Cabin crew don't care about GO anymore
May 10, 2018, 7:51 pm
#46
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Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
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For example, I imagine most HKG-originating passengers are MPC members. But on the 4 JFK flights, the 3-4 LAX flights, the BOS and ORD flights, the 2 SFO flights, etc., all markets with very high fares, especially in F and J, I imagine a significant percentage of those flyers are AA CKs or EXPs or PLTs, and for whom sticking with AAdvantage makes sense because the program is better for people who live in the US (not to mention partner redemption rates, which I know is its own controversy here!). I also wonder if the same might be true for passengers originating in LHR or LGW, or SYD/MEL/PER/ADL.
So you've got OWEs originating all around the world, whose own home FF schemes are the best for them, and who are spending a lot of money on CX. I may be totally wrong, but I'd be curious to know!
May 10, 2018, 8:39 pm
#47
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
W/r/t the DM/OWE benefits and recognition...I do think it would be fair for CX to add some perks for its DM members above those offered to other OWEs. But I also wonder, beyond the DMs-are-hub-captives-so-therefore-we-don't-need-to-work-that-hard-for-their-loyalty justification, if it's merely that other OWEs contribute revenue to CX at levels significant enough to warrant the level of attention they get. Not individuals (I certainly don't), but as a whole.
For example, I imagine most HKG-originating passengers are MPC members. But on the 4 JFK flights, the 3-4 LAX flights, the BOS and ORD flights, the 2 SFO flights, etc., all markets with very high fares, especially in F and J, I imagine a significant percentage of those flyers are AA CKs or EXPs or PLTs, and for whom sticking with AAdvantage makes sense because the program is better for people who live in the US (not to mention partner redemption rates, which I know is its own controversy here!). I also wonder if the same might be true for passengers originating in LHR or LGW, or SYD/MEL/PER/ADL.
So you've got OWEs originating all around the world, whose own home FF schemes are the best for them, and who are spending a lot of money on CX. I may be totally wrong, but I'd be curious to know!
For example, I imagine most HKG-originating passengers are MPC members. But on the 4 JFK flights, the 3-4 LAX flights, the BOS and ORD flights, the 2 SFO flights, etc., all markets with very high fares, especially in F and J, I imagine a significant percentage of those flyers are AA CKs or EXPs or PLTs, and for whom sticking with AAdvantage makes sense because the program is better for people who live in the US (not to mention partner redemption rates, which I know is its own controversy here!). I also wonder if the same might be true for passengers originating in LHR or LGW, or SYD/MEL/PER/ADL.
So you've got OWEs originating all around the world, whose own home FF schemes are the best for them, and who are spending a lot of money on CX. I may be totally wrong, but I'd be curious to know!
On my last EWR - HKG flight, which I was told had poor load and elite-light, 70% of the J sheet shows either DM (about 3) or EM with the captain saying "We have a lot of frequent flyers today but...".
May 10, 2018, 9:12 pm
#48
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Join Date: May 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: A3, TK *G; JL JGC; SPG,Hilton Gold
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sxc is exactly right. Don't want to spend another 30 mins typing a long article to a comparison above; my point is FFP is like girlfriend/SO - there is not a best or a scam, but the best fitted.
On my last EWR - HKG flight, which I was told had poor load and elite-light, 70% of the J sheet shows either DM (about 3) or EM with the captain saying "We have a lot of frequent flyers today but...".
On my last EWR - HKG flight, which I was told had poor load and elite-light, 70% of the J sheet shows either DM (about 3) or EM with the captain saying "We have a lot of frequent flyers today but...".
May 11, 2018, 7:32 am
#53
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Asia Pac
Programs: AA UA DL AS CXDM JL NH Hilton Hyatt Marriott SPG IHG
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There was one time I was both DM and EXP, and then was downgraded to GO and EXP, and then came back up to DM one year later. During the time, I've flown as DM, EXP, and GO. Not really felt too much difference between EXP and GO except for the ISM greetings. But as DM, I did, and still do feel the difference onboard. Everytime I put in a request they'd try what they can to fulfill the requests. I have been very appreciative with that!
May 11, 2018, 10:22 am
#55
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: MPC-DM, Enrich-Plat
Posts: 1,310
Do SFO-HKG-BKK in J return, your ticket will be (3+ months out) around USD 800 cheaper and you collect 240 MPC points. Which will bring you GO->DM in 5 returns. The BKK-HKG return can be on a LCC and still a lot cheaper then your CX savings of USD 800 per return, for example: USD 300. Your benefit: USD 500 per trip. Extra time spent around 8 hours per trip.
Savings: 2x$6K + $2K = USD$ 14K. Time spent: 40 hours. There aren't many people who earn $14K in 40 hours largely relaxing (or, if you are lucky, being able to be productive AND being payed an hourly rate).
If you "enhance" the previous example and spent a little more on the BKK-HKG return and fly CX, you get 60 MPC points per return extra, which brings you 300 points per SFO-HKG-BKK-HKG, or 4 returns in I/D class for the upgrade GO->DM.
Savings 3x$6K + $600 = USD$ 18K6. Time spent: 32 hours. Again, not many people earn, etc.
And another option would be to do SFO-AMS-HKG-BKK-HKG, which might bring you GO->DM in 3 trips, though maybe at a somewhat lower savings factor (if any). AMS-HKG-BKK returns are dirt cheap, so to say, from around USD 2200.
Some 25 years ago, I went from KLM Flying Blue to Platinum in less then 6 months, simply, because you get the next level granted, right away, when you collect(ed) the points (or miles, maybe in those days, I don't remember, I neither know, if it still applies). When the blue goodies dropped on the doormat, I already attained silver in their systems. The same for the subsequent levels. Oh, it required commuting for work on a daily basis, to accomplish that
May 11, 2018, 10:28 am
#56
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Can you please look into that first before commiting to a statement?
May 11, 2018, 10:44 am
#57
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: MPC-DM, Enrich-Plat
Posts: 1,310
May 11, 2018, 11:20 am
#58
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
There was one time I was both DM and EXP, and then was downgraded to GO and EXP, and then came back up to DM one year later. During the time, I've flown as DM, EXP, and GO. Not really felt too much difference between EXP and GO except for the ISM greetings. But as DM, I did, and still do feel the difference onboard. Everytime I put in a request they'd try what they can to fulfill the requests. I have been very appreciative with that!
May 11, 2018, 11:34 am
#59
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
If you earn enough points for the next level, you will be upgraded and your membership year will reset. Your membership year is not fixed. It changes every time you are upgraded to another tier. If you are already GO and earns between 600 and 1195 points (well, let's not talk about whether CX will make an exception for 1195 points), you get GO renewed for another year.
May 11, 2018, 8:20 pm
#60
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: DEN
Programs: Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Titanium, CX DM, SQ Gold
Posts: 1,607
Anyway... I don't see they care about DM much more nowadays.... Just flew some DM heavy routes round-trip recently (HKG-PEK/PVG/SIN)… No matter I was in J or in Y the only "extra care" I had was the 5 second ISM greeting...
No water (not saying the DM water, not even a Bon****, i.e. simply same as a normal passenger), no meal reservation (so no eat first as well)...
No water (not saying the DM water, not even a Bon****, i.e. simply same as a normal passenger), no meal reservation (so no eat first as well)...
I once mentioned I will wait til we are cruising because it is black coffee I will want. Lo and behold they brewed one while we were still at the gate and brought it out pre-takeoff.
They did seem to stop proactively bringing a bottle of Evian around so its up to the pax to request wen invited to do so during the greeting.