Originally Posted by
ricktoronto
Not so strictly. I have flown back to HKG a couple times on an earlier flight ex-BKK on A D I base fares on the basis I got there quite early and they had a flight leaving earlier, once due to just being amazingly early at BKK and the other the flight was late in from HKG or DEL or wherever and thus hadn't departed, but it was 90 minutes earlier than mine. Their attitude was sure, there are seats, why hang around, go earlier if you want. No fees, no fare rules, nothing.
Are any of these instances in the last 2-3 years?
IME Cathay significantly changed operating procedure and this just doesn't happen like it used to. I cannot attest to BKK, but in the last few years at HKG, TPE, HND and SIN I have all been asked to upfare or wait it out. (This is in normal operations, aka no cancelled flights, oversold and CX needs help, etc. Etc. I would still expect them to waive in those situations and it will on lucky occasions benefit the person who wanted to change anyway). I've upfared at TPE a couple times and at HKG at least 5x, maybe more. I'm Cathay Diamond, OWE equivalent.
PEK and PVG are also exempt from this....you can always show up early and board.
3+ years ago, yes I agree you could just show up and they'd basically ignore your ticket conditions. But they are definitely hemming a much tighter line in recent years. If your fare requires an update or change fee, they ask for it in my recent experiences (except at PVG and PEK).
The fact the OP is OWE is irrelevant, regardless of what happens. My guess is he/she gets it without paying if CX needs help due to irrops or overselling. And no if not. They won't care about his/her status here.