CX mulls over tightening lounge access for MPC Silver members

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  • Anonymous
    Guest

    Clement Huang
    Participant

    Based on a recent survey, CX is considering limiting lounge access for Marco Polo Club Silver tier members to roughly four times a year, with unlimited access only granted to those with Gold status or above.

    What do you think?


    SCF
    Participant

    That is very short-sighted. Silver members will become Gold members one day!!!


    EU_Flyer
    Participant

    Agreed, short sighted but it arguably brings it into line with the Star Alliance policy of only giving lounge access to top tier FFs.

    The problem with this is that it would need to be implemented across all oneworld airlines given that, for example, a Silver BAEC (OW Sapphire) would get access to the CX lounge where the equivalent CX Silver wouldn’t. This would incentivise CX FF to look elsewhere.

    CX would argue that the suggested policy better encourages Silvers to become Gold because lounge access is the real incentive. The result might be that CX Silver will buy a Priority Pass card and give up on CX where others are cheaper or worse, encourage CX Silvers to book on other OW airlines and get the benefits there.

    If anything there needs to be consistency across OW airlines so that a Qatar situation doesn’t arise.


    CXDiamond
    Participant

    CX silver is the equivalent of OW ruby not sapphire so restricting lounge access would be in line with OW norms, ruby does not gain lounge access.


    EU_Flyer
    Participant

    Thanks CX Diamond. My error.

    Raises the issue that Silver in CX and QF are OW Ruby where Silver in BAEC is OW Sapphire. Bronze in BAEC is OW Ruby where Bronze on QF is entry level like BAEC Blue.

    You’d think they’d have alligned these by now.

    Still, pretty generous of CX to have given Silver (Ruby) members lounge access to date, especially when Qantas and BA don’t give their equivalent FFs much more than the standard extra kgs/check in etc


    canucklad
    Participant

    The other thing that all airline executives need to start thinking about is., simply put…… getting a grip on reality. As technologies advance and bean counters assert their influence virtual meetings will be the preferred choice for middle management.

    My company (very successful and profitable) is continually suggesting alternatives to specifically AIR travel , including using our virtual meeting rooms. It won’t be too long before I’ll probably be a holographic projection into a meeting room somewhere : )
    So, back to the topic in hand, there is no way I’ll be able to sustain my Silver this year, even though I’ll travel extensively for business. As others have said, lounge access is definitely a benefit. If I’ve not got access I’d certainly consider other options. And l do agree that there has to be consistency within alliances, otherwise what’s the point of being a member.

    Having said all that, I suppose Cathay and Dragonair is in a definitely privileged market position , considering their location.


    rferguson
    Participant

    Alex_fly totally agree with you that BA should re-align their levels to what 80% of airlines seem to have – Bronze (entry level)/Silver/Gold/Platinum. This seems to be the process most OneWorld airlines adopt.

    In regards to limiting visits to the lounge for the equivalent of a CX Ruby level frequent flyer I think it’s reasonable to limit the amount of lounge visits. Four seems pretty reasonable and then at least the next tier would be more enticing.


    EU_Flyer
    Participant

    Totally agree rferguson. Originally I thought Silver was oneworld Sapphire so hence the comments. The fact that a oneworld ruby gets unlimited lounge access on their FF member airline is pretty damn generous given that the other OW airlines don’t extend the same perk.

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