I remember years ago....almost 10 years ago (yikes)....when I first got CX SL, it was a few months after I started flying CX. My very first flight as a SL was HKG-SIN, and I indeed was op-upped Y-J. I was hooked. In hindsight it was something I've read about here on FT a number of times - guys getting SL getting an op up immediately. Kinda smart strategy on CX's part.

I was only SL for a few months before bumping to GO, but I don't recall ever getting another op-up after the first one....and not just SL, but also GO before I hit DM (I did GR-SL-GO-DM the long way, no status match). I think I recall that first op-up to SIN literally being my only op-up as both a SL and GO. I was a GO for about 6 months before hitting DM, and I don't think I ever got one there either. Altogether I think I was SL+GO for about 7-8 months or so. We're dealing with a 10 year old memory here, but I seem to recall that was my lone op-up.

Writing this from a premium economy seat on CX254. Thank you upgrade fairy and thank you CX! :)

Congrats to you! ^
How's your flight with the extra space, better meal and everything?

Me and my partner (both of us OWE) got upgraded from Y to PEY today . KUL-HKG. Hoping for another one when we go back 😂

I once thought that CX treats Y & PEY the same class during op ups, as me and my partner were both upgraded from Y to J (on 77W with PEY) on KUL-HKG before. Probably it was just too full then.

Does checking in early/late have any effect in op ups?

See the wiki: "In the event of a tiebreak being needed, generally those with lower "Boarding Numbers" will take precedence (lower BN takes priority). The earlier you check in, the lower your BN."

Thank you! The extra space was nice, especially the additional recline, the catering I cannot comment on as I slept through the meals, and as for "everything" else, what else is there really? The loo was clean, too, though I did not compare it with the proper Y bathroom...

Would I pay for it over Y? Only if the fare was 10-25% higher than Y, more than that and I might feel that there is not enough value added for the premium charged. Or if my chances to be op-up'ed to J would seem pretty high! :D

Agreed. That's why I only book PEY in two instances:
1) using AM, which is only 20% more vs Y
2) if U class is available and I can upgrade to J

I would like to buy an appropriate revenue PE ticket, and guarantee an upgrade to I (Business). I am a MPC/AM member (currently Green, lost my Gold) and have looked at the Wiki for upgrade and it notes:

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.

Just so I understand, I should look at available of Mileage redemption for a TICKET, in non-Priority awards to gauge upgrade (I) inventory lots?

I used to have a KVS account, but never got much usage out of it. Do I need a tool for what I am attempting to achieve?

thanks,
RDP

I is discounted business and you can only do up sell not mileage upgrade for that.

The appropriate inventory for mileage upgrade from revenue PE would be the same (generally) bucket as standard redemption awards and that is denoted as U

Thanks,

I obtained the I info (vs. U) from the below FAQ. Now that I look at it again, it's specifically for 'mid-tier', maybe that is the difference between I and U classes.

http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/catha...iles-faqs.html

Is there any requirement on the underlying booking sub-classes when using a mid-tier bookable upgrade?
Yes, the original flight needs to be booked in an “upgradable” sub-class, the same sub-classes that qualify for Asia Miles upgrades :
Economy: Fare classes [Y B H K M] will be upgraded into fare class E
Premium Economy: Fare classes [W R] will be upgraded into fare class I
Business: Fare classes [J C D I] will be upgraded into fare class A


Based on your response I can find upgrade award availability by checking for regular award redemption on the CX site. Thanks for confirming.

thanks,
RDP

Fwiw another tactic below:

Since you want to guarantee it, let's say award inventory isn't available but you can tell via EF the flight seems wide open. What I recommend doing is don't book the cash ticket via the website, since (barring the 24 your hold) you must ticket immediately. If you call reservations they don't force you to ticket it for a while. Then, put yourself in the waiting list. (Theoretically) Asia Miles / MPC members have this mechanism, which is "swept" first before award availability goes to partners. In practice it sometimes fails to do its job, aka somehow partners end up with availability and you're STILL on the waitlist (!!!), but I've had enough successes to know it at least works "often" if not always.

Anyway, this could be a backup plan of what you want isn't immediately available, and prevent you from spending the cash unless the upgrade comes through. IF you clear the waiting list, then you can ticket your cash PEY fare.

As to your other questions, you can use the Asia Miles website to search manually. It's not that bad.

Unfortunately for you, dropping from GO means you lost one of the best "benefits" of CX elite access.....the ability to reach a call center agent in less than an hour ;).

Ok, I put my question into action:

1. Called MPC. Found a date near my travel dates that provided upgrade space in all directions. They advised that there was only one seat available around these dates, and that things were very tight, but did provide a combination of dates and flights that would work.

2. Called local CX office and booked the flights that MPC had just advised, and had them put the reservation on hold. They noted that one of the four flights would be in economy, as the equipment that day had no PE. So I ended up with a booking like:

NRT-HKG Economy (B)
HKG-YYZ Premium Economy (R)
YYZ-HKG Premium Economy (R)
HKG-NRT Premium Economy (R)

3. Called MPC back and asked them to upgrade all sectors. They said that since a B class fare was in the mix that they would have to split the tickets out as : HKG-YYZ return, then NRT-HKG, and HKG-NRT separately, and that the upgrade mileage hit would be:

HKG-YYZ-HKG @ 45,000 miles
NRT-HKG @ 17,500 miles
HKG-NRT @ 10,000 miles

I told them that I was very surprised to hear this as I had just confirmed with them (MPC) an hour earlier that I would be able to do this all for 45,000 miles. They accepted no responsibility, and asked what I wanted to do.

4. I told them to upgrade the HKG-YYZ return portion, and the HKG-NRT PE portion, but left the Economy portion as it was, as I felt that 17,500 was not worth it, as in total I would then be hit for 72,500, when I was originally expecting to use 45,000, based on their own words. So currently I am mostly upgraded, except for the NRT-HKG flight, using 55,000 AM miles to upgrade to business.

Q: Am I being a fool for not using another 17,500 AM miles to upgrade the NRT-HKG portion?

Q: I'm a bit miffed at all this, but ready to take it, should I?

Q: Now that I mostly in U class, I will earn Club Sectors and AM miles based on a Business Class earn? I ask because the Wiki seems to say different that the CX page:

Wiki:

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.

CX, FAQ question 8: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_...sia-miles.html

Yes, the benefits you enjoy, and the number of club points and Asia Miles you earn, are based on your upgraded subclass.


thanks,
RDP

Hard to vouch for your case because it is easy to get R (not B) for NRT (or HND)-HKG-North America. If you can do CX521 or CX549 these are the two flights that normally have PE. 509 might have too but sporadically. If these all happen to not work with your plans (connect to YYZ?) then you'll have to go with what you have now...

Club sectors and AM miles -> you will earn whatever is for B and R that you have now.

I think the cheapest solution if not changing anything would be to just 'suck up' NRT in PE and forget abt the J class upgrade for this sector, heck you might get op up or equipment swap anyway. Then u will just end up paying 45k AM for HKG-YYZ rt. I had a split ORD-HKG//HKG-HND and I hesitated on the 10k upgrade to U for the last segment. In the end I chose not to and I felt it was fine because I was traveling with a companion and the service was so so so so good on that flight in PE anyway. (It's actually my trip report below :D )