1) From my experience and also my colleagues and relatives, we NEVER had problems with baggage @ LHR T3 with CX, even during the morning mad rush. F Class tagged bags comes out first and the most I waited is around 15 minutes, which in LHR standard is good (compare to my QF/BA wait = 30 minutes +)

2) I sm stating for simongr, his tone and message is trying to perceive he is one of those DYKWIA type, sorry if I mistaken it or misunderstood him. I am trying to say, just because you take a few CX flights on an annual basis, that does not mean you instantly become VIP+ on an airline.

3) Well are you saying what BA did to the concorde room and arguably in T5 similar setup will be done (separating EMDs into the F class lounge) is correct?

They had a similar policy back in the old LAX TBIT as well and CX ack then
allowed EMD to go into the F Class lounge.

So if CX don't allow Oneworld EMD to access the F Wing/Pier and setup a separate lounge for Oneworld EMDs that is "comfy", will that change the perception and will that be OK then?

All I am saying is, since day 1 of Oneworld CX has been following the Oneworld Rules well and often extend more benefits (priority upgrades, opening up good seats etc...) that is fine when other airlines share the same benefit. But from my experience, even some of the basic Oneworld benefits that is clearly stated in the rules have to be argued before I can enjoy them. I still remember AA couldn't even check me through to HKG on the same ticket from BOS-JFK-HKG (same day connection) because the agent said:
"what is Cathy?"

I think you've missed his point entirely there.

The real issue here is employees getting priority over fare paying passengers. Let alone OWS and OWE pax... Sure op ups are not a stated perk, but let's get some priorities right!!

Yes LHR is a nightmare but not with CX. I go through LHR 6 times a year and I've always seen my bags on the carousel after I pass immigration and I'm not even a UK/EU passport holder. I don't even use fast track since the non-EU line is even shorter.

I've been on BA26 in J once. I waited for 45mins until most bags came out, and they weren't even in F/J/Y priority. Ok this might not be much, but this certainly isn't impressive at all given that LHR is their base and it is the first flight to touchdown in the morning!!!

The comparison to the Concorde Room is not appropriate. You can only get into the CR if you are flying F. As a BA Gold I can't get in flying Y, W or J. As a CX Diamond travelling BA in anything other than F, you and I are in the same boat - we get to use the F lounge. You on the other hand are advocating that CX limits the access to the F section of the Wing/Pier to its own Emeralds but not any others from within OW or would you be happy if they limited it to F pax only?

OK - just a little personal defence/defense - not quite sure what this thread is about now - the fact that CX treats OW pax well or that CX gives op-ups to staff over paying pax?

Umm - in paid J I get priority baggage - sure I am behind the 12-16 or so F pax and crew but I can live with that. Dont think my OW status impacts MPOs

Yup - completely correct and one of the many reasons I fly CX.

Have you seen my Amex statement? Have you any idea of how much I pay for travel? Is there a difference between a true DM+/DM and a false one? Did I ask to be put ahead of a DM or DM+? I think that every airline should treat it's own top tier pax the best - beyond any alliance. As someone who chooses to fly CX but not join their program I made the choice not to get their best benefit - I think I could qualify for CX DM (whatever their equivalent of OWE is) - but as the information is not easily available on their website I have chosen not to make the comparison.


I dont fly exclusively CX as they dont fly to Cyprus, domestically in the US, NYC-LON or domestically in Oz. I am sorry if my travel patterns necessitate using other carriers. Not sure if you realise that CX is part of a global alliance and the only reason that I fly any CX is that it is part of OW. Sure CX wont collapse if I stop flying CX (it is backed by a centuries old english family who have more money than god and love their Oz farming) but sadly I am not as unique or special as my own ego believes and if I think CX is dowgrading the treatment of OW elites then I am not the only one. If a lot of OW pax leave CX then it will have an impact.

Um that is factually incorrect - OWE get access to the F lounge. F pax get access to their own lounge. CX are free to do that in HKG - however if as you suggest the KA lounge becomes the F lounge I will stop flying via HKG (apart from when I have to go there on business) and stop flying CX - admittedly a bit like Leonidas fighting the persians but at least I will feel my point proved (or maybe proven - some days I hate speaking in three languages all of them english)

Yeah me too - the CX F lounge in NRT was a disgrace - or did you just want to focus on the lounges where CX were doing a much better job than other carriers? You know objectivity not necessary here is it

You went to the old CX lounge in NRT yes? Have you been to the LAX F lounge AC in DFW? New AC in JFK? If you are going to make bold sweeping statement make sure that you actually can support them.

