Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Op-Up Chances (JFK-YVR)

I have an upcoming flight from JFK->YVR on H fare (economy). It's showing all 0s from Y through K. I'm AA Plat and my travel partner is AA Gold. What are my chances of op-up in your opinion? Would it help to check-in early and to ask? Thanks.

I have to say, your "status" is nothing spectacular so don't expect anything. Checking in early or not, if you travel together, your chances are reduced.

I can say one thing for certain. If you ask for it, you travel in the back of the plane.

When I was a CPGold [AAPlat equivilent] flying this route, I received an op upgrade from an ultra-low discounted fare, so it all depends on how many other elites from CX and other oneworld programs are booked in the back cabin, as well as what the First and Business cabins look like. Also, flights to HKG are notorious for being overbooked in the back on all carriers as Hong Kong travel agents often hold seats for their customers on many different flights, thus these routes have a high no-show factor. Your flight may well leave with empty seats in the back, and no ops being needed.

Your biggest problem may be travelling with someone holding lower status than you do. This means if CX is selecting candidates for ops, and there are still other higher elites than your partner on the list, the agent will likely skip you, not wanting to upgrade just you and not her. I've seen this happen on a couple of carriers, and in one case benefited by getting an op instead of a couple who had different statuses, while mine was equal to that of higher status one of them.

It's a real crap shoot, but good luck.

[This message has been edited by Shareholder (edited Mar 16, 2004).]

JFK-YVR will hardly oversell as the flight continues on to HKG and the plane generally is not full as there will be more people coming on in YVR.

If you're travelling through, then your chances are so-so. But the problem with this flight is that Business class general is full so your chances of upgrade is way below the list. Mind you CX will upgrade accordingly with its own members first.

A couple years back my sister and I flew this route on a cheapo special fare of $379 return. Outbound in CX "Y" as booked, paid, and expected; on the return, we were told at check in we would be flying J home!! We did not ask, expect, nor event think about an upgrade. So, that was fantastic news!! Though after partying in New York for about a week, we slept through most of the flight, save some of the dinner. I knew we were fortunate; only participating on Flyertalk do I now realise HOW fortunate we were.
Cheers,

Edited to add that at the time I had no status on any airline FFP.

[This message has been edited by luxury (edited Mar 17, 2004).]

Thank you for all your replies. I've been op-upped before on HKG-JFK a couple years back from J to F after I asked during check-in. But I guess the JFK-VYR is a different animal because it's the domestic leg (plus this time it's economy.) I'm just happy that I got such a cheap fare (USD$230) and probably won't hope (or ask) for an upgrade. Thanks again for all the valuable insights.

I have had very good luck with OP upgrades from JFK to YVR. It seems that CX's tends to oversell this flight becuase they can always upgrade just the JFK/YVR passengers to business.

CX is just waaay to easy to get upgraded!

This really has got to stop. It isn't fair for the rest of us who do pay for premium fares.

That's one of the few reasons I like SQ. They rarely upgrade.

Has anyone had luck getting access to the lounge using AA Plat when travelling in Y on JFK-YVR-JFK?

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">This really has got to stop. It isn't fair for the rest of us who do pay for premium fares.

</font> Would you rather have them just bump passengers off the plane and leave with empty J/F seats?

I was travelling YVR-JFK last August and the flight was full (showing all 0's for Y B H K...etc) My ticket was a discount fare and the other is an award ticket.

I was just an AA Gold member travelling with my friend who has no status. We both got upgraded. In fact, they have printed out J boarding pass in advance for both of us before we arrived for check-in.

So, keep your fingers crossed. Make sure CX has the record that both of you are travelling together.

[This message has been edited by brian828 (edited Mar 18, 2004).]

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by Tango:
Would you rather have them just bump passengers off the plane and leave with empty J/F seats?</font>

SQ does !



[This message has been edited by Guy Betsy (edited Mar 22, 2004).]

JFK-YVR seems rather full these couple of days.