Oct 29, 2013, 4:27 am
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
Feb 12, 2017 | 6:34 am
#541
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 8,245
Op-up SIN-HKG Y-J last week for CX Silver on CX650 (Equipment swap 359->772). Booked ticket two hours before departure, not sure if that had anything to do with it? Got comped to CX Silver from SQ Gold in early Jan and had accumulated 230CP before the op-up'ed flight... Did not get another op-up on the following daytime flight to London, loads were very light.
Booked to fly back Mon night on CX254 and CX715; checked in just now, still in Y. Any idea whether I might get lucky again?
Booked to fly back Mon night on CX254 and CX715; checked in just now, still in Y. Any idea whether I might get lucky again?
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.
Feb 13, 2017 | 3:19 pm
#542
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ KF Gold
Posts: 997
Feb 13, 2017 | 7:45 pm
#543
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: CX GO, IHG Dia Amb
Posts: 830
Feb 14, 2017 | 7:05 am
#545
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: CX GO, IHG Dia Amb
Posts: 830
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.
Feb 14, 2017 | 7:58 pm
#547
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,053
Feb 16, 2017 | 2:29 am
#548
Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: SIN
Programs: SQ KF Gold
Posts: 997
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!
Feb 16, 2017 | 8:13 am
#549
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,053
1) using AM, which is only 20% more vs Y
2) if U class is available and I can upgrade to J
Feb 18, 2017 | 9:08 pm
#550
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Tokyo
Programs: ANA Platinum/SuperFlyer and CX baseline account
Posts: 235
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
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
Feb 18, 2017 | 9:31 pm
#551
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 3,087
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
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
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
Feb 19, 2017 | 4:19 pm
#552
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Tokyo
Programs: ANA Platinum/SuperFlyer and CX baseline account
Posts: 235
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
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
Feb 19, 2017 | 4:39 pm
#553
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 8,245
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
.
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
.
Feb 19, 2017 | 11:49 pm
#554
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: Tokyo
Programs: ANA Platinum/SuperFlyer and CX baseline account
Posts: 235
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
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
Last edited by RDP; Feb 19, 2017 at 11:59 pm
Feb 19, 2017 | 11:53 pm
#555
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 3,087
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?
thanks,
RDP
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?
thanks,
RDP
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
)