Alternatives to Marco Polo Club
#31
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: HKG
Posts: 28
"They": Singapore Airlines
Beyond SQKF, SQ has their own PPS/PPS Solitaire system. https://www.singaporeair.com/en_UK/u...s-at-a-glance/
#32
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,495
BA favors premium pax. It is hard to get status with low Y fares, easy with business class.
CX is more geared to Y pax.
You also have to be careful where you wish to use awards. BAEC has become very bad for availability on regional awards exHKG, AM much much better.
If you use awards in Europe, then BAEC is OK.
CX is more geared to Y pax.
You also have to be careful where you wish to use awards. BAEC has become very bad for availability on regional awards exHKG, AM much much better.
If you use awards in Europe, then BAEC is OK.
#33
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Gold, JGC Sapphire, OZ Diamond, AF Silver, CX GR, Marriott Lifetime SL
Posts: 3,598
I am surprised that if I take Qatar Business from LHR to HKG, I will get 560 points with BAEX. That's really a good deal for OW Sapphire. But for MPC, I will only get 210 club points. Thanks to ChrisLi for letting me know that QR Economy gives 140 tier points when I credit them to BAEX. Is there some sort of agreement between BA and QR so BA is nice for members to take QR in terms of tier points?
Hi sxc,
Thanks! Sorry for the confusion. I meant: is BAEX easier to get Emerald status than the standard method?
Fly HKG-LHR 3 - 5 times, normally in Economy & Premium Economy. Pay standard fare tickets. Occasionally in Business.
Fly HKG-ICN 3 times, in Economy.
Many thanks, Neo
Thanks! Sorry for the confusion. I meant: is BAEX easier to get Emerald status than the standard method?
Fly HKG-LHR 3 - 5 times, normally in Economy & Premium Economy. Pay standard fare tickets. Occasionally in Business.
Fly HKG-ICN 3 times, in Economy.
Many thanks, Neo
For HKG ICN 3 times in Y, I would say forget about OZ unless you have many other Star Alliance flight during the year. OZ is especially bad in award redemption ratio as well (I am OZ Diamond - *Gold but i only step on OZ flight 3 or 4 times only). It's good if you consider you can have lifetime membership after 500K status miles but I would say you are too far from there.
Last edited by ChrisLi; Jan 12, 2020 at 7:17 pm
#34
Join Date: Jul 2014
Location: SFO/HKG
Programs: ex-UA 1K, AA EXP, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 535
Love reading the lively commentary in this post and appreciate everyone's willingness to pitch in their two cents.
OP has performed preliminary research which is excellent but I would recommend taking this a step further and come up with a spreadsheet for expected routes and fare classes and analyze the results from the different programs.
The age of question of "which FFP is best" really only has one answer: "it depends". Many of these factors are dependent on the individual (i.e., fare classes (financial constraint), preferences (airline/seat/countries/perceived safety), duration (routings non-stop vs layovers). Then there's the question of what one values the most in a FFP - is it OW status? baggage allowance? availability of award space? complimentary upgrades, etc.? the answer is completely dependent on the individual.
Once everything is put on paper, that's when the results become clearer - either one will qualify for top tier status for all programs or there will be one program that will demonstrate clear benefits over the others. if one wishes to further complicate the matter, there is the concept of lifetime status which generally takes at least 5-10 years to achieve.
OP has performed preliminary research which is excellent but I would recommend taking this a step further and come up with a spreadsheet for expected routes and fare classes and analyze the results from the different programs.
The age of question of "which FFP is best" really only has one answer: "it depends". Many of these factors are dependent on the individual (i.e., fare classes (financial constraint), preferences (airline/seat/countries/perceived safety), duration (routings non-stop vs layovers). Then there's the question of what one values the most in a FFP - is it OW status? baggage allowance? availability of award space? complimentary upgrades, etc.? the answer is completely dependent on the individual.
Once everything is put on paper, that's when the results become clearer - either one will qualify for top tier status for all programs or there will be one program that will demonstrate clear benefits over the others. if one wishes to further complicate the matter, there is the concept of lifetime status which generally takes at least 5-10 years to achieve.
