Flying CX as Marco Polo Silver vs OW Sapphire
#16
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: pleb
Posts: 563
I made OWE one year and flew NYC-HKG RT 3 times that year and got op'ed up on every flight. Definitely didn't happen when I was CX SL.
#17
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: CX GO (in hibernation mode), AA EXP, SPG GO, HH DM
Posts: 316
According to a friend of mine who works for CX as a GA, CX SL gets priority over OWS for op-ups. The logic seemingly is to prioritise their own members over partners. Same way as CX GO gets higher priority than partner OWE.
That being said, there might be other unknown factors considered in addition to status when figuring out who gets the double beep.
That being said, there might be other unknown factors considered in addition to status when figuring out who gets the double beep.
#18
Join Date: May 2017
Programs: AY Plat (OWE), TK Elite (*G), BT VIP, HH D, BW DS
Posts: 484
I would be surprised if status was the only part of the equation. If I was an airline, I would look at fare classes booked and customer value in addition to status. Also, plenty of reasons outside of these that could affect the op-up processing, e.g. service recovery gestures, higher status pax travelling in group bookings, etc etc.
#20
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PEK, AUS, WAS, HKG
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 1,122
I’m currently MP Silver, but considering switching to AAdvantage, as I believe my travel patterns will make it easier for me to get to OneWorld Sapphire with them. Will I have a better shot at free upgrades on long haul flights as a Sapphire?
Also, the flight I take most is an AA codeshare, so I should be able to get full AA miles for it regardless of fare class, correct? Thanks!
Also, the flight I take most is an AA codeshare, so I should be able to get full AA miles for it regardless of fare class, correct? Thanks!
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 7
I've only bought one, just flew last week. I took a CX/AA codeshare BOS-HKG, but JAL premium econ on the way back, and overall it was less expensive than doing the same on CX. Sorry, don't have a lot of experience here.
#22
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: NYC
Programs: pleb
Posts: 563
This is due to revenue sharing for the codeshare. I'm not entirely sure on specifics, but I'm sure more knowledgeable flyers would be able to explain further.
#23
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PEK, AUS, WAS, HKG
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 1,122
Thanks for the reply! It seems that there is basically nothing to credit to AA if one does not buy codeshares. Most (and I really mean Most) native CX fares do not earn any AA points at all.
#24
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: PEK, AUS, WAS, HKG
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 1,122
I think it is the standard practice that codeshare prices more than native flights. I think Joint Ventures are exceptions, as UA/NH, AA/JL, DL/KE codeshares price almost the same as native flights.
#25
Join Date: Aug 2018
Programs: AA EXP; CX SL
Posts: 6
Actually, there are sweet spots in the system. Sure, if you mainly fly economy then AA doesn't work so well when it comes to crediting CX. Although from the lowest budget premium economy (this is native CX ticket) and up you get 1.5 times elite qualification miles per mile flown and AA gives quite a generous elite bonus (extra 60% as plat, 80% as plat pro and 120% as exp). Eg. if you were an executive platinum you would earn in the ballpark of 35k miles for a round trip JFK-HKG in premium economy, and 4 round trips are enough for you to keep your Emerald tier.
#26
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Actually, there are sweet spots in the system. Sure, if you mainly fly economy then AA doesn't work so well when it comes to crediting CX. Although from the lowest budget premium economy (this is native CX ticket) and up you get 1.5 times elite qualification miles per mile flown and AA gives quite a generous elite bonus (extra 60% as plat, 80% as plat pro and 120% as exp). Eg. if you were an executive platinum you would earn in the ballpark of 35k miles for a round trip JFK-HKG in premium economy, and 4 round trips are enough for you to keep your Emerald tier.
For the op-up - yes it's easy to get op-up from Y to PEY, but I have never been op-up by CX from W to J in the last 3 years, about 15 RT between US and HKG (mostly JFK/EWR).
Last edited by andersonCooper; Sep 18, 2018 at 5:56 am Reason: Club Points, not Tier Points. LOL
#27
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: CX
Posts: 16
Yes, that's how easy AA EXP is attainable with CX PEY, but the same trips in CX will give you 60*8=480 CP, not even GO. It is extremely hard for US-based pax to maintain MPC status, but it might be pointless except for access to FL.
For the op-up - yes it's easy to get op-up from Y to PEY, but I have never been op-up by CX from W to J in the last 3 years, about 15 RT between US and HKG (mostly JFK/EWR).
