The thread points out something good for everyone to know. But I'm not so sure this is new?

At Taipei for years (I don't know exactly, but at least 3 years now) they simply haven't been willing to change a cash ticket for me, if I'm on a D or I fare biz ticket. (Asia Miles tickets are permitted to change.) Unless you pay the change fee for those ticket types. And I'm never asked to change when I'm on C or J sub fare classes, which makes sense because I don't think they have change fees. I've been asked to do this a few times the last few years: they ask you to walk over to the counter near the escalators, pay some money, and then you're on your way. There is an exception: If they need help shuffling loads around. For example later flights are booked full, or there was a cancellation, or a storm is coming, or there are a bunch of ID standbys expected for later, etc. etc. TPE ground staff managers have discretion. I've noticed they generally check with the station manager or person at those front seats before deciding whether to charge you or not, but the default is to charge you IME. I've been DM the last 10+ years and they haven't been shy about charging me for roughly the last 5 or so years. Back in the pre-2013 or pre-2014 days, yes I definitely agree it was you could change whenever you wanted. But this current policy, at least at TPE and HKG, has been going on for some time IME unless CX benefits by you switching, in which case they just do it for free.

I've seen it taken for fact on here that you could change willy nilly, especially us DMs. That might've been others' experiences but certainly wasn't mine! I know there are others who fly regionally more than me, but I'm not a lightweight either! I probably fly regionally on CX or KA 4-8 sectors a month. I agree you often can/could change without penalty as DM, but I also found fairly regularly in at least the last 3 years, maybe last 5 years (especially at TPE, SIN and HKG) the rules are enforced unless CX benefits by having you switch flights. The strictest ports IME have been TPE and HKG about charging for years. I suspect some of the "you can switch when you want" misnomer has grown out of the scenarios where CX benefits by you switching, or on Asia Miles tickets (which are allowed to change at the airport, and always have been allowed to), or maybe just simple confusion about the ticket terms. Another example, Mrs. QRC got charged at HKG earlier this year for changing a flight time to TPE. She is DM as well. She was on an ex-HKG round trip biz class fare to Taipei, and she must've booked one of the lower fare classes.

At PVG and PEK, there is something of a middle ground going on. If you are DM, IME they will waive it. I just had this happen a week ago, and many times before that. But GO is iffy, and under that forget it if the schedules are on time. There are so many DMs traveling ex-PEK and ex-PVG that CX doesn't need to accommodate Golds most of the time even if CX needs "help", if I'm just being blunt about it. A business partner who is CX Silver was flying ex-PVG in August; I remember it clearly because I was surprised, when KA refused to put her on an earlier flight, despite her having a 2 hour connection in Hong Kong. If she wanted to switch to the early flight, they were demanding an upfare. I was surprised because I had it in my head anybody could switch for free at PVG and take an earlier flight, especially with a connection. But no. Her regularly-scheduled flight left on time and she made the connection. Fwiw her ticket was purchased through an online travel agent.

Anyway, it's interesting they're playing tough right now given the situation. But I don't really blame them because I well remember those days 5+ years ago when you absolutely wouldn't get charged. You could just buy the cheapest tickets and really assume you could always get on earlier. I don't mind them doing it this way. Especially since it does seem to be fairly reasonable.

Thought I'd share because it definitely lines up with the thread's current state of affairs. Although IME the strictness started a while back. Very useful thread though.