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
#1097
Join Date: May 2019
Programs: AA
Posts: 9
#1098
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
5CX 565 J2 C1 D1 IL KIXTPE 1620 1820 351 R 0 DCA /E
W3 R3 E3 Y1 BL HL KL ML LL VL SL NL QC OL
6CX 451 J2 C1 D1 IL HKG 1925 2125 773 D 0 DCA /E
Y3 BL HL KL ML LL VL SL NL QC OL
7CX 709 J2 C1 D1 IL BKK 2225 0020‡1 773 D 0 X246 DCA /E
Y3 BL HL KL ML LL VL SL NL QC OL
8CX 717 J9 C9 D9 I9 SIN 1155 1525 351 L 0 DCA /E
W9 R9 E9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9
#1102
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Vancouver, Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong
Programs: CX-DM, Marriott Gold, Fairmont Premier
Posts: 335
I've paid the difference between an E to a W/R so I'm able to use my points to be on the waitlist.
My employer usually pays for the base premium economy E fare and I just call in to pay the difference.
My employer usually pays for the base premium economy E fare and I just call in to pay the difference.
#1103
Join Date: May 2015
Location: HKG
Programs: AA EXP, Marco Polo Silver, UA Silver, Marriott AMB, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 26
Any recent data points re: upgrades using Asia miles and which status to use?
I am AA Executive Platinum and CX Silver. I am waitlisted for an upgrade PE->J for HKG-LHR CX 225 July 8th. Still showing plenty of seats in J. I would assume my OWE status would be higher, but I was flying with my wife a few weeks ago from LAX-HKG. Both booked into I fares. She had her MPC Silver in the system and I had my AA EXP (OWE). She got an op-up from J->F and I was rather surprised (even though I would have given it to her anyway).
Looks like its random if OWE beats CX Silver these days? What made it more surprising was that I have more CP on CX this year than she does as well...
I am AA Executive Platinum and CX Silver. I am waitlisted for an upgrade PE->J for HKG-LHR CX 225 July 8th. Still showing plenty of seats in J. I would assume my OWE status would be higher, but I was flying with my wife a few weeks ago from LAX-HKG. Both booked into I fares. She had her MPC Silver in the system and I had my AA EXP (OWE). She got an op-up from J->F and I was rather surprised (even though I would have given it to her anyway).
Looks like its random if OWE beats CX Silver these days? What made it more surprising was that I have more CP on CX this year than she does as well...
#1104
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
Any recent data points re: upgrades using Asia miles and which status to use?
I am AA Executive Platinum and CX Silver. I am waitlisted for an upgrade PE->J for HKG-LHR CX 225 July 8th. Still showing plenty of seats in J. I would assume my OWE status would be higher, but I was flying with my wife a few weeks ago from LAX-HKG. Both booked into I fares. She had her MPC Silver in the system and I had my AA EXP (OWE). She got an op-up from J->F and I was rather surprised (even though I would have given it to her anyway).
Looks like its random if OWE beats CX Silver these days? What made it more surprising was that I have more CP on CX this year than she does as well...
I am AA Executive Platinum and CX Silver. I am waitlisted for an upgrade PE->J for HKG-LHR CX 225 July 8th. Still showing plenty of seats in J. I would assume my OWE status would be higher, but I was flying with my wife a few weeks ago from LAX-HKG. Both booked into I fares. She had her MPC Silver in the system and I had my AA EXP (OWE). She got an op-up from J->F and I was rather surprised (even though I would have given it to her anyway).
Looks like its random if OWE beats CX Silver these days? What made it more surprising was that I have more CP on CX this year than she does as well...
#1105
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: CX GO, AC Aeroplan 25K, AMEX PLAT, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, IHG Spire Amb
Posts: 464
It is not random. It is how it works (and TBH how it should work). My family was flying with me on ORD-HKG a few days ago. One of us an OWE in PEY did not get opup to J while SLs and GR did. Very fair and well done. #CXit
#1108
Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: HKG
Programs: CX MPC, AC Aeroplan
Posts: 92
#1109
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Bronze
Posts: 50
It is not random. It is how it works (and TBH how it should work). My family was flying with me on ORD-HKG a few days ago. One of us an OWE in PEY did not get opup to J while SLs and GR did. Very fair and well done. #CXit