestic. But BA Silver is better than CX Silver for the lounge access you get when you're not flying CX. I know you say you mostly fly CX, but for the times you don't you'll wish you had OWS.
Agree with 1010101

BAEC no doubt.

Bonus miles on AA/JL/BA, soft landing, cheap regional flights, and about 50-100% easier to achieve.

However... you're HKG based you have ample choices of credit cards earning Asia Miles to redeem, so if you don't fly that much- CX might be the better way to get flight awards.

I too would go for BAEC gold (OWE) rather than CX MPC gold (OWS). CX generally treats other airlines OWE very well, including being high up on the op up priority list.