Well I would argue it was very successful. CX wanted to dispose of PEY/Y Diamonds, befouling the first class lounges, and they succeeded. Where they (arrogantly/spectacularly?) failed is in not realising these customers who once blindly, and often, booked CX without thought, would move to other airlines, and subsequently be very happy with the change.

Like myself and many other smaller businessmen not backed by corporate expense accounts. Who also took their staff travel with them. Therein lies the irony, it appears CX is now reliant upon corporate contracts leveraging cheap business class fares while dishing out the MPC perks.

Given my travel since the change I would have stayed at MPC Diamond as my class of travel went up, but that was not a guarentee at the time. I expected under the changes to drop to Gold, and if my recent experience as an AA OWE going to Shanghai and returning as a CX Gold (All Credit Card) the difference in benefits and treatment was surprising, and serve to re-inforce my orginal decision.