Building CX Status while using BA Status?
 

I'm currently BA Silver and enjoy the benefits of Sapphire status when I book CX using my BAEC number.

However, I fly CX more and more and with the recent BAEC changes, it makes sense for me to work on CX status going forward.

When I book an itinerary on CX using my Cathay Pacific FF number, will I still be able to use my BA/Oneworld Sapphire status?
Do I need to do anything extra/special to ensure I receive the benefits (e.g. seat selection)? I ask because if I apply my Cathay number to the booking, how does CX know my BA status?

In particular, my priorities are:

• Priority boarding
• Seat selection
• Business Check-in counter
• Lounges

Any tips would be appreciated.

I'll probably be able to hit Silver status within a few months, but I'd like to take advantage of the current Oneworld Sapphire perks on my way there.

What you want to do is input your BA status and select seats when buying the ticket, because CX is very good at recognising OWS benefits even at the purchasing step. This gives you access to free seat selection, even the bulkhead seats.

Later on you can swap to your CX # and at the lounge, just show them your BA Silver on the BAEC app to get in.

Does this cause any problems on the return leg? I have multi-city itineraries

Since BAEC announcement, there has been hundreds of threads on FT (including on CX forum) on how to move up status in another program while using BAEC current status benefits). CX is not regarded as an attractive candidate, so you don't get posts with that experience you need, while you get many for AY, MH, AA or QR.

Luckily CX is very flexible in terms on changing FFP on a ticket, as opposed to many other airlines.
You have to be careful when you change the FFP. Many airlines will immediately drop your seat selection or ask you to pay for it if you change early. I don't know for CX. But I have changed FFP as late as at the boarding gate without problem.

As you pointed out, this creates problems on the return leg as your ticket will now have a non-status FFP. Maybe rechange it after landing on your outbound (if possible) and go through the whole process again. Beware that third-party lounges might not have the link to CX system, so you need to find a CX representative cruising the lounge or at the gate.

You can change FFP on CX on a per-flight basis via the website and the app so you shouldn't need to change all of it at one go.

So long as you change it before "boarding completed" (and it updates as such on the CX backend as "flight departed") - I've changed it as late as in my seat the last seven (?) times - it'll credit to the right place. You can check where this will be credited from the FFP under the flight number on the CX website for a past flight, with the PNR.
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Has anyone deleted and then recreated their account to move the status point year? I imagine it could only be a one-time thing.
I just noticed my BA Silver status expires on 31 May, and instead of crediting my next flight to BA to retain status, if my CX year started now and I credited my upcoming flights to CX, I could hit CX Silver before my BA Silver status expires, which would suit me just fine.

CX tells me they can't change the year, but enough of my personal details have changed, so a new account might make sense.

I was wondering why you think there are a lack of threads / YouTube videos on gaining Cathay status through TP runs etc? It is because it’s mostly those in the UK / US who like chasing these or just because CX doesn’t give as many tier points on other OW carriers, meaning it only makes sense to go for it on CX metal? There are some TP opportunities if you’re flying intra-Asia so I’m surprised CX isn’t really a popular programme out there on the internet.

I can make a stab at a guess.

In terms of Blogs/YouTube, I think the content creators that survive only do so if there is a profitable audience for advertisers (i.e. Western/US), which requires higher disposable income for mass travel where you can afford to choose something other than the cheapest ticket. This would mean a skew to European and American programs, with the ME3 thrown in for a bit of glamour but not very outsized earning/redemptions.

With the recent changes, the gap between BAEC and other programs has narrowed and even inverted; hence, all the threads and YouTube videos on people looking to migrate or status match other programs.

But, Flyertalk is also a niche market. I don't think the average consumer cares about status/points beyond free flights.

I looked at Qatar, and if they offered a Premium Economy product, I would have gone with them as I prefer the rolling point/status year to a fixed year.
CX's program seems straightforward, competitive, and achievable, and it fits my travel pattern going East.

I get the irony, given the topic of this thread, but I can't see myself doing any more TP runs to chase status after being burned by BA.
For me, things just lined up for CX to be a viable program for me this year.

