Odds of an upgrade?
 

I've flown CX 5-10 times (all revenue Y, all in the last few years), and as an AA EXP (Emerald) I've received an op-up once or twice (Y to J)... but with such a small sample size I won't extrapolate to any general op-up probability.

I'll be flying CX884 HKG-LAX in mid-November on a revenue J ticket. My wife is using an award ticket, and only F is available. I'm hoping, that if there is an empty seat in F, I might be lucky enough to be upgraded to sit with her in F (and of course I'll nicely ask about it so it's not "just" luck). I see this is a 77A if that has any relevancy.

Does CX ever roll J to F to make room in Y/J for overbooking/standby's?
If CX does this, is the upgrade based on fare and/or OW status (MP vs. AA?)?
Is it even possible for any CX staff to upgrade me without a roll (to be with wife for example, does my AA Emerald help)?

Any info you can provide on the odds of my being upgraded, the scenario where it might or might not happen, and what I might or might avoid doing (if anything) to increase the probability or keep from killing it?

Thx

It all depends on the GAs.

CX does not have a publised op-up policy.

But based on standby priority, even you are a OW Emerald as AA EXP, your priority will be still lower than CX MPC DM.

But for sure, if J is overbooked, F op-up will happen if F can fit those people.

But Y>J and then J>F, not much chances.

Forget it. That flight is filled with CX Diamonds in paid J.

Or CX GO. OW Emerald is behind both DM and GO in the op-up order.

So my best chance (and that's not so high a chance at that, but still best) is a GA or staff in the Club doing an upgrade not based on a cabin roll, but just on kindness of my situation (split from wife) and my EXP/Emerald won't hurt but won't help much... but GAs (unlike at AA which is really rare) do have the autonomy to do such a move?

No, only supervisor of the port has any power over op-ups. The GAs may feel sorry for your request and call him/her on your behalf, but the supervisor might still give a NO answer.

People need to realize the check-in nor gate-agents have power to do pretty much anything else but print your boarding pass and assign you seats.

Great, so it seems my best shot is to ask for a Supervisor (or otherwise just hope the GA will talk to one, I'm more the proactive type)?

If my wife prefers to sit with me more than sit F>J (yeah, some non-FTers actually would do that, :D), and I ask her to be voluntarily downgraded (J award isn't available to book), maybe a Supervisor (if I know F isn't full) will see that I'm not just looking to upgrade, but really it's sitting with my wife that is the priority... at least a Supervisor has such autonomy to do that? If so, when/where should I ask for the Supervisor (ticket counter, lounge, gate)?

Thanks!

It's worth a shot, but never once have I heard of something like that happening (J-F long-haul op-up for a non-status companion), unfortunately. I definitely wouldn't get your hopes up. As a DM, I know I have only been afforded this when a.) op-ups are ridiculously numerous (15+), b.) it is Y-J, and c.) it was a regional flight. And admittedly I'm a DM (which CX treats at a considerably higher level than other OW EXPs), and the guys who were with me were GR (CX's lowest level), SL (2nd lowest) and once a GO (between SL and DM). The sole time I tried to pull up a non-CX status friend with me BKK-HKG (I was op-upped Y-J, he wasn't, there were about 4 or 5 upgrades done that flight), I was politely told that there were other DMs on the flight and they could only upgrade me alone. I told them to not process the upgrade and I stayed with him in Y. And that's precisely where we stayed for the flight.

With limited seats in F, there rarely are more than 2 op-ups J-F on CX's 777-300ERs. As posted above, there are also many DMs and GOs on those flights in J (I'd say a minimum of 10 DM+GO in J, sometimes more) who CX is going to want to upgrade over you. Combine that with CX's (and Asian airlines in general)'s much more "robust" defense of their premium classes...I have not heard of people talking their way into a free expensive seat (long-haul F is about the epitome of that), unlike how it is with US companies. I really don't expect them to show any sympathy at all, unfortunately. Don't want to spoil your hopes but I say the chance is very close to zero - try to figure out a way to get her a J ticket without having to burn the F miles.

I always expect to fly the class I book and pay for, I'm then not disappointed. Should I get Op'uped that is a bonus, but something I wouldnt dream of is the approach "can I speak to your supervisor" it smacks of DYKWIA.

