Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Upgrading family members to HK

Hello,
I would like some advice on upgrading my parents on a trip to HK. I plan to add my parents to my redemption group then purchase their tickets to HK then upgrade them to business class with my points. I also plan on going with them and will flying economy and fly on to Bangkok after a stop over in HK for a few days. I've never done this before and wanted to know the best way secure my trip. We plan on traveling in January 2007 about six months from now. When should I initiate the process and purchase the tickets and can I do all this online. Any info and tip would be appreciated.

Thank you,
Victor

If you are sure of the dates then initiate it as soon as possible. If your dates are close to Western or Chinese New Year then you may have difficulty securing availability. In principle, if there is availability then you could do the whole process online, but you'll probably end up speaking to the Marco Polo Club or AsiaMiles to tie things up. It would help if you have some status with Marco Polo Club.

And welcome to FlyerTalk!

Have a similar question -- trying to upgrade my mid-October LAX-HKG and mid-November HKG-LAX segments (part of a larger LAX-BKK, SIN-HKG, and HKG-LAX itinerary). This is a postponed trip from last New Year's, so when I rescheduled the coach tickets in December 2005 I put the next trip about as far out as I could. I have been checking the economy to business upgrade award availability almost every week since January. One of the 3 daily LAX-HKG flights had the upgrade available - but not mine - has never been there. Is there another strategy I should be pursuing? Should I get on the phone with Asiamiles or Marco Polo club?

Have a similar question -- trying to upgrade my mid-October LAX-HKG and mid-November HKG-LAX segments (part of a larger LAX-BKK, SIN-HKG, and HKG-LAX itinerary). This is a postponed trip from last New Year's, so when I rescheduled the coach tickets in December 2005 I put the next trip about as far out as I could. I have been checking the economy to business upgrade award availability almost every week since January. One of the 3 daily LAX-HKG flights had the upgrade available - but not mine - has never been there. Is there another strategy I should be pursuing? Should I get on the phone with Asiamiles or Marco Polo club?
Are you an Asia Miles or Marco Polo Club member? If so you can waitlist for the other two LAX-HKG flights. The waitlist usually clears a few days before the flight.

I have an AsiaMiles membership but have very few miles there (just the odd MO hotel stays or other places my US programs are not an option). So the miles needed for the upgrades would come via SPG points transfer (but I do not want to transfer that many points unless I know the upgrade will happen - plus need a leadtime for the transfer).

Are you an Asia Miles or Marco Polo Club member? If so you can waitlist for the other two LAX-HKG flights. The waitlist usually clears a few days before the flight.
When you say a few days, how far out are you referring to? Normally you need to ticket your upgrade 10 days before the flight, and if there is no availability, your waitlist gets cancelled. Within the 10 day period, you cannot waitlist, but instead have to call the service center. If it's available right there and then, then you can get it. That's what I was told by CX but would be interested if others have different experience.

When you say a few days, how far out are you referring to? Normally you need to ticket your upgrade 10 days before the flight, and if there is no availability, your waitlist gets cancelled. Within the 10 day period, you cannot waitlist, but instead have to call the service center. If it's available right there and then, then you can get it. That's what I was told by CX but would be interested if others have different experience.

I've used the web to make upgrade reservations for myself and for others. I then call the service center and have them "merge" the two PNRs by giving the service center the ticket numbers of the underlying revenue reservation. Never had any problem doing this, even 3-4 days before departure.

I've used the web to make upgrade reservations for myself and for others. I then call the service center and have them "merge" the two PNRs by giving the service center the ticket numbers of the underlying revenue reservation. Never had any problem doing this, even 3-4 days before departure.
Yes this is the equivalent of ringing up and checking if there is immediate availablity. If it's there, you can grab it. However, within the 10 days before the flight you cannot waitlist if there's no availability.

Yes this is the equivalent of ringing up and checking if there is immediate availablity. If it's there, you can grab it. However, within the 10 days before the flight you cannot waitlist if there's no availability.

What is interesting is that I've never failed to find good availability for upgrades a few days before the flight. Most times, on the exact flight I want.