SInce the shocking BA announcement about attaining BAC status, there has been a huge amount of threads/posts evaluating the benefit of a switch of another OW FFP. That is on BA FT forum with threads like this one:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/brit...erald-ggl.html
And also on other FT forums (especially those airlines favored for switching), but also on other websites and bloggers. Sure FT is a "niche" forum, but most of posters are frequent flyers with status, which are those targeted by BA changes on requirements to earn status.

Choosing a best alternative FFP is quite dependent on the travel pattern: class you fly, typical itinerary, country of residence, credit card opportunities to reach status, meeting the FFP requirements in terms of own-metal minimum number of flights, etc..
CX is broadly evaluated as a not-attractive FFP to switch to gain status easily, compared to RJ, AY, and some others. Again that depends on your travel pattern. The_Diamond_Z has surely done his research and found CX attractive given his travel pattern, but I am not aware of anyone else; hence few posts.

I am not sure about your point about TP runs. BAC has decided to penalize CX (big competitor from UK) and clearly not a friend for some time. In the new BAC program, earning TP on OW partner airlines has become quite unattractive. Furthermore, the number of TP (sometimes called nTP, n=new) is now partner dependant. CX earns roughly half the number of TP of other BA partners. I understand that CX FFP is more attractive if you are based in Hong Kong. But is is no easy to qualify CX Gold (OWS equivalent to BA silver) from scratch, as you need to start again from scratch once you reach CX silver, as opposed to many other OW programs. Unless you fly extensively intra-Asia and earn enough ST (status points)

I agree, and for context, I'm not likely or even trying to reach Oneworld status.

I'm now based at DXB, and I've worked out that CX is a nice option for flights going East.
They've treated me well thus far, and with Premium Economy and CX Silver, I get most, if not all, of what I want from within the CX ecosystem.

As a result, I see little point in continuing with BAEC, so BA have lost my Westbound business.

Going West, the market is a price/value-based choice that will end up being Emirates PE or BA PE (credited to CX) most of the time, but I'm open to any carrier.

I also agree that CX & BA (or really IAG) don't play all that well together. @brunos, could you expand on your point that I've bolded? What do you mean by starting from scratch once you reach Silver?

The programme is designed around soft benefits and unwritten rules. You need to fly enough sectors/ spend enough time on CX metal after your TP runs to make good use of the program. Also, there are less costly options out in the market if you only need lounge access, for instance, RJ.

FFPs have many different rules. Just to mention a few among many. Of course there are all kinds of variations. I am comparing with BAEC, as you are familiar with it.

- FFPs could have a fixed status qualification date like old BAEC (but that can vary depending on when you first originally opened your account), or is the same for everyone as in the new BAC April 1st. The qualification date (end-date for collection) never changes.

- FFPs with fixed status qualification date usually are with no step-up. If you satisfy the requirement for a higher status at any time before the qualification end-date, then you move to a higher status immediately till the end-date, plus 12 months. Both BAEC and BAC have that feature. In other words, you can move directly to a high status (e.g.. BA Gold) without being penalized for having no status initially (BA Blue).

- FFPs could have a floating qualification date with a step-up rule like CX or AFKL. In order to achieve high status, you must progressively attain each lower status. When you achieve a higher status on CX, your Status Points are reset to zero, your qualification date is reset, and you get 12 months to achieve a higher status (or renew the current one). Basically, it makes it harder to achieve DM or Gold status for a newcomer than to renew those status.

- FFPs could have a floating qualification date with no step-up. For example with QR your status is for 12 months, but if you reach requirements for a higher tier at any time in the past 12 months (or the higher requirements in the past 24 months), you immediately get that higher status and your qualification date is reset with status valid for 12 months. Hence, you could move to QR Plat without being penalized for starting from no status.

There are many variations and mixes. I am just focusing on the question you asked. I am writing under time pressure, so I hope that I am clear enough.

BTW, CX silver is OneWorld Bronze, but it adds the very significant benefit of access to CX own lounges when traveling on a CX marketed/operated flight.

https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...onditions.html

So if I read this correctly, I need 300 Status Points to make Silver, and then another 600 to make Gold?

Yes, correct

I actually think CX FF tiers provide more perks than other OW partners and especially BAEC. With the new BAEC changes, I am going to build my CXFF from scratch and would start crediting OW flights to CXFF instead of BAEC. E.g. crediting BA flights to CXFF :cool:

Would appreciate any advice on the CXFF program!