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I have BA silver status and an thinking of switching to Cathay. Can I use my BA silver while flying Cathay but log the points to a new Cathay membership?
No.
Cathay has unique rules about this. Other oneworld airlines may not be as strict.
If you are booking with CX directly, you have one opportunity to add your BA number during the booking process. Once booked, the number cannot be changed until physically checking in at the airport. If you do not add a frequent flyer number during booking, you cannot add one until physical check in. Although booking through another airline (e.g. redemptions) or a travel agent may sometimes get around this, depending on who issues the ticket.
If you add a BA silver number during booking, you will be able to select seats for free (for tickets where you would otherwise be charged). If you change it to a statusless CX number at physical check-in, you will be removed from the seats unless you pay, and you will lose the extra baggage allowance.
Once boarding passes are issued for a Cathay flight, they do not allow changes to the frequent flyer number. Lounges have been instructed to make sure the status number is on the boarding pass before granting entry, at least at lounges operated by CX.
At lounges not operated by CX, it may be possible flashing a BA silver card and not having the number on the boarding pass will be accepted.
@John do you know if these rules apply to codeshare bookings on CX? For example flying on CX with an AY flight number + AY FF number on the BP equivalent to Sapphire, and trying to get in to F lounge in HKG using a BA Gold card?
Thanks for the comprehensive answer. I guess what I will do is just stick with the British Airways scheme and book any Cathay travel under that number. It looks like the Cathay flights will allow me to keep the BA status as long as I do a few other flights using BA.
No.
Cathay has unique rules about this. Other oneworld airlines may not be as strict.
If you are booking with CX directly, you have one opportunity to add your BA number during the booking process. Once booked, the number cannot be changed until physically checking in at the airport. If you do not add a frequent flyer number during booking, you cannot add one until physical check in. Although booking through another airline (e.g. redemptions) or a travel agent may sometimes get around this, depending on who issues the ticket.
If you add a BA silver number during booking, you will be able to select seats for free (for tickets where you would otherwise be charged). If you change it to a statusless CX number at physical check-in, you will be removed from the seats unless you pay, and you will lose the extra baggage allowance.
Once boarding passes are issued for a Cathay flight, they do not allow changes to the frequent flyer number. Lounges have been instructed to make sure the status number is on the boarding pass before granting entry, at least at lounges operated by CX.
At lounges not operated by CX, it may be possible flashing a BA silver card and not having the number on the boarding pass will be accepted.
So useful to know – cheers!
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