aaydemi I've seen J6 load before and very likely a J redemption/upgrade will be available at T-82 hours.

Thanks percysmith. I'll give Asia Miles a call at T-82 hours and see what happens.

F2 A2 J4 C4 D4 I1 W1 R0 E0

Maybe you should consider changing to CX885?

Definitely call in to confirm the one-way upgrade. Also continue calling and checking for the outbound flight. AM will charge you mileage for two one-ways if you end up getting the outbound so you will need to request that this be corrected.

CX 883 0 LAX
03/18/16 11:35 PM HKG
03/20/16 6:00 AM 77W
Daily
55% / 29m F2 A2 J0 C0 D0 I0 W4 R4 E3 Y5 B5 H4 K3 M3 L1 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0

Mea culpa but I didn't expect they can sell 6 seats so close-in

Maybe OP's upgrade cleared? The number of W seats increased.

Will they "break" a booking group to upgrade only one member?

My family is booked together on one booking code (all business class). The flight is showing that they will be using a 4-class 77W on my flight. Theoretically, can they upgrade me to first (I'm MP gold) and leave everyone else behind in business (everyone else is MP green). There are three of us traveling together.

Data point: got opup today on 807 W->J. All 9s in Y so was reasonably surprised! Will report back more later

They may break a group, or they may not. I was offered op-ups by myself (at check-ins and in lounges), and was once offered op-ups for two (out of my family of 4 traveling).

So I finally got the stars to align- award available on both outbound and return, showing on both BAEC and Asia Miles systems for standard awards (so it *is* OW standard availability), called in to MPC to be flat out told that the return isn't available. :mad:

Am I being given the run-around here? HUACAed but only getting through to the Philippines callcentre.

I notice that there is always one row of business seats at the back blocked.

These seats show up as occupied on the CX seat map, and blocked on expert flyer. Is there any chance these might be released to waitlisted mileage upgrade people?

I'm flying CX 885 on April 22. Booked on PY, waitlisted for mileage upgrade to business. Expertflyer shows 9 unassigned business seats + 4 blocked at the back. EF also shows first with only 1 assigned. I keep calling MPC, and they always say to wait for an email if availability pops up. :confused:

although it *often* can be useful, the seatmap is ultimately an unreliable metric. it is good for a headfake because it's sometimes a good indication of a low load...but othertimes not.

CX885 that day looks decent, but you'll just have to wait and see. It's J7 C7 D7 I5, and IME when there are <6 I fares available for sale this far out, they're not going to release J award inventory yet. Working in your favor is F seems wide open. Working against you is W is also wide open....so they don't have any urgency from below to push you into J. They're going to try their best to sell those J seats. Just sit tight. Jury is still out if CX prefers partner awards to Asia Miles upgrade awards in this situation. In principle, I darn well wish they'd prioritize AM upgrade redemptions here, but knowing CX I wouldn't put it past them to book a partner award into straight J over your redemption W-J, because CX knows they've already got your revenue in W and the incremental contribution is probably higher from the partner given the lower (30k?) Asia Miles burn to upgrade your ticket. In essence, CX can keep your cash revenue in W and get a higher incremental sale from the partner redemption in J. Overall you're more valuable, but incrementally the partner carries the weight because the Asia Miles required to go W-J is so low. This is just a theory, based on a few folks on here say they're seeing partner availability but not Asia Miles award inventory. If you happen to see the partner award redemption show up on the BA website but you don't clear your waitlist, I'd call Asia Miles and call them out on the bullshixt...I'd bet on it CX would release to you in that situation.

Put it this way, I don't think it's surprising you haven't heard yet. Y-J and J-F upgrades would be a lock at this point, but PEY-J not so much unfortunately. Just keep your fingers crossed.

Question regarding using my asia mile points to upgrade. I've had two separate successful upgrades from PE Flex to Business and one companion award, but this time around I want to know if this will work.

