OMG I can hardly read this post given the abbreviations and symbols.

But to answer the part I bolded, I think QRC3288 is already suggesting that if the program doesn't suit, then it makes sense to change.

Sorry, I guess I wasn't clear. I wasn't referring to any op-ups on AA for CX members (while there may be examples of such, I've never heard of any). Indeed, AA Plat/EXP members have a better chance of op-ups on CX. However, my experience as a Platinum is that I have received considerably fewer op-ups since CX fiddled with the op-up pecking order.

thanks for the clarification jiaotze...that had me confused too

One reason for that may be that there are lots of EXPs, given the relative ease of gaining that status and between their upgrade stickers and the 500 mile stickers that platinums earn, the available seats get eaten up pretty quickly.

I have been upgraded J-F only once (on 827) as an AAEXP on CX on 7 trips yyz-hkg plus regional travel in the past year or so. (did get a second upgrade as a result of a CX booking screwup.

Ummm... wow, I have absolutely no idea what you are attempting to communicate here Short hair Francis , but I'll attempt re-state what I believe QRC3288 is saying.

He/she is simply saying, on a human level, it's frustrating that AA EXPs are able to enjoy the same exact privileges as a CX DM, but likely spend less money, and fly less miles to obtain those same privileges as said CX DM. (I don't necessarily share that view, but respect the opinion)

Further more QRC3288, clearly said that it absolutely makes logical sense to pursue the program that gets you the best benefits, in spite of the fact that he/she finds that "hole" frustrating.

Now, to QRC3288, though I can certainly understand your point of view and can sympathize with it, I guess my only observation is that this is part of being in an alliance.

I will also say that I wish AA (my significant other is EXP and I will be next week) treated other OW Emeralds as wonderfully and graciously as CX has always treated us. They have treated us "top notch" and never like undesirable "freeloaders."

And for what it's worth, perhaps it's working, as we have been consider booking some flights on CX metal directly, rather than via AA in the future.

Regards

All my BIS miles have been flown on CX, but my FF program is AA, Why?

I travel YYZ-HKG and then some regional travel (currently in HKG heading to CGK in a few days), virtually all on CX. So why do I collect AA points?

As a Canadian I can have an AA points VISA through a Canadian bank and collect extra points that way.Leisure travel will often be in North America and I can fly AA and use the upgrades I get to fly J or F as available.

Having made EXP(OW Emerald) I get 1st class check in and 1st class lounge access no matter what clas I am flying in. If I am booking an award seat or have some domestic travel issues I have access to the AA EXP desk where the AAngels ae great.

What do I miss out on: being able to upgrade on points, possibly some op ups and having to pay a fee for membership in the club.

On balance, I think I made a correct to join AA, however I would be interested to hear others opinions. I do 4-5 YYZ - HKG flights per year in J and a similar amount of regional travel in a combination of Y & J (that is usually one or two regional flghts for each long haul). Based on that pattern what would be my Marco Polo club situation.

my first guess was that you could barely make DM. I then did a quick estimate and confirmed my thought...your travel pattern could take you anywhere between 70-100% of what's required for CX DM. while for AA, you can easily reach 100-150% of what's required for EXP.

on the low end, assume:
- 4 HKG-YYZ roundtrips in J each year (~78,100 Club Miles or ~93,720 AA EQP)
- 4 intra-Asia roundtrips in Y each year, assuming 1,000 miles per flight and 1 AA EQP per mile (~8,000 Club miles or ~8,000 AA EQP)
TOTAL = 86,100 Club Miles or 101,720 AA EQP - i.e. ~70% of DM requirement but reached AA EXP already

on the high end, assume:
- 5 HKG-YYZ roundtrips in J each year (~93,720 Club Miles or ~117,150 AA EQP)
- 5 intra-Asia roundtrips in J each year, assuming 2,000 miles per flight (~25,000 Club miles or ~30,000 AA EQP)
TOTAL = 122,625 Club Miles or 147,150 AA EQP - i.e. just barely reached DM, but almost 50% above AA EXP requirement

so based on what you said, and assuming all your BIS indeed on these CX flights only, you can only reach CX DM only if everything is at the high end (5 instead of 4 YYZ-HKG trips, all intra-Asia trips in J, each flight has to be long intra-Asia flights at ~2,000 miles, etc)...

but, of course, maybe some of your existing CX Y flights are on discounted economy that don't earn AA miles...for those you actually would earn more with CX.

in your case, I think it makes perfect sense to stay with AA EXP rather than getting CX Gold...(that's my situation a few years ago too, most travel on CX, can easily make either CX Gold or AA EXP - and I went for AA as well).