Look - honestly I find CX staff the best consistently when I fly. I find AA too casual, QF inconsistent and BA a bit of both. I prefer the CX IFE to any other but I dont like the old J seat over a skybed. The CX lounges in LHR and HKG are great - but the F lounge in SYD is amazing.

I really think before you attack someone for their style of travel and their attitude towards an airline or their policies you should know something about them and not read into it your own prejudices. I pay for my corporate (not corporate discounted) travel with every minute I spend away from my family. I am not lucky enough to be able to self fund multiple J trips to get status - I have neither the cash or the time- but the program is a frequent flyer program not a frequent spender program - if you want status because of how much money you spend - get an Amex Centurion card .

^ Well said.

Yes I am. BA provide an F lounge the Concorde room is only for pax flying in F not even for BA Golds, so why should you have access?

They had a similar policy back in the old LAX TBIT as well and CX ack then
allowed EMD to go into the F Class lounge.
No, but BA set up the concorde room only for F pax if, if CX want to set up a lounge exclusively for F pax then they can go right ahead.

If CX want to extend benefits beyond what they need to then that is upto them, and as I have said before they clearly do this because they believe it to be beneficial to them. The guy in BOS just sounds like he had no idea what he was doing, I would say its because AA werent going to interline your bags.
What benefits do you currently miss out on, that you have to argue to enjoy?

1) I have been to the following ACs:

DFW (both terminal C and the new D)
LAX both AC and FL
JFK (new AC)
SFO
ORD (AC and FL)
LHR (FL and AC)
BOS (FL before the closed it and AC)
MIA (new and old)


And I still stand by my comment that even the the old CX NRt lounge is better. Except for the FLs in all AC there are absolutely no edible refreshments and also it is mostly crowded with lack of facilities. Sure the NRT was old and tatty, but at least it provides the minimum amenities (sandwiches, noodles, drinks etc.. + internet)

Do you know how many Qmiles you need to earn to get DM at the first place -

As a NB, you will need 210K

As for the centurion card, I can tell you it is more than the actual amount spent that you will need to get one and yes I do have one.

I do apologise for my incorrect accusation of your tone and intention.

So has anyone flown recently and have been affected? Has any one noticed a bunch of non-revs in J or F? Have any oneworld EMDs been op-uped?

I have not had any J-F op-ups so far in '07 (I don't fly CX in Y), however to be fair, J always had empty seats, so there was no reason to upgrade any one.

I must say even if CX staff are opups/nonrev etc.. I generally find they blend in with normal pax well and don't make a big fuss (like UA and AA!)
Also there are strict protocols the FA follow in terms of dinning choices and amenities. I personally don't find the rule regarding opup ID90s before Oneworld EMD to be too concerning. QF and BA does this as well (I have seen it happen multiple times)

OW benefits include OW Emeralds' access to OW F lounges when departing on OW airlines. Individual OW airlines can restrict their own members, but if that is a F lounge, then OW Emeralds should have access. If that is supposed to be a different lounge or operated by third parties, then that is a different story.

AA limits when their own members can access the ACs/FLs, but offers very courteous service to other OW Emeralds/Sapphires. I use the ACs/FLs when I fly in the US, even though AA EXP cannot access these lounges.

Op-ups for staff and ID90 is only whether it is formalised or not. Pilots in many airlines can decide whether their colleagues and families can sit in empty J seats, sometimes even when Y is not full. I do not know whether that was the case in CX before this list was effective.

On the revenue/non-revenue side, note that passengers on award tickets can still be op-uped.

IMHO, the situation is rare enough for any concern.

How many qmiles do you earn on a business class fare out of interest? The CX website lists on economy earning.

Re the Concorde room - for me that is akin to the Chairman's Lounge that QF have - they provide an F lounge that is for OWE, a J lounge for J pax and OWS and another lounge.

You get 1.25 per mile or there are the options of getting status through Club Sectors (1.25 for each sector travelled in J).

It is twice as hard as getting QFWP and BA Gold because you need to achieve it all in 12 months.

Re QF Chairmans Lounge, I thought that is not open to F class pax whereas the Concorde Room does. That is the issue I see as per Oneworld rules EMD should have access to the REAL F class lounge and not some substandard F class lounge.


Maybe CX can be like SQ with the SKL?

Also Have they shut down the Chairmans lounge in T1 in SYD already given the new f class lounge is in place?


Also just for information, CX offers Lounge access even for SL = Oneworld Ruby when flying CX. This is def the most generous out off all FFP out there.

Unfortunately only 1.25X economy, even worse than full fare economy on some other airlines.