#35
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: HKG
Posts: 28
I believe it's their chart issue that they do not have a seperate tier for longer range. For the 140 TP I mean round trip 4 sector (note the "RT" in my original post, which is 35 TP per sector in discounted Y) , do not get confused. For J I would say yes it is definitely a fast track to BA Gold.
It really depends on your flying pattern. If you envision your flying to slow down after your school time, it definitely worth the investment. I think I did it 5 years ago and didn't regret it at all (but now with my current job I opt to aim at BA lifetime gold).
If you tend to pay high fare subclass / full fare / PY, then BAEC is no-brainer and the added bonus if you are ok to transit in DOH. DOH itself is a good airport and quite smooth with priority transit, plus cheap tickets (but often quite restrictive, I recall finding 18K RT to LON but ask for 5K change fee and no cancellation). I won't recommend you to do ex-PEN due to complexity but do ex-LON holiday during the year. Note that IB coded and operated flight also count so if you do IB on LON-MAD-XXX, it still counts towards the sector requirements which may be cheaper way to fulfill it. I did a weekend trip on LCY-EDI-LGW last year which is cheap weekend getaway as well.
For HKG ICN 3 times in Y, I would say forget about OZ unless you have many other Star Alliance flight during the year. OZ is especially bad in award redemption ratio as well (I am OZ Diamond - *Gold but i only step on OZ flight 3 or 4 times only). It's good if you consider you can have lifetime membership after 500K status miles but I would say you are too far from there.
It really depends on your flying pattern. If you envision your flying to slow down after your school time, it definitely worth the investment. I think I did it 5 years ago and didn't regret it at all (but now with my current job I opt to aim at BA lifetime gold).
If you tend to pay high fare subclass / full fare / PY, then BAEC is no-brainer and the added bonus if you are ok to transit in DOH. DOH itself is a good airport and quite smooth with priority transit, plus cheap tickets (but often quite restrictive, I recall finding 18K RT to LON but ask for 5K change fee and no cancellation). I won't recommend you to do ex-PEN due to complexity but do ex-LON holiday during the year. Note that IB coded and operated flight also count so if you do IB on LON-MAD-XXX, it still counts towards the sector requirements which may be cheaper way to fulfill it. I did a weekend trip on LCY-EDI-LGW last year which is cheap weekend getaway as well.
For HKG ICN 3 times in Y, I would say forget about OZ unless you have many other Star Alliance flight during the year. OZ is especially bad in award redemption ratio as well (I am OZ Diamond - *Gold but i only step on OZ flight 3 or 4 times only). It's good if you consider you can have lifetime membership after 500K status miles but I would say you are too far from there.
Asiana will follow suit if that happens, so lifetime status prob wont take the current form for much longer imo
#36
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: HKG
Programs: BA Silver, MU Silver, Marriott Titanium, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 482
BA favors premium pax. It is hard to get status with low Y fares, easy with business class.
CX is more geared to Y pax.
You also have to be careful where you wish to use awards. BAEC has become very bad for availability on regional awards exHKG, AM much much better.
If you use awards in Europe, then BAEC is OK.
CX is more geared to Y pax.
You also have to be careful where you wish to use awards. BAEC has become very bad for availability on regional awards exHKG, AM much much better.
If you use awards in Europe, then BAEC is OK.
#37
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,671
#38
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: HKG
Posts: 28
I would almost call this one of the best kept secrets in CX ecosystem post-devaluation
Similarly sometimes SQ releases more partner award seats than to its own KF members
Quite a lot of intra-Asia routes, NRT HND DPS BKK SIN TPE come to mind
#40
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,495
If you have an example, please share it, so that I can check.
#41
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: HKG
Posts: 28
I have booked awards to DPS for two using BAEC while CX gave me the big waitlist middle finger
#42
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2019
Programs: MPCGO, AYPt, SQG, HHDiamond
Posts: 36
I believe it's their chart issue that they do not have a seperate tier for longer range. For the 140 TP I mean round trip 4 sector (note the "RT" in my original post, which is 35 TP per sector in discounted Y) , do not get confused. For J I would say yes it is definitely a fast track to BA Gold.
