Oct 29, 2013, 4:27 am
Last edit by: ZZ100
Is it possible to buy a (cheap) upgrade on Cathay Pacific upon check-in?
The short answer is no.
Cathay, as a general rule, does not allow you to purchase last minute upgrades if there are empty seats in Y+, J or F. The only way to upgrade a ticket is to pay the fare difference between your current ticket, and an available fare class in the higher cabins. Note that if your current ticket has restrictions (cancellation fees, non-refundable) these still apply.
There are been stories of people who have been offered cheap upgrades by Cathay, but this is more an exception than a common occurrence.
If I upgrade my ticket using asia miles, do I still earn miles?
Yes, you will earn miles for the original fare class that you booked, not the upgraded cabin.
How do I get a free upgrade / operational upgrade (op-up)?
Cathay Pacific does not upgrade passengers just because there are empty seats in higher classes. Upgrades will only occur where there is overbooking in lower classes.
The order of upgrades when required is believed to be:
I am travelling on an award ticket. Will I still be considered for a free upgrade?
Yes - there are many stories of passengers on award tickets, or who upgraded a class using miles, getting (additional) upgrades.
What happens if the aircraft has 4 or 3 cabins, but is only selling Business and Economy seats?
It is likely if you have Marco Polo status, and to a lesser extent oneworld status, you may be able to sit in either First Class seats (if booked in J) or Premium Economy (if booked in Y) with service of the original cabin. There doesn't appear to be consistency yet as to how these semi-upgrades are allocated. Some people have been able to choose seats in the higher cabin during online check-in, or some will get them on request at check-in. However, there is no entitlement to these seats.
Will I get an upgrade on my Birthday, or for my membership anniversary, or for reaching xx number of lifetime club miles?
Please see this link for members' experience with these kinds of upgrades: Marco Polo Anniversary Upgrades
I want to use Asia Miles to upgrade a BA flight. How do I do this?
As of 22 June 2018, it is no longer possible to upgrade BA flights with Asia Miles.
How do I upgrade a CX flight using miles?
If you already have issued your original ticket:
If you have not made any booking yet, and you want to check availability:
If you don't receive a new e-ticket before departure, call up Marco Polo club to double check if the upgrade has been issued.
The short answer is no.
Cathay, as a general rule, does not allow you to purchase last minute upgrades if there are empty seats in Y+, J or F. The only way to upgrade a ticket is to pay the fare difference between your current ticket, and an available fare class in the higher cabins. Note that if your current ticket has restrictions (cancellation fees, non-refundable) these still apply.
There are been stories of people who have been offered cheap upgrades by Cathay, but this is more an exception than a common occurrence.
If I upgrade my ticket using asia miles, do I still earn miles?
Yes, you will earn miles for the original fare class that you booked, not the upgraded cabin.
How do I get a free upgrade / operational upgrade (op-up)?
Cathay Pacific does not upgrade passengers just because there are empty seats in higher classes. Upgrades will only occur where there is overbooking in lower classes.
The order of upgrades when required is believed to be:
- VIP (Heads of State, Government Bodies, or Canto Pop/Movie stars)
- CX Diamond Plus
- CX Diamond Invitation, Diamond
- CX Gold
- CX management staff on travel duty
- oneworld Emerald
- CX staff on duty nominees , other airline staff nominees, CX staff on personal travel
- oneworld Sapphire
- CX Silver
- oneworld Ruby
- CX Green
- Asia Miles
- Non status
I am travelling on an award ticket. Will I still be considered for a free upgrade?
Yes - there are many stories of passengers on award tickets, or who upgraded a class using miles, getting (additional) upgrades.
What happens if the aircraft has 4 or 3 cabins, but is only selling Business and Economy seats?
It is likely if you have Marco Polo status, and to a lesser extent oneworld status, you may be able to sit in either First Class seats (if booked in J) or Premium Economy (if booked in Y) with service of the original cabin. There doesn't appear to be consistency yet as to how these semi-upgrades are allocated. Some people have been able to choose seats in the higher cabin during online check-in, or some will get them on request at check-in. However, there is no entitlement to these seats.
