Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - CX 873 SFO-HKG November 13

I'm on this flight as the final leg of my DCA-HGK trip and the availability is looking pretty tight, if not gone altogether. The KVS tool is showing 0s for all buckets for the CX flight number, while the AA codeshare is showing F4 A4 and the rest are 0s.

It would be too much to wish for an opt-up on this route...what is the likelihood that they'll be asking for volunteers to take the next day's flight? I'd be willing to delay my trip one day (especially if there's a nice reward for volunteering), since I have family living in the SFO area and could spend the extra time with them. Where's the best place to start asking to be a volunteer...at the lounge in SFO or at the gate?

You may advise when you check in - not at the gate or the lounge. If the flight is that full, CX will put your name down and ask you to hang around the check-in area until 40 mins prior departure. That is when the check-in closes. If the flight is really oversold, they might accept your seat, and fly you the next day.

May I emphasize *MIGHT*. Should you have done seat assignments previously, and if you gave up your seat earlier, and they don't need you... you might lose your assigned seat altogether and end up in a middle seat or something. Not very nice.

CX also has strict codes as to what they are going to compensate you. The going rate is something like US$300. Well it was C$400 when it was offered to me once in Vancouver. There is no guarantee for an 'op-up' as CX says that that will still be dependent upon your status to be considered even for the next flight.

Thanks for your response, Guy. It should help that I'm a OW Sapphire if volunteers are needed. I'm not expecting anything, but it is good to have the information handy about what to do if such a situation arises.

A question about check-in, while we're on the subject. I'm departing from DCA, going through DFW to get to SFO. Will I have to check in again at the CX counter at SFO, and what time does the counter open in preparation for the 12:10 AM flight?

As for my seat assignment, I purchased this as an AA codeshare, so I didn't get much choice in choosing the best possible seat. I ended up with 38K...which rated as a yellow on SeatGuru, mostly due to the location near the lavatory.

Ah ha.

If you give up your seat on CX on an AA codeshare, CX might want you to be rebooked on AA flight number again...And if AA does not have inventory, you may be SOL. It's due to your AA ticket will have a different meaning to CX. Mainly because if CX offloads you, they have no choice but to rebook you as a CX flight number. Something your ticket does not allow. Plus AA loses out on the revenue and they might accuse CX as poaching their passengers to their own.

CX *might* just outrightly reject your volunteering to give up your seat.

If you check-in at DCA, you will be given boarding passes all the way through to HKG. Check-in in SFO will be open 3 hours prior to departure. But again, even when you say to them, 'let me know'... they will not allow you to the lounge.. you will have to hang around the check-in area till they call you.

If you have a CX issued ticket, the answer is more clear cut. But with an AA issued ticket, the answer is a little bit more complicated now.

i remember I was flying on CX839 on a very busy holiday weekend. They were asking volunteers to be bumped off for CAD400. I don't think many had taken up this offer because they were still asking for volunteers in the lounge and even during boarding. The offer sounds quite attractive, but since they couldn't guaratee me for CX889 for the next day, I did not take up the offer.

I will be flying CX883 this Christmas, and the flight is currently showing J9Y0B0.. and I would like be paid $300 to be bumped. I have a few questions: do CX pay you in the form of cash or travel credit? Also, is it likely that CX will give you business class for free for the next flight?

If you take the cash, you will be booked in the same class as you did. No upgrade to Business Class.

On 'some' occasion, CX will offer to fly you the next day in Business Class and no cash. But from my understanding is that CX would prefer to just give you the $ and for you to take the flight next day in coach.

Recent flight experience per my MIL (mother-in-law): She flies regularly from SFO-HKG-SFO about 6-8 times a year and is their Gold Member on MP. On a recent oversold flight she offered her seat and was to be comped US$300 - instead she got bumped to C and was comped US$200 in travel vouchers! Now that's service. Given that she had flown SQ for the last 25 yrs this is a first for her. She had started flying CX since Mar '04

CX recently offered $400 PLUS an upgrade on the next days flight.

the downgrade compensation is much higher.

As a followup post, the flight wasn't overbooked. I asked at the counter if they had any need for volunteers, and after a quick phone call, the agent said they didn't need any this flight. It never hurts to ask, though...

I have overheard CX staff at LHR offering an upgrade on the lunchtime flight the following day and GBP250 in cash, plus hotel and food. They offered it to one person who snapped their arm off...must have been a FT'er.