Apr 17, 2016, 11:13 pm
Last edit by: sxc
Discussion on April 2016 changes: MPC Changes April 2016
What is the difference between The Marco Polo Club and Asia Miles?
The Marco Polo Club (MPC) is Cathay Pacific’s official loyalty programme. The Marco Polo Club gives you benefits for being loyal (eg lounge access, extra baggage). Members of The Marco Polo Club are automatically enrolled as Asia Miles members.
Asia Miles (AM) is the travel reward program where you can earn “mileage currency” (Asia Miles) for a variety of activities and spend that currency on a variety of rewards. You collect Asia Miles when you fly with CX, its partner airlines and other oneworld airlines. You can also collect Asia Miles on hotel stays, holidays and car rental, and when you're shopping, through deals with a wide range of partners. You can then spend them on flights and upgrades, and other lifestyle redemptions. You do not need to be a member of The Marco Polo Club to earn Asia Miles.
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Marco Polo Club FAQs:
Cathay Pacific’s Marco Polo Club homepage: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...roduction.html
How do I become a member of The Marco Polo Club?
You can join The Marco Polo Club by enrolling online at the Cathay Pacific website, and paying a joining fee of USD 100. This will enrol you into the entry-level of MPC which is Green.
If you are based in Hong Kong, you can apply for the American Express Cathay Pacific Credit Card which will waive your first year fee for entry to MPC. After your first year, you need to renew your MPC membership like any other MPC member, regardless of your Amex spending.
Club Points:
Club points are separate and different to Asia Miles. Club points are used to measure your eligibility for the various MPC tiers, and are earned by flying only. You can earn club points whenever you fly in eligible fare classes with Cathay Pacific, Dragonair or any oneworld alliance airlines. Club points are calculated based on a combination of airline, cabin, fare class and distance travelled.
To see how many club points you will earn, look at the club points earning table on the Cathay Pacific website: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_HK/frequent-flyers/about-the-club/earning-club-points.html
Marco Polo Club Tiers:
There are four primary membership tiers in the MPC:
Green entry level
Silver equivalent to oneworld Ruby
Gold equivalent to oneworld Sapphire
Diamond equivalent to oneworld Emerald
In addition to this, there is Diamond Plus which is provided to the top 1% of members based on their actual CX spend, and Diamond Invitation which is invitation-only.
Green Tier Benefits:
Silver Tier Benefits:
Gold Tier Benefits:
Diamond Tier Benefits:
In addition to the Gold tier benefits, Diamond members enjoy:
How do I earn status in The Marco Polo Club?
In order to renew or upgrade tiers within a membership year, you need to earn the following amount of club points:
Green – 100 club points
Silver – 300 club points
Gold – 600 club points
Diamond – 1200 club points
A membership year lasts 12 months from the date you have enrolled, renewed, upgraded or downgraded into your current tier. Upon renewal, upgrade or downgrade, your club points will automatically be reset to zero and a new membership year begins.
You cannot achieve Gold or Diamond status by simply earning 600 or 1200 club points within a single 12 month period. This is due to your membership year resetting upon each tier upgrade.
For example:
When you join MPC, you start with zero club points and Green status. Let’s say this is January 2017. You now have 12 months to either:
If you earn 300 club points by March 2017, you are upgraded to Silver status, and your membership year and club point balance is reset to zero. You now have 12 months (until March 2018) to either:
If you earn 600 club points by October 2017, you are upgraded to Gold status, and your membership year and club point balance is reset zero again. You now have 12 months (until October 2018) to either:
Once you reach Diamond status, you need to continue to earn 1200 club points in each subsequent 12 month period in order to renew your status.
I am not going to earn enough miles to requalify at my current tier. Does Cathay do soft landings or will I be sent straight to the tier at which I have enough miles to qualify for?
There is no official soft landing policy. It is possible if you are a Diamond, to go straight back to Green if you fly less than 300 club points in a year. Sometimes soft landings are reported, but it is on a case-by-case basis.
