Good day everyone- my first post here on Flyertalk- an incredible website indeed!

I'm having a flight tomorrow on CX PVG-HKG. My confirmed reservation is at 1225 but i am hoping to get an earlier flight out. I have been put on waiting list- 2 flights- one by CX and another by KA- which are full!

My question is- i just did an OLCI on my confirmed reservation- would that hurt my chances on getting on those two earlier flights? I will be heading to PVG early in the morning tomorrow to get on standby too.

I checked the flight loads- the earlier CX flight 365 is already full in all classes according to seatcounter.com, while the KA871 (Or CX6855 codeshare) still has some seats left in Business and First.

Should i not be successful on getting to earlier planes, that would mean some hours in PVG. I was wondering are there any kind souls out there who could help me get into the lounge with their 1W status?

I don't have any status on CX or 1W. Any tips on how to increase my chances would be much appreciated!

Am starting to pray now that all will work out.

Thank you all!

The PVG-HKG is quite popular (hence the number of flights) so there are many people with high CX Status on this route. Apparently, according to other threads on here, it is not uncommon to see many Diamond members on the one flight. I don't believe OLCI would effect your chances.

So, I would think your chances of getting on the earlier, full flights, are close to zero. But, stranger things have happened.

As for lounge access, I would not be too concerned. PVG is quite a good airport to hang around in, with many restaurants and shops (as well as people watching) to help you waste some time. There are alot worse airports to be stuck in. If you want status, join up with Marco Polo, travel a couple of long haul flights and Silver status will get you in the lounge.

Dear crocodile,

Thank you for your prompt reply- greatly appreciate it!

I seldom fly CX these days as i try to stick my itinerary to Skyteam due to my FFP. But when i do- it's mainly because they have really good price!

Oh no- seems like i am up against on many CX MPC members then . Yep- stranger things happen- completely agree with you. I was traveling on a deeply discounted ticket last year and was upgraded to J at the gate.

Fingers crossed all will work out well!

Have a nice day ahead.

PVG lounge is nothing to write home about. I rarely use it even though I can go, and if I do it's usually to walk in, grab a few sandwiches and water, and then leave. You're not missing out on anything.

Dear QRC3288,

Ahh i see! Thank you for your input!

Will keep a positive mind that my waiting list/standby will clear eventually tomorrow!

The best thing to do of course is to go to airport and wait it out there and request to be put on standby.

Depending on your ticket, you may get on ahead of some Elite members. You never know.

And welcome to FlyerTalk, and the CX forum, perks of the world !

Dear Guy Betsy and all,

Thank you for the welcoming message. Hope all is well with you!

So with regards to my flight that day- CX- PVG to HKG- i didn't manage to clear the standby. I was at the airport since 6am and only flew out 1230pm. Turned out ALL the flights on this route that day were either fully booked or overbooked! It's a total madness- witnessed a lot of passengers couldn't even get on their confirmed flights. Everyone- including the station manager- was stressful and frustrated. I managed to have a good chat with her though- to understand a little bit on the situation and so on- a very nice lady in fact!

Alright- will come up with my very first trip report on flyertalk and airliners.net soon! By the way- on a somewhat not so relevant issue on this thread- just received my NWA WorldPerks card today- well- good to have it as a momento at least! ha!

Take it easy people.

they have a new wonton noodle stand in the pvg lounge, and it's quite good.

Welcome to PVG madness! It's been 50-50 chance for me to get on earlier flight ex-PVG for me (historically) and one time when I travel with my friend (which is on ID-100 ticket) got bumped and get back to HK 4 hours after me.

Seems things didn't change at all with the cross straight flight ?

This is when diamond membership is at its best (on par with guaranteed seats). I have been on airport standby 20+ times in the past 24 months and have never failed to get on a flight. On a couple of occasions I even got upgraded... which baffles me.

Oh my- got bumped? That must suck! Did your friend get any compensation? In PVG, i witnessed a Chinese lady having a ferocious argument with the station manager after being bumped to later flight. She was very rude and the station manager was having a hard time with her. hmm, but from the conversation, think she was upgraded eventually on her original booking. Hmm, if i were the station manager, i probably would not have upgraded her owing to her attitude.

Oh other note, my flight from HKG to SIN was on B777-200. And in my opinion, the seat is much more comfortable than the Y seat on the B74A. I prefer the real recline rather than the sliding forward kind. However, the IFE on B74A was superb though, although they loaded wrongly the whole enterntainment programme. It's October and we got the September's version.

And i think due to cost cutting no more Haagen Dazs or ice cream in general on CX flights on this route. I flew several times on this route and got ice cream every time. But Haagen Dazs still is available on KA.

Yes!! Wouldn't be surprised on that! Unfrtunately i don't have that privileges.

The friend was an an ID-100 (i.e. industry free ticket) so there was nothing to compensate. One of the conditions of these tickets is that they are purely standby - if there are enough customers to fill the seats with pretty much any other type of ticket then you get bumped.

I guess I am lucky, over the last two years I always could get an earlier flight @ PVG.

I love how they show the sign/board with all the flights and if its full or not.

I would think traveling on the busiest day of the year (apart from CNY!) would be to blame! I flew out from PVG to HKG on 4th Oct and they still used a 747 - peak holiday time on the mainland.