Will I get an upgrade on my Birthday, or for my membership anniversary, or for reaching xx number of lifetime club miles?
Please see this link for members' experience with these kinds of upgrades: Marco Polo Anniversary Upgrades
I want to use Asia Miles to upgrade a BA flight. How do I do this?
As of 22 June 2018, it is no longer possible to upgrade BA flights with Asia Miles.
How do I upgrade a CX flight using miles?
If you already have issued your original ticket:
- Try upgrading using Manage My Booking on the website (not always successful)
- If self-service doesn't work, try calling Marco Polo hotline to check availability
- If there is availability, you will need to issue the upgrade immediately to secure it. They may give you a few days grace before isssuing the upgrade, but this is now rarely given.
- In a few days, or longer if they are busy, your miles will be deducted, and you will be emailed a new e-ticket with the upgrade class details on it, and your online booking for your original booking class will disappear.
If you have not made any booking yet, and you want to check availability:
- Call Marco Polo club to check for availability on the flights/dates you want, or check for normal redemption availability on the website.
- Book a revenue ticket in the class of service for which you will be paying. Do NOT do this via the website -- call a CX telephone sales number/travel agent.
- Put the booking on hold.
- Call the Marco Polo/Asia Miles Service Center. Have them book the upgrade and give you a deadline to have the ticket issued. (It's usually about 72 hours).
- Have telephone sales/travel agent issue your revenue ticket.
- Call Marco Polo/Asia Miles back. Give them the revenue ticket number against the PNR and ask them to issue your upgrade.
- In about two or three days, you'll get a new ticket with the upgrade showing.
If you don't receive a new e-ticket before departure, call up Marco Polo club to double check if the upgrade has been issued.
The Ultimate Upgrade Question thread
Dec 9, 2013, 6:59 pm
#16
Used to be ' simz '
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Kolkata, India
Programs: Does it matter..??? It doesn't matter to them
Posts: 1,129
I think it is now the same as would be required for an upgrade if you were on CX as per the award chart.
Before CX introduced its own premium economy and revised the award chart accordingly, there used to be a complicated formula for calculating the mileage requirements for premium economy redemptions or upgrades to or from premium economy on other carriers, but that appears not to be the case anymore.
Before CX introduced its own premium economy and revised the award chart accordingly, there used to be a complicated formula for calculating the mileage requirements for premium economy redemptions or upgrades to or from premium economy on other carriers, but that appears not to be the case anymore.
Dec 10, 2013, 6:32 am
#17
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Here there and everywhere
Programs: Too many to list
Posts: 1,648
On Facebook CX Secrets page
Status Update
By CX Secrets
#534
With Amex Centurion/Gold giving out so many fake DM and GO status respectively. I find myself giving more and more op-ups and seat preferences to SL members who most likely earned their status the hard way. Does anyone else feel the same?
Status Update
By CX Secrets
#534
With Amex Centurion/Gold giving out so many fake DM and GO status respectively. I find myself giving more and more op-ups and seat preferences to SL members who most likely earned their status the hard way. Does anyone else feel the same?
Dec 10, 2013, 7:07 am
#18
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: LHR
Programs: BA Silver/ows, CX AsiaMiles (not even GR anymore!) missing my GO days
Posts: 1,581
On Facebook CX Secrets page
Status Update
By CX Secrets
#534
With Amex Centurion/Gold giving out so many fake DM and GO status respectively. I find myself giving more and more op-ups and seat preferences to SL members who most likely earned their status the hard way. Does anyone else feel the same?
Status Update
By CX Secrets
#534
With Amex Centurion/Gold giving out so many fake DM and GO status respectively. I find myself giving more and more op-ups and seat preferences to SL members who most likely earned their status the hard way. Does anyone else feel the same?
Anyway, obnoxious if true. While these AmEx handouts have been a bone of contention around here, I'm sure we could all agree that any decisions like this should be made at the corporate level, not by frontline staff. While op-ups are an unpublished benefit and not something to be expected, if we're honest it's part of the program that encourages our loyalty. This GO who earns his status the hard way would be disappointed to discover staff are favoring less loyal customers in a misguided attempt to reward loyalty.