I am a silver, and I am going to fly 590 club points in my current year. Will Cathay be lenient and bump me to Gold?
Based on experience in the pre April 2016 system, it appears that Cathay is not lenient for attaining a new tier. Consider making alternative plans to reach the additional club points before your membership year ends.
I am going to be just shy of requalifying at a certain tier. Will Cathay let me have that tier anyway?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that if you are just short of retaining your current tier before your membership year expires, you will be requalified at that tier on expiry date. There doesn't appear to be a hard and fast rule regarding how much of a shortfall is allowed.
Alternatively, writing in to the Club to explain your circumstances may result in them extending your deadline for requalification.
Mid-Tier Benefits:
Mid-tier benefits are designed to reward members to go beyond their club point renewal level to achieve additional benefits.
Green mid-tier benefits:
Silver mid-tier benefits:
Gold mid-tier benefits:
Diamond mid-tier benefits:
If I am a Diamond member, will I receive the Gold mid-tier benefits at 800 and 1000 tier points?
No – you only receive the mid-tier benefits of your current membership tier.
Is there any requirement on the underlying booking sub-classes when using a mid-tier bookable upgrade?
Yes, the original flight needs to be booked in an “upgradable” sub-class, the same sub-classes that qualify for Asia Miles upgrades :
There needs to be seat availability in your target fare class. For example, if you are ticketed in Business, and you want to upgrade to First Class, there needs to be "A" fare class available for sale.
When do bookable upgrades expire?
Bookable upgrade entitlements must be claimed within 12 months after it has been issued. The departure date of the flight for bookable upgrade is not required to be within 12 months from the date of issuance, however, this date must be 15 to 360 days after the claim date.
If I use a bookable upgrade, do I earn club points and Asia Miles on the original ticket fare class, or the new fare class?
You earn on the new fare class.
Does The Marco Polo Club status match?
MPC generally does not status match to another carrier's elite FFP just because you want one. You may write to the Club with details of your past flying pattern, and they will consider status matches on a case-by-case basis.
For more information , please read this thread: CX Status Match
I am moving to HK - should I consider changing to Asia Miles / Marco Polo Club?
Please see this thread for questions on moving to HK and your choice of loyalty program: Moving to HK master thread
=======================================
Asia Miles FAQs:
What Asia Miles will I earn for a particular flight and fare class?
Please refer to the Asia Miles website for the earning rates on Cathay Pacific and other Airline Partners.
Airline Partner Earning details
What are good credit cards to earn Asia Miles in HK?
See this thread: Best Credit Card Conversion Rates for Asia Miles (HK)
What is the difference between The Marco Polo Club and Asia Miles?
The Marco Polo Club (MPC) is Cathay Pacific’s official loyalty programme. The Marco Polo Club gives you benefits for being loyal (eg lounge access, extra baggage). Members of The Marco Polo Club are automatically enrolled as Asia Miles members.
Asia Miles (AM) is the travel reward program where you can earn “mileage currency” (Asia Miles) for a variety of activities and spend that currency on a variety of rewards. You collect Asia Miles when you fly with CX, its partner airlines and other oneworld airlines. You can also collect Asia Miles on hotel stays, holidays and car rental, and when you're shopping, through deals with a wide range of partners. You can then spend them on flights and upgrades, and other lifestyle redemptions. You do not need to be a member of The Marco Polo Club to earn Asia Miles.
================================================== =====
Marco Polo Club FAQs:
Cathay Pacific’s Marco Polo Club homepage: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...roduction.html
How do I become a member of The Marco Polo Club?
You can join The Marco Polo Club by enrolling online at the Cathay Pacific website, and paying a joining fee of USD 100. This will enrol you into the entry-level of MPC which is Green.
If you are based in Hong Kong, you can apply for the American Express Cathay Pacific Credit Card which will waive your first year fee for entry to MPC. After your first year, you need to renew your MPC membership like any other MPC member, regardless of your Amex spending.
