Life after DM, any veterans advice on this?
Feb 19, 2014 | 7:04 pm
#16
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 8,201
yea, this is a big improvement. they're quite flexible about it and I've had no problem getting a refund into my account crediting the extra amt if it had been one-ways. definitely gotta give credit where it's due and this is one for CX.
Feb 19, 2014 | 8:41 pm
#17
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Gold/owe, CX AsiaMiles (not even GR anymore!) missing my GO days
Posts: 1,583
To the OP, one thing to remember is that if you're a GO, it's because you'll be flying less and so will have fewer opportunities to notice the DM benefits you're missing out on. I don't say this sarcastically. While it sounds like you'll notice a downgrade in your experience when you do fly, those DM benefits were most valuable because you were spending so much time on CX flights. Despite all the reports I hear of fantastic DM service, I view the time I spend at home instead of flying as a major "benefit" that offsets the fact that I'm only a GO!
This is something that also drives me crazy. The one thing that U.S. carriers are generally good about is carrying waitlists right up to departure. I've never understood why CX was so resistant to doing this. If they're going to allow instant upgrades at the airport, why not do it from the existing waitlist? Then again, at least we don't have it as bad as BA, where you can't waitlist for any award, ever.
To me the most annoying part of the system is what happens if you're still on the waiting list 24 hours before the flight. Then, CX basically throws in the towel, changes the rules to the game, and a business traveler like myself who likes to arrive at the airport an hour or so before inevitably gets screwed in favor of the guy who had time to get there early. Say I've been waiting for a J-F upgrade award for a month, I'm at the top of the list, and it doesn't clear 24 hours before departure. Okay fine....but then you get to the airport the next day, and realize there is a seat available (maybe a no-show, maybe someone switched last minute), and infuriatingly you're told that there are one or two DMs in front of you on the waiting list. Who you specifically knew weren't there on the MPC waiting list. And inevitably you don't get to use your miles to upgrade because you got beat to the airport, despite having been on the waiting list for that flight for quite some time. This is possible because control of upgrades is handed over to the airport on the day of the flight, and the MPC waiting list is irrelevant at that point. Whoever physically shows up at the airport first gets on the new list, which is kept by the airport. At least, this is definitely how the system works at outports.
Feb 20, 2014 | 4:15 am
#18
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,513
Mate, I can confirm this is not accurate. I specifically remember Xmas time in both 2008 and 2009. I was trying to be a cheapskate and buy economy class tix and use miles to upgrade to J ex-HKG to SFO (back when you could do this...good old days). Both years tried to do it. I had no intention of flying Y. I was confirmed upgraded into J on a flight the day later, but was waitlisted to upgrade into J on two flights in days before. I specifically went to the website and saw I could buy business class tickets for the flights I wanted. Eventually I did end up getting cleared, but that was a week before departure. Perhaps this is a special situation given the holidays, maybe it was an MPC error, but I definitely wasn't cleared immediately. I spent a lot of cash on CX that year (100k USD+) so I don't think I was being treated differently due to a low spend level. As an fyi, I've been DM continuously since 2008.
**added later: I actually had no idea they were supposed to convert a revenue seat into an award seat for me at that time, maybe if I had asked about that and pointed out I was DM they would've done it.
**added later: I actually had no idea they were supposed to convert a revenue seat into an award seat for me at that time, maybe if I had asked about that and pointed out I was DM they would've done it.
Also there was a restriction on the non-stop JFK flights. and 251 to LHR.
However, too bad now as they removed this benefit, or they now assess it on a case by case basis.
Feb 20, 2014 | 4:19 am
#19
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,513
To the OP, one thing to remember is that if you're a GO, it's because you'll be flying less and so will have fewer opportunities to notice the DM benefits you're missing out on. I don't say this sarcastically. While it sounds like you'll notice a downgrade in your experience when you do fly, those DM benefits were most valuable because you were spending so much time on CX flights. Despite all the reports I hear of fantastic DM service, I view the time I spend at home instead of flying as a major "benefit" that offsets the fact that I'm only a GO!
