Birthday Upgrade?
#241
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2000
Location: Little dot in Asia
Programs: AA-EP, TK-*G, HL-DM, HY-GLO, MR-LTP
Posts: 25,932
Since the poster maortega15 was needling lists a couple Asian and a European program in his profile, but not any US ones, I'm not sure this is precisely the case. Rather, it's a self-created problem on the CX board, where the discussion about op-ups -- how to score them, how to request them, whether a birthday qualifies for them, how to changes seats after receiving them -- has blown out of all proportion to the frequency with which an average low-tier flyer can expect to get them.
Look at SQ. Is there a similar thread over there? No. Cos they don't give op up's ever .. whether its your 100th birthday, 80th wedding anniversary or whatever!
So, people do not expect such a treat when flying SQ.
The question is, do we want CX to go down the same path as SQ in their inventory control for any op-up's?
#242
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 761
I booked the following flight from HKG to LHR on Nov. 17, as my B'day trip:
Called CX agent and got some bad news:
Nov. 16 CX251 HKG 23:55 LHR 05:00+1 (Loading: J fully booked)
Nov. 17 CX255 HKG 01:10 LHR 06:20 (Loading: both F & J classes oversold)
Nov. 17 CX257 HKG 09:15 LHR 15:00 (Loading: only 2 x J seats avail.)
Currently online checked-in as CX255 to LHR (Bin 1). Hopeless....
Called CX agent and got some bad news:
Nov. 16 CX251 HKG 23:55 LHR 05:00+1 (Loading: J fully booked)
Nov. 17 CX255 HKG 01:10 LHR 06:20 (Loading: both F & J classes oversold)
Nov. 17 CX257 HKG 09:15 LHR 15:00 (Loading: only 2 x J seats avail.)
Currently online checked-in as CX255 to LHR (Bin 1). Hopeless....
#243
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
But its not a frequent flyer's board's fault if the airline is doing it...
Look at SQ. Is there a similar thread over there? No. Cos they don't give op up's ever .. whether its your 100th birthday, 80th wedding anniversary or whatever!
So, people do not expect such a treat when flying SQ.
The question is, do we want CX to go down the same path as SQ in their inventory control for any op-up's?
Look at SQ. Is there a similar thread over there? No. Cos they don't give op up's ever .. whether its your 100th birthday, 80th wedding anniversary or whatever!
So, people do not expect such a treat when flying SQ.
The question is, do we want CX to go down the same path as SQ in their inventory control for any op-up's?
#244
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: TK-G | Accor P | SQ-G | Marriott T
Posts: 3,831
I am considering trip to Shanghai on my birthday (a day after new year). I know the birthday op-up is not official benefit. But of course this will give CX additional point to fly with (also considering TG and SQ at this moment).
Price-wise all about the same(+/- S$100, TG < CX < SQ)
So what you guys think my chances to get op up? I am a 2nd year SL, last year I clock just 20 segments (mainly on SIN-HKG-TPE on Y and 2 C class on SIN-BKK). This year I just only clock 4 segments.
Also which SIN-HKG will be higher chance to get birthday upgrade and also this will be the first day after New Year....
Price-wise all about the same(+/- S$100, TG < CX < SQ)
So what you guys think my chances to get op up? I am a 2nd year SL, last year I clock just 20 segments (mainly on SIN-HKG-TPE on Y and 2 C class on SIN-BKK). This year I just only clock 4 segments.
Also which SIN-HKG will be higher chance to get birthday upgrade and also this will be the first day after New Year....
#245
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
To clarify, do you mean you're flying on Jan 2? Or do you mean that you're flying a day after your new MPC year (reset date)? Either way, though, I don't think either of those things matter. There is no special Jan 2 op-up that I know about, and given that Jan 2 is a workday in HK I don't think there should be any special loading considerations. If you meant the day after your reset, that is also not even an unpublished benefit - you simply don't get op-upped on your first flight after a reset. There have been rumors about getting one after a status upgrade, but that's debatable (as an anecdote counter to that, I clearly recall my first flight as a DM years back and although service was outstanding on the short regional hop to SIN I believe it was - the ISM somehow knew I had just made DM and was awesome throughout the flight - I was not upgraded).
As for your bday, I'm not sure if CX does that for SLs or not, but I would suspect not - sorry. There are just so many SLs out there I don't see how they can be doing that.
Overall, I would not factor this into your ticket purchasing calculus.
#246
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: TK-G | Accor P | SQ-G | Marriott T
Posts: 3,831
Very low.
To clarify, do you mean you're flying on Jan 2? Or do you mean that you're flying a day after your new MPC year (reset date)? Either way, though, I don't think either of those things matter. There is no special Jan 2 op-up that I know about, and given that Jan 2 is a workday in HK I don't think there should be any special loading considerations. If you meant the day after your reset, that is also not even an unpublished benefit - you simply don't get op-upped on your first flight after a reset. There have been rumors about getting one after a status upgrade, but that's debatable (as an anecdote counter to that, I clearly recall my first flight as a DM years back and although service was outstanding on the short regional hop to SIN I believe it was - the ISM somehow knew I had just made DM and was awesome throughout the flight - I was not upgraded).
As for your bday, I'm not sure if CX does that for SLs or not, but I would suspect not - sorry. There are just so many SLs out there I don't see how they can be doing that.
Overall, I would not factor this into your ticket purchasing calculus.
To clarify, do you mean you're flying on Jan 2? Or do you mean that you're flying a day after your new MPC year (reset date)? Either way, though, I don't think either of those things matter. There is no special Jan 2 op-up that I know about, and given that Jan 2 is a workday in HK I don't think there should be any special loading considerations. If you meant the day after your reset, that is also not even an unpublished benefit - you simply don't get op-upped on your first flight after a reset. There have been rumors about getting one after a status upgrade, but that's debatable (as an anecdote counter to that, I clearly recall my first flight as a DM years back and although service was outstanding on the short regional hop to SIN I believe it was - the ISM somehow knew I had just made DM and was awesome throughout the flight - I was not upgraded).
As for your bday, I'm not sure if CX does that for SLs or not, but I would suspect not - sorry. There are just so many SLs out there I don't see how they can be doing that.
Overall, I would not factor this into your ticket purchasing calculus.
I saw some post that SL got it. But I guess 2Jan will be the date which people will start flying for biz again and people still travelling from holiday... Oh my...
#247
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
Remember, they only op-up if there is seats available. If the J class is sold out, you're not going anywhere.
#249
Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: SIN
Programs: TK-G | Accor P | SQ-G | Marriott T
Posts: 3,831
One week toward my birthday flight. I checked last night there are still plenty seat on C lass on red eye flight from SIN-HKG.
There are 7 still empty seat at LD and only 4 occupied seat on UD. Question: will it happen that CX close the UD?
There are 7 still empty seat at LD and only 4 occupied seat on UD. Question: will it happen that CX close the UD?
#251
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,171
#252
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond (OW Emerald), former SQ Krisflyer Gold
Posts: 2,527
#253
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 761
#254
Suspended
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Here there and everywhere
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