For the op-up - yes it's easy to get op-up from Y to PEY, but I have never been op-up by CX from W to J in the last 3 years, about 15 RT between US and HKG (mostly JFK/EWR).
From my op-up experience it seems OWS?=CXSL>CXGR>>>OWR. CX GR is definitely better than OWR in terms of op-ups (though I'm sure not many of you care lol)
#28
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Would you mind saying what status you are/were? For CX SL my op-up was pretty much 50%, for both Y to PEY and PEY to J. CX GR would be around 25-30%. Recently switched to OWS and got op-upped once out of once (PEY to J). Would really like to know if CX SL gets better op-up chance than OWS as I'm thinking about switching back to CX SL. I also fly JFK/EWR to HKG most of the time.
From my op-up experience it seems OWS?=CXSL>CXGR>>>OWR. CX GR is definitely better than OWR in terms of op-ups (though I'm sure not many of you care lol)
From my op-up experience it seems OWS?=CXSL>CXGR>>>OWR. CX GR is definitely better than OWR in terms of op-ups (though I'm sure not many of you care lol)
In addition, weekend/weekday might make a difference, but I am too lazy to dig into my trip history.
#29
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: CX MPC DM
Posts: 416
I'm probably in a similar pattern as @andersonCooper. 6-7 longhauls, EWR/JFK-HKG on PE, no other travel. I try to get redemption upgrade to J with R class ticket on each trip as company won't pay for J. I haven't switched to AA, but would probably make OWE pretty quickly. WIth MPC, that pattern has me in GO/OWS for the last 3 years. I thought I had a chance for DM this year as I snagged two J class tickets during the black friday sale last year, but a little work hitch left me three months with no travel over the summer. If I can get an extension in November, maybe can get to 1100 points and hope they would bump me up.
If I switched to AA, I'd get to OWE quickly, but lose the J class redemption upgrades. As @andersonCooper mentioned, op-up is very route/time dependent, but IMHO seems EWR op-up has decreased with the change to A359. JFK op-up has never seemed great for GO. I have a few co-workers that use JFK-HKG, and they hardly ever get one although they usually take the Sunday CX845 and Friday CX840 flights which seem pretty elite heavy. I'm more willing to choose midweek or Saturday flights.
With the redemption change, and upgrade rate going up to 70K miles round trip, I'm still able to afford the miles, so I'm sticking with CX for now, but I do contemplate switching to AA. I don't really care about F lounge access, Pier J is good enough for me. Sure I'd like to be DM, but without the additional local travel, don't think I can get or maintain with my current pattern. CX GO works for me, albeit only slightly more valuable than SL.
If I switched to AA, I'd get to OWE quickly, but lose the J class redemption upgrades. As @andersonCooper mentioned, op-up is very route/time dependent, but IMHO seems EWR op-up has decreased with the change to A359. JFK op-up has never seemed great for GO. I have a few co-workers that use JFK-HKG, and they hardly ever get one although they usually take the Sunday CX845 and Friday CX840 flights which seem pretty elite heavy. I'm more willing to choose midweek or Saturday flights.
With the redemption change, and upgrade rate going up to 70K miles round trip, I'm still able to afford the miles, so I'm sticking with CX for now, but I do contemplate switching to AA. I don't really care about F lounge access, Pier J is good enough for me. Sure I'd like to be DM, but without the additional local travel, don't think I can get or maintain with my current pattern. CX GO works for me, albeit only slightly more valuable than SL.
#30
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 409
Having a similar dilemma. I'm having trouble maintaining my CX Gold due to family members relocating and my travel patterns changing, and wondering if I should just credit to another OW frequent flyer program. BA seems to always pop up as the easiest to attain OWS status.
I did want to point out that for domestic US lounge access, AA actually screws their own so if this is an important benefit for you, keep this in mind. For example, I can access the AA Flagship Lounge at JFK with my OWS access flying in domestic economy, but whatever AA's equivalent is for OWS cannot do the same. I don't know how their status maps, but this is what is on their website: AAdvantage®Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum customers traveling solely on North American itineraries do not qualify for Flagship Lounge access.
I did want to point out that for domestic US lounge access, AA actually screws their own so if this is an important benefit for you, keep this in mind. For example, I can access the AA Flagship Lounge at JFK with my OWS access flying in domestic economy, but whatever AA's equivalent is for OWS cannot do the same. I don't know how their status maps, but this is what is on their website: AAdvantage®Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum customers traveling solely on North American itineraries do not qualify for Flagship Lounge access.