Historically, Cathay Pacific has been the most generous airline in the world when it comes to honoring oneworld Emerald perks, including for those earning the status through partner airlines. However, is that slowly changing?
In this post:
Cathay Pacific’s amazing oneworld Emerald treatment
If you ask me, oneworld Emerald is the most useful alliance-wide airline elite status, as oneworld is the only one to have three tiers of alliance status. Up until now, Cathay Pacific has done an amazing job taking care of oneworld Emerald members, regardless of whether they belong to the carrier’s frequent flyer program, or a partner frequent flyer program:
- oneworld Emerald members receive first class check-in and first class class boarding (and on planes without first class, boarding ahead of business class)
- oneworld Emerald members receive access to the carrier’s first class lounges, including in Hong Kong (HKG) and London (LHR)
- oneworld Emerald members generally receive excellent treatment from flight attendants, similar to Cathay Pacific’s own top tier elites
Cathay Pacific is a shining example of how good oneworld Emerald status can be, though admittedly other oneworld airlines don’t act nearly as much within the spirit of the program. For example, Qatar Airways doesn’t give oneworld Emerald members access to its Al Safwa First Lounge, let alone its Al Mourjan Business Lounge, but instead has dedicated (lesser) lounges for oneworld elite members.
Cathay Pacific cuts back oneworld Emerald perks
Historically, Cathay Pacific has essentially treated its first class passengers and oneworld Emerald members the same on the ground. That applied regardless of whether the oneworld Emerald status is earned through Cathay Pacific’s own program, or through a partner program. However, we’re slowly seeing some differentiation in terms of treatment.
Several months back, Cathay Pacific started accepting spa reservations for The Pier First Lounge in advance, but only for first class passengers and its own Diamond members. Okay, fair enough, that’s not unreasonable, since everyone was still getting access to the same facilities.
But now we’ve just seen Cathay Pacific open The Bridge Lounge in Hong Kong, as The Wing First Lounge prepares to close for a renovation. What’s interesting is that this lounge has a first class section, but it’s being limited to first class passengers and Diamond members. In other words, the airline is explicitly excluding those who earn oneworld Emerald status through other programs.
This is the first time (that I can recall) that Cathay Pacific is excluding oneworld Emerald members from first class lounge access, as a policy (in other words, aside from capacity constraints). Admittedly this is just one specific situation as of now, and oneworld Emerald members can continue to use The Pier First Lounge. But I do think this is something to watch, and one wonders if we’ll see more of this in the future.
As someone who earns oneworld Emerald through a program other than Cathay Pacific’s, I of course love and hugely benefit from Cathay Pacific’s historic policy. However, I also see it from Cathay Pacific’s side:
- I adore how Cathay Pacific has done an amazing job treating oneworld Emerald members from partner airlines so well, but at the same time, other airlines don’t have as good treatment, so Cathay Pacific is really being exceptionally generous
- In some ways, the issue with the Cathay Pacific ground experience is that first class passengers didn’t really receive differentiated service, and it seems like that should happen; like, someone paying $20K+ per ticket should get a better ground experience than a oneworld Emerald member from a partner airline flying a short haul sector in economy
For now we’ll mark this as “developing,” and I’m curious how this situation plays out in years to come. The reality is that Cathay Pacific has two massive first class lounges (with one now undergoing a renovation), so I don’t think we’ll see the airline totally cut oneworld Emeralds from first class lounge access in the long run.
However, I wouldn’t be surprised to increasingly see certain perks limited to first class passengers and the carrier’s own elite members.
Bottom line
Cathay Pacific seems to increasingly be downgrading perks for those earning oneworld Emerald status through other programs. Most recently, we’ve seen the opening of The Bridge Lounge, which has a first class section, but oneworld Emerald members from programs other than Cathay Pacific’s are excluded.
I wouldn’t consider this a huge deal as of now, though I don’t love the trend.
What do you make of Cathay Pacific’s oneworld Emerald perk updates?
AA doesn't give Emerald access to JFK F lounge, nor access to First Dining in Flagship Lounges. BA doesn't give Emerald access to Concorde room in London. In London - the first lounge is basically the Emerald room. JAL doesn't give Emerald access to the special First check in lounge at HND. So I don't see much difference.
What's confusing is Cathay's relatively tiny First Class capacity right now, so this is really prioritizing their own Diamond members moreso than people flying their First Class.
