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
#286
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
CX usually op-ups Y to Y+ and bumps Y+ passengers to J. However, Y can be overbooked to the extent that even Y passengers are bumped to J.
#287
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
Hello, All! I am OW Emerald (AA EXP) and flying HKG to ORD on CX 806 in E (Premium Econ) on 20-SEP. Anyone want to help me guess my odds of an OP-UP? I have only ever gotten them on BA flights, and this is my first time on CX. It was an empty flight on my way to HKG on 04-SEP, but I am hoping the return is full.
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Any help would be appreciated. Thanks!
There is a chance, but not high.
#288
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Too many now to keep track of
Programs: A handful of shiny cards
Posts: 221
Yep, I'm well aware that Y to J opup's are as rare as hen's teeth it was why I was shocked that I'd been bumped to J, especially as a lowly Silver this year. I understand it was overbooked by about 15 pax and I could tell that there were a few passengers who had never seen the inside of the business class cabin before there as well.
#290
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
Looks so empty tho. 7 PE seats or 16 Y seats have to be sold in the next 8 days before WhatTheMiguel can opup. Not to mention revenue has a habit of artificially understating capacity on weekends.
#291
Join Date: Apr 2015
Posts: 498
Got a quick question from my friend, hes CX MPC Gold and OWE (AA EXP).
Is it better to check in with CX or AA? He usually fly in discounted economy (Q, N, O, S, L and V) which earn no miles in AA but either 100% to 0% on CX.
If its 0% on CX he usually use his AA and sometimes but not always get upgrades to PEY.
He is debating rather earning 100% miles on CX or trying his luck to see if he could get upgrade to PEY. In the past he uses his CX which rarely get any upgrade, but its a different route so I guess it can't be compare?
Is the priority list on the wiki still correct? If it is i might forward it to him since CX Gold is on higher priority than OWE.
Is it better to check in with CX or AA? He usually fly in discounted economy (Q, N, O, S, L and V) which earn no miles in AA but either 100% to 0% on CX.
If its 0% on CX he usually use his AA and sometimes but not always get upgrades to PEY.
He is debating rather earning 100% miles on CX or trying his luck to see if he could get upgrade to PEY. In the past he uses his CX which rarely get any upgrade, but its a different route so I guess it can't be compare?
Is the priority list on the wiki still correct? If it is i might forward it to him since CX Gold is on higher priority than OWE.
#292
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
Anyone kind enough to check the loading of 806 to ORD on 18 Sep and 19 Sep? I have a secured seat on the 18th in J but am looking forward to switch to 19, but seems like it's full to the brim...wondering if the op-up gods would (ever) be in my favor on 18 at the same time. Many thanks!!
#293
Join Date: Sep 2005
Programs: CX Diamond, AA Gold, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 497
anyone kind enough to check the loading of 806 to ord on 18 sep and 19 sep? I have a secured seat on the 18th in j but am looking forward to switch to 19, but seems like it's full to the brim...wondering if the op-up gods would (ever) be in my favor on 18 at the same time. Many thanks!!
f2 a2 j9 c9 d8 i8 w7 r7 e7 y9 b9 h9 k9 m9 l9 v9 s1 n0 q0 o0
on 10/19/15
f4 a4 j2 c1 d0 i0 w5 r4 e3 y1 b1 h0 k0 m0 l0 v0 s0 n0 q0 o0
#294
#295
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: BA Bronze, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 85
Hi,
Could someone check the loads for CX883 LAX-HKG leaving 9/26? Booked in PE (R class) and wonder what chances are as BA OWS of upgrading to J.
In the event of cash upgrade being available, anyone know what it might be?
Thanks!
Could someone check the loads for CX883 LAX-HKG leaving 9/26? Booked in PE (R class) and wonder what chances are as BA OWS of upgrading to J.
In the event of cash upgrade being available, anyone know what it might be?
Thanks!
#296
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
[mod hat on]
For questions on upgrade using Avios, you may raise in the BA forum instead.
cxfan1960
CX CoMod
[mod hat off]
#297
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Austin, TX
Programs: BA Bronze, Marriott Platinum
Posts: 85
R class is upgradable on CX Asia Miles, but I don't think it is for BA Avios. Cash upgrade is going to be expensive. It is usually the fare difference.
[mod hat on]
For questions on upgrade using Avios, you may raise in the BA forum instead.
cxfan1960
CX CoMod
[mod hat off]
[mod hat on]
For questions on upgrade using Avios, you may raise in the BA forum instead.
cxfan1960
CX CoMod
[mod hat off]
#298
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Too many now to keep track of
Programs: A handful of shiny cards
Posts: 221
No need for opups if this is correct, so no chance at the moment.
#299
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
No need for opups if this is correct, so no chance at the moment.
But who knows...