Following is how I decide:

1. Select the frequent flier program (FFP) of the airline I fly the most if I can be in the top tier status of that airline

2. If I do not have a shot at being top tier of the airline FFP and if the next tier is too crowded, evaluate other FFP's of the same alliance (ex: I have to stretch myself to be LH HON and I do not want to be UA GS. Hence I am *G w/BMI, CX DM & SQ PPS(double dipping with BMI))

Mentioning the above FWIW.

Is there any other FF program which enables you to Fly 3 Times First Class - Around The World with CX/JL/QF/BA and AA: For around $9000 per annum? with approx 40 stopovers.

Oh and 8 FREE International Upgrades Plus Unlimited FREE Domestic/Canada/Mexico and Carribean Upgrades.

Sorry, I don't understand why this would be programme specific? Presumably you are talking about AONEX products here.

Additional question: Is CX MPO the only viable programme for people who fly mainly on CX but on discounted Y, i.e. V/L/M/K class tickets?

And is it right to say that if you fly CX on deeply discounted tickets (S/Q/N/O classes), the only way to collect any miles at all is by using BAEC?

He can't be - AONEx products are ~$9000 each, not ~$3000 each so you can't go round the world three times in F for $9000 using them...

One AONE4 Purchased ex ICN was around $7100 during The 10th Anniversary Sale. The mileage accrued on that booking plus a couple of Long Weekend flights from East Coast USA via DFW to HNL [With E-VIP or 100 hrs Upgrade to First] and a further 40K Plus 12K Bonus Purchase, together with my regular 30K a Year CitiBank spend, gives me around 330,000 AAdvantage Points Per annum for approx $9000 Cash outlay. Much depends on the Florida-HNL fare when Purchased but I have obtained them for around $450 Including taxes..I Just wait for a sale.

That gives me enough for a OW330F which permits you 50,000 miles of First Class Travel i.e. another 2 times Around the World Flights up to 16 Sectors.

Sorry I miscalculated the stopovers since the recent changes..now its only 30 Maximum but I must admit difficult to undertake that number of stopovers of more than 24 Hours.

Trust me : I have Done This every year for the past 4 years.

PS Also I missed the $355 on the OW330F AAward ticket..By avoiding UK stops helps, you can save a substantial Taxes on the Journeys.

Next Paid Ticket : SEL-HKGx-DPS-HKGx-JFKx-GIG-SCLx-BOG-SCL-GRU-JFK-YVR-LHRx-DXB-LHRx-HKG-SEL..AONE4 : Only The JFK-Brazil Sectors on AA. The Internal South America Sectors are on LA 767 Business Class which I can endure Also some of the Internal Asia Sectors are only Business on CX , still better IMHO that AA Domestic First Class.

Next AAward OW330F Ticket TPA-JFKx-LHRx-CDG-LHRx-BKK-HKGx-JFKx-MCO-JFK-HKG-FRA-LHR-PEK-NRTx-ORDx-TPA ie. Twice Around the World >>> Almost Free in First Class on ALL Intercon Flights -Could not avoid One UK Tax this time.

This is what makes AAdavantage a Great Program for me.

I had to read this slowly, but I think I got it. I agree people should do whatever is economically most intelligent for them....apparently you didn't read my advice to Cathay Boy. I personally made the decision for CX DM for op-ups and ideally better service, although admittedly a bit now is just path dependency. I'm just saying, as a CX DM, it is painful how much harder it is to reach CX's highest level than AA's....no bonus for full Y, many discount Y fares don't count for elite miles at all, only 125% bonus for full J, 120k miles vs 100k, the dreaded "reset" function for MPC's trying to increase their status, etc. etc. Many CX GOs fly and spend more than AA EXPs. This board has been through this a bunch of times. Not saying much else.

Exactly, and appreciated.

Yeah.. we EXP's do fill up the HKG lounges

Of course CX gets cash from AA every time we do so...

I believe CX Silver gets you access to CX's lounges only- right? Whereas if you hit AA PLT, you'd be OW Sapphire, and get into any of the 10 (soon to be 12) airlines' J lounges.

FYI. In Coach, only Y, B, and M CX fares mean anything on AAdvantage.