If you need to fly F, just pay it.

Absolutely agree. I find people who try to do this irritating. Perhaps the OP can sit outside the airport with a begging bowl and see if they can raise the funds for the upgrade. Same thing.

It's more of a want than a need ;)

Anways, I will say this again. You get what you pay for! OP-UPS ARE NOT AN OFFICIAL ENTITLEMENT!! SO PLEASE STOP EXPECTING AND COMPLAINING ABOUT OP-UPS!! If you paidd for Y, you paid for Y! and vice versa. I am sure if CX finds out that alot of people are complaining about op-ups and they start enforcing stricter policies, I'm sure a hell alot of people are going to be mad! So enjoy the op-ups while the strict policies are not yet in place!!

Sorry you find the discussion so distateful. I think I find the recent replies more distateful than someone posting to seek information.

Op-ups happen, sorry if you don't like that a flyer might seek to learn more about them on CX - and I only posted to learn more about the CX process, decision making, and probabilities. Thanks for the opinions, I think I have the info requested.

I don't need to sit in F (never posted I did), nor did I come out posting I want an op-up, and I certainly didn't make any claim that I EXPECT one, or COMPLAIN about it!! - I posted with a request for information and provided my info to avoid a general question and assist any replier in providing information specific to the situation.

What I really WANT, is award space in J - but that's not available... or to sit with my wife, might be possible (op-up is one way possible, I don't need to post to know how to call daily and see if J award space opens up, thank you).

You need to post anymore opinions of posters or flyers on the topic??? If not, then maybe keep the replies on topic (information request)?

If sitting together is the most important to you, may consider:

1/ use more mileage to up-grade your J ticket to F while F is still available, or

2/ save some mileage by using your J revenue ticket to redeem a companion J award ticket and I think that companion award ticket quota is different from fully redeption ticket.

Don't expect op-up to avoid disappointment but anyway, good luck!

Many factors in upgrades such as MPC level, OW status and availability.

Your question is asking about being able to sit in F by upgrade or asking. The chances based on your status or your wifes ticket are pretty much zero. I am pretty sure as others will confirm the moment you ask for an upgrade and you have no chance.

seriously, I think if you ask the CSO if your wife can downgrade to J so that you guys can sit together, you might have a better chance to get an opup.

Let me put in gently to you... if you dare ask for an upgrade, the chances are that you as a AAdvantage passenger will be put way down the list. CX GAs really don't like AAdvantage people asking for freebie upgrades. - insider knowledge.

If you really want to be guaranteed to sit in F, well, pay for the difference.

Otherwise, honestly what harm is it to be seperated by a couple of hours in a different cabin?

:p

odds are low
 

So, my wife and I just finished a trip in a similar situation. She was in First on miles, I was in business on a paid ticket. I inquired as to what it would take to upgrade so we could sit together (not assuming it would be free, but hoping maybe someone would take pity) -- they told me $4,000 for the one-way segment of HKG to YYZ. Okay, not going to do that out of my pocket. Business was half empty, so no chance of an op-up, and as an AA PLT, probably very unlikely anyway.

So, it turned out she was the only person in First. This allowed me to come up into First from time-to-time to check in on her and talk (I would never have tried to do this if anyone else had been up there). I was in 11K, so right beyond the curtain.

She could have sat in business, but in the old configuration you're not really sitting together anyway, so I encouraged her to stay in F and enjoy the service. I was a little jealous, being in J, but it was still nice.

I think this is a pretty good example of how to act in this type of situation...

Thanks, this is actually a valuable advice post, just what I was hoping to find here.

Really, what's with the reading comprehension issue here? Where is it mentioned I want to be guaranteed to sit in F? I agree 100% that if one wants an F seat, then book an F seat... I asked about odds and CX process and decision making, due to my lack of technical/specific information and experience with CX.

dont mind those harsh words. i do agree with chentaiman tht the best way to be sitting with your wife is to ask for a downgrade. just think that the value of miles in F is still cheaper than buying the cheapest J ticket.

oh dangit. just as i'm writing this the firewall in my company is fixed and i cant see the images again.

