Are F and C class on U.S. to Hong Kong flights ever oversold?
Jun 12, 2011, 11:02 am
#16
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: MSP
Programs: DL PlatMM, BA and Alaska Emerald, HHonors DIA, Accor, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat Amb, UA Silver, AA
Posts: 4,516
My Singapore colleagues' stories about SQ suggest their "never upgrading" policy is true. I know someone who has been PPS for > 10 years and has never been upgraded even once. Most similar customers can count the no. of upgrades on the fingers of one hand. However, I hear they upgrade government linked VIP's instead.
So it does happen, just not very often.
Jun 12, 2011, 11:44 pm
#17
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Cebu, Philippines / Vancouver, Canada
Programs: CX MPC SL, PR Mabuhay, OZ Silver, SIA Krisflyer, QR Qmiles, Hotelclub Platinum Member
Posts: 188
Jun 13, 2011, 3:13 am
#19
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 506
On the other hand, J to Y downgrades are not as rare as some of the above posts say. In addition to downgrade from J to Y 2x HKG-SYD, also been downgraded J to Y LHR-HKG. LHR-HKG was offered around 10k HKD as compensation which in hindsight was a complete rip off considering that my ticket was around 30k (this was already ex TPE).
Jun 13, 2011, 4:40 am
#20
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
It remains a possibility, however that this specific situation involved an unexpected aircraft swap from 744 (12 F seats) to 74A (9 F seats), because that flight YVR-HKG was indeed 74A (remember it because it was my first time flying on newly reconfigured 74A). From late 2007 until early 2009 it was a real crapshoot and finger-crossing experience trying to get on 74A vs the old 744, so maybe CX did have some F overbooking problems then if they did a last-minute aircraft substitution from an expected 744 to 74A (12 to 9 seats).
Jun 13, 2011, 6:14 am
#21
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 506
Changing from a 744 to 74A is not possible now since all have the new F (ie 74A)
One possibility is 74A (9F) changing to a 77A (6F) where there could be possibility of an overbooking of -3. This is theoretically possible for:
SFO, YVR, SIN, BKK, DEL, KIX and probably some more that the 74A serves
For SFO and YVR I believe that an aircraft chage would warrant sufficient notice to notify F pax
For the short/medium routes there is an equally likely, if not greater chance that the aircraft will change to regional (eg BKK and SIN would be the usual suspects). Previous threads have covered this already and I understand that reservations on the ground will arrange for refunds. However, I did remember reading somewhere that RTW tickets cannot be refunded the difference and will instead be ticketed in J.
One possibility is 74A (9F) changing to a 77A (6F) where there could be possibility of an overbooking of -3. This is theoretically possible for:
SFO, YVR, SIN, BKK, DEL, KIX and probably some more that the 74A serves
For SFO and YVR I believe that an aircraft chage would warrant sufficient notice to notify F pax
For the short/medium routes there is an equally likely, if not greater chance that the aircraft will change to regional (eg BKK and SIN would be the usual suspects). Previous threads have covered this already and I understand that reservations on the ground will arrange for refunds. However, I did remember reading somewhere that RTW tickets cannot be refunded the difference and will instead be ticketed in J.
Jun 14, 2011, 3:44 am
#22
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: New York, NY USA
Programs: AA 8MM Exec,Life Plat, Marriott Amb,Life Titanium, ,Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Globalist.
Posts: 495
Had this is NY a few times
They offered me a voluntary downgrade for $3850 USD + two seats in coach and this has happened on two plus occasions and I have taken advantage once....where I actually ended up with three seats AND they knew I had taken it and served me J class leftover meals. It was still a dragging 16 hour flight. Never again.
F goes crazy and big compensation is made when someone with priority in their VIP program changes their flights and the MUST be in F....for example a Senator or movie star or even a HKG/investment banking bigwig whose private jet blows an engine and he pulls strings for seats for 4 family members.... I have seen big offers made....but this is NEVER public. Airlines are great at hushing things up...not only Cathay.
Happy Travels!
F goes crazy and big compensation is made when someone with priority in their VIP program changes their flights and the MUST be in F....for example a Senator or movie star or even a HKG/investment banking bigwig whose private jet blows an engine and he pulls strings for seats for 4 family members.... I have seen big offers made....but this is NEVER public. Airlines are great at hushing things up...not only Cathay.
Happy Travels!
Jun 14, 2011, 3:55 am
#23
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Gold, JGC Sapphire, OZ Diamond, AF Silver, CX GR, Marriott Lifetime SL
Posts: 3,598
Off topic: Makes me wonder why they do they offer reroute + compensation rather than Vol Downgrade? Cash is nice but the fix back Y is ... well ... not that comfortable
Sounds perfect sense to me for 5th JFK lol
Sounds perfect sense to me for 5th JFK lol
Jun 14, 2011, 7:35 pm
#24
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: NYC
Posts: 27,239
I'm sure they'll reroute you or put you on a later flight if you want, but that's not always an option for some people.
Jun 23, 2011, 4:23 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: DEN
Programs: UA 2P, SPG Gold
Posts: 94
I believe I was almost involuntarily downgraded (F-J) most likely as a result of some sort of A/C failure in the pilot's rest area and a full F cabin. As it turns out, two of the F pax no-showed, so my travel partner and I were just bumped back a row. As nice as F was, I would have *gladly* taken $5k USD for the bump!