The Bridge has a much smaller footprint than The Pier so it only makes sense that they section off a part of The Bridge for just the F pax and their own Diamond members. I don't think this is a permanent thing when The Wing reopens otherwise that restriction would have extended to The Pier already.
I've been to The Bridge many times, and one half of it is not a big space. It makes sense to me that they might be doing this out of space constraint more than "We're going to diss everyone who converted their miles and booked awards via AS."
CX has always had kind of a different definition of luxury compared to SQ. They're not going to do what SQ did (does?) and make Star Golds all go outside the lounge to go to the bathroom...
I fly to multiple locations in Asia, not just HKG. Almost always, this AA Emerald has a choice of connecting airports.
Surely this is simply them limiting access to their own F/ Highest tier elites during lounge renovations? They've added in an F section as they prepare to, imminently, close the F lounge in that location. That will cause a capacity issue so they're saving it for their own.
As you've said in the article OW Emeralds can still use the pier F lounge so I'd have thought the whole thing self explanatory. If they'd...
Surely this is simply them limiting access to their own F/ Highest tier elites during lounge renovations? They've added in an F section as they prepare to, imminently, close the F lounge in that location. That will cause a capacity issue so they're saving it for their own.
As you've said in the article OW Emeralds can still use the pier F lounge so I'd have thought the whole thing self explanatory. If they'd removed that option as well, then, this would actually be a story.
Of the OW carriers CX is one that is known to overcompensate on the customer experience and that carries over to those of other alliance carriers. Whilst of course they'd rather pax were flying with them. They've got an entire plane's worth of BA elites passing through daily alone that they wouldn't want to have to placate.
Ben, I wouldn't call this a downgrade at all. Having two (though temporarily one) F-cl lounges available in HKG that grant Emeralds access is more than generous, given that these are some of the best lounges in the world. In fact, I do understand the desire for a more distinguished level of service for own Diamonds / actual F customers. There's really nothing to complain about here in my personal opinion.
CX also restricts access to the LHR T3 F lounge, especially in the afternoons, for OWEs departing on partner airlines.
The lounge does get crowded, though, so I guess it is reasonable and restrictions seem to exist only when the lounge really is at capacity (as opposed to BA which flat out refuses OW elite access to its outstation lounges).
I hope there are some restrictions brought into some outport lounges, especially Manila and Bangkok.
Flying back to Hong Kong in the evening, the annoying Australians in the lounge are terrible. Loud and obnoxious is being polite.
Come on CX, protect your own lounges for those flying CX, not oneworld trash.
I've previously used the very nice Cathay lounge at BKK when flying Finnair, but got refused entry a couple of months ago. They said it was because the lounge was full. I had noticed through the windows that it was virtually empty, then they used the excuse that there were 2 or 3 planes due to take off soon, so it was going to get busy!
I'm flying BA from LHR T3 next month,...
I've previously used the very nice Cathay lounge at BKK when flying Finnair, but got refused entry a couple of months ago. They said it was because the lounge was full. I had noticed through the windows that it was virtually empty, then they used the excuse that there were 2 or 3 planes due to take off soon, so it was going to get busy!
I'm flying BA from LHR T3 next month, so it'll be interesting to see if they still let me in the Cathay First Lounge.
Also, when is The Pier due to close for renovations? as was planning on visiting it, before I lose my BA Gold status.
@ John -- I suspect the Bangkok issue has to do with the airport's strange new rules:
https://onemileatatime.com/news/bangkok-airport-lounge-rules-ridiculous/
It's only The Wing First Lounge that's closing for now, so you should be good with visiting The Pier First Lounge. :-)
Thanks Ben, I missed your post about the BKK ridiculous rules - crazy that AOT get involved in this.
Thanks also for the info on The Pier :-)
Meh.
This isn't really out of line. SQ has the same policy with The Private Room in Singapore - and even then, it's more exclusive because even PPS members can't access it unless they are flying SQ first/suites as well.
Good for CX for keeping the first class experience a first class one.
SQ is not Oneworld.
Rules explicitly state benefits of Emerald members and lounge access is one of it.
Meh.
You're logic is just like Tim Dunn, who should be able to return maybe tomorrow.
CX also gives free onboard WiFi for their DMs regardless of class but not OWEMs.
