I absolutely agree with the above.

Being the frustrated OP, I've tried everything you can think of ....

1. Trying English, Cantonese, Mandarin, and even Japanese ... no difference.

2. Trying not entering a MPC number, or entering an invalid one ... again, no difference.

3. (Very naughty) Using someone else's MPC number (a relative with DM) ... I was kindly asked to call again using my own MPC number.

The method that works best for me is to call around 1.55pm - 2.00 pm HK time, when lots of staff get back from lunch ... there's a sudden increase in llines available to be answered. It's worked each time last week (when I had to finalize my 8-sector around-the-world oneworld award ticket).

I realize that being a Green member I can't complain for being forced to wait. Being a Green member 5 years ago was okay - the MPC hotline was answered very quickly. It's just the last 2-3 years that's been disappointing.

I am calling MPC (2747-5500) and Asia Miles (2747-3838) hotline right now and just busy tone.

Before I call Asia Miles (US), I always make sure that my cordless phone is fully charged. I had been put on hold for 1 hour + a few minutes until my phone battery gives up.

I have given up on MPC version of customer service (if I can still call it service!!). The way I got around the need to call MPC is by remaining a UK BAEC member.

It's a real shame that we see CX in such a mess...

I have been on hold with peon reservations here in HK for 45 minutes now. I'm about ready to give up and wait for North American Reservations to open, as they answer a lot quicker, or give the UK a shot. This is crap and unbelievable.

Hi guys...i've experienced this service Saturday 31 May for a seat reservation i could not get on a Frankfurt to HK flight on 2 June....well, after automatic answer and Marco Polo (silver) number digited, after aprox 10 sec , here is the kind voice of an operator, witch gives me not only the best seat (86A) on the flight but also the best on the flights Hk-TPE and TPE-HK and HK-Frankfurt.....

Sat 7 June i was in Taipei and a message on my mobile advised that my return flight to HK was delayed 1 hours....well, new call to the service and 10 seconds for the reply to change the flight from CX 451 to CX405.....

i should say good service !!

I just called the MPC number in Hong Kong, and only had to wait on hold for about 5 minutes.

I got through to a friendly agent who promptly informed me there was nothing he could do to help, because my tickets were booked via the website in the U.S.

When calling the 1-888 number for the e-service center, I get a recording that says they're too busy, to call back later, and a hangup. This has been happening all day. Ugh.

It is normal for MPC hotline. I have been through this for several times. I am wondering why they just improve their web function. For example, to book the flight with partner airline and put the ticket on-hold, etc.

I have emailed them quite a few times this year to for help in changing flights / seats, purchasing tickets, upgrades, etc... The are very efficient, and if travelling already, it makes a world of difference in the blackberry world we live in.

Can't always count on a speedy response, but if you get the right person at the right time....nothing like it.

Suggestion when emailing: Mention your MPC status in the subject header.

Around 12:noon ET (NYC) today, I waited about an hour and had to give up to go to a lunch appointment, then about a 90-minute wait from 2m on before reaching a rep.

Now that's frustrating.. but i must say that they must have heard the voices here, lately its been at the most 10 minutes wait.. and i have had 1~2 very pleasant reps.. the others weren't quite the best, but answered appropriately to the questions asked. I hope this does improve since the airline industry is at is most difficult times.. we would think they cared to cater to their most 'loyal' MPC members.

They know and are spending some money on more staff and improving the system, at least that's what KK Leung the MPC manager wrote to me last week in reply to a bleat I sent him a couple of weeks earlier.

I haven't noticed any improvement myself yet but as this summer passes, and also the economics start to bite on pax numbers, we can expect to see [hear?] a marked change.

This is pathetic. I've been trying all day on the MPC number 2747-5500 and it is just a busy tone. I guess it doesn't matter if you are IN, DM, GO, Prince Bandar bin Sultan or Betty Tung, you aren't getting served. What an absolute joke.

Curiously, on reading this (at 20:59, 15 minutes after you posted) I called 27475500 and it rang immediately.

Yes, and now I've been on hold for 29 minutes. I have an upgrade that expires today and I need to link the upgrade record locator to the underlying ticket number. Idiots.