I had this experience over the weekend flying MNL-HKG-PVG. The first flight was delayed and caused a tighter than desired connection at HKG and I asked to be rebooked on an earlier flight MNL-HKG. I had a paid J ticket but J was full on that earlier flight but Y seats were available. They offered to let me sit in Y but offered no compensation for the downgrade.

I get it as this was a voluntary downgrade so I did not have to rush through HKG security and rush to my gate upon arrival to make the connection, but with the first flight being delayed I felt something could be done on the part of Cathay. Sad to say for me that answer was no. If the original trip was not delayed I would not have desired to get on an earlier flight as I originally had plenty of time for the connection.

This was my first round trip flight on CX and, not to sound too much like a complainer or whiny about it, it will likely factor into my future decisions on whom to fly within Asia.