Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Special Meal & Op-Up [Long Haul CX]

Does a special meal order (e.g. Kosher meal) affect the chances of being Op-Up'ed on Long Haul CX flight?

That shouldn't hinder chances, as they would have to figure it out for hours on who to op-up if even such minority details are taken into account. But if you really need that special meal yet they don't have a spare Business Kosher meal prepared for you (given you're a last minute op up), you either go into J without the Kosher or refuse the op up to live up with your religious tradition.

That shouldn't hinder chances, as they would have to figure it out for hours on who to op-up if even such minority details are taken into account. But if you really need that special meal yet they don't have a spare Business Kosher meal prepared for you (given you're a last minute op up), you either go into J without the Kosher or refuse the op up to live up with your religious tradition.

SPML request needs to be sent 24 hours before departure to ensure that it can be available. Op-up, on the other hand, in many cases are processed on the spot (not necessarily hours before departure), so not sure if your logics work.

I remember threads in the Lufthansa forum where it was confirmed that on this particular carrier, and SPML can hinder op-ups. May be a case of YMMV / airline dependent so I would be hesitant to make a blanket statement either way.

The general consensus is that special meals do hinder op-up chances.

I know on other airlines having a special meal does cancel the chances of any op-up. CX may be able to accomodate, but generally, you would be the last to be considered.

There are a few threads on this already.... Here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/1301181-upgrade-j-special-meal-request.html), here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/1075813-booked-full-fare-y-chances-upgrade-j.html), here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/187984-upgrades-special-meals.html), and here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/375064-frequent-cx-gold-flier-never-upgrade.html).

A lot of those posters have stories about getting op-upped even though they had a special meal. So it is clearly possible. However keep in mind that you won't ever hear from someone who got skipped over with a special meal. No CX staff is ever going to go tell the pax "Hey you would have scored an op-up if it wasn't for your special meal." So there's not really any way to tell if it lowers your chances or not.

There are a few threads on this already.... Here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/1301181-upgrade-j-special-meal-request.html), here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/1075813-booked-full-fare-y-chances-upgrade-j.html), here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/187984-upgrades-special-meals.html), and here (http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/375064-frequent-cx-gold-flier-never-upgrade.html).

A lot of those posters have stories about getting op-upped even though they had a special meal. So it is clearly possible. However keep in mind that you won't ever hear from someone who got skipped over with a special meal. No CX staff is ever going to go tell the pax "Hey you would have scored an op-up if it wasn't for your special meal." So there's not really any way to tell if it lowers your chances or not.

Exactly...and I have been told from CX check-in staff that having a special meal makes it more difficult to get an op-up if there are more eligible people available.

I'll add my tuppence worth here and say that I've never noticed it affecting my chances (on Cathay anyway). I've been op-upped 5 out of my last 7 flights from business to first and on all but one occasion it's happened at the gate so I guess too many people turned up for the flight in business and/or economy and I get bumped up at relatively short notice. But each time the gate agent says "we have your special meal but it'll be the business class special meal if that's ok", which of course it is so it looks as if they can cope with a short-notice upgrade.