Club Points:
Club points are separate and different to Asia Miles. Club points are used to measure your eligibility for the various MPC tiers, and are earned by flying only. You can earn club points whenever you fly in eligible fare classes with Cathay Pacific, Dragonair or any oneworld alliance airlines. Club points are calculated based on a combination of airline, cabin, fare class and distance travelled.
To see how many club points you will earn, look at the club points earning table on the Cathay Pacific website: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_HK/frequent-flyers/about-the-club/earning-club-points.html
Marco Polo Club Tiers:
There are four primary membership tiers in the MPC:
Green entry level
Silver equivalent to oneworld Ruby
Gold equivalent to oneworld Sapphire
Diamond equivalent to oneworld Emerald
In addition to this, there is Diamond Plus which is provided to the top 1% of members based on their actual CX spend, and Diamond Invitation which is invitation-only.
Green Tier Benefits:
- Designated Marco Polo Club check-in counters
- Priority Boarding
Silver Tier Benefits:
- Extra-legroom seat reservation free of charge
- Advanced seat reservation free of charge
- Priority Waitlisting
- Business Class counter check-in
- Priority Boarding
- 10kg additional checked baggage allowance
- 10kg special cabin baggage allowance
- Priority baggage handling
- Cathay Pacific and Dragonair Business Class lounge access when departing on flights marketed and operated by Cathay Pacific or Dragonair
Gold Tier Benefits:
- Extra-legroom seat reservation free of charge
- Advanced seat reservation free of charge
- Priority Waitlisting
- Guaranteed Economy class seat in Y fare class when reserved at least 72 hours in advance
- Business Class counter check-in
- Priority Boarding
- 15kg (or 1PC) additional checked baggage allowance
- 10kg special cabin baggage allowance
- Priority baggage handling
- Cathay Pacific and Dragonair Business Class lounge access when departing on flights marketed and operated by Cathay Pacific, Dragonair or oneworld carriers. One guest may accompany the member into the lounge.
- Arrival Lounge access – no guests.
Diamond Tier Benefits:
In addition to the Gold tier benefits, Diamond members enjoy:
- Guaranteed Economy class seat in Y fare class when reserved at least 24 hours in advance
- Guaranteed Premium Economy class seat in W fare class when reserved at least 24 hours in advance
- Guaranteed Business class seat in J fare class when reserved at least 24 hours in advance
- First Class counter check-in
- 20kg (or 1PC) additional checked baggage allowance
- 15kg special cabin baggage allowance
- Cathay Pacific First Class lounge access when departing on flights marketed and operated by Cathay Pacific, Dragonair or oneworld carriers. Two guests may accompany the member into the lounge.
How do I earn status in The Marco Polo Club?
In order to renew or upgrade tiers within a membership year, you need to earn the following amount of club points:
Green – 100 club points
Silver – 300 club points
Gold – 600 club points
Diamond – 1200 club points
A membership year lasts 12 months from the date you have enrolled, renewed, upgraded or downgraded into your current tier. Upon renewal, upgrade or downgrade, your club points will automatically be reset to zero and a new membership year begins.
You cannot achieve Gold or Diamond status by simply earning 600 or 1200 club points within a single 12 month period. This is due to your membership year resetting upon each tier upgrade.
For example:
When you join MPC, you start with zero club points and Green status. Let’s say this is January 2017. You now have 12 months to either:
- Earn 100 club points to renew Green or
- Earn 300 club points to achieve Silver Status
If you earn 300 club points by March 2017, you are upgraded to Silver status, and your membership year and club point balance is reset to zero. You now have 12 months (until March 2018) to either:
- Earn 300 club points to renew Silver status or
- Earn 600 club points to achieve Gold status
If you earn 600 club points by October 2017, you are upgraded to Gold status, and your membership year and club point balance is reset zero again. You now have 12 months (until October 2018) to either:
- Earn 600 club points to renew Gold status or
- Earn 1200 club points to achieve Diamond status
Once you reach Diamond status, you need to continue to earn 1200 club points in each subsequent 12 month period in order to renew your status.
