Explained & Summarised – Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Status

Expanding on the Marco Polo Ecosystem

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Established in 1946, Cathay Pacific Airways is a founding member of Oneworld and has a rich history of connecting the world with its home in Hong Kong. The airline serves more than 90 destinations in some 35 countries across Asia, the Pacific, Europe, North America, the Middle East and Africa.

The airline used to operate a shared loyalty scheme, aptly named the Marco Polo Club, within its group comprising both Cathay Pacific and (the now-defunct) Cathay Dragon – but not Hong Kong Express.

Cathay Pacific Frequent Flyer Fundamentals

To start, it is probably best to begin and frame Cathays’ reward program. This is important because if you are not used to Airline miles, are not too familiar with the Oneworld’s royalty structure (say because you fly Skyteam or Star Alliance) or simply don’t know the difference between a Zone-Based program vs. a Miles-Based program, it may be worth not skipping ahead and miss the below.

In every Oneworld Frequent Flyer program, there are two currencies that members collect simultaneously – Status Points (SP) which determines your elite status level and cannot be spent and Reward Currency (RC) which can be exchanged for airline benefits and rewards. If you are familiar with Lufthansa’s 2020 Miles&More rebooted structure, then this should be quite familiar.

Asia Miles

Cathay Pacific’s Reward Currency of Choice

A points-based reward scheme that encompasses the main reward currency for the airline. A person can collect Asia Miles through various means such as through flying, affiliate links or credit card spending (the most common method). In return, you can redeem the points for in-flight upgrades, lounge access or travel-based experiences.

As a Hong Kong-based Carrier it’s no surprise that the main collection methods are geared towards experiences in the region.

The Marco Polo Club

The Status Points system to unlock elite benefits

Moving up the ladder within Cathay Pacific’s loyalty program is completely dependent on the number of Club Points accrued within a given year.

As a Zone-Based reward scheme, points are given based on a zone chart. Points are accrued based on a general formula of distance flown multiplied by the class of travel while factoring in the ticketing carrier.

Accrued Club Points expire at the end of each membership year and can only be earnt by actually flying with Cathay Pacific or a Oneworld Partner, not by signing up for credit card deals. There is no other use for Club Points other than setting your elite status, and unlike Asia Miles, they cannot be spent.

Facts about the Marco Polo Club

The Marco Polo Club does have a few unique features about it – but here is a quick overview of the programme.

Basic Entry Is Not Free

Upon paying the enrolment fee of US$100 to join the club as a Green member, you will enjoy some basic benefits however at the end of your 12-month membership period, you will still need to pay to renew your status with either 20 Club Points or pay another renewal fee of US$100.

Membership Isn’t Forever

Membership lasts 12 months from the date you enrolled (into Green or Silver), renewed, upgraded or downgraded into your current tier. Upon renewal, upgrade or downgrade, your club points will automatically be reset to zero and a new membership year begins.

No straight line to the top

The Marco Polo Club is one of the only Frequent Flyer programs where you cannot achieve Gold or Diamond status by simply earning 600 or 1200 club points within a single 12 month period.

Rather your club points will reset every time you reach a higher Elite Status Tier

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Marco Polo Club In Context of The Oneworld Alliance

Ranging from Green at the beginning, all the way up to Diamond Invitation at the other end of the spectrum, there are six elite status tiers within the Marco Polo Club (4 public and 2 “secret” tiers) which are grouped into four Oneworld equivalent brackets. While secret tiers are the most alluring to discuss, they are usually left to the realms of enthusiast forums as Cathay Pacific never actually publishes what the 1% of the 1% get. Although what is known is the benefits of the four public status tiers: Green, Silver, Gold, and Diamond.

Membership Tiers

Oneworld StatusNo
Status
RubySapphireEmerald
Marco Polo Status-Asia Miles
-Green
-Silver-Gold-Diamond
-Diamond Plus
-Diamond Invitation

No Status

Green is unique to Cathay as It captures a market where people may not travel enough to hit Silver, but travel enough to see the US$100 entry fee as a one-off investment because they can accrue the required 20 club points to renew their membership every year.

