Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Why didn't I get Opped Up?

I took CX 882 HKG-LAX over the weekend. I am a Gold MPC member and my BN is #2.

As I walked up to the gate, I saw about 10-ish number of boarding passes laid out on the counter, faced down, which means quite a few people will get opped up. I was feeling a bit excited, but had a huge letdown as I didn't get a new boarding pass. The flight is VERY full (in economy).

My question is this.... is there that many DMs on this flight? Surely my #2 and Gold SHOULD lead to an upgrade?? Or would my V class ticket be a hinderance here?

Thanks.

For the upgrade itself, CX Gold would put you 4th in line, and BN #2 would put you close to the front of the CX Gold line.

The booking class itself doesn't matter (in my experience)

A couple alternatives: I've gotten a new BP at the gate when I've requested a seat change at check in, even if they have given me the correct (new) BP already.

Similarly for changing flights. I've gone through security with a BP for one flight and gotten a new one at the gate for a different flight.

So some of those 10 might not be upgrades.

Or, there flight might just have 9 VIP/DM+/DM on the flight and then one CX-G with BP #1 :)

There are often a few BPs at the gate. As said, they are not just for op-ups. They can be there for many reasons - seat changes, mileage upgrades,... I saw that many times before, but I did not get upgrade most of the times.

In general, op-up happens when the flight is overbooked, not when it is full. I doubt if there are many DMs on that route.

I took CX 882 HKG-LAX over the weekend..........I saw about 10-ish number of boarding passes laid out on the counter, faced down, which means quite a few people will get opped up.....

You can also do instant upgrade, which is standby mileage upgrade. You request that at check-in and sign an authorization, your upgraded boarding pass will be waiting at the gate, as you described. Of course, this is only possible if there is any vacant F/C seats after check-in closes.;)

Mileage upgrades normally require Z/U availabilities, while instant upgrades can use any vacant F/C seat. I have never failed to get an instant upgrade even for F0C0 flights. :) The only downside is that it is for one way only. :(

The only downside is that it is for one way only. :( You can redeem a return upgrade if there is U/Z availability on the inbound sector. ;)

Did you ask for op-up at check-in? There were rumors that if you ask for op-up at check-in, they will put you at the end of the list and you won't get the op-up.

Can instant upgrade apply to non-upgradable fare classes (non YBHK)?

In general, op-up happens when the flight is overbooked, not when it is full. I doubt if there are many DMs on that route.

HKG-LAX not a lot of DMs? :confused: That's a very heavy elite flight.

I think there are about 2 to 3 DM's in EY per flight on LAX route. However, I took it last month and I was the only one in EY, not sure about F/J.

sometimes it's just down to pure luck ... don't assume that you'll get an upgrade, and don't assume that you won't get an upgrade!

i recently got upgraded from Y to J on both legs of a HKG-TPE-HKG trip - and it was an award ticket! being a green member on an award ticket, the last thing you expect is being upgraded at the gate.

i was chatting to a friend who was a DM on a paid economy ticket on the HKG-TPE leg, and as i approached the business/first side of the gate, i was telling him the only benefit of having the green card was the priority boarding. i gave my boarding pass to the lady at the gate ... and i got upgraded! wow! so there's another benefit of having the green card. of course he got upgraded as well (he'd be really :mad: if he didn't get upgraded) !!!

so you could expect how surprised i was when i got upgraded on the trip back to HKG. obviously i understand why the OP would be disappointed, being a gold member on a full Y flight. oh well ....

Can instant upgrade apply to non-upgradable fare classes (non YBHK)?

No, unfortunately. :mad:

You can redeem a return upgrade if there is U/Z availability on the inbound sector. ;)

Really? :confused: I asked but was told instant upgrades are for one way, one segment only. It doesn't even cover connecting flight.

I did not ask for an upgrade at the gate. When I booked the ticket, the rules specifically said the the V fare is not upgradeable. I tried to use my miles to grade to business class right after I bought the ticket, and MP service rep called and said so.

May be this is why?

They could have been J > F upgrades (if J was overbooked), DM Y > J (if Y was also overbooked) or pure seat changes for any class requiring the reissuing of a boarding pass.

I fly L fare a lot(except when I want to use miles) and I've been op'd up, so I don't think the original fare class matters.

who on earth fly in economy expecting an upgrade, if you want to be sure of seating in premium cabins then shell out the money like the rest of us

Hey guys!