I am not going to earn enough miles to requalify at my current tier. Does Cathay do soft landings or will I be sent straight to the tier at which I have enough miles to qualify for?
There is no official soft landing policy. It is possible if you are a Diamond, to go straight back to Green if you fly less than 300 club points in a year. Sometimes soft landings are reported, but it is on a case-by-case basis.
I am a silver, and I am going to fly 590 club points in my current year. Will Cathay be lenient and bump me to Gold?
Based on experience in the pre April 2016 system, it appears that Cathay is not lenient for attaining a new tier. Consider making alternative plans to reach the additional club points before your membership year ends.
I am going to be just shy of requalifying at a certain tier. Will Cathay let me have that tier anyway?
Anecdotal evidence suggests that if you are just short of retaining your current tier before your membership year expires, you will be requalified at that tier on expiry date. There doesn't appear to be a hard and fast rule regarding how much of a shortfall is allowed.
Alternatively, writing in to the Club to explain your circumstances may result in them extending your deadline for requalification.
Mid-Tier Benefits:
Mid-tier benefits are designed to reward members to go beyond their club point renewal level to achieve additional benefits.
Green mid-tier benefits:
- 200 club points: One Business Class Lounge Pass
Silver mid-tier benefits:
- 450 club points: Two Business Class Lounge Pass
Gold mid-tier benefits:
- 800 club points: Two Business Class Lounge Pass
- 1000 club points: Four Bookable Upgrades (ultra-short, short or medium haul)
Diamond mid-tier benefits:
- 1400 club points: Two First or Business Class Lounge Pass
- 600 club points: Four Bookable Upgrades
- 1800 club points: Complimentary Companion Gold Membership
If I am a Diamond member, will I receive the Gold mid-tier benefits at 800 and 1000 tier points?
No – you only receive the mid-tier benefits of your current membership tier.
Is there any requirement on the underlying booking sub-classes when using a mid-tier bookable upgrade?
Yes, the original flight needs to be booked in an “upgradable” sub-class, the same sub-classes that qualify for Asia Miles upgrades :
- Economy: Fare classes [Y B H K M] will be upgraded into fare class E
- Premium Economy: Fare classes [W R] will be upgraded into fare class I
- Business: Fare classes [J C D I] will be upgraded into fare class A
There needs to be seat availability in your target fare class. For example, if you are ticketed in Business, and you want to upgrade to First Class, there needs to be "A" fare class available for sale.
When do bookable upgrades expire?
Bookable upgrade entitlements must be claimed within 12 months after it has been issued. The departure date of the flight for bookable upgrade is not required to be within 12 months from the date of issuance, however, this date must be 15 to 360 days after the claim date.
If I use a bookable upgrade, do I earn club points and Asia Miles on the original ticket fare class, or the new fare class?
You earn on the new fare class.
Does The Marco Polo Club status match?
MPC generally does not status match to another carrier's elite FFP just because you want one. You may write to the Club with details of your past flying pattern, and they will consider status matches on a case-by-case basis.
For more information , please read this thread: CX Status Match
I am moving to HK - should I consider changing to Asia Miles / Marco Polo Club?
Please see this thread for questions on moving to HK and your choice of loyalty program: Moving to HK master thread
=======================================
Asia Miles FAQs:
What Asia Miles will I earn for a particular flight and fare class?
Please refer to the Asia Miles website for the earning rates on Cathay Pacific and other Airline Partners.
Airline Partner Earning details
What are good credit cards to earn Asia Miles in HK?
See this thread: Best Credit Card Conversion Rates for Asia Miles (HK)
The Marco Polo Club / Asia Miles FAQs
Aug 17, 2017, 2:43 am
#91
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
I guess the reference to redeem charts should have headed me away from paid tickets.... Apologies.
