JFK-SIN
 

Wanted to fly JFK-SIN via HKG for three adults on CX 845 and CX 759 leaving JFK on 1/4/13 @ 12:50 AM. Plan on booking three K or H class and then trying to upgrade to business with 40,000 Asia miles each. Currently can only be wait listed for flights to Singapore. Return no problem upgrading (for another 40,000 Asia miles each. What is the chance of getting upgraded if all that is currently available is the wait list? Thanx

The short answer: Hard to say, especially since it's such a busy travel period.

But some questions:

First, where did you get 40,000 as the mileage amount? One-way upgrades on the JFK-HKG leg should be 45,000 (and maybe as high as 55,000 all the way to SIN -- not sure what the total mileage on that trip works out to?). It's only 40,000 one-way if you're redeeming a round-trip ug at 80,000. But to get that, you have to be able to confirm both legs at the same time. Otherwise you end up with two one-way upgrades for a total mileage of 90,000.

Also, are you sure you'll be able to ug from K/H to business at that date? Now that premium economy is coming online, at some point you'll only be able to go from PEY to J. Though you may be slipping in before that change goes into effect.

Thanks. We are going to book the whole thing (round trip) at one time so, according to Cathay Pacific and Asia Miles it will be 80,000 per person round trip. Transferred the miles from starwoods and we will probably book the whole thing in the nest day or so - so far can upgrade from K or H (economy, not premium economy). Seemed like they have about 9 seats in business that they allow to be used for these upgrades. After that all the rest are standby on the upgrade list. Still not sure what the chances are.

OK, that makes more sense, though still not sure how you know there are a full nine seats available for upgrade. Remember, just because J tickets are available for sale for cash does not mean a redemption is available.

Be warned: That 80,000 redemption is available only if both your outbound and return clear at the same time. Otherwise, you have to ticket each upgraded segment as it clears the waitlist, at the one-way level (45,000 miles for this route). This is true even if you have requested a roundtrip upgrade, and even if both legs do eventually clear. Since I've rarely had both legs clear at the same time, I generally end up spending 90,000 miles for a roundtrip upgrade.

If there are J redemption tickets available, then chances are upgrades would be available too. JFK/HKG is definitely worth doing, although for HKG/SIN, you really won't even know what you'll get until the plane turns up so, for that sector, anything goes (for me, at least), and wouldn't bother upgrading.