I have two PE Flex tickets purchased for my fiancee and I and this time around I want her to upgrade with her own points and I'll use my own.

In the past I've used my own points to upgrade both of us to business, I just wanted to know if this time around the fiancee can upgrade using her own points.

Oh boy... It's 7 days till ticketing deadline and there are only 5 unassigned seats left.

Are the four blocked seats behind the entire business section reserved for crew?

They are revenue seats that open up at/just before check in.

ignore the seatmap.

It's J8 I6. My bet is, there are ~6 actual seats left and anything over I fare will be an oversale. They're still going to try and sell those tickets.

Working in your favor still is 3 open F seats. Still working against you is W and Y are open (W is available for partner redemption still...); they're not under any pressure at all to "push" you up by accepting your award at the moment.

Just hang tight. I think your chances are still decent, perhaps 50% or maybe even more, but it will be a 3-5 days in advance thing.

Thanks for the info! Crossing my fingers!!!

I just did a mock booking and all seats *appear* taken. Although, I called the MPC, and an agent confidently said seats are still on sale. Further, I *may* still have a chance at getting an upgrade *if* I wait a couple more days. She also suggested using an Instant Upgrade if the above doesn't work.

(On a side note, I do find it interesting/ ironic that several weeks ago, my return on May 10, CX 870 was taken off sale right when business was less than half full, and PY only has 4 seats assigned. I called MPC at that time and the agent said the flight looks VERY busy with several travel agents "holding on" to seats. :confused: Someone even posted here that it looks like the flight may actually suffer being canceled. However, CX 870 went back on sale a week or two ago.)

Anyway, I guess my relevant question is whether instant upgrade actually works? From the above, it seems that the last four rows of seats (blocked on the seat map) are assigned to the airport during the last four or so days before the flight. What are the chances they sell these seats during the last four days?

If for example, I do not get my upgrade by ticketing deadline, and the "airport-controlled" seats remain unassigned/ unsold, will CX actively peddle instant upgrades?

Yes. And they put IU before ID tickets. Just get to the airport early if you don't clear the waiting list. The Instant Upgrade priority is based on
1.) Status, then
2.) When you arrive at the airport and put yourself on the list. So you have an incentive to get there early if you're applying for IU.

The old waitinglist counts for nothing once it clears. It's basically then a whole new ballgame with IU. You have a decent shot but it's not guaranteed here. Just let fate play itself out.

For everything else, you're waaaay overthinking it and likely making something out of nothing. The really only tried and true way to check is use CX's internal system. Everyone else is guessing at the factors only CX knows. There's a lot of variables.

Can you do a mileage upgrade on only part of a married segment itinerary? E.g. CMB-HKG-LAX, can you just request AM upgrade on HKG-LAX as if you bought HKG-LAX?

Yes, I've done so before on routes such as KUL-HKG-SFO. Only the HKG-SFO leg was upgraded from R to U.

Good to know - I'm planning on doing R to U. Wonder if you did HKG-SFO-HKG upgrade for a KUL-SFO-KUL itinerary? If that's all possible? Then I could save a bit even more using the RT discount.

Hey all,

I and traveling with a family member on CX840. Right now, most of the economy seats are occupied and the premium economy cabin is almost fully taken (with 6 seats available).

We purchased more expensive flight tickets (economy core I believe) in order to get better seats. We usually buy the least expensive economy class and end up sitting in the last rows as we can only choose seats 48 hrs in advance. My question is, do we have a high chance to get an upgrade from CX to Premium Economy if PY is still available?? We purchased the tickets way in advance.

I'm a MP Green member and was once upgraded to Premium Economy even though I purchased the economy special ticket class.

And, how about my family member?? She is not a MP member but what are her chances??

Interestingly, my brother got upgraded to premium economy even though he was traveling with two other family members and is not a MP member. He also purchased the economy special ticket. Does anybody know why?

A lot of questions but I need answers, thanks!

