Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club
The Marco Polo Club is the largest and most powerful frequent flyer loyalty club in Asia. It is most commonly associated with Cathay Pacific, but also has ties with DragonAir. Between these two airlines, coverage of China and the rest of Asia is comprehensive, and there are rewards to collect at every turn with membership of the scheme.
Airline
Cathay Pacific is Hong Kong’s flag carrier airline, and its hub is in Hong Kong. It flies passengers 36 countries, totaling at 114 destinations. Cathay Pacific’s fleet of 126 wide-body aircraft includes Airbus A330s and A340s, Boeing 747s and 777s. The Hong Kong airline is part of the OneWorld Alliance, the world’s largest and oldest airline alliance, which brings plenty of benefits for customers flying with Cathay Pacific and using the Marco Polo Club.
Since 2006 Cathay Pacific has won no less than ten awards. Those include Asia’s Leading Airline at the World Travel Awards 2007; Asia’s Leading Airline Website at the World Travel Awards 2007; World’s Leading First Class Airline at the 2007 World Travel Awards; Five Star Airline from the Skytrax Official World Airline Star Ranking 2008; Best First Class at the 2008 Skytrax World Airlines Awards; Best First Class Catering at the 2008 Skytrax World Airlines Awards; Asia’s Leading Airline at the World Travel Awards 2008; Five Star Airline in Skytrax Official World Airline Star Ranking 2009; Airline of the Year at Skytrax World Airlines Awards 2009; Best Airline Asia at Skytrax World Airlines Awards 2009; and Best Airline South East Asia at Skytrax World Airline Awards 2009.
Flights
Cathay Pacific aircraft fly to hundreds of destinations across five continents, but its Asian network is particularly well-developed. Customers who regularly need to travel to Asian destinations such as Bangkok, Singapore and Hong Kong Cathay Pacific could be the best airline for you to use due to the savings you could make with Marco Polo Club membership.
Entitlement
There are many perks associated with Marco Polo Club membership, which depend on the status of membership. There are four tiers of membership: Green, Silver, Gold and Diamond. All members, regardless of their membership tier, received personalised baggage name tags, priority boarding, use of a dedicated club service desk at Hong Kong International Airport, the ability to earn two miles for every five Hong Kong dollars spent on Cathay Pacific inflight duty free items, use of the dedicated club service centre (a 24-hour worldwide toll-free service line), quarterly copies of the Club Magazine, and exclusive promotions and offers.
Members with Green membership status are also entitled to make flight reservations via the dedicated 24-hour Club Service Line, extra-legroom seats redemption, designated Club counters, excess baggage allowance redemption, and lounge access redemption. Members with Silver membership status receive all of the benefits of Green status as well as advance seat reservation, priority waitlisting, extra-legroom seats, access to the Cathay Pacific Business Class lounges, Business Class counters, extra baggage allowance of 10kg, priority baggage handling, and extra cabin baggage allowance of 10kg.
Members with gold membership status receive all of the benefits of Silver status, plus a guaranteed Economy Class seat when booking 72 hours before a flight, extra baggage allowance of 15kg, access to arrivals, and the ability to bring a guest into the lounges. With Diamond status, members are entitled to all of the benefits of Gold membership, as well as a guaranteed Economy Class seat when booking 24 hours prior to flying, a guaranteed Business Class seat when booking 24 hours before a flight, use of First Class counters, 20kgs of extra baggage allowance, first priority baggage handling, 15kgs of extra cabin baggage allowance, access to the Cathay Pacific First Class lounges, access to the DragonAir lounges, and the ability to bring two guests into the lounges.
Points
Earning points with the Marco Polo Club is simple. Members receive points every time they fly with Cathay Pacific or any other OneWorld Alliance partner airline. They also earn points when making purchases from other Marco Polo Club partners, such as Hilton Worldwide, Marriott International Hotels, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Swire Hotels.
Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group, The Peninsula Hotels, Langham Hotels International, Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Aviz, Hertz and Sixt Rent A Car.
Eligibility
Applicants to the Marco Polo Club must be aged 18 or over. Membership is not open to corporations or other legal entities, and there is a joining fee of $50 (US).
