Last edit by: ZZ100
Is it possible to buy a (cheap) upgrade on Cathay Pacific upon check-in?
The short answer is no.
Cathay, as a general rule, does not allow you to purchase last minute upgrades if there are empty seats in Y+, J or F. The only way to upgrade a ticket is to pay the fare difference between your current ticket, and an available fare class in the higher cabins. Note that if your current ticket has restrictions (cancellation fees, non-refundable) these still apply.
There are been stories of people who have been offered cheap upgrades by Cathay, but this is more an exception than a common occurrence.
If I upgrade my ticket using asia miles, do I still earn miles?
Yes, you will earn miles for the original fare class that you booked, not the upgraded cabin.
How do I get a free upgrade / operational upgrade (op-up)?
Cathay Pacific does not upgrade passengers just because there are empty seats in higher classes. Upgrades will only occur where there is overbooking in lower classes.
The order of upgrades when required is believed to be:
I am travelling on an award ticket. Will I still be considered for a free upgrade?
Yes - there are many stories of passengers on award tickets, or who upgraded a class using miles, getting (additional) upgrades.
What happens if the aircraft has 4 or 3 cabins, but is only selling Business and Economy seats?
It is likely if you have Marco Polo status, and to a lesser extent oneworld status, you may be able to sit in either First Class seats (if booked in J) or Premium Economy (if booked in Y) with service of the original cabin. There doesn't appear to be consistency yet as to how these semi-upgrades are allocated. Some people have been able to choose seats in the higher cabin during online check-in, or some will get them on request at check-in. However, there is no entitlement to these seats.
Will I get an upgrade on my Birthday, or for my membership anniversary, or for reaching xx number of lifetime club miles?
Please see this link for members' experience with these kinds of upgrades: Marco Polo Anniversary Upgrades
I want to use Asia Miles to upgrade a BA flight. How do I do this?
As of 22 June 2018, it is no longer possible to upgrade BA flights with Asia Miles.
How do I upgrade a CX flight using miles?
If you already have issued your original ticket:
If you have not made any booking yet, and you want to check availability:
If you don't receive a new e-ticket before departure, call up Marco Polo club to double check if the upgrade has been issued.
The short answer is no.
Cathay, as a general rule, does not allow you to purchase last minute upgrades if there are empty seats in Y+, J or F. The only way to upgrade a ticket is to pay the fare difference between your current ticket, and an available fare class in the higher cabins. Note that if your current ticket has restrictions (cancellation fees, non-refundable) these still apply.
There are been stories of people who have been offered cheap upgrades by Cathay, but this is more an exception than a common occurrence.
If I upgrade my ticket using asia miles, do I still earn miles?
Yes, you will earn miles for the original fare class that you booked, not the upgraded cabin.
How do I get a free upgrade / operational upgrade (op-up)?
Cathay Pacific does not upgrade passengers just because there are empty seats in higher classes. Upgrades will only occur where there is overbooking in lower classes.
The order of upgrades when required is believed to be:
- VIP (Heads of State, Government Bodies, or Canto Pop/Movie stars)
- CX Diamond Plus
- CX Diamond Invitation, Diamond
- CX Gold
- CX management staff on travel duty
- oneworld Emerald
- CX staff on duty nominees , other airline staff nominees, CX staff on personal travel
- oneworld Sapphire
- CX Silver
- oneworld Ruby
- CX Green
- Asia Miles
- Non status
I am travelling on an award ticket. Will I still be considered for a free upgrade?
Yes - there are many stories of passengers on award tickets, or who upgraded a class using miles, getting (additional) upgrades.
What happens if the aircraft has 4 or 3 cabins, but is only selling Business and Economy seats?
It is likely if you have Marco Polo status, and to a lesser extent oneworld status, you may be able to sit in either First Class seats (if booked in J) or Premium Economy (if booked in Y) with service of the original cabin. There doesn't appear to be consistency yet as to how these semi-upgrades are allocated. Some people have been able to choose seats in the higher cabin during online check-in, or some will get them on request at check-in. However, there is no entitlement to these seats.
Will I get an upgrade on my Birthday, or for my membership anniversary, or for reaching xx number of lifetime club miles?
Please see this link for members' experience with these kinds of upgrades: Marco Polo Anniversary Upgrades
I want to use Asia Miles to upgrade a BA flight. How do I do this?
As of 22 June 2018, it is no longer possible to upgrade BA flights with Asia Miles.
How do I upgrade a CX flight using miles?
If you already have issued your original ticket:
- Try upgrading using Manage My Booking on the website (not always successful)
- If self-service doesn't work, try calling Marco Polo hotline to check availability
- If there is availability, you will need to issue the upgrade immediately to secure it. They may give you a few days grace before isssuing the upgrade, but this is now rarely given.
- In a few days, or longer if they are busy, your miles will be deducted, and you will be emailed a new e-ticket with the upgrade class details on it, and your online booking for your original booking class will disappear.
If you have not made any booking yet, and you want to check availability:
- Call Marco Polo club to check for availability on the flights/dates you want, or check for normal redemption availability on the website.
