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Originally Posted by CX860
(Post 36884360)
I think based on his replies that CXwaterboy has the same experience/understanding as me.
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I work at a major investment bank. Virtually everyone that travels on the floor made good use of the benefit for both work and personal travel (as mentioned in above posts, it's basically a de facto waiver on change fees and a 'free option' to lock into a lower fare class, with the flexibility to not issue the ticket until very close to departure time).
I can understand how this was too good to be true. But I still think there could have been some middle ground instead of what we have today. And yes the benefit was killed mainly out of revenue protection for guess where but...CTS. (Ironically, I don't think the CTS route performed as well as they wanted it to be this year. Hahaha) |
Originally Posted by G-CIVC
(Post 36884405)
I work at a major investment bank. Virtually everyone that travels on the floor made good use of the benefit for both work and personal travel (as mentioned in above posts, it's basically a de facto waiver on change fees and a 'free option' to lock into a lower fare class, with the flexibility to not issue the ticket until very close to departure time).
I can understand how this was too good to be true. But I still think there could have been some middle ground instead of what we have today. And yes the benefit was killed mainly out of revenue protection for guess where but...CTS. (Ironically, I don't think the CTS route performed as well as they wanted it to be this year. Hahaha) |
The issue that I suspect CX is trying to solve is that people perceive the program to be too complex and too difficult to earn status/perks.
The majority of this thread is focused on IYKYK aspects of the Cathay program - that’s a serious problem if you’re trying to entice people to commit to the airline / program. It’s great if you’re on the inside track (where I generally count myself as being!) but a challenge to broader appeal. |
Originally Posted by CX860
(Post 36884426)
I think the 3/4 weeks that seems to be the de facto policy with the ability to extend if the flight isn't very full seems like a reasonable middle ground. Or they could go back to unlimited but only for the actual diamond rather than the whole truck to solve the CTS problem.
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Originally Posted by cxwaterboy
(Post 36884455)
The benefit still exists, but only for a very small group of the highest spenders. ;)
Ironically, those still with the benefit are probably the most price elastic... |
Originally Posted by CX860
(Post 36884495)
Yes, I mean more generous ticketing deadline for plebs like me.
Ironically, those still with the benefit are probably the most price elastic... |
Originally Posted by thomas164
(Post 36881260)
I will be very curious about SP of Economy Flex tickets. These tickets aren’t a lot more expensive in intraasia flights, but earn quite a bit of SP (maybe 3 times of lite).
Originally Posted by QRC3288
(Post 36883086)
I've also noticed another appreciated change: tighter seat blocking, but easily and quickly making it available to DMs.
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Originally Posted by ernestnywang
(Post 36884549)
May I ask if you mean award seat or revenue seat availability or something else?
Or a recent flight when the F cabin section was blocked off but opened to me solo (J class flight) when a few seats in rows 11-26 were still open, and it was apparently done "automatically by the system" according to the agent. (I had asked for rows 11-12, which I was told were full, but it didn't matter since the system put me in row 1 anyway). |
Originally Posted by CX860
(Post 36884360)
I think based on his replies that CXwaterboy has the same experience/understanding as me.
I am getting the sense that you have had some bad agents haha. The official T&Cs say that the ticketing deadline extension for diamonds is as communicated from time to time. I can't find the communication but if you look at the second response in the thread below, you will see what it was communicated as (officially). Its meant to be 5 days but somehow I always end up with a longer deadline (3 weeks usually - maybe CX had a quiet change of heart). In any case, if you want to force it, there are cheeky ways to force a longer than 5 day deadline. Honestly, I don't really care for the 1,600 and 1,800 benefits since I find them a bit impractical - but there seems to be a split opinion on this in this thread. The ticketing extension is much more practical for me (and it seems some others). If they want to get rid of mid-tier benefits and swap out with rollover or some other perks (maybe more generous ticketing deadline but I can think of a few others), I am all for it. https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...onditions.html Ticketing arrangement for Diamond Members i. On CPA marketed and operated flights, Diamond Members and their travel companions travelling on the same reservation may receive an extended ticketing deadline (“Ticketing Deadline Extension”) when booking their tickets through Customer Care, subject to the terms below. The applicable Ticketing Deadline Extension is as determined by CPA and will be notified to Diamond Members from time to time. https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...tml?styleid=24 My previous agents have no problem holding my booking for the stated timeframe from the communication. They just wouldn't hold the price. |
Originally Posted by ernestnywang
(Post 36884549)
I find ECONFLEX to be way too expensive.
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Just by saying BUD (1600 SP)
If their "new" DM+ is 2400 SP, that would be nonsense as CX uses a "200" points tier after DM. (1400 for F lounge invitation, 1600 BUD, 1800 Gold invitation). "Blanking" 1200 to 2400 will just let people stay at 1200. (rollover does not mean a thing as 1200 is somehow easy for DMs) The thing is BUD is hard to use as they have no "certain" rules on how to use it (faced A class was selling but did not clear my BUD). CX seems to have a problem with "Understanding" customer needs. In their mind, customer complains about BUG/BUD so we can just "cut" it to solve it. |
One more thing regarding UO(ex-KA)
CX is still doing nothing to UO, especially ex-HKG. (Which cannot buy CX-coded UO flight) By adopting some ports that KA operates and for travellers, CX should think of how to adopt Scoot/euro wings style operation for CX MPC. |
Originally Posted by VE105
(Post 36885736)
Thanks for your info. Is there official statement / terms that states holding ticket = holding current price / fare class so next time I can show it to another bad agent?
My previous agents have no problem holding my booking for the stated timeframe from the communication. They just wouldn't hold the price. They will quote you the current fare and email you the reservation. At MMB, you just proceed as normal. Well basically that’s how the travel agents used to deal with ticketing. The old policy of ticketing at online check-in was much more generous. If you don’t need the tickets, you can just let it expire. When you want to issue, just call CS again. The up-to-date fare is guaranteed for 24 hours. If you held I-fare but they want you to ticket D, they are just incompetent. |
Originally Posted by cxwaterboy
(Post 36886106)
If you held I-fare but they want you to ticket D, they are just incompetent.
Have to do that a few times when getting something done with call centre (on redemption) |
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