All that said, my op-up percentage this year improved noticeably compared to last year.
Jan 13, 2014, 9:07 pm
#19
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,730
Is there such a thing as an op-up to a later flight?
I'm booked on CX889 this Saturday, which is showing:
F0 A0 J1 C1 D1 I1 W9 R9 E0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V8 S2 N1 Q0 O0
But CX837, later in the day, is showing:
J9 C9 D9 I7 W8 R7 E6 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O5
I'm CX Gold, but I've never tried this approach with CX. I'm assuming it's a very long shot but some here would certainly know better!
Thanks!
I'm booked on CX889 this Saturday, which is showing:
F0 A0 J1 C1 D1 I1 W9 R9 E0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V8 S2 N1 Q0 O0
But CX837, later in the day, is showing:
J9 C9 D9 I7 W8 R7 E6 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O5
I'm CX Gold, but I've never tried this approach with CX. I'm assuming it's a very long shot but some here would certainly know better!
Thanks!
Jan 13, 2014, 9:29 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Is there such a thing as an op-up to a later flight?
I'm booked on CX889 this Saturday, which is showing:
F0 A0 J1 C1 D1 I1 W9 R9 E0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V8 S2 N1 Q0 O0
But CX837, later in the day, is showing:
J9 C9 D9 I7 W8 R7 E6 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O5
I'm CX Gold, but I've never tried this approach with CX. I'm assuming it's a very long shot but some here would certainly know better!
Thanks!
I'm booked on CX889 this Saturday, which is showing:
F0 A0 J1 C1 D1 I1 W9 R9 E0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V8 S2 N1 Q0 O0
But CX837, later in the day, is showing:
J9 C9 D9 I7 W8 R7 E6 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O5
I'm CX Gold, but I've never tried this approach with CX. I'm assuming it's a very long shot but some here would certainly know better!
Thanks!
Jan 13, 2014, 10:49 pm
#22
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,377
Is there such a thing as an op-up to a later flight?
I'm booked on CX889 this Saturday, which is showing:
F0 A0 J1 C1 D1 I1 W9 R9 E0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V8 S2 N1 Q0 O0
But CX837, later in the day, is showing:
J9 C9 D9 I7 W8 R7 E6 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O5
I'm CX Gold, but I've never tried this approach with CX. I'm assuming it's a very long shot but some here would certainly know better!
Thanks!
I'm booked on CX889 this Saturday, which is showing:
F0 A0 J1 C1 D1 I1 W9 R9 E0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V8 S2 N1 Q0 O0
But CX837, later in the day, is showing:
J9 C9 D9 I7 W8 R7 E6 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O5
I'm CX Gold, but I've never tried this approach with CX. I'm assuming it's a very long shot but some here would certainly know better!
Thanks!
Y is wideeeeeeeeeee open on both flights. Why would CX want to opup you up to PEY?
Op-up is short for operational upgrade. With so many seats still for sale in Economy, CX has no need for your current seat / thus any incentive to move you up the plane.
Of course, if this was some kind of milestone / birthday / anniversary, that's a different story.
Jan 14, 2014, 12:27 am
#23
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: YOW
Programs: AC SE, FOTSG Platinum
Posts: 5,730
Honeymoon, but I doubt that counts for much.
One assumes that this near, those last seats are unlikely to all go?
We did splash out for exit-row seats before I hit Gold, so it's not the end of the world. I'm not the shortest guy in the world, but I'm grateful not to be on one of AC's punishing 777HDs.
One assumes that this near, those last seats are unlikely to all go?
We did splash out for exit-row seats before I hit Gold, so it's not the end of the world. I'm not the shortest guy in the world, but I'm grateful not to be on one of AC's punishing 777HDs.
