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
#751
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: New York
Programs: AA, CX, Hyatt, Marriott
Posts: 1,484
Irrelevant to CX, but as mentioned above AM is the only currency useful to upgrade CX flight. But to answer your question, no, only BA AA and IB (subject to class of travel restrictions as well).
JAL flight: Upgrade from Prem to Business using BA Avios?
Your guide to spending Avios | 2017 edition
JAL flight: Upgrade from Prem to Business using BA Avios?
Your guide to spending Avios | 2017 edition
Last edited by andersonCooper; Dec 10, 2017 at 6:07 am
#752
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Vancouver, Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong
Programs: CX-DM, Marriott Gold, Fairmont Premier
Posts: 335
I was wondering if someone could help explain this to me.
I'm currently a Gold member holding two R class PEY tickets and I just checked the availability for an upgrade to J.
Results
J0 C0 D0 I0 W2 R0 E0 Y3 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
Meaning there's no seats.
But when I click on it I see the following 6 J seats open.
What does it mean when J/C/D/I are all 0's but the seatmap still shows open seats & blocked seats?
Thanks in advance
I'm currently a Gold member holding two R class PEY tickets and I just checked the availability for an upgrade to J.
Results
J0 C0 D0 I0 W2 R0 E0 Y3 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
Meaning there's no seats.
But when I click on it I see the following 6 J seats open.
What does it mean when J/C/D/I are all 0's but the seatmap still shows open seats & blocked seats?
Thanks in advance
#753
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,803
1. Point Of Sale - this is an EF map so did you try other POS?
2. If the plane is as full as that perhaps you can do nothing and see if you get opup.
2. If the plane is as full as that perhaps you can do nothing and see if you get opup.
#754
Join Date: May 2007
Programs: UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 5,469
(2) Lower cabins could be oversold and they're holding back J seats for op-ups and/or airport instant upgrades.
#755
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,780
I was wondering if someone could help explain this to me.
I'm currently a Gold member holding two R class PEY tickets and I just checked the availability for an upgrade to J.
Results
J0 C0 D0 I0 W2 R0 E0 Y3 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
Meaning there's no seats.
But when I click on it I see the following 6 J seats open.
What does it mean when J/C/D/I are all 0's but the seatmap still shows open seats & blocked seats?
Thanks in advance
I'm currently a Gold member holding two R class PEY tickets and I just checked the availability for an upgrade to J.
Results
J0 C0 D0 I0 W2 R0 E0 Y3 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
Meaning there's no seats.
But when I click on it I see the following 6 J seats open.
What does it mean when J/C/D/I are all 0's but the seatmap still shows open seats & blocked seats?
Thanks in advance
#756
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: CX MPC DM
Posts: 416
A few things to try
1. Call MPC (or have your travel agent call) and ask if they would process an upgrade.
2. If you have an upgrade offer available on your booking page under 'Manage Bookings', see what the suggested bid for miles would be.
3. At airport check-in ask if instant upgrade is available.
4. Hope for op-up.
1. Call MPC (or have your travel agent call) and ask if they would process an upgrade.
2. If you have an upgrade offer available on your booking page under 'Manage Bookings', see what the suggested bid for miles would be.
3. At airport check-in ask if instant upgrade is available.
4. Hope for op-up.
#757
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Vancouver, Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong
Programs: CX-DM, Marriott Gold, Fairmont Premier
Posts: 335
Thanks everyone for your response.
I'm actually on waitlist for my possible upgrade to J. I do have an option to upgrade with cash so I would assume there's still seats available. But when I clicked on the upgrade with miles it took me to another booking. I'm not sure if it's because there's no availability or because I already have a waitlist booked.
Hoping I still have a chance or that Economy is oversold.
I'm actually on waitlist for my possible upgrade to J. I do have an option to upgrade with cash so I would assume there's still seats available. But when I clicked on the upgrade with miles it took me to another booking. I'm not sure if it's because there's no availability or because I already have a waitlist booked.
Hoping I still have a chance or that Economy is oversold.
#758
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Vancouver, Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong
Programs: CX-DM, Marriott Gold, Fairmont Premier
Posts: 335
Thanks everyone for your response.
I'm actually on waitlist for my possible upgrade to J. I do have an option to upgrade with cash so I would assume there's still seats available. But when I clicked on the upgrade with miles it took me to another booking. I'm not sure if it's because there's no availability or because I already have a waitlist booked.
Hoping I still have a chance or that Economy is oversold.
I'm actually on waitlist for my possible upgrade to J. I do have an option to upgrade with cash so I would assume there's still seats available. But when I clicked on the upgrade with miles it took me to another booking. I'm not sure if it's because there's no availability or because I already have a waitlist booked.
Hoping I still have a chance or that Economy is oversold.
#759
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
#760
Join Date: May 2006
Location: SIN
Programs: KF, MPC, BAEC // Bonvoy, WoH, Honors
Posts: 1,464
I got a booking HAJ-LHR-NBO-LHR-HAJ in World Traveller Plus (T class) on BA. Judging by the One Class Upgrades Award Chart the cost to upgrade this entire itinerary (Zone C) to Club World is a mere 22,500 Asia Miles. Is this correct? Seems like incredibly good value.
#761
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
I got a booking HAJ-LHR-NBO-LHR-HAJ in World Traveller Plus (T class) on BA. Judging by the One Class Upgrades Award Chart the cost to upgrade this entire itinerary (Zone C) to Club World is a mere 22,500 Asia Miles. Is this correct? Seems like incredibly good value.
#763
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
Code:
1CX198/6JANAKLHKG« JL CL DL IL WL RL EL YL BL HL KL ML LL VL SL NL QC OL . 1CX118/7JANAKLHKG« J5 CL DL IL WL RL EL YL BL HL KL ML LL VL SL NL QC OL .
#765
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437