Agree with Andrew about helping out Empress. Noticed the YVR-HKG trend to Zero out C up to the 7 day window which makes it a bit of purchase lottery on the H fares ie. waiting to purchase at the 7 day minimum window and hoping that C opens up. I guess this is the boat we find ourselves in so let's start paddling. YYZ-YVR seems to be more open with C9s across the board well in advance but diminishing on the early morning late afternoon "rush hour" flights as flight day approaches. Again another lottery which suggests we should aim for shoulder and off-peak times -- although usually the dreaded domestic-J config 67s are on those flights.

Have noted that the V to H shift for SE international upgrades really "hurts" $ wise on flights to mainland China, Taiwan and Korea where the price differential is pushing $1,000 or more. On flights to HKG and Japan the lowest fares (save for seat sales) was usually H anyways. Have booked two separate long weekends in Shanghai and Beijing out of SEA ($1,028 and $1,139 CDN in refundable(!) V) for February as a last "hoorah".