This is something that also drives me crazy. The one thing that U.S. carriers are generally good about is carrying waitlists right up to departure. I've never understood why CX was so resistant to doing this. If they're going to allow instant upgrades at the airport, why not do it from the existing waitlist? Then again, at least we don't have it as bad as BA, where you can't waitlist for any award, ever.
This is something that also drives me crazy. The one thing that U.S. carriers are generally good about is carrying waitlists right up to departure. I've never understood why CX was so resistant to doing this. If they're going to allow instant upgrades at the airport, why not do it from the existing waitlist? Then again, at least we don't have it as bad as BA, where you can't waitlist for any award, ever.
Yes from a MPO pespective it sucks, but at the end it is a commercial decision.
If they follow this waitlist, people will wait till the last possible moment to purchase into the premium cabin. Now that you know there is more risk unless you turn up to the airport early, if you really want a premium cabin you would pay before.
CX is still one of the most flexible regarding ODU as well - especially they can process it flawlessly in most outports.
The 2 X Oneway = Return refund is really fair and outweights the inability to WL till the airport.
Feb 25, 2014 | 12:45 am
#22
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Asia Pac
Programs: AA UA DL AS CXDM JL NH Hilton Hyatt Marriott SPG IHG
Posts: 545
Life after DM, any veterans advice on this?
I remember CB inquired about Centurion in the US market. I suggest getting an oversea Centurion that comes with CX DM, then in the end you'd get a 60,000 miles renewal to DM. This should still be quite manageable given your 4-6 TPAC flights, even if you are flying Y.
Feb 25, 2014 | 1:43 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,797
Depending on the annual fee for Centurion, it might be better to direct that money to some extra leisure trips to meet DM instead. Anyway have to weigh up the cost/benefit of Centurion.
Feb 25, 2014 | 6:16 am
#24
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,513
Also where is the rule about 60k renewal? I thought they implemented the discount to GO only. I never activated the DM through centurion as I am DM for over 10 years already
Feb 25, 2014 | 7:51 am
#25
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Asia Pac
Programs: AA UA DL AS CXDM JL NH Hilton Hyatt Marriott SPG IHG
Posts: 545
I thought Centurion is by invitation only - or at least when I got it 10 years ago. Have they changed?
Also where is the rule about 60k renewal? I thought they implemented the discount to GO only. I never activated the DM through centurion as I am DM for over 10 years already
Also where is the rule about 60k renewal? I thought they implemented the discount to GO only. I never activated the DM through centurion as I am DM for over 10 years already
As to the reduced mileage/sector requirement, see here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22142043-post377.html
Someone has posted a letter image of that requirement, but I can't seem to find it.
Feb 25, 2014 | 8:02 am
#26
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,513
By invitation only as it was, however, you can certainly find ways to make them send you the invitation.
As to the reduced mileage/sector requirement, see here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22142043-post377.html
Someone has posted a letter image of that requirement, but I can't seem to find it.
As to the reduced mileage/sector requirement, see here http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/22142043-post377.html
Someone has posted a letter image of that requirement, but I can't seem to find it.
Btw can you PM me how to get centurion without invitation. My friend wanted to get it but I asked my centurion rep and they said can't be referred.
Feb 25, 2014 | 9:45 am
#27
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Asia Pac
Programs: AA UA DL AS CXDM JL NH Hilton Hyatt Marriott SPG IHG
Posts: 545
For UK Cent, get a UK Plat and then charge 200k GBP a year for mostly high end purchases, then there is a very good chance you would get an invite.
For ICC Cent, open up an account with one of the European private banks that cooperate with Amex, put in USD 10 million, then the bank would get an invite for you.
For TW Cent, get a TW Plat, and provide a proof of cash deposit of around USD 6.67m (TWD 200m), then they would extend an invite to you.
I am not familiar with the HK market, however, I guess it should not be too far off from the TW market, that is, you must either spend a lot or prove that you have a lot to spend.
Whether the fees would be worth it, that's totally another story.
Last edited by APeverell; Feb 25, 2014 at 10:17 am