Perhaps I will chalk it up to a poor PVG experience. But in hindsight, I think it is poorly trained KA phone reps in China. I had the hotel concierge talking to them and since I don't speak Chinese, I don't know what the conversation was like. But the fact that KA cancelled a flight 12 hours prior to departure and there were plenty of seats available (award and revenue flights) on later flights, should have made this re-booking a slam dunk.

Once I arrived at the PVG airport, the KA ticketing agent was able to book me on the next available flight without a problem. It couldn't have been any simpler.

I feel sorry for the CX diamond member who had similar problems with cancellations, but I suppose this happens at all airlines, whether it be CX/KA, BA or AA. You certainly have more sympathetic ears when talking to your own airline's customer service as a OWE and the flight is with your home airline. But certainly disappointing that the KA phone agents in China could not be more helpful, whether it was a non-status passenger, CX diamond or a OWE.