The thrust of your question is this: do sub-fare classes matter in op-up priority.

The answer to your question, in the general view of this board: No

The most important factors are your status, op-up priority hierarchy and CIV ("customer intrinsic value"). CIV is only a tie-breaker within the same hierarchy level so in your case, it's basically irrelevant.

However, it's not a golden rule. A lot of times, check-in agents will be razzled, there might be some operational situations that arise, other flights could delay/cancel at last minute creating problems, or whatever, but it's totally possible for folks with zero status whatsoever to be op-upped. However, in the general view of this board, whether you buy a slightly cheaper or more expensive economy ticket would be irrelevant.

Say If they give us the upgrade
 

Usually when will I know if CX has given me an upgrade? How many days before departure?

Probably either during check-in or most commonly when boarding at the gate.

Just keep it in perspective....your odds of upgrade are low single digits.

Without status your outcome is really just up to fate: is there some last minute issue they ditch the hierarchy and grab bodies to upgrade. And in that case, you've gotta cross your fingers it's you. It is not something I'd place much hope in, let alone expect unfortunately.

Hi Everyone,

Looking for someone to help me answer my question before I go with my booking. Maybe my question was a bit confusing so I'll re-explain it.


Fiancee and I are looking to book a flight from YVR-HKG-MNL and return. I've received a successful upgrade from W to U class using all of my points (30,000 each for a total of 60k).

Currently I only have 33k asia miles with Marco Polo Gold Status
Fiancee, she currently has 80k asia miles Marco Polo Silver Status

I guess my question is, if I book the tickets under my Marco Polo account, will i be able to use any of her points to upgrade her?

or

Do I book the tickets under her account and risk having the priority level for the upgrade at Silver vs Gold?

In this situation, can redemption help me? I'm not really too clear on how it works but we're both in each others redemption group.

Any feedback would be much appreciate!

Well, it's past the ticketing deadline and still on "waitlist."

I called the MPC and they told me to do IU. The agent from MNL said the waitlist will fall off any moment now.

Well, here's the thing. I'm coming in from Texas via AA (single ticket btw) at 7AM. CX 897 does not operate the day I leave. Hence, check in counters do not open until 10ish for my flight 885.

So it seems that I either go straight to the OW lounge and stick with PY. Or camp out for 3 hours at the check in counters and *gamble* with IU.

There's still some unassigned seats on EF and CX.com. This R fare is such an expensive "gamble."

Hi, I have a reward flight from LGW to HKG to DPS with CX in Y using Avios booked through BA. Is it possible to upgrade with more Avios or with cash and how would I go about doing this?

1.) Not possible, sorry. It's not possible to upgrade a CX ticket with any mileage currency other than Asia Miles. Even then only cash fares are eligible (no reward tickets), only some cash fares at that (Y,B,H,K,M), and upgrades are one-class only, ie Y to PEY. CX cash tickets can also be "upgraded", fwiw, but it's generally only via paying the fare difference...which is really just like buying the premium class outright. Regardless this isn't applicable to your situation.

2.) If I misread your question, and instead it's about how to re-ticket using Avios in a higher class (ie, cancelling your Y class booking and burning Avios for a pure PEY, J or F award instead), you will need to ask that in the BA forum.

I currently have an AA award for 2 pax: LAX/HGK/DPS. LAX/HKG is in J. The HKG/DPS segment is in Y. There was no J availability for that date. I've got an Award Nexus search set to notify if 2 J awards becomes available. And I understand that I must go through AA to have the J awards processed if it becomes available. My question is, if none is released, what is my upgrade priority at the gate in HKG? I paid miles for the J award. Is there any chance CX will upgrade me if there are open seats, would I have any priority or will we just be SOL?
I would have asked this in the AA forum but I think the question revolves around seating going to airport control with CX. At that point, AA is out of it.