Green is technically on a level of its own, charging for the privilege but not really offering very much. You would only expect to benefit from this tier if you are based in Hong Kong.

Key Benefits

  • Designated Marco Polo Club check-in counters
  • Priority Boarding

Oneworld Ruby

Marco Polo Silver is regarded as the entry-level elite status tier within the Marco Polo Club.

To achieve Marco Polo Silver status you need 300 club points

Key Benefits:

  • Business Class check-in counters
  • Priority Boarding
  • Extra-Legroom Seats
  • Advance Seat Reservation
  • Extra Additional Checked Baggage
  • Lounge Access

Oneworld Ruby

Marco Polo Gold is regarded as the mid-tier elite status tier within the Marco Polo Club.

To achieve Marco Polo Gold status you need 600 club points

Key Benefits:

  • Business Class check-in counters
  • Priority Boarding
  • Extra-Legroom Seats
  • Advance Seat Reservation
  • Guaranteed Economy Class Seat
  • Extra Additional Checked Baggage
  • Lounge Access

Oneworld Emerald

Marco Polo Diamond is regarded as the highest elite status tier within the Marco Polo Club.

To achieve Marco Polo Diamond status you need 1,200 club points

Key Benefits:

  • First Class check-in counters
  • Priority Boarding
  • Extra-Legroom Seats
  • Advance Seat Reservation
  • Guaranteed Economy, Premium Economy and Business Class Seats
  • Extra Additional Checked Baggage
  • Lounge Access

Marco Polo Club Benefits Overview

Different Benefits on Member Airlines

Oneworld frequent flyer benefits, when exercised on a partner airline, are subject to the operating carrier’s terms.

This is noticeable on Cathay Pacific where If you are a Marco Polo Club Diamond, Gold, or Silver member, you may reserve seats for all passengers in the booking free of charge. However, if you are a Oneworld Ruby member or above then only you may reserve a regular seat for free – but travel companions will incur a fee.

Status BeniftSilverGoldPlatinum
Departure LoungeNoYesYes
Arrival LoungeNoNoYes
Luggage BeniftsExtra 10KgExtra 15KgExtra 20Kg
Priority BoardingRuby LineSapphire LineEmerald Line

Cathay Pacific Lounge Access Guide

Cathay does lounges well. Its pretty much a fact considering its focus on customer service. In Hong Kong alone the Airline operates 4 different lounges – The Wing, The Pier, The Deck and The Bridge – with several internationally including Manila, Tokyo, London, Frankfurt and Shanghai to name a few.

Important Terms and Conditions

The Marco Polo Club terms & conditions page is a valuable and important resource – especially for those who may not be fully versed in ways of the loyalty point. Summarised below are my top 6 terms that everyone should be aware of when holding status with Cathay Pacific or Cathay Dragon.

  1. The Club is open to individuals aged 12 or above. Membership is not available to corporations or other legal entities. Membership is accepted at the sole discretion of Cathay Pacific and upon payment of an enrolment fee of USD100.
  2. For Membership Holidays, Membership Holiday cannot start on the current membership expiry month or outside of the current membership period. More info on Membership Holidays can be found in a dedicated article.
  3. In case of bookable upgrades, club points will be accrued based on the actual fare class flown.
  4. Gold Companion cards must be claimed online within 6 months of the date it was issued.
  5. Travel companions [for the purposes of] Lounge Passes are guests travelling with the Marco Polo Club member on the same booking, or travelling on the same flight date, with the same origin and destination, as the Marco Polo Club member.
  6. If a member’s air travel is disrupted due to reasons beyond the control of Cathay Pacific or an airline partner (for example, extreme weather conditions/acts of God) and the member is forced to change carrier, club points / Asia miles credits on the disrupted segments of the purchased ticket will only be credited to the original itinerary. In such circumstances, the member will need to email, mail or fax the original passenger receipt and boarding pass to the Marco Polo Club.
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Dan
Dan
Travelling on Points is the brainchild of a person who loves to travel and reap the benefits of doing so. Dan enjoys sharing the knowledge of travel as he believes that the more people travel the less narrow-minded, and more tolerant, people will be of each other.

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