Personally I don’t see any problem with it - every airline of course takes care of their own top tier members. And having witnessed how disgraceful some OWEMs have behaved in CX F lounges - I welcome the move.
QR doesn't give its own OWE/OWS members access to the Al Safeway/Al Mourjan lounges, so the point is a little moot.
However, their Gold/Platinum lounges are pretty nice, so not complaining.
It's not just Emerald. I have been Diamond since 2014 and they have slowly and surely removed most worthwhile benefits - guaranteed space in V class fare, access to first (or any) lounge no matter which airline you fly on, dedicated Diamond service line, arrival lounge, additional luggage allowance, waitlist for award tickets, revenue booking hold without ticketing deadline... at the same time they increased miles redemption prices multiple time, removed free stopover on miles...
It's not just Emerald. I have been Diamond since 2014 and they have slowly and surely removed most worthwhile benefits - guaranteed space in V class fare, access to first (or any) lounge no matter which airline you fly on, dedicated Diamond service line, arrival lounge, additional luggage allowance, waitlist for award tickets, revenue booking hold without ticketing deadline... at the same time they increased miles redemption prices multiple time, removed free stopover on miles tickets, outsourced call centre to the Philippines and email customer care to China without training the staff, making them useless.
Much ado about nothing. The new lounge would not be able to accommodate the same number of F and Emeralds as the one being renovated so providing F passengers is paramount for the level of exclusivity they pay for. There’s no change at the other F lounge so this is no different from BA’s GoldGuestList or LH/LX’s HONs and their restricted access Real F lounges (Concorde & FRA Terminal). Or AA/BA’s. Chelsea lounge @JFK.
So...
Much ado about nothing. The new lounge would not be able to accommodate the same number of F and Emeralds as the one being renovated so providing F passengers is paramount for the level of exclusivity they pay for. There’s no change at the other F lounge so this is no different from BA’s GoldGuestList or LH/LX’s HONs and their restricted access Real F lounges (Concorde & FRA Terminal). Or AA/BA’s. Chelsea lounge @JFK.
So this is really much ado about nothing. Just a few minutes less in the main HKG F lounge if one’s flight departs from the far gates in the Y piers.
That'd be quite a bummer. Flew them recently as an emerald for the first time and was amazed at how I was treated, even flying in economy. Multiple visits from several different cabin crew, getting to order and being served my meal first.
No blocked middle like on JL though.
I think this is long overdue. There were some other perks for Diamonds (like a buggy voucher. Not too useful if you're able-bodied, but amazing if you have someone who has mobility issues with you), but given how blatant AA, BA, Qatar et all are with differentiating their own members vs. alliance members, Cathay's current implementation is far from egregious in comparison.
The Deck will also be a First Class lounge for OW elites, and...
I think this is long overdue. There were some other perks for Diamonds (like a buggy voucher. Not too useful if you're able-bodied, but amazing if you have someone who has mobility issues with you), but given how blatant AA, BA, Qatar et all are with differentiating their own members vs. alliance members, Cathay's current implementation is far from egregious in comparison.
The Deck will also be a First Class lounge for OW elites, and it opens right before Wing F closes, so OW elites aren't even losing anything; they still get a lounge on each end of the airport.
I think the bridge first section is a temporary/smaller space, and they want to prioritize their own pax for the smaller space.
I believe it is this reason too. The Bridge lounge is temporary and First section is space limited. OWE can still go to The Pier.
Mind you, BA's Concorde Room lounge is restricted to their F passengers and Gold Guest List too.
That's normal like AA flagship first dining eligibility, but you only mention out of States area.
I think “Qatar Airways doesn’t give oneworld Emerald members access to its Al Safwa First Lounge, let alone its Al Mourjan Business Lounge” should read “Qatar Airways doesn’t give oneworld Emerald members access to its Al Mourjan Business Lounge, let alone its Al Safwa First Lounge”
Finally! As a CX DM, I've always been treated "less" by AA, BA and QR anyway. When traveling domestic F (AA) or transatlantic J (BA), I've never been greeted, and always had to "remind" them of Emerald perks such as priority baggage, and higher lounge access. Am also annoyed that CX lounges (esp. in LHR) are full of Emerald pax not flying CX. About time, if you ask me.
Excellent news. Americans and Australians in Cathay lounges have been a nuisance for a long time. Thank you Cathay!