1.) I am not sure how fast AA can change your ticket from Y to J, that's better asked in the AA forum. But if CX makes partner award inventory available at the last minute, then you can presumably get it, however that works on you contacting AA and whatnot. Even if it comes available 3 hours before the flight, if you can get AA to change your ticket to J no problem.

2.) If you are ticketed in Y though, I don't think you're getting any priority for an op-up, which I think is your question if I understand it correctly. Your priority will stand where your OW membership is and fall within the CX op-up hierarchy, which goes CX DM, then GO, then OWE, then ID passengers, then CX SL, and on down. Indeed you paid miles, but by CX's logic they probably have economy elites who paid significantly more than the contribution from your miles payment. CX certainly don't have an incentive I'm aware of to bump you up if you're ticketed Y, and AFAIK there is no special system where AA can beg for favors on behalf of their members to score CX upgrades outside the op-up priority. I would assume CX will want the revenue from AA for the higher class of service, so they're going to want you ticketed in J....otherwise, let you sit in Y and upgrade someone they deem more valuable. My guess is if you're ticketed in Y all the way, CX will see you as a ticketed Y pax, and presumably they didn't release partner award inventory for a reason (perhaps a massive oversell in Y class?). Either way, they'll follow their own op-up hierarchy. I'm not 100% sure this is just my thinking. We get a query similar to this from time to time, and I think it's on AA who presumably eats more miles from you guys than they should? Or something like that? Or maybe AA doesn't change you any more for the additional HKG-DPS leg? Something like that? I'm not too familiar with the AA rules but unfortunately I don't think CX has incentive to hook you up if you are, at the final time, ticketed in Y.

Other guys are status AA members here, perhaps they can comment.

Thanks QRC3288. It's a single award, SEA-LAX-HGK-DPS. But you gave me a logical answer which I appreciate. The bit I wasn't thinking of was if indeed CX opens J in the last hours, to call AA. I'm OWE so I'd have a chance at the last minute but still pretty far down the food chain.

CX261 for 29th Apr is showing
F1 A1 J0 C0 D0 I0 W0 R0 E0 Y0 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0

Is this typical of an overbooked CX flight?

Reading this guide am wondering if it's worth turning up extra early to the airport (I'm oneworld emerald) in case there's a chance of an opup.

yes it looks decent from EF for sure.

however, unfortunately it also appears there is 1 seat for sale on the plane....meaning your chances are quite slim. Extremely low chance on a CDG flight there are any fewer than 5 DM+GO in J class, and perhaps 10 in EY. (DM is CX's OWE equivalent, GO is the OWS equivalent). I think those are minimum #s but it's likely to be even more. There are particularly large # of GOs out there and CDG is a relatively elite-heavy route. At this stage it's possible the entire plane is oversold.

In CX's op-up priority, both DM and GO are above OWE. Anyway, if you have the time it doesn't hurt, but I would probably keep your expectations in check.

I'm a OWE and this is the EF situation four days out on CX729 from HKG-KUL, operated by a two-class 333:

J5 C5 D4 I3 Y4 B3 HL KL ML LL VL SL NL QC OL

EF currently shows eight seats unallocated in J, all reserved for premium passengers (so non-elites may be booked into J and unable to select a seat).

1. I assume that there'll be CX's own cardholders ahead of me, so my op-up chances are still pretty slim; and
2. Is it likely to be the case that CX will sell Y seats in the expectation of op-upping into J, or are the two completely separate and they'll just offload more if they need to?

Hi ALL,
I booked an award J ticket from LAX - HKG - SGN from AA (using AA miles) For CX flight , My brother also have 25K Asia Miles in his account.
1) is 25K enough to ask for upgrade from J to F (if available) during checking?
2) if it is enough, can he use his Miles to upgrade my ticket?
Please advise, thank you!

Cannot. He has to have AA reissue his ticket (at the new rates...)

Anyone has any idea since MPO is now based on Club Points, does the op-up now uses that as tie-breaker? Or still CIV? and how is this CIV differ from Club Points?