[Alby]

I have been travelling extensively these past few months using Dragon and Cathay.

Recently it occurred to me that maybe I should be accruing miles on the Marco Polo Club instead of my Asia Miles account. However, not so sure where the better benefit is - would like to read your opinions.

[PDLM]

You've misunderstood what these are. AsiaMiles is a mileage accumulation programme. Marco Polo is a frequent flyer loyalty programme. They are two aspects of the same thing. You can have AsiaMiles without Marco Polo, but if you have Marco Polo membership then you are automatically a member of AsiaMiles, and that's where your miles continue to accumulate.

Marco Polo simply adds categories of "status" depending on how many "Club Miles" you earn. Club Miles means AsiaMiles that you earn from flying on Cathay, Dragonair or other OneWorld airlines.

If you fly 30,000 miles (or fly 20 sectors) within 12 months in eligible fares then you are granted Marco Polo Silver status. This gives you a few privileges when flying on CX/KA (business lounge access, business check-in, priority tag on baggage, extra baggage allowance).

If you then fly a further 60,000 miles (or 40 sectors) within 12 months of the date you reached Silver you move up to Gold status which gives you the same privileges when flying on other OneWorld airlines, some improvement in some of the privileges, and a guaranteed seat at any mileage-earning economy class fare on CX/KA at 72 hours notice.

If you then fly a further 120,000 miles (or 80 sectors) within 12 months of reaching Gold you will achieve Diamond status. This gives you access to First Class lounges whenever flying CX/KA or any OneWorld airline. Other increased privileges, and guaranteed access to full fare business or any mileage-earning fare economy on any CX/KA flight at 24 hours notice.

(The details of which economy class fares earn miles vary by airline. On CX/KA it is fare classes YBHKMLV. See Cathay Pacific Airways for full details.)

So if by "extensively" you mean more than 30,000 miles or 20 sectors in 12 months then you should probably sign up for MarcoPolo. Your membership number will remain the same as your existing AsiaMiles number. You will get a green card to start with (which doesn't give you much except access to the MPC check-in desk where these exist) unless you have travelled over 30,000 miles / 20 sectors in the last 2 or 3 months in which case they might enrol you at Silver level straightaway. In theory there is a one-time charge of US$50 to join MPC, but it sometimes gets waived if you can show a recent extensive travel history.

If you really get into the frequent flyer mode then you should check out the forums over at FlyerTalk - The world's most popular frequent flyer community which specialise in these areas.

[Alby]

Yes I have confused the two... THANK YOU for the detailed information.

and I so need to join Marco Polo !!!!!

[freeier]

if u are in asiamiles and u get like 30k or 60k, u will probably be placed into marco polo club automatically (ie. no necessity for the 50usd membershipfees).