Birthday Upgrade?
Aug 29, 2016, 8:36 am
#436
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
Just got off HKGSIN as a GO on my birthday, and didn't get anything at all.
I was already booked in J, so obviously no upgrade was expected since there isn't F on this sector. Instead, I think CX went out its way to make the flight as awful as possible.
First they were delayed. Fine, I get these things happen all the time, and I'm used to it.
Second, they switched me into a window seat between my online checkin and arrival at the airport. This really annoyed me as I really prefer the aisle, and the flight just got off to a bad start. I'm also surprised they would pick a GO to switch seats at the last minute, without asking.
Third, no greeting from the ISM. Because I had asked at the gate about the possibility of a seat swap, I saw in the system that there was a special service note for the birthday. In caps, the text was GREETING REQUEST FOR BIRTHDAY. Anyway, the ISM didn't do anything, but she did greet the DMs around because I saw her saying hello to quite a few pax.
So I guess the moral of the story: as usual, it's always about the crew you get on CX. A lousy ISM will just ignore you and hope they get away with it, while a good one will make sure you have a great flight.
I was already booked in J, so obviously no upgrade was expected since there isn't F on this sector. Instead, I think CX went out its way to make the flight as awful as possible.
First they were delayed. Fine, I get these things happen all the time, and I'm used to it.
Second, they switched me into a window seat between my online checkin and arrival at the airport. This really annoyed me as I really prefer the aisle, and the flight just got off to a bad start. I'm also surprised they would pick a GO to switch seats at the last minute, without asking.
Third, no greeting from the ISM. Because I had asked at the gate about the possibility of a seat swap, I saw in the system that there was a special service note for the birthday. In caps, the text was GREETING REQUEST FOR BIRTHDAY. Anyway, the ISM didn't do anything, but she did greet the DMs around because I saw her saying hello to quite a few pax.
So I guess the moral of the story: as usual, it's always about the crew you get on CX. A lousy ISM will just ignore you and hope they get away with it, while a good one will make sure you have a great flight.
Seat swapped away? Checked (At least was aisle to aisle... from H seat to G seat... because of aircraft rotation if I remembered correctly...)
Occupied adjacent seat? Checked (There're empty seats in front and behind me)
No greeting? Checked (Yes I was already DM)
Being treated as transparent? Checked
But I've really forgot why I was in Y that day but not utilizing my ex-TPE ticket...
Aug 29, 2016, 12:57 pm
#437
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: None any more
Posts: 11,017
Yes, this is true - I got bumoed from J to F as a GO on HKG-MNL, but I traded it with the (rather surprised) lady who had been upgraded from Y to my J seat. So she got a double upgrade and I got to sit (actually sleep) alongside my wife.
Aug 29, 2016, 8:54 pm
#438
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Taiwan
Programs: CX DM (OWE), Accor Gold
Posts: 378
For my last birthday upgrade, I was flying with the missus and they told me that they could only bump me up to J (it was a short haul flight) and asked if I still wanted it. I took it and gave it to the missus but it seems like they won't bump both people, even if you are on the same PNR (as we were).
Again, there is no solid rule for birthday updrade.
Aug 29, 2016, 10:05 pm
#439
Join Date: Apr 2008
Programs: CX GR, SPG/MR GE, Ritz Plat, Hilton S
Posts: 195
Did score my comp upgrade HKG-CDG dep 00:05 (E-J) on my bday, this was my 2nd time - first was LAX-HKG (Y-J). Adios.
Nov 2, 2016, 9:39 pm
#440
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
-18 hours to go with my very first birthday flight with CX, all fare classes are showing 9 at the moment, however, still nothing happens under my booking. Booked a birthday cake for $300 to remind CX.
Nov 2, 2016, 10:25 pm
#441
Join Date: Oct 2016
Programs: marco polo club
Posts: 8
on my last birthday, i flew from HK to JKF ...i was GO... no auto upgrade, no greeting at the counter etc. I told the check-in staff (although i already checked in online), that it was my birthday and I "really wanted" an upgrade.
She talked with her manager, and said she will try (no commitment). At the gate, (music to my ears to hear the beloved beep-beep on the scanner) my wife and I both got upgraded.
Nov 3, 2016, 12:04 am
#442
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
if i were you, i'd explicitly ask for the upgrade since its your birthday at the checkin counter (even if you've checked-in online).
on my last birthday, i flew from HK to JKF ...i was GO... no auto upgrade, no greeting at the counter etc. I told the check-in staff (although i already checked in online), that it was my birthday and I "really wanted" an upgrade.
