I'm looking for some expert advice here. I'm on the road to renewing my MPC Gold status (after next RT flight to BKK), and will then have it through May 2002. I could probably get Diamond this year, partly because of the 50% additional miles that I'll get through next spring.

On the other hand, after this flight, I could probably fly Air Canada/TG for a couple of RTs, and this would enable me to probably get Aeroplan Gold (or whatever it is that gets you lounge access), since it's only 38,000 miles. I can't do both, so I've got to make a choice regarding airline selection in the future....

I enjoy flying Cathay (ususally), and it seems to be the fastest trip to SE Asia. On the other hand, I can't see that I'll get all that many more benefits for Diamond than for Gold, while qualifying with Aeroplan will give me * lounge access. I'm not sure what to do. I'm also not sure which airlines I'll be using most in the future, it partly depends on where my work is, and where my home might be...So, any opinions out there???

if it's a toss-up between FC over BC lounge access and OW & *A lounge access, i would say go for AC. that way, you'll get lounge access no matter which alliance you travel with.

It's Aeroplan Elite by the way. (they go by Prestige, Elite, and SUper Elite)

I guess you should consider what routes u fly most often. From ur previous threads, it seems to me you have no special "trend" of flying. If you can do most of your flying on OW careers, there isn't much point for u to accquire status on AC. But, if you want diversity (which is always good to have), u can try for Elite too.

I read an article sometime ago that there were less than 500 Diamond members on this planet. (Is it true?)... if so, you can continue to fly on CX, simply so that you can fulfill your ego of being one of the world's top 500 frequent flyers! But, from a rational point of view, I would say go for AC, unless u always want to be the "top" person.

The only consolation to being Diamond is that you will be considered for an upgrade first over other Golds and Oneworld Emeralds on CX flights.

Other than that, there really isn't much difference between Gold and Diamond.

I'm pretty much in the same dilemma as you.

Oh, I mis-wrote. After this, I'll have re-qualified as MPC Gold,and be good through May 2003.

That's the problem, if there was some tangible benefit to getting Diamond, then I'd go for it, but (if I understand correctly) there are no complimentary upgrades, no miles bonuses, etc..., then it's hard to see the point. Even as Gold, I've been upgraded on the past 4 segments I flew from YVR-BKK (both ways)--my sense is that I wouldn't do that much better as Diamond,as the rumor I hear is that if one is in coach, there are no upgrades (even for Diamonds) unless coach is full. Is this true?

Do any of you CX watchers have any idea if MPC is thinking of making any of their benefits more enticing? At least then I could think about it.

I really like the in-flight service and the Wing,but......

not really very tangible benefits...but here's the few major differences between Gold and Diamond that I see...

- access to F lounges when flying oneworld (Gold: J lounges only) with one guest (2 guests when flying CX and visiting a CX lounge)

- Diamond: access to CX J lounges even when not flying oneworld, with 2 guests

- 24 hrs guaranteed seat instead of 72 hrs for Gold, and valid for J/C bookings as well, not just economy (as for Gold)

- I believe they do have an unpublished "early re-qualification bonus" for Diamond's...i.e. if you re-qualify for Diamond early in your membership year, all your flight miles in the remainder of your current membership year earn you 100% bonus Asia Miles (an incentive to keep you flying even if you already have enough to re-qualify for Diamond)

- they are more willing to waive some service charges, e.g. "since you are a Diamond card member, we would waive the US$40 for changes in redemption group nominees"

- invitation to some Diamond/Invitation-members-only events ?

I have a colleague whom I travel with and he is a Diamond as opposed me who now holds a Gold membership.

His benefits that stand out from mine are the guest access which as is pointed out above is superior by one.

He also seems to get quite a few more incentives sent to him in the mail which are nice to have. The guarenteed seats for me is the best of all, we change our travel plans regularly and although I have been lucky in securing a seat on some busy flights, he seems to have less difficulty and seldom has to standby.

Oh well, I just have to look in envy for now.

Tedhl i notice you wrote "we will waive...."
Are you a staff of Cathay?

oh oh...no, I am not... note that I use quotes for that sentence...it's actually something I heard before from an MPO service rep and so quoted directly ...

I'm a CX Diamond. The biggest benefit to me is while traveling in the U.S., I get access to the Admirals Club or Flagship lounge, even when flying on a domestic coach ticket.

Other minor benefits in addition to those already listed are the Hyatt discounts which are good, the discount at Elemis, and my favorite an electric cart pass for the days I am at the Wing and my flight leaves from gate 385 in Macau

this is probably not true...I think a closer guess would be 500-1000 Invitation and 3000-4000 Diamond members, worldwide...of which more than half based in HKG...

which might not be that much of a benefit if one is not flying from/to a CX port.

Thanks Tedl.

I think that the benefits are generous and accept that not every port is covered. I don't know of any one airline that can meet all my needs but so far Cathay has shown me enough flexibility and benefits to keep me as a regular customer.

tedhl summarized the tangible benefits.

i am a CX DM member, i do not feel much difference when i mostly fly J class, sometiems F class.

if u always fly F, like GB, there isnt much difference in benefits.

to me, the bests are
1. F lounges in HK, and J lounge when flying into China
2. access AC/FL in NA

now i heard about the gold cart. but they had never offered to me even when my time was quite tight and the gate was near Macau!
(i was only offered golf carts by staff in DFW FL when i flew AA)