The CX website has normally handled long haul in PEY connecting to regional routes without PEY in a straightforward manner. H class if E class PEY, B if R or W long haul
YMMV as is usual when wandering
Fred
The CX website has normally handled long haul in PEY connecting to regional routes without PEY in a straightforward manner. H class if E class PEY, B if R or W long haul
YMMV as is usual when wandering
Fred
Last edited by wandering_fred; Aug 17, 2017 at 2:55 am
Aug 17, 2017, 12:50 pm
#92
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, National EE
Posts: 1,204
You won't be able to book this itinerary all the way through in PEY in the first place though, as it will yield an error message along the lines of "this class is not available for one of your flights". So you'd have to call the hotline, which will surely put you in Y for HKG-RGN (if they can even issue together, someone else will know this)
I understand T class is the PEY award - if I book long-haul T and short-haul T on the same itinerary, what actual class would I be sitting in for the short-haul T portion?
Aug 17, 2017, 9:30 pm
#94
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,053
Yes, I am looking to purchase an award using AM. Does this mean I cannot book an award in PEY from LAX-HKG-RGN return on the website?
I understand T class is the PEY award - if I book long-haul T and short-haul T on the same itinerary, what actual class would I be sitting in for the short-haul T portion?
I understand T class is the PEY award - if I book long-haul T and short-haul T on the same itinerary, what actual class would I be sitting in for the short-haul T portion?
This is what you will eventually get after chosing your flights:
Sep 26, 2017, 11:38 pm
#96
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Bangkok/Singapore
Programs: Frantic Hilton/Marriott runs
Posts: 925
In making GO, I earned 30 more CP in a series of flights on or after the day the 600 CP threshold has been achieved.
But these 30 excess CP are not included in my new CP count and the total number of CP has now been reset to 0.
Do we have a redress to claim these excess CP?
But these 30 excess CP are not included in my new CP count and the total number of CP has now been reset to 0.
Do we have a redress to claim these excess CP?
Sep 27, 2017, 1:15 am
#97
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
In making GO, I earned 30 more CP in a series of flights on or after the day the 600 CP threshold has been achieved.
But these 30 excess CP are not included in my new CP count and the total number of CP has now been reset to 0.
Do we have a redress to claim these excess CP?
But these 30 excess CP are not included in my new CP count and the total number of CP has now been reset to 0.
Do we have a redress to claim these excess CP?
If that is the case, send MPC a note. They may be able to take that into consideration for your requalification or promotion to DM.
Sep 27, 2017, 11:27 pm
#99
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,800
You enjoy priority check in and priority boarding.
But my understanding is it's usually US$50 for a year, or you earn 100 club points, or you need to travel on some form of revenue Business (and be invited for free green membership at the discretion of the Inflight Service Manager).
Sep 28, 2017, 1:48 am
#100
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
Usually USD100. (It was USD50 years ago)
Sep 28, 2017, 12:59 pm
#101
Join Date: Aug 2011
Programs: Marriott Gold, Hilton Diamond, Radisson Rewards Gold, Best Western Diamond Select
Posts: 1,856
If you have a way to apply for it free, why not?
You enjoy priority check in and priority boarding.
But my understanding is it's usually US$50 for a year, or you earn 100 club points, or you need to travel on some form of revenue Business (and be invited for free green membership at the discretion of the Inflight Service Manager).
You enjoy priority check in and priority boarding.
But my understanding is it's usually US$50 for a year, or you earn 100 club points, or you need to travel on some form of revenue Business (and be invited for free green membership at the discretion of the Inflight Service Manager).
Sep 28, 2017, 1:13 pm
#102
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: CX MPC DM
Posts: 416
If so, I believe that your annual fee ($95) includes a Marco Polo green membership.
Sep 28, 2017, 2:56 pm
#103
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Where did you see this? Even U.S. domestic airline cards don't offer 2 checked bags, not to mention "all oneworld carriers".
Sep 29, 2017, 3:23 pm
#104
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: SNA
Programs: AA EXP, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, National EE
Posts: 1,204