Is it worth chasing Diamond status as a Gold?
 

I’m at around 1000 CPs right now and wondering if it’s worth doing a run for the additional 200CPs to become Diamond, even if only for a year of diamond status?

Looking forward, I can sustain being Gold quite easily since typical biz travels rack up around 600CPs. Personal travel is unlikely to be as high next year so quite likely to drop back to Gold in 2025.

I guess another way to frame it is if HKD$7000 (which is roughly what a 200CP run would cost) is worth it for 1 year of diamond

Is $7k worth it to me? heck no!
Is $7k worth it to some people? maybe!
is $7k worth it to bloggers and those redeeming Y travel every other week? hell yea!

How much time do you typically spend in lounges? How much would a few more F lounge visits worth TO YOU?
Are you travelling in Y or J? If the latter, is the slim chance of getting a F cabin product upgrade worth it to YOU?

Only YOU can answer this question yourself

Pre-pandemic i would have said yes. Probably even "hell yes". Pre-pandemic my biggest benefit from Diamond was the regular upgrades on my short haul flights to PE or Biz. Since the pandemic - only ONE upgrade (admittedly it was on a medium haul flight so worth more to me). But as the other guy says, up to you if you value the other (imho smaller) benefits.

I asked this question some years back at one of the new year yum chas attended by Percy Smith et al. The consensus was, "why not go for it and then see what you think?" I did, and have been DM ever since.

Thanks for the replies and the great points so far.

Forgot to add that since I fly J for biz and a mix of Y/J for personal, the main benefit of status is getting lounge access for my family when we travel together.

Any experience how lenient the lounge is with allowing wife, 4 year old child and a new born into the lounge under Gold status which technically only allows one additional guest?

If that’s pushing it as a gold member then it might be worth it to me to shell out to get Diamond if that guarantees the whole family lounge access.

Out of curiosity, what routing would give you 200 CPs for HK$7000?

If it's 7k HKD, might as well try it, if flying is a hobby - people spend much more on their hobbies like golf, etc.

Just make sure to report back so we know how the GO --> DM treatment is now!

There is no hurt to try bringing wife and two young kinds all together entering the lounge. If denied, spending miles for lounge access would be an option which is cheaper than 7000 dollars.

Except for lounge access, you could also think of the upgrade voucher for 1000 cp tier awards.
In case you get it every year.

sorry for this, but just curious, how can a 7000 HKD trip net 200 status points on cathay? even a flight to Mumbai could only net you around 60 status points on a round trip? Thanks

I'd do it for 200 CP. But if you barely scraped past Gold, trying to earn another 600 for Diamond is definitely not worth it. Also, if you're not based in HKG, it's definitely not worth it.

Thoughts:
* First Class lounges have way better food and beverage options. As well as cabanas and massages in HKG at least (less impact if you are not based in HKG). Other good OW First Class lounges are in LHR (BA), HND (JL), and LAX (QF)
* I get perks like same day standby changes for free. Helpful on shuttle-like routes like PEK->HKG, but its an unpublished benefit so YMMV.
* Priority security at HKG is really valuable especially given the staffing shortages there. Again, if not in HKG, this benefit does not apply.
* Free buggy to the 60 gates at HKG. Again, if not in HKG, this benefit does not apply.
* I've almost never gotten free op-ups on CX even when I was Diamond. Only got on my bday and full flights (got pushed up to make space for overbooked lower cabins)

Have you had any experience getting free standby with Economy Light or Economy Essential after the fare family concept was introduced? Thanks!

Umm, "got pushed up to make space for overbooked lower cabins" is what is called an op-up :)

Diamond is definitely better than Gold

"is it worth it" depends on personal circumstances. but being FFP program, unless you travel often, benefit is of little use.

$7,000 is worth it for the advantaged redemption alone, if you're also redeeming Asia Miles.

do you know which route can get you a 200 SP with 7k flying on Cathay? It would seem like a good deal to me if your a bit away from the next tier