Cathay Pacific axes frequent flyer membership cards

Cathay Pacific will no longer issue its Marco Polo Club frequent flyers with physical membership cards as of May 2021, with the airline defaulting to digital cards on its mobile app in the name of sustainability.

Complimentary personalised baggage tags will also be sent out only when travellers first join the Marco Polo Club loyalty program or upgrade to a higher tier, rather than on an annual basis.

"Sustainability is a growing concern we share as an airline with many of our passengers, which is why we’re aiming to reduce our single-use plastic consumption by 50 percent by next year," the airline says.

"To help meet this target, starting from May 2021, we will be removing all physical membership cards from our membership packs. Your digital membership card – which gives you access to the same benefits – can be accessed through our mobile app or on cathaypacific.com at any time."

While members will be able to request a physical membership card or an additional set of luggage tags, they'll now come with a price tag.

Marco Polo Club Green members can request physical membership cards and baggage name tags at US$20 or 2,000 Asia Miles each.

Marco Polo Club Gold and Silver members will get their first physical membership card request in each membership year for free, along with their first baggage tag request "upon renewal or downgrade of their membership tier or at the end of membership holiday."

However, the airline says that any additional physical membership cards or baggage tags will cost US$20 or 2,000 Asia Miles each.

Top-tier Marco Polo Club Diamond members will see fees waived on cards and tags, and "can always request physical membership cards and baggage name tags for free."

Also read: See Cathay Pacific's ambitious Boeing 777 first class concepts

David Flynn

David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.