It's not an exception. I'm also a student and I think the reason why we SLs get upgraded a lot is because we are flying during peak times for school (start and end of term), so the plane is full of college students etc. Most of this demographic don't care enough to optimize and get status, so we are at the top of the op-up list. I recently snagged an op-up from PEY to J from HKG to JFK and the flight had a lot of college students.

I would suggest there has been a rise in fellow students who have become GO members. On one particular flight from LHR-HKG last December, I recall 5 or 6 greetings being given out to others who also looked like students.

The LHR route has many students who are SL/GO, some are even DM. I am relatively young and have gotten weird looks from my neighbours after the greetings, especially in short haul Y by myself.

I wish it was a thing that they op-up students. I would enrol back into full-time education for this perk. Many students fly so often that they get status and priority when it comes to upgrades. We do need to remember that outside of the FT world, even SL is not that common.

Out of interest, does CX publish any stats w.r.t. its members' demographics? (numbers, by age, by location) etc.?

On the other hand, if students attain their status by frequently flying as a student, they'd probably reduce flying by quite a bit after graduating and thar might not be the airlines' top priority in terms of customer retention...
It'd more likely be a batch of students every year which come, then go after a few years

Don't think so, at least not recently. You'll hear different numbers but unless you work for CX or know someone high up, at best it's an educated guess.

Always thought it was a "get em while they are young" sort of tactic by CX, giving access to fancy lounges with champagne, priority baggage/check-in, upgrades, etc. It's quite addictive when you're young. Been keeping my status since I got it years ago as a student and always prioritised CX for work (and personal) trips when available.

I’ve a return flight LHR-HKG in J in 6 weeks. I enquired as to the cost to upgrade 1 leg to F, and was given a price of £5033 GBP - 51,200 HKD….

Is it possible to Upgrade using Avios?

Looking to book HKG-HKT return. £250 in Economy and £1000 in J so would prefer to try and use Avios.

My assumption is that any availability would just show using the standard Avios search on the BA Website?

If this is not an option - what would the next best method to be rather than paying the full cash fare (Bid?)

I was looking to see if I could upgrade to Business class on an R class ticket from ICN-LHR via HKG. From what I remember, the Upgrade award used to be distance based. This ticket that I currently have would cost 42000 miles for an upgrade (ICN-LHR via HKG is less than 7500 miles in total distance). It said 42000 miles was required when I checked last month. Now after checking today, it says 56000 miles (14000+42000) is required. It seems that they are charging both flights separately. Has there been a change in policy?

No. Not possible.

Try outright J redemption.

Can’t be worse than this....
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...94609f638f.png


The full fare F price for HKG-LHR is often absurd. You'll be much better off using Asia Miles to upgrade, it will be 75000 though.

Thanks. I'm a BA Avios hoarder so don't have access to Asia Miles.

Currently negative

FYI, OW members are currently discussing about bilateral agreements amongst themselves to use their FFP program currency to upgrade on the other's flights
(e.g. upgrade on QF using AAdvantage & vice versa)

Nothing about CX yet though so forget about it for the time being

Ask UPGRADE CATHAY metal from Econ to Business

Hello fellows Asiamiles,
I am newcomers, don be harsh.

If we book Award Seat/ redemtion seat , can we Upgarde again to Business cabin with Miles?
Some airline do not alow upgarde using Miles for Award seat.
Thanks In Advance for the Expert Asiamiles answer here

No, sorry.

https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/36438385-post4.html

What is the likelihood of getting upgraded to J (from PE) on Christmas day HKG --> AMS? According to flightseats.io, 9+ J available. Thanks.

Look for W=0

W also shows as 9+. Flights with lower W availability would have better chances to have upgrade eligibility?

Also, flightseats.io is a bit slow, do you have a recommendation for a better tool? Don't mind to pay. Thanks!

Expert Flyer is a great website to check availability and seat maps.

You need W/Y to be oversold to have a chance of op-ups. It's still too early to determine the load for December.

Hi, not a regular CX flyer (though I wish I was!), so hoping someone can clarify:

Am booked on an E class fare in Premium from HKG-MEL in Jan. EF is showing Premium cabin full, but J9.

As I understand it CX don't offer POUG or AUP, so the only chance of getting into J (apart from the slim chance of an OPUP) is to call up before the day of departure and pay the fare difference?

I'm OWE (BA Gold), and the flight was booked via AMEX Travel.

Thanks

What are the acronyms POUG and AUP?

You can't use Asia Miles to upgrade as you correctly surmise, as E is unfortunately not eligible for mileage upgrade (only W and R). You cannot use any other airline currency to upgrade, if that's the quasi question imbedded in those acronyms I don't know. ditto that CX also does not upgrade and fill up J class just for the sake of it, like Im familiar with US airlines doing (jamming J class full always no matter what).