- Book a revenue ticket in the class of service for which you will be paying. Do NOT do this via the website -- call a CX telephone sales number/travel agent.
- Put the booking on hold.
- Call the Marco Polo/Asia Miles Service Center. Have them book the upgrade and give you a deadline to have the ticket issued. (It's usually about 72 hours).
- Have telephone sales/travel agent issue your revenue ticket.
- Call Marco Polo/Asia Miles back. Give them the revenue ticket number against the PNR and ask them to issue your upgrade.
- In about two or three days, you'll get a new ticket with the upgrade showing.
If you don't receive a new e-ticket before departure, call up Marco Polo club to double check if the upgrade has been issued.
The Ultimate Upgrade Question thread
#136
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
How can a Green membership expire? I've a relative who's been dead for five years and "he's" still Green.
#137
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 102
That's referring to your upgrade I think. You are currently waitlisting, but have until 6AM 10 April to clear it. Otherwise the waitlist will be cancelled and you will to monitor waitlisting by calling them every so often.
How can a Green membership expire? I've a relative who's been dead for five years and "he's" still Green.
How can a Green membership expire? I've a relative who's been dead for five years and "he's" still Green.
And, I haven't flew since January 2013 so that's why they cancelled my green membership. I wish they didn't! Well, actually the membership expired, they didn't cancel it.
#138
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 102
That's referring to your upgrade I think. You are currently waitlisting, but have until 6AM 10 April to clear it. Otherwise the waitlist will be cancelled and you will to monitor waitlisting by calling them every so often.
How can a Green membership expire? I've a relative who's been dead for five years and "he's" still Green.
How can a Green membership expire? I've a relative who's been dead for five years and "he's" still Green.
#139
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 102
What is your advice? Should I call them like once a week to check on the status so they can issue me the upgrade ASAP?
Thank you for your response!
#140
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: San Francisco
Programs: Amex Platinum, SPG Gold, Hertz Pres Circle
Posts: 77
I am curious why they end the waitlist period a few days before departure. I would want to be on the waitlist up until I board the plane. Anyone have any advice? I purchased a premium eco CX873 from SFO to HKG and I am waitlisted both ways for Business. The flight out in on April 26 but my waitlist will end on the 22. I am guessing nothing will happen so will I have to end up calling the horrible MPC center and wait that ridiculously long time to talk to someone?
#141
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
We all guessing. Probably CX will make more J availabale...on 12 Apr!
#143
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 102
I am curious why they end the waitlist period a few days before departure. I would want to be on the waitlist up until I board the plane. Anyone have any advice? I purchased a premium eco CX873 from SFO to HKG and I am waitlisted both ways for Business. The flight out in on April 26 but my waitlist will end on the 22. I am guessing nothing will happen so will I have to end up calling the horrible MPC center and wait that ridiculously long time to talk to someone?
#144
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 102
I'm still confused on how to have them clear my waitlist and issue an upgrade before seats are filled out! >__<!!
#146
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
Letter: class of travel. F, J, W and Y are the highest fare codes of First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy respectively, with every other code behind them being a cheaper fare code of the same class of travel in descending order (e.g. I is chepest Business)
Number: seats currently being sold
Email/SMS: actually the closest I've received SMS is 210 days. Then it's under four (I've already ticketed).
Number: seats currently being sold
Email/SMS: actually the closest I've received SMS is 210 days. Then it's under four (I've already ticketed).
#147
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 102
Letter: class of travel. F, J, W and Y are the highest fare codes of First, Business, Premium Economy and Economy respectively, with every other code behind them being a cheaper fare code of the same class of travel in descending order (e.g. I is chepest Business)
Number: seats currently being sold
Email/SMS: actually the closest I've received SMS is 210 days. Then it's under four (I've already ticketed).
Number: seats currently being sold
Email/SMS: actually the closest I've received SMS is 210 days. Then it's under four (I've already ticketed).
#148
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
210 days:
Departure date - 4 October
SMS date - 8 March
Under four days (three actually):
Departure date - 18 June
SMS date - 15 June
Additional pointers:
Upgrade same inventory as redemption (as we have been told): http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...-agent.html#15
You need I fares for Business redemption to become available: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...ed-15.html#221
Departure date - 4 October
SMS date - 8 March
Under four days (three actually):
Departure date - 18 June
SMS date - 15 June
Additional pointers:
Upgrade same inventory as redemption (as we have been told): http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...-agent.html#15
You need I fares for Business redemption to become available: http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...ed-15.html#221
Last edited by percysmith; Mar 19, 2015 at 10:56 am
#149
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
But isn't BOS currently one of the easier places to find redemption seats?
Last edited by percysmith; Mar 20, 2015 at 2:39 pm
#150
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
Another data point - held Jan 2016 in early Jan 2015. I originally got a J seat on the flight I thought my brother want, but my SIL wanted my brother to leave a day earlier. Since she can live with the day I chose but the day before "would be better" I redeemed the ticket and waitlisted the day before. It cleared today (around 2.5 months from original redemption, 9.5 months from departure date)