Because you were told pretty much off the bat that it wouldn't happen and you continued to ask questions about this situation or that situation. Despite your intentions, it really sounded like some sort of entitlement. And that's when the posts started getting harsh. Justifiably, IMHO.

If they do accept your proposal to downgrade, you may be stuck with it. There is a good chance that they may do so, as your original neighbour is very likely willing to accept such a swap.

Maybe "better" but likely still negligible.

Just to come back and close it out, F was totally full (all six seats)... wife sat in F and I sat in J, but I asked the purser if I could sit in the mini-seat in my wife's cube for the dinner service and I'd leave immediately after desert, and she replied "sure!" although the FA doing the service showed she was not happy at all.

I have to add, on this trip I was able to experience the old 777 A and the new 777 D seats, and while the A is like a coffin, the seat itself was very comfortable for sleeping. The new D is a very nice seat, too, but I didn't try to sleep during my daytime flight.

It is nice to read that the two of you enjoyed a nice meal together but I find it odd that if you both really wanted to sit together why did you not ask the person next to you in J to swap the F class seat with your wife???

Well, first, there is no person next to you in the herringbone configuration, or in the coffin seat... and second you're not really allowed to swap seats as if we're giong to free up an F seat in advance there's a procedure for determining who gets to move up (not ther person next to me) and if done onboard the FA has issues, and last we figured given those issues, since we're "paying" for her F she might as well enjoy it.

But, yes, very nice of them to allow us to dine together, I agree.

An excellent post indeed. My other half does this a lot and really considers it a treat - she knows I get to go on first a lot, so it is not so much of a treat for me, but she really appreciates it. In many cases, she is glad to have peace and quiet from me when we are in different parts of the plane!

Thanks for wrapping this up for us and congrats on how it went on your trip. I think what happened to you was the next best thing in having an op-up. You were very smart in asking ahead of time and lucky in terms of whom you asked. And by purser, do you mean the head steward? Some head stewards can be harsh on this issue. As you know, they are very very sensative in having people walking up to even just talking to their friend(s) up front.

I had a 5-year anniversary upgrade (HKG-JFK given at Check-in) 2 yrs ago when I was traveling with a very good friend of mine. They would not upgrade my friend so I made sure I have the very last seat in J (26K, I think! pretty much next to the bathroom on the old config) so my friend could come up once in a while to chat w/ little interruption to the J cabin. No, no, no! She was asked to leave immediately by the head steward, both times she was up.

They let you eat off the F dining menu even though you were a J passenger?!?

No, everything I ordered was from my J menu, which I brought up front with me. I did eat and drink many things my wife ordered, as she doesn't like cavier, desert, or port.

As I mentioned the FA seemed unhappy, maybe because she frequently had to run to the other galley to obtain my items.

Which also distracted her from her duties of serving the other F passengers who were actually entitled to sit there. :rolleyes:

Personally, I think it was a selfish request in the first place. :td:

Glad you weren't the purser, of whom I obtained permission first. Right, it was one or two trips 5m away to the J galley to get a bottle to fill a glass (with a Champagne glass, I gladly said "yes" when asked if I'd also drink from the bottle in F) and a couple of trips to get a dinner and desert plate.... sorry to the FA for the inconvenience, glad none of the other customers complained as you might have. Thanks for your opinion on my selfishness. :rolleyes:

So what is likelihood of an op-up on CX.

No one knows.

What you can't remember how many times you got a UG?

Are you asking for the likelihood of an upgrade or how many times I've been upgraded before? Asking for the likelihood of an upgrade implies a probability, for example, "there's probably a 35% chance you'll get an UG today".

I can tell you I've been upgraded twice before, once LHR-HKG and once JFK-HKG. Both during the summer months.

I was in F today and a guy came three times into F obviously looking to sit with his friend, the third time he was given a stiff talking to by the ISM and she told him that she will be reporting his actions. I am only guessing she has his Marco Polo details as she was talking about the fact he could lose his membership for not following her instructions t stay out of the F cabin. I was sat in 2D on a 777 so was close enough to hear the conversation in the galley.

The airline will have a passengers details regardless of frequent flier status. In fact, this may be a violation of the law, and the ISM could have requested the pilot to request for law enforcement - this would actually be conceivable, especially if it was heading for an American destination.