Status match from UA 1K
So, i asked for CX status match from UA 1K. They only offered Silver. Is that a reasonable deal?
Also, had anybody managed to get an enrollment $100 fee waiver? Thanks. |
I'm not sure about 1K, but I know a number of Global Services guys based in SF. In general I spend around 1-1.5x what they do annually except on CX (they're in the 50-75k USD range) and I'm "only" Cathay Diamond. Cathays special tier is "Diamond Plus" and although there is variance generally you need to be doing 150k+ USD on Cathay metal only. Some people have gotten it less who fly crazy amounts regionally but in general that's what you're looking at.
In general people just spend a lot more dough getting the same same bene on CX aka it is not good value at all. Anecdotal evidence in here says you're not bad off looking at AA and BA programs, which are apparently a lot easier to earn than CX. And frankly CX is quite good to their partners. the CX program really isn't that great when you take into account just how hard it is to earn the status, others can correct me but I believe it is among if not the hardest (aka stingiest) OW programs to earn the tiers. Some folks posted on here who would be AA EXP (OW Emerald) havent been able to hit CX Gold, just fyi. It is especially bad if you don't fly J and F cash fares. Then you definitely should go with a partner because it's virtually impossible to get the higher tiers on CX in economy. Although if you are flying from cheap outports you can still get CX status "reasonably" because they often sell cheap fares from outports places like China, Vietnam, etc. if you can prove you flew a lot of CX or have upcoming J or F cash tickets on CX I bet you can get Gold. But they don't just hand it out. Most folks realize the US award programs are highly generous. Diamond coming from 1K I'd say is a zero pct chance. Silver is great value btw if you live in HK. Since it comes with lounge access at all of CX's operated business class lounges. If you're just going to fly CX a few times a year from outports, not so much. But yea don't expect much from 1K. Good luck. They will be more accommodating if yovue already swiped your card on a few expensive J or F class fares. |
Thanks, this is very informative. So, would BA Executive Club be a better value?
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Originally Posted by QRC3288
(Post 30967472)
Silver is great value btw if you live in HK. Since it comes with lounge access at all of CX's operated business class lounges. If you're just going to fly CX a few times a year from outports, not so much.
Umm...I think SL is good value regardless, and SL members actually can use any lounge designated for CX and KA J pax as long as departing on CX or KA (except for JFK where, except CX845, SL members can only access the Admirals Club). For example, when flying out of LAX, I can use the oneworld lounge; out of RMQ, I can use "The More" lounge; etc. |
Originally Posted by gruimed
(Post 30968028)
Thanks, this is very informative. So, would BA Executive Club be a better value?
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I'm at crossroads. I've been with *A for a while and it is OK, except for flights from TLV to Asia, which is a pain. My plan was to maybe go down one notch from UA 1K to Gold and try to maintain Silver with CX, as it is convinient to fly with them to Asia. Maybe I should take that offer...
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Why not match to AA? I believe they'll give you a challenge to match to EXP. Getting AA status flying on CX is dead simple, provided one buys PE, J or F fares. No flights on AA metal required.
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Originally Posted by gruimed
(Post 30967426)
So, i asked for CX status match from UA 1K. They only offered Silver. Is that a reasonable deal?
Also, had anybody managed to get an enrollment $100 fee waiver? Thanks. No enrollment fee paid :D . This was around 1.5 years ago, around the time, the worsening of the MPC "features" did start taking its toll on the CX customer loyalty. I don't know whether CX does still does do this. Added: What CX/MPC certainly wants to see, is commitment. Have 2-3 flights in J booked already (or use as a negotiation item) and there is a serious chance, they want to "pull you in". Your negotiation would be to "contact MPC", agree on Gold, IF you book 3 flights in J and IF you do and did fly 1 or 2, they grand you free Gold. It all depends on your negotiation skills towards MPC people. Regarding the "difficult to earn status" on MPC: Because of the reset, it takes a "little" longer to obtain the highest status. Effectively, if you start flying at DM intensity, it'll take you 3 months to get to Silver, another 6 months for Gold and then 1 year to get DM. Without reset, it would take you 1 year to get to DM. Though other airlines do also have the "reset", even worse, for example at the calendar year, where CX does 12 months (and if you plan properly 13 months). Or BA with the requirement for 4 legs on own metal. Or need to live in the US. All FF/Loyalty programs are being dressed down, every, all Alliances, just read the relevant FT Forums and you will see the whine and complaints everywhere. |
Originally Posted by gruimed
(Post 30967426)
So, I asked for CX status match from UA 1K. They only offered Silver. Is that a reasonable deal?
Also, had anybody managed to get an enrollment $100 fee waiver?. How many flights have you done/will do on CX? https://www.oneworld.com/travel-benefits (at the bottom of the page) OW Emerald = CX Diamond OW Sapphire = CX Gold OW Ruby = CX Silver |
On BAEC those necessary segments can be on any operator so long as the flight is a BA code.
BA flight no. = BA-marketed = Happiness & perfection There is a lot of BA codesharing ex-HKG too. |
They have a historical policy of treating status matches lukewarmly though. BAEC is still an excellent programme for earning and retaining status - or so it seems!
Perhaps match to a oneworld airline more amenable to the practice - LATAM, AA? - and then earn with BAEC in the same year. If you fly enough as a 1K now to make Gold Guest List with BA, AA will try to treat you the same way as someone with Concierge Key. It all depends on your travel habits. Good luck. |
Originally Posted by Boreas
(Post 30969894)
On BAEC those necessary segments can be on any operator so long as the flight is a BA code.
BA flight no. = BA-marketed = Happiness & perfection There is a lot of BA codesharing ex-HKG too. |
Originally Posted by sxc
(Post 30969961)
But only if you buy a ticket with a long haul BA flight included. |
Originally Posted by gruimed
(Post 30968556)
My plan was to maybe go down one notch from UA 1K to Gold and try to maintain Silver with CX, as it is convinient to fly with them to Asia. Maybe I should take that offer...
TLV (or Israel) is a dedicated airport (country). Due to some you-know-I-know problems, not many airlines are willing to fly to TLV. So while I agree that it is PITA to fly to TLV, switching to another program is not necessary the answer here. |
Originally Posted by Boreas
(Post 30969913)
They have a historical policy of treating status matches lukewarmly though. BAEC is still an excellent programme for earning and retaining status - or so it seems!
Perhaps match to a oneworld airline more amenable to the practice - LATAM, AA? - and then earn with BAEC in the same year. If you fly enough as a 1K now to make Gold Guest List with BA, AA will try to treat you the same way as someone with Concierge Key. It all depends on your travel habits. Good luck. |
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