Originally Posted by
UltraSean
I booked a last-min J seat from LHR-HKG departing in a couple of days (via my employer's travel agent) and wanted to upgrade to F.
I was unable to use any of the upgrade options online and called in. The agent told me that while there was 1 seat in F left for sale, it was not a redemption seat and thus they could not upgrade me by placing a bid or using Asia Miles (I was booked in D which is upgrade-eligible). She could not place me on the upgrade list either as it's within 48 hours.
However, she did advise me that I could ask the airport staff upon check-in to get an "instant upgrade" using Asia Miles on day of travel. I searched online and surprisingly found very little information about this - don't know if it's common practice. Wondering if folks here would know:
- Is this a guaranteed way to upgrade using Asia Miles or cash upon check-in (assuming the F seat remains open for sale)? Or at the discretion of the airport staff / inventory?
- How much $ or Asia Miles will this usually cost if available (I believe the upgrade award chart suggest 75000 miles for this route but wonder it'll be priced differently given last minute)
I put my emerald FF# from other carriers if it makes a difference (I do have enough Asia Miles in my Cathay account but only Green status).
You can always upgrade with cash at the airport, the $ amt is the difference between your fare basis and what's available in F (either A or F). It sometimes takes a moment or two for them to sort it out. I've done it at HKG (both landside and transit desk), SFO (back when SF had F), and LAX. Never an issue.
The upgrade cert situation, for me at least, became borderline useless sometimes in the last few years J->F.