If you tend to pay high fare subclass / full fare / PY, then BAEC is no-brainer and the added bonus if you are ok to transit in DOH. DOH itself is a good airport and quite smooth with priority transit, plus cheap tickets (but often quite restrictive, I recall finding 18K RT to LON but ask for 5K change fee and no cancellation). I won't recommend you to do ex-PEN due to complexity but do ex-LON holiday during the year. Note that IB coded and operated flight also count so if you do IB on LON-MAD-XXX, it still counts towards the sector requirements which may be cheaper way to fulfill it. I did a weekend trip on LCY-EDI-LGW last year which is cheap weekend getaway as well.
For HKG ICN 3 times in Y, I would say forget about OZ unless you have many other Star Alliance flight during the year. OZ is especially bad in award redemption ratio as well (I am OZ Diamond - *Gold but i only step on OZ flight 3 or 4 times only). It's good if you consider you can have lifetime membership after 500K status miles but I would say you are too far from there.
After reading quite a lot of threads, I think choosing which FFP to join is somehow a long term investment, particularly, those who offers lifetime memberships. This brings out a question whether it is worth to pursuit one, as this will take a long time. triplefives However, I won’t worry about this because it’s a bit uncertain in the future.
The age of question of "which FFP is best" really only has one answer: "it depends". Many of these factors are dependent on the individual (i.e., fare classes (financial constraint), preferences (airline/seat/countries/perceived safety), duration (routings non-stop vs layovers). Then there's the question of what one values the most in a FFP - is it OW status? baggage allowance? availability of award space? complimentary upgrades, etc.? the answer is completely dependent on the individual.
I am thinking FinnairPLUS. What attracts me to Finnair is they credit points based on distance travelled in kilometers. If we take Finnair flights, we can get bonus tier points based on tier. I always take Cathay flights and based on the OW award chart, I always get 100% tier points.
I travel 3-4 times HKG-LHR in economy with Cathay. Since I always travel during peak seasons, the price of AY business is 450 euros more than CX economy. I think it is a good deal to have OW status if I take AY Business and reach Gold or even Platinum.
Many thanks, Neo.
Last edited by NeoZ; Jan 14, 2020 at 7:19 am
#43
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver/ows, CX AsiaMiles (not even GR anymore!) missing my GO days
Posts: 1,581
I think choosing which FFP to join is somehow a long term investment, particularly, those who offers lifetime memberships. This brings out a question whether it is worth to pursuit one, as this will take a long time. triplefives
I don't think this is worth worrying about if you're a student who's only starting university. Once you hit the working world a lot of this is going to depend on where in the world you end up living, how much travel your job requires, your corporate travel policy/carriers, etc. Plus, you shouldn't assume programs will stay as they are for the long term, given how frequently devaluations come across at all carriers. Focus on what makes sense for the next couple years and don't overthink what might happen beyond then.
As for your question: If you're worried about BA's customer service, remember that any oneworld status if you're living in the UK will require you to fly BA around Europe. But also, don't be certain you'll fly BA for a lot of shorthaul. They are sometimes cheaper than the LCCs, but not always especially during periods like school holidays. If you're traveling with friends from school, they'll just as often prefer EasyJet or Ryanair if they're on any kind of budget and then you'd need to decide if you want to be "that guy" who flies separately from the rest of the group.
The main difference between BAEC and MPO looks like it's that BAEC heavily rewards premium-cabin flying while MPO rewards high-frequency flying. In BAEC you need to fly premium economy or above to easily gain status since the TP earning chart skews disproportionately in favor of premium cabins. For LHR-HKG flying on CX, mid-range economy fares earn 90 club points round trip in MPO but only 40 in BAEC. But the same trip in discounted premium economy (E) would earn 180 TPs in BAEC but only 110 club points.
#44
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
Posts: 15,495
I would love if that were true, but have never found any case over thousands of tries since CX introduced the restrictions maybe a year ago.
As I mentioned earlier, one explanation I got (besides the bad CX-BA relations) is that BA intra-Asia awards are very cheap in terms of avios and therefore in terms of what BA "pays" to CX.
As DPS is beyond 2,000 miles (140TP earned on HKG-DPS J tickets), the avios cost is high and that may cause more availability.
#45
Join Date: Jun 2006
Location: NYC/SIN
Programs: CX DM, SQ KF
Posts: 2,152