Not correct, sorry.

See etkuo's post above.

Generally speaking if you want an upgrade you pay the fare difference. There is the above-mentioned Upgrade Bid program, but it is very limited and by virtually all accounts, prices seem bizarre and uncompetitive. Most likely your flight won't be available for it, and if it is, you either won't be accepted or the recommended bid amount will be above the fare difference.

Thank you. Even if economy is looking relatively full and other classes quite empty. Expert flyer currently?

J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 E9 Y9 B9 H9 K4 M0
L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0

Yes. If a lower cabin is overbooked CX resort to operational upgrades based on elite status. In fact there are multiple instances reported here (the most recent one being a few posts up) when CX would not release seats for AsiaMiles upgrade all the way up till airport check-in and eventually the same person scores an operational upgrade at the gate.

But again, CX (right or wrong) does not offer cheap upgrades/upsell closer to departure.

Hello all. So to cut a long story short.

I originally booked my flight to HKG in July of this year. I called the airline a few times since then to enquire about a paid upgrade, most recently on November 1st which I did not proceed with - it was only a few days later when I checked my booking that I had in fact been upgraded! (I was able to change seats within premium economy cabin and my booking was showing as confirmed). I decided to call the airline on 14th November and it appears that the upgrade was made in error and when the call centre realised this I was downgraded. (I should have said nothing).

My question is - Do I have any argument to make with the airline? I have written to customer relations at CX but I am not holding out much hope. I am tempted to call into their office in Dublin and see where I get. Any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated. Feeling very frustrated with the airline and myself.

Mate, to state the obvious....you definitely have no beef with CX! And the odds of you actually being allowed to fly in a class you didn't purchase is nearly zero so it's not like you calling hurt your odds of getting a freebie. These "freebies" aren't a thing.

I'm not sure how this happened technically speaking (maybe they booked you in PEY when you inquired, but of course it wasn't ticketed, and eventually self-cancelled?) , but anyway clearly you have no beef for something you didn't pay for.

Can I ask how you were planning to pay? Was it the Upgrade Bid program? Or you were just paying the fare difference?

Thanks for your honesty. I was going to pay the fare difference. Departure 24/12. I was thinking about upgrade bid program too perhaps closer to that date. I see DUB- HKG leg seems quite full. PE currently 8 seats filled.

Just wondering if CX ever does op-ups for empty planes? I'm a OWE, and the loads for my flights are showing 9's across the board, 4 days from departure. I'm asking as if there's no chance, I will proceed and order my special meal. I just didn't want that to disqualify me completely from a possible upgrade.

Thank you

Fare difference is very expensive, but you can probably decide at the airport.

No, CX won't op-up passengers if there is no operational reasons. Some MPC members may get milestone or birthday upgrades, but these are technically not op-ups. There are some threads on special meals and op-ups. It seems that they will repackage special meals for op-ups, but YMMV.

My wife booked a SFO-HKG flight on E class six days before her flight. There should be plenty of PEY availability. She was op-upped at the gate to business. That was a nice surprise as we were not expecting an overbooked Y/PEY, and she is only a SL. So anything can happen. Flights are sometimes full at last minute.

After having a very dry spell for the year 2018, I was surprised to be upgraded to J on NRT->HKG on an award ticket, late Oct and again, yesterday, upgraded to J on SIN->HKG on a "N" EY ticket. I was expecting nothing on both trips.

I am currently GO and I appreciate the upgrades. Thank you.

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How to get waitlisted for an upgrade using miles?
 

Have you ticketed the underlying booking?

Also are you travelling on an eligible fare class? Which?

My employer will normally only cover the bare minimum flight costs which is usually an economy save ticket. Ticket has already been purchased and issued.
I'm wondering if I'm able to call in and pay the difference to get an economy standard ticket which on my flight is an extra 20 club points.

Does anyone have any experience upgrading this ticket to a higher fair class economy ticket? ie. economy standard or economy flex?