Can I request instant upgrade from business to first class at check-in if I book an upgradable Econ ticket (Y/B/H/K) ticket and use miles to upgrade to business class (U fare)? So basically using miles to upgrade from econ to first class?

Many thanks guys!


You can also do instant upgrade, which is standby mileage upgrade. You request that at check-in and sign an authorization, your upgraded boarding pass will be waiting at the gate, as you described. Of course, this is only possible if there is any vacant F/C seats after check-in closes.;)

Mileage upgrades normally require Z/U availabilities, while instant upgrades can use any vacant F/C seat. I have never failed to get an instant upgrade even for F0C0 flights. :) The only downside is that it is for one way only. :(

Can I request instant upgrade from business to first class at check-in if I book an upgradable Econ ticket (Y/B/H/K) ticket and use miles to upgrade to business class (U fare)? So basically using miles to upgrade from econ to first class?

If I had to guess, the answer would be no. I say this because recently I asked at the checkin desk if I could upgrade using miles a V ticket to U. They said no. Therefore most likely the same rules which apply for pre-booked upgrades (i.e. cannot upgrade YBHK->U->Z) would also apply for instant upgrades at checkin. However, YMMV, as I'm just hypothesising.

You can also do instant upgrade, which is standby mileage upgrade. You request that at check-in and sign an authorization, your upgraded boarding pass will be waiting at the gate, as you described. Of course, this is only possible if there is any vacant F/C seats after check-in closes.;)

Mileage upgrades normally require Z/U availabilities, while instant upgrades can use any vacant F/C seat. I have never failed to get an instant upgrade even for F0C0 flights. :) The only downside is that it is for one way only. :(

does that count as a prioity upgrade or just a normal upgrade?
thanks

does that count as a prioity upgrade or just a normal upgrade?
thanks

What is the difference? :confused:

Instant upgrade is standby upgrade for any available seat in the next cabin. You will be at the top of the upgrade list.

Thanks!

I had this experience 1 year ago when I asked about upgrade at check it, and the counter staff asked if i wanna use miles or pay for the upgrade from Biz to First (I said i'm good). For that trip I had used mileage to upgrade from Econ to Biz (redemption upgrade) before check-in.

So does CX let u do redemption upgrade then instant upgrade with miles at airport?




If I had to guess, the answer would be no. I say this because recently I asked at the checkin desk if I could upgrade using miles a V ticket to U. They said no. Therefore most likely the same rules which apply for pre-booked upgrades (i.e. cannot upgrade YBHK->U->Z) would also apply for instant upgrades at checkin. However, YMMV, as I'm just hypothesising.

Overbooked flights often overwhelm ground staff and I believe that in an effort to get flights dispatched they sometimes forget to follow elite protocols and upgrade randomly. I am CX DCM and there have been several occasions that I felt I should have been opped up and yet others with lower tier got it. If counter personnel do not like you or the way you look they can actually block/mark your pnr as not upgradable.

Overbooked flights often overwhelm ground staff and I believe that in an effort to get flights dispatched they sometimes forget to follow elite protocols and upgrade randomly. I am CX DCM and there have been several occasions that I felt I should have been opped up and yet others with lower tier got it. If counter personnel do not like you or the way you look they can actually block/mark your pnr as not upgradable.

From my experience, the priority list of op-up in CX is generated by computer, and the counter staff simply follow this mechanically. Of course, I cannot tell if staff can change this priority or put someone to the bottom of the list. Those people who got upgrade may have used their miles for during check-in. I did that once by requesting an instant upgrade during check-in using my miles. However, it cannot be confirmed right away because they did not know the loading exactly at that time. I did not receive my boarding pass until I arrived at the gate. The person behind me might think I got an op-up, but I did spent my miles for it.

Thanks!

I had this experience 1 year ago when I asked about upgrade at check it, and the counter staff asked if i wanna use miles or pay for the upgrade from Biz to First (I said i'm good). For that trip I had used mileage to upgrade from Econ to Biz (redemption upgrade) before check-in.

So does CX let u do redemption upgrade then instant upgrade with miles at airport?

First off, welcome to Flyertalk and here, on the Cathay Pacific Asiamiles forum...

Now to answer the above questions... when you check in, the counter staff is simply answering a generic question. They did not see if you have a revenue, award or upgraded ticket and just answered your question - miles or cash?

It will be till they actually see your ticket that you are already on an upgrade award ticket and thus will not be able to upgrade again from U to Z class. So simply put, if you want another upgrade, that is not possible.