Basically you need to pay for J. Or refund your ticket and maybe look for an Asia Miles ticket outright. The flight doesn't sound too full yet in J so maybe award inventory is available?

You're right, this is CX not BA and they don't do POUGs here

thinking about it in a different way, by being BA Gold what have you contributed to CX which should compel them to upgrade you complementarily?

Apologies. Acronyms used in the BA forum which I wrongly assumed were universal....POUG (Proactive Upgrade) - Upgrade offers via the app/website, and AUP - (Airport Upgrade) Upgrading for cash at check in.

All my miles are with BA, so I was thinking more a cash upgrade - whether CX are in the habit of offering cash upgrades to J to free up premium economy seats...which is fairly standard on BA at least, as it's often over-sold.

I'm not expecting a free upgrade. I'm wondering whether CX actively offer cash upgrades in order to free up cabin space in lower cabins.

"I'm OWE (BA Gold)" added for context only, there'r no entitlement implied.

Apologies, my poor interpretation

Then QRC3288 has probably answered your question, except that CX will after youhave made your booking also invite you to bid for the next available class (check your MMB page), but as always is not guaranteed

As per cash upgrade I don't think that airport staff can help you - someone correct me if wrong - they process eligible upgrades via AM

you could call the airline beforehand and pay the fare difference, I've heard before from the guys here that for rebooking into a higher class theyhave had their rebooking fee waived

Ah! This this what I was kindof hoping for...I have the booking in the CX app and will keep an eye out for notification (or do they offer them via the website only?), hoping for a bargain....you never know! Thanks. And forgive me for not perhaps explaining myself properly in the first place.

This thread may be of interest to you:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...grade-bid.html

I have seen it in their website version of MMB, with orwithout an email, for some flights not all

Whether it's worth it though will be your call :)

Definitely no need to apologize!

I would say temper your expectations, my interpretation of the bidding system is that it's often not even made available, and when so, it's not often good value. It's definitely not really a way to plan to arbitrage the cash price of J, is my interpretation. (And maybe that's CXs point.) I have followed the other thread the poster shared about upgrade bids here, and am sometimes slack jawed at the prices. That said it seems some people do pay for them.

​​​Good luck.

Does CX offer the equivalent of AUP, since pandemic?

MH offered AUP but for HKG-KUL the missus and I were more than happy to sit in the back as redeemed.

concur, very valid - even the minimum bid is usually not of great value, they leverage an empty seat to milk the cow to the max

yet apart from that I can't recall the airline proactively taking cash for an upgrade, so OP may have to call reservations beforehand or settle for PY ...?

Thanks for all the advice. Yeah, it's a relatively 'short' 9 hour flight (in comparison to the 15 or so from LHR I'm on beforehand...which is thankfully in J), so I'm prepared to suck it up.

I also read the 'Upgrade Bid' link and agree that the consensus does seem to be that it's overpriced. Given that HKG-MEL-HKG cost me £1500 in PE a while back, and LHR-HKG-LHR is a redemption flight, I could quite easily double the ticket price if I got carried away.

I saw one example of a bid of $1650AUD being rejected for HKG-SYD. I might go to £500/$1000AUD, but it looks like that's unlikely to be offered.

Ah well, I'll just make the most of the Pier lounge beforehand and count myself lucky :)

Hi All,
I'm sure this has been asked and answered many times. Can one upgrade from an Economy Asia Miles award ticket to a Premium Economy seat using cash? If so, how is that calculated? TIA.

I just wonder if there's any chance one can pay the fare difference for upgrade on the same flight without penalty? I saw one penalty waived case in previous replies but I think he is DM, so I'm not sure if others can do it on the phone. I really should have paid for the fare upright but sometimes I change my mind when the flight gets closer. Thanks in advance!

Definitely, if you are Gold or Diamond, I'd say go call up CS and ask, there's no harm in doing that.

IIRC the airline welcomes ppl to do this regardless of status (?) - it works in their favour since it generates additional revenue for a premium seat which may otherwise be unoccupied

Thanks for the reply! Just called CX and paid for the upgrade from to PEY with change penalty waived, despite being a CX green/BA Silver member. There was a short hold but easily dealt with. Thank you all.

Rare chance/occurrence (Very thankful indeed). Bought a last minute Y at it's lowest rate to tokyo. Got double bump into J.

First time I felt DM made some sense 😂. But yes very thankful

It is all about the money
This is CX = Hong Kong
"No Money, No Talk!"