Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Holy cow, a pilot has that much power?

I am really jealous about all the things my friends get, and I seem to get none, but that's for another forum (..... about life forum)

A friend of mine is flying from YVR-HKG and he bought his ticket V class. When he was waiting in the lobby he saw the pilot was actually his college friend and he went up to say hi. The pilot asks for his ticket, walks over to the ground staff, and told them to give him an F class boarding pass instead, and make a note for the same thing on the return flight. Holy cow! The pilot has that much power?

I am really jealous about all the things my friends get, and I seem to get none, but that's for another forum (..... about life forum)

A friend of mine is flying from YVR-HKG and he bought his ticket V class. When he was waiting in the lobby he saw the pilot was actually his college friend and he went up to say hi. The pilot asks for his ticket, walks over to the ground staff, and told them to give him an F class boarding pass instead, and make a note for the same thing on the return flight. Holy cow! The pilot has that much power?

Wow!That much power.Your friend's college friend ought to be one of CX's top Captains to have such power.I bet it wasn't a full F cabin.

On the return flight too? I think he would be put into another flight with F availability if his original flight had a full F cabin( can't imagine CX kicking out a F passenger who paid full fare out of the flight:))

sweet....it was just saying hello...or was there more to the discussion... you never know when you shoot the .... with people what kinda power they will have...as my mother always says, be nice to everyone, you never know who they may be...i only wish i could be nice all the time...

WHAT ??
Are you sure ?????
Ok fine i'll be flying that route too , i will try to do the same thing :)

Yes, the pilots can do quite a bit. I've known many people who have had that done for them when they're on the same plane as the pilot. I haven't heard about changing a return ticket. I guess it does help to have friends!

I thought CX is really strict about this, esp to F...I doubt a pilot can really do this ? esp it's on the ground with a real boarding pass and seat change, and not just asking him/her to move during the flight...and doing it for the return flight too ? I really doubt it...

WHAT ??
Are you sure ?????
Ok fine i'll be flying that route too , i will try to do the same thing :)

I doubt you'll be able to do the same thing. Don't forget the OP mentioned that his friend knew the pilot.

What's actually the greatest surprise to me was that this was done for the return flight as well! Does OP know whether the captain (i'm assuming it was a captain since he/she most likely would have the authority) was one of the more senior ones in the company?

Wow... now I know for sure that I went to the wrong college! :D

I would check the details of this story. Captains complain all the time when they aren't working that they can't sit in J or F class, so I doubt they can arbitrarily change people's class of booking.

clearly the friend was moved as a result of weight and balance issues :D

A good story is a good story but I hope we can mostly stick to first person experiences here. I can remember spicing up a few tales when told to friends, especially after a glass or two of good scotch.

Yes, the pilots can do quite a bit. I've known many people who have had that done for them when they're on the same plane as the pilot. I haven't heard about changing a return ticket. I guess it does help to have friends!

Aren't most people on the same plane as the pilot? Or there is a pilot on the plane with them?

On topic: The part about doing it on the ground surprises me... if it was in the air, not really. (and of course in the air would not allow the return to also be upgraded)

You would be amazed what authority a pilot has..

Well im sure someone will chime in soon and tell us what their experience is with that.

I need a pilot friend ASAP! :p

I need a pilot friend ASAP! :p

Me too !!!:D :p