mxr

Is there a specific reason why you dodged answering to the obvious choice of Singapore Airlines that QRC3288 already mentioned?

Also I'm not quite sure if I understood: You obtained MPC GO with your SIN-TYO flights while you do not credit any of your CX US-HK flights to MPC? Would'nt you already quite easily make DM with 6-8 return US-HK trips in J/F?

Visconti

Thanks. This is helpful.

My rough calculations didn't involve JL Mileagebank. From your post, I've learned more about JL's program than I ever knew before.

Visconti

Ah, since I suck at multiple quotes, I just addressed, or so I had thought, QRC's and Kaka's posts in a single unquoted one. While the SQ recommendation is certainly not without merit, I dismissed it for a couple of reasons: (1) several less than stellar experiences dealing with SQ (which I feel no need to rehash here); and, (2) have no interest in earning Star Alliance.

As to the second part of your question, when asking for advice, I'm just more accustomed asking it in a brief, to the point, and without any non relevant details. I assume, most are like me, and find it tiresome reading a long expose on a simple question. But, if you're curious, at the risk of boring you, I'll try to clear up your confusion. Up until several years ago, I hadn't visited HK in a long time, and thought it would be nice to visit, for nostalgic reasons. So, I'd fly there once or twice a year and used AA miles to redeem CX F. Then, after AA devaluation, CX F price when from 70k(?) to 120K, I changed to AS, which has kept CX F at 70K, and with a stopover.

Up until then, given the criteria for DM, or even GO, it's obviously a waste of time to even consider it, especially in CX F/J. Now, about 2 years ago, something changed, and I realized there is a possibility that I may have to make at least quarterly trips to HK & SIN. So, a year ago, when this possibility increased, I reached out to MPC and requested a match, and was kindly offered SL. I had credited a couple of CX J/F TPACs to AS, while crediting the intra Asia routes, HKG/SIN/TYO/PVG (on JL/CA/KA), to MPC/Asiamiles. My flight in Feb is the first CX metal TPAC I will be crediting to MPC/Asiamiles.

The quarterly TPACs, possibly 6 - 8 flights, are all future flights, where it's all but certain I'll be the one tabbed to do the traveling. No one can predict the future, but there's a chance I may be taking these flights for several years. I'm just trying to figure out how to maximize my rebate over the next 12 months, and whether or not DM is worth, say, forgoing the miles I can earn on AS or, now, thanks to Kaka, JL. But, if it's DM, I'd have to credit to MPC immediately to even have a shot at it this year.

So, any insights on whether or not DM is worth it? However, based on some of the insights given here, I've decided against the SIN-HKG-TYO detour.

mxr

Definitely not boring... I usually read most of the stuff posted if I find it to be interesting. After all it makes it easier to answer if you provide more information.

From the info you just gave, it seems like you value the award miles much more than the status. So based on this I'd say that you should definitely fly JAL direct SIN-TYO and credit to JAL just like Kaka already suggested. Honestly speaking status doesn't matter that much anyways if you mostly fly J/F for work. Sure, its nice to have lounge access and all that for your personal trips but lets be realistic, how often does one fly for personal reasons anyways... and when you do fly for personal reasons and you redeem F/J it also doesn't really matter what status you have. Except for those little things, you get the same stuff when flying premium cabins as if you'd have some sort of status.

If it was me, I'd probably go for DM, but I also fly a lot more in economy so its a completely different case. if you fly in longhauls in PEY or Y you really might value the difference of service, lounges, luggage allowance etc. . However looking at what you wrote: Crediting to MPC would be of much less value for you in terms of award miles: Does losing 1/2 of the possible award miles sound good to you in exchange for a bottle of water for that 1 flight you might take in economy on CX?

Visconti

Don't mean to go OT on my own thread here, but, and this is pure speculation on my part, I don't think the AS 70K CX F with a stopover redemption is going to last indefinitely. I mean, for instance, CX F HND - HKG - JFK for 70K? On general principle, one would have to redeem this, in my view. So, the risk is earning tons of AS currency, and be subject to devaluation, especially since domestic redemptions have little or no value for me.

Generally, when I sense change, I don't wait around, try to be amongst the first out the door, and never bother sticking around for the hindsight analysis. Since MPC has recently devalued (at least from what I read), I'm assuming it'll be safe from further devaluation, at least for several years? So, perhaps, this may be a prudent time to hedge with DM & leveraging AM for future potential redemptions.

Of course, not having extensive experience with MPC, all of my paper theorist stuff may be completely off base, like my...er...idea on the SIN-HKG-TYO detour. Really glad I asked before implementing that plan, which initially, at least to me, seemed somewhat plausible.

PS - Also, with the recent mistake fare thing, I'm assuming any HKG - JFK redemptions will be unavailable to partners, hence, my reluctance to earn tons of AS miles to "save" for next year. Unless it's Amex MR, I like to earn and burn asap.