Birthday Upgrade?
#31
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Ocean Beach
Programs: Alaska MPVG75, AAdvantage PlatPro, Hyatt Platinum, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 535
I have a flight on CX booked in Y from HKG to JFK in mid February on by B-Day.
It will be interesting to see if I get the upgrade. I am not holding my breath.
Nothing else, it will be the longest birthday of my life seeing how I leave HKG at 9:30 AM and arrive in NYC at 12:00 PM the same day with a 16 hour flight.
Cheers
It will be interesting to see if I get the upgrade. I am not holding my breath.
Nothing else, it will be the longest birthday of my life seeing how I leave HKG at 9:30 AM and arrive in NYC at 12:00 PM the same day with a 16 hour flight.
Cheers
#32
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
No, I am not recommending you switch. Birthday upgrade is never guaranteed anyway. However, CX cannot verify your birthday until you fly if you are not a CX member.
#33
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 1,140
The posts on this board suggest that b'day upgrades are an unofficial or semi-offical way of rewarding loyal customers. So if you're not even a MPC member you will definitely not fall into the "loyal customer" group and will not get any such upgrade.
#34
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
I'll be doing the opposite. I leave LAX at 11:50 p.m. on the night before my birthday. I figure I'll cross the dateline sometime around 9 hours later for a very short b'day. I'm also not imagining any upgrades but I got an op-up last year on a flight 3 or 4 days before my birthday.
I've flown CX or KA on the day before or after my birthday 3/4 of those days in the last 2 years, and did not get the upgrade even as a CX DM...and I know at least one of those flights F had only ONE pax! (I was booked in J I think going to JFK). The only time I actually got the upgrade was last year on my actual birthday itself.
#35
Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: LAX
Programs: CX MPC SL
Posts: 63
I'll be doing the opposite. I leave LAX at 11:50 p.m. on the night before my birthday. I figure I'll cross the dateline sometime around 9 hours later for a very short b'day. I'm also not imagining any upgrades but I got an op-up last year on a flight 3 or 4 days before my birthday.
No upgrade for me. I did take a peek and J was full. Either they didn't notice because technically I didn't board on my birthday, or they didn't care enough to let me have it (MPC SL) - I'm guessing SOMEONE probably got upgraded to J because Y was full as well...too bad it wasn't me!
Maybe the birthday upgrade still falls behind gold and diamond upgrades!
#36
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
Funny, I just did this. Left LAX on the 4th, my birthday was the 5th, and landed in HK on the 6th.
No upgrade for me. I did take a peek and J was full. Either they didn't notice because technically I didn't board on my birthday, or they didn't care enough to let me have it (MPC SL) - I'm guessing SOMEONE probably got upgraded to J because Y was full as well...too bad it wasn't me!
Maybe the birthday upgrade still falls behind gold and diamond upgrades!
No upgrade for me. I did take a peek and J was full. Either they didn't notice because technically I didn't board on my birthday, or they didn't care enough to let me have it (MPC SL) - I'm guessing SOMEONE probably got upgraded to J because Y was full as well...too bad it wasn't me!
Maybe the birthday upgrade still falls behind gold and diamond upgrades!
#37
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ITHACA, NY
Programs: DL PM, Hilton Silver, SPG GOLD, Hertz PC
Posts: 92
I agree that I am not a "Loyal Customer". I would not expect an upgrade on an airline that I have never flown.
If for some reason I got it, it would be pretty nice, but I am not holding my breath.
Safe Travels
#38
Join Date: Sep 2009
Location: HKG, BOS
Programs: CX SL, AB Gold, AF/KL FB Silver, HU/HX Silver, SPG Gold
Posts: 2,596
Open your passport to the page where your personal particulars are and put your finger on the Date of Birth section just in case
#40
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
Programs: CX Diamond / Hyatt Courtesy C./ Hertz
Posts: 254
I have a flight on CX booked in Y from HKG to JFK in mid February on by B-Day.
It will be interesting to see if I get the upgrade. I am not holding my breath.
Nothing else, it will be the longest birthday of my life seeing how I leave HKG at 9:30 AM and arrive in NYC at 12:00 PM the same day with a 16 hour flight.
Cheers
It will be interesting to see if I get the upgrade. I am not holding my breath.
Nothing else, it will be the longest birthday of my life seeing how I leave HKG at 9:30 AM and arrive in NYC at 12:00 PM the same day with a 16 hour flight.
Cheers
And longest time spent in a plane as I'm going forward to Miami the same day....
#41
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Cebu, Philippines / Vancouver, Canada
Programs: CX MPC SL, PR Mabuhay, OZ Silver, SIA Krisflyer, QR Qmiles, Hotelclub Platinum Member
Posts: 188
im thinking of redeeming a Y class ticket YVR-JFK on my birthday next year, if indeed ill be getting a birthday upgrade, that would tantamount to redeeming Y and getting J. Anyone ever tried this option before?
#42
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
#44
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
However, if you do get it, do share, it's nice to know that people are getting op-ups.
#45
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: ITHACA, NY
Programs: DL PM, Hilton Silver, SPG GOLD, Hertz PC
Posts: 92
Well I am back from Hong Kong and I was able to get a Birthday Upgrade from Y to J for my flight back to NYC.
The return flight is in the top five flights that I have taken, behind my first Solo and first experience in First.
I found out when I arrived at the airport. The gate agent was supper friendly.
Shortly after I boarded I was greeted by the head Steward in J along with the head Steward for the entire flight. I was greated by name and also wished happy birthday. Several times throughout the flight they asked if there was anything that they could do for me. At that time I was happy to be in a J seat rather than the new sloucher / slider seat in Y.
Shortly before the flight landed I was presented with a card that was signed by a good portion of the crew along with a full bottle of champagne to take home.
Cathay Pacific - Thank you for a nice day.
By the way - I joined the MPC.
The return flight is in the top five flights that I have taken, behind my first Solo and first experience in First.
I found out when I arrived at the airport. The gate agent was supper friendly.
Shortly after I boarded I was greeted by the head Steward in J along with the head Steward for the entire flight. I was greated by name and also wished happy birthday. Several times throughout the flight they asked if there was anything that they could do for me. At that time I was happy to be in a J seat rather than the new sloucher / slider seat in Y.
Shortly before the flight landed I was presented with a card that was signed by a good portion of the crew along with a full bottle of champagne to take home.
Cathay Pacific - Thank you for a nice day.
By the way - I joined the MPC.