Jan 28, 2014, 6:48 am
#24
Join Date: Sep 2011
Programs: CX MPC Gold
Posts: 62
The Ultimate Upgrade Question thread
Would call them and mention the fact it's your honeymoon. The ball and chain and I got upgraded (she has no status) on our own honeymoonI made a point of telling the CX agent a few days before flying. Flight was not full. But was only short haul.
Feb 23, 2014, 4:49 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: San Francisco
Programs: QF Platinum, Former CX Diamond, TG Gold, HH Diamond, IHG Spire Ambassador, Amex Platinum
Posts: 173
A little confused on this one. Colleague and me were on the same short haul flight yesterday, both booked in V class. Flight was zeroed out on KVS. I’m a DM and was upgraded to PEY before online check in opened. After check in, my BN was 7. He’s a MPO GR and checked in at airport, BN 200+ with a Y boarding pass. At the gate, he was upgraded from Y to J. He doesn’t fly very often and I don’t begrudge him the upgrade, just seems a little odd to me. Possibly his charm and wit at check in enable him to jump the upgrade queue? We were laughing about his luck over mine and he said he didn’t have any friends at CX or notice any special treatment at check in. Is there a new nuance to the excessively discussed pecking order of CX operational upgrades? Or just a random case of right place at right time?
Feb 23, 2014, 6:28 pm
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
A little confused on this one. Colleague and me were on the same short haul flight yesterday, both booked in V class. Flight was zeroed out on KVS. I’m a DM and was upgraded to PEY before online check in opened. After check in, my BN was 7. He’s a MPO GR and checked in at airport, BN 200+ with a Y boarding pass. At the gate, he was upgraded from Y to J. He doesn’t fly very often and I don’t begrudge him the upgrade, just seems a little odd to me. Possibly his charm and wit at check in enable him to jump the upgrade queue? We were laughing about his luck over mine and he said he didn’t have any friends at CX or notice any special treatment at check in. Is there a new nuance to the excessively discussed pecking order of CX operational upgrades? Or just a random case of right place at right time?
Feb 23, 2014, 8:28 pm
#28
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
Feb 23, 2014, 10:33 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2012
Location: AKL
Programs: NZ, EK, QF
Posts: 115
Bizarre Upgrade?
Hi, just wondering if anyone can shed some light on an upgrade my girlfriend got flying HKG-SYD on 9JAN14. Here are details.......
-Ticket was issued by CX and paid for Y.
-Has no status with CX (not even signed up to the program and first time on CX)
-Checked in online the day before flight
-Went to the electronic boarding pass printer but would not accept ticket.
-Lined up, check in agent took an age, tapping away on the computer (saying nothing) Gives her the boarding pass without saying anything of the upgrade to Y+
-My girlfriend didn't even notice the upgrade until 10mins later due to not even being told anything at check in.
We are just curious as to why the upgrade was given. She arrived at the airport very early and would of been one of the first to check in. Also, she had pre-selected a special meal (if this makes any difference) and there was no equipment change. Plane was very full.
So was she just extremely lucky or is there something else in the CX upgrade world that determines who gets the upgrade? Cheers
-Ticket was issued by CX and paid for Y.
-Has no status with CX (not even signed up to the program and first time on CX)
-Checked in online the day before flight
-Went to the electronic boarding pass printer but would not accept ticket.
-Lined up, check in agent took an age, tapping away on the computer (saying nothing) Gives her the boarding pass without saying anything of the upgrade to Y+
-My girlfriend didn't even notice the upgrade until 10mins later due to not even being told anything at check in.
We are just curious as to why the upgrade was given. She arrived at the airport very early and would of been one of the first to check in. Also, she had pre-selected a special meal (if this makes any difference) and there was no equipment change. Plane was very full.
So was she just extremely lucky or is there something else in the CX upgrade world that determines who gets the upgrade? Cheers
Feb 23, 2014, 11:31 pm
#30
Suspended
Join Date: Dec 2012
Posts: 2,377
Since your gf was travelling as a single pax, it was easier to move her around. At the same time, CX does not want to anger anyone by reseating her to a random Y seat. So since there was an availability in PEY - they chose to just op up her.