She talked with her manager, and said she will try (no commitment). At the gate, (music to my ears to hear the beloved beep-beep on the scanner) my wife and I both got upgraded.
on my last birthday, i flew from HK to JKF ...i was GO... no auto upgrade, no greeting at the counter etc. I told the check-in staff (although i already checked in online), that it was my birthday and I "really wanted" an upgrade.
She talked with her manager, and said she will try (no commitment). At the gate, (music to my ears to hear the beloved beep-beep on the scanner) my wife and I both got upgraded.
And I don't want to have my cake served in Y
Nov 3, 2016, 2:51 pm
#443
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
Birthday upgrade happens at -3 hours
I can now confirm that my birthday upgrade happens at 3 hours before flight. At - 178 minutes, email notification from expertflyer received about seat change, check with CX and our V seats changed to row 11. The 2 seats were blocked since about -12 hours yesterday, so it seems a potential upgrade has been underway around that time.
At airport, check in agent seems no knowledge of birthday upgrade as she asked "have you been with MPC for a long time"? And she seems confused and wanted to check with someone else, I told her that CX has upgraded us.
All fare classes were 9 before the upgrade and now 7 across J cabin fares.
My wife GO is travelling with me and I'm now enjoying some bubbles at F lounge and looking forward to have my very first birthday cake in the air, I paid $300 for it and it has to be good.
At airport, check in agent seems no knowledge of birthday upgrade as she asked "have you been with MPC for a long time"? And she seems confused and wanted to check with someone else, I told her that CX has upgraded us.
All fare classes were 9 before the upgrade and now 7 across J cabin fares.
My wife GO is travelling with me and I'm now enjoying some bubbles at F lounge and looking forward to have my very first birthday cake in the air, I paid $300 for it and it has to be good.
Nov 3, 2016, 5:58 pm
#444
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: BOS/UTH
Programs: AA LT PLT; QR GLD; Bonvoy LT TIT
Posts: 12,742
Why would you ask at the airport if you're already upgraded and have the boarding passes? I see no potential gain for you in asking, and the potential that the agent starts looking at it and calls someone else who eventually decides that the upgrade was been given in error.
Nov 3, 2016, 8:46 pm
#445
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: HK
Programs: CX Gold
Posts: 68
Nov 4, 2016, 3:23 am
#446
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
Flight was very good, got a birthday card signed with all the crew and captain, been asked twice if wanted to change seats as we sat very close to the toilet. The cake taste great, just little bit too much for 2 of us.
Got upgraded to J on our second leg as well, all fare class shows 9 after upgrade. Well done and good job CX.
I was doing a math and it actually doesn't really cost CX much to do birthday upgrade, however, it made us GO & DM happy to spend 10 hours on our most important day with CX. Loyalty doesn't really have a price.
I didn't ask the agent, she asked me.. She was quite new, asked us about visas for countries with visa on arrival, left previous pax fragile bag on the belt and we had to use next counters belt. She seems not sure what happened to the upgrade, flight load obviously not full as all fare class was 9, and she doesn't have a clue why we got upgraded so she wanted to check... and I stopped her.
Got upgraded to J on our second leg as well, all fare class shows 9 after upgrade. Well done and good job CX.
I was doing a math and it actually doesn't really cost CX much to do birthday upgrade, however, it made us GO & DM happy to spend 10 hours on our most important day with CX. Loyalty doesn't really have a price.
Why would you ask at the airport if you're already upgraded and have the boarding passes? I see no potential gain for you in asking, and the potential that the agent starts looking at it and calls someone else who eventually decides that the upgrade was been given in error.
I didn't ask the agent, she asked me.. She was quite new, asked us about visas for countries with visa on arrival, left previous pax fragile bag on the belt and we had to use next counters belt. She seems not sure what happened to the upgrade, flight load obviously not full as all fare class was 9, and she doesn't have a clue why we got upgraded so she wanted to check... and I stopped her.
Last edited by Ausriver; Nov 4, 2016 at 4:26 am
Jan 6, 2017, 12:14 am
#448
Join Date: Jan 2016
Location: Taiwan
Programs: CX DM (OWE), Accor Gold
Posts: 378
Jan 6, 2017, 3:29 am
#450
Join Date: Sep 2015
Posts: 139
Got upgraded from Y to J on the flight to BKK on my birthday
Was upgraded to PE first when I was doing the OLCI
then upgraded to J when I was at the lounge enjoying my champagne
PS
Not a CX elite but an OWE
I believe the Y cabin was really full on that day
Was upgraded to PE first when I was doing the OLCI
then upgraded to J when I was at the lounge enjoying my champagne
PS
Not a CX elite but an OWE
I believe the Y cabin was really full on that day
