What is the op up potential for HKG-DXB? I haven't seen anyone post about this destination yet.

Is this an elite or business class heavy route?

Fares are dirt cheap here and even on super peak season, the S class are widely available..

Perhaps because CX is competing head on with Emirates here which has access to cheap fuel as well as its reputation as one of the best full service airline.

Have flown that route a couple times and can't say whether it's elite or front-end heavy. But I think rather not as I couldn't recall the J cabin to be full those times - but that's only anecdotal experience. Looking at immigration lines, there are quite a few OFW flying in Y and holding their pack of documents to enter DXB.

As GO that time I've been upgraded twice, once on DXB-HKG and another time together with my wife (that time GO as well) on HKG-DXB. But I've been as well on a couple of legs without op-up at all. No experience on SL though.

And yes, for sure they are competing with Emirates, which can offer cheap fares not only because of the fuel but as well since they use HKG-DXB and HKG-BKK-DXB as feeder flights to connect to other destinations like LHR, etc. and may have some free seats to fill up. Another possible reason for CX to offer cheap fares is that demand might have slipped with DXB in debts since economic recession, stopping a lot of construction works, companies terminating expat contracts, etc., but that CX still wants to maintain their schedule for pax and probably belly cargo as well.

Upgraded to J as an SL a few hours before the flight on HKG-DXB, flew the route at least once a year for the last few years but only upgraded once, never upgraded on DXB-HKG but always given an extra blocked seat beside me with on a very full flight.

They block seats on a full flight for just SL?

From MNL, Emirates has a clear advantage not only in cheap fares, slightly better service, but mainly because they have a direct flight MNL-DXB..

On normal circumstances, why would you want to send 2-3 hours layover at HKG each.. unless you are a MPC SL and above and will want to take advantage of CX lounges in HK even when flying economy.

So I'm not suprised why CX has so many discounted economy slots for MNL to DXB coz of Emirates

I'm as well very suprised by blocking a seat for an SL on a full flight... on other routes I was requesting the same as GO (while already completed 80% of DM qualification) and have been told every time that they will make a huge exception since they would usually only do that for DM's... but yeah, guess it doesn't really hurt asking then.

roquejo, guess it's not only the lounges - there are plenty of elite MPC's in PH who want to take CX for status/mileage runs as well. That's why I rather flew for work multiple times the much more inconvenient route from HKG via LHR to ZRH on CX/BA or QF/BA instead of taking e.g. non-stop via SwissAir. Except for the QF flight with longer layover in LHR to take a shower, the BA lounges in LHR were only a really minor incentive

Got upgraded to J on HKG-DXB due to overbooking with BN 5, MPC Green. J was about 1/3 full only. On the way back, it was mostly Filipinos connecting to MNL and mainlanders with very very few local HKers (luggage belt was virtually empty on arrival). Had BN 4 but no upgrade. Was a bit surprised how low the BN got for a Green member.

I don't think it's related to status - just to when you do your OLCI. If you time it well, anyone can be BN 1.

The biggest obstacle to an MPC's mileage runs is those *** G booking classes offered by the travel agents here for packaged group tours.. which is very popular esp on holy week.

From time to time, many of us prefer group organized tours during long holidays esp to a destination we never been to inorder to save us time researching about the place..

But the major problem is G is non miles earning and there seems to be no way around it except paying lots of $. First, CX reservations here said you cannot buy up an issued G tickets just by paying a little extra.

2nd the agents who organized the group tours said they prefer you to take their G class CX ticket with the package as the group block G tickets has already been sold to them.

and lastly, they discouraged you from just buying the land tour arragement only and just booking for the CX fare in V class at your own expense by just deducting "only" around $250 of the tour price for the G class fare, then you ended up paying around $700-$900 for the miles earning V class fare.

The G class fares really hinder us MPC members and hoping CX do something about it.. like giving an option to MPC SL and up to buy up.

I think this problem also affects HK MPC members as they are also joining group tours from time to time that hinder their mileage runs.