Upgrade options on CX
 

I have four sectors on CX flights, returns on LHR > HKG and HKG > DPS, booked in economy with a travel agent.

Just wondering, what options are usually offered for upgrading to business, if any? Do they ever offer cheaper 'special offer' upgrades through manage my booking (similar to BA), or at the airport? If not, is my only option to call - and if so; does this attract a pesky 'change fee'?

I also belive the all the 747 aircraft do not have a premium economy product at all?

Many thanks.

1. No "cheap at the airport upgrade" available.
2. It will be cheaper for you to upgrade your entire ticket rather than segment by segment
3. Yes it will be considered a change even if you're paying more.
4. Your travel agent can give you options.
5. No Y+ on 747 aircrafts.
6. Your best bet is to buy an emergency exit seat.

Thanks. How do you buy an emergency exit seat? If you are not on a ticket which allows advance seat selection, can you pay to choose any seats in advance (not just exit rows)?

Y+ is being installed on 747s, so it depends when your flights are?

Flights are september, expert flyer doesnt show an unusual seat map, so I assume no Y+.

By the way, looking at the expert flyer seat maps, it shows almost all of the exit rows and the twin seats at the back as Premium, not Paid. Will it actually be possible to buy these seats, and if so, how do I buy them?

I've never used EF but in general when a seat is marked as "premium" it only means that it is blocked and can only be assigned to elites, full-fare, or some other specially eligible PAX. It should not necessarily mean that it is Y+ seat.

Sorry, the bit about Y+ was unrelateld to the premium seats in Y. I was just noting that the seat map for those particular flights do not hint at there being the new Y+ cabin installed.

But regarding the 'premium' seats in Y, I sort of guessed that they would be for full fares and elites. But the Cathay website does say that you can indeed pay 100 USD to pay for exit rows - so I can only assume that anyone can pay for 'premium' seats.

Does anyone know whether the three rows of twin seats at the back can be paid for? For example BA will allow you to pay various fees to choose any seat in advance, and you can do it online. But it looks like CX aren't promoting any paid-for seating in the same way.

You don't need to pay for those seats as far as I know. But you only get ONE seat unless you pay for a full ticket for the other seat.

You need to call CX Res to pay for the other Premium seats - which are paid seats unless you're an elite MPC / OW member.

There are two of us travelling so selecting the twin seats at the back would be ideal.

Most of the seats at the back show as premium on expert flyer, so I assumed you might need to pay for them.

Generally though, the reason I am looking into paying for seats is because although I know you can select seats for free, I also understand that my ticket may not allow seat selection until check in t-48 before the flight. Confusingly my booking on the website says 'seat selection available 180 days before the flight', however it then explains that only certain ticket types can actually book the seats in advance.

I am unsure whether there will be that many seats available at t-48, I'd hate to end up either separated and/or dreaded middle seats for such a long time!

Yes - ordinary seats can only be booked 6 months in advance. If you booked through a TA, they can assign seats for you after ticket has been issued. If you booked through cx.com, you can book seats when the booking process finishes.

Well its now 180 days. The website now simply says 'not eligible for seat selection, choose seats 48 hours before departure' or similar.

So what are my options? Can I pay to choose a seat, if so, how much would it cost?

What is your booking class? Do you have any elite status?

Booking classes N / S.

No elite status. But would it make any difference if I gained OneWorld Ruby?

Advance Seat Reservation not allowed, then, except for maybe if you would like to purchase extra-legroom seats.

Yes, and in which case even the extra-legroom seat is free.

Any idea how much it costs to buy an exit row? Also if I have a connecting flight, would I need to pay once or twice?