Just spent the last four days in Beijing and now in Shanghai. I wrote about two years ago about the great frequent flyer programs and benefits available in China, plus the great China Mobile VIP card benefits available at the airports in China. Now things have changed…

For the last 3 or 4 years I've had a China Mobile Gotone VIP gold card, but this year they upped their requirements and therefore I was placed in a lower bracket with a silver card. My monthly mobile phone bill is about RMB1800 (lots of fees and GPRS add-ons) and I assumed that was very high, but I guess not. Anyway, I've noticed over the last few months that all the China Mobile airport VIP lounges have now stopped allowing silver card people inside. One must have a platinum or gold card to get inside for the free sofas, food, drinks, and Internet.  Now the Beijing Capital Airport has finally–as one of the last major Chinese airports to do this–changed its policy to not allow gold members inside.

So I arrived at the airport last night an hour beforehand to do some work but was left with fending for myself. Disappointing. The incentives are gone for me to spend a bit more each month.