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
Jul 3, 2019 | 8:53 pm
#1111
Join Date: May 2015
Location: HKG
Programs: AA EXP, Marco Polo Silver, UA Silver, Marriott AMB, Hyatt Glob, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 26
Jul 6, 2019 | 3:19 am
#1112
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: CX GO, IHG Dia Amb
Posts: 826
If SL (or even GR) is really ahead of OWE, this is surely something to lure those who jumped ship earlier to come back to MPC. But sometimes it’s just hard to say whether this is the case as route / loading / CIV etc. affect chances of upgrade too much.
Jul 7, 2019 | 5:45 am
#1114
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 7,224
TW POS:
Code:
110JULHKGKIX¤CX«
10JUL WED HKG/Z‡8 KIX/‡1
CX RESPONSE ** DIRECT CONNECT PARTICIPANT **
** CATHAY PACIFIC - AN ** 3 WE 10JUL 0000
13CX 564 J9 C9 D9 I9 W2 R1 E1 YL BL HKGKIX 0810 1450 351 1
HL KL ML LL VL SL NL OL
14CX 566 J9 C9 D9 I9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 HKGKIX 0150 0630 333 0
L8 V8 S6 N5 OL
15CX 506 JL CL DL IL YL BL HL KL ML HKGKIX 1020 1510 773 0
LL VL SL NL OL
16CX 568 J2 C2 D1 I1 YL BL HL KL ML HKGKIX 1200 1705 333 0
LL VL SL NL OL
17CX 502 J9 C9 D9 I9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 HKGKIX 1635 2125 773 0
L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9
Code:
AN10JULHKGKIX/ACX
** AMADEUS AVAILABILITY - AN ** 3 WE 10JUL 0000
1 CX 566 J9 C9 D9 I9/HKG KIX 0150 0630 0/333 3:40
Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 OL
2 CX 506 J1 CL DL IL/HKG KIX 1020 1510 0/773 3:50
Y9 B9 HL KL ML LL VL SL NL OL
3 CX 568 J2 C2 D2 I2/HKG KIX 1200 1705 0/333 4:05
YL BL HL KL ML LL VL SL NL OL
4 CX 502 J9 C9 D9 I9/HKG KIX 1635 2125 0/773 3:50
Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9
5 CX 564 J9 C9 D9 I9/HKG KIX 0810 1450 1/351 5:40
W3 R2 E1 YL BL HL KL ML LL VL SL NL OL
HKG-BCN
Jul 8, 2019 | 1:58 am
#1116
Join Date: Jul 2019
Location: UK
Programs: CX SL
Posts: 13
My first post here after a long time reading your collective wisdom...
I'm currently waitlisted for a redemption upgrade from PE to business on CX251 (HKG to LHR) travelling 25th July. What do you think my chances are? I know this flight is usually very busy so it's unlikely, can anyone help me find out what the load is like?
For redemption upgrades, when does the waitlist expire? I'm just a lowly GR at the moment (although will be SL by the time of the flight), does that make a difference in my chances?
Thanks!
I'm currently waitlisted for a redemption upgrade from PE to business on CX251 (HKG to LHR) travelling 25th July. What do you think my chances are? I know this flight is usually very busy so it's unlikely, can anyone help me find out what the load is like?
For redemption upgrades, when does the waitlist expire? I'm just a lowly GR at the moment (although will be SL by the time of the flight), does that make a difference in my chances?
Thanks!
Last edited by mnt10; Jul 8, 2019 at 5:49 am
Jul 8, 2019 | 3:30 am
#1117
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 7,224
Code:
117JULHKGBCN/D‡.CX«
17JUL WED HKG/Z‡8 BCN/-6
1CX 321 J9 C5 D3 IL W6 HKGBCN 0020 0735 351 BD 0 X246 DCA /E
R4 E1 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V2 SL NL QC OL
NO MORE - 1* FOR CONX.
Jul 8, 2019 | 9:18 am
#1118
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: somehere Asian
Programs: Marco Polo
Posts: 426
Sorry, I am not overly familiar with the codes. Do I understand this right: 9 (or more) seats available in J class? If so then I I hope the upgrade waitlist will clear in time - by the 13th. What does the "NO MORE - 1* FOR CONX." refer to?
Jul 8, 2019 | 10:55 am
#1119
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 7,224
"NO MORE - 1* FOR CONX." is just a message from Sabre that there is no more direct flight and that if I were to look up connecting options I would need to use the command "1*."
Jul 8, 2019 | 11:04 am
#1120
Join Date: Dec 2016
Programs: CX MPC DM
Posts: 416
Attempting to discern whether you're PEY (R class) ticket will get confirmed for upgrade award is non-specific as there aren't any tools available for us to accurately predict if CX will release an upgrade award to biz (i.e. J). High availability for I class tickets (most discounted biz) is a possible indicator for upgrade award inventory but there is no guarantee. I've had plenty of booking that showed I9, yet was unable to confirm upgrade award early. CX wants go sell revenue tickets as a priority. If revenue management predicts they can sell those tickets then upgrade award won't be available.
The user above looks like they are posting from a tool called KvsTool which can check for ticket availability. I use, like many others, expertlyer.com, which shows similar numbers. For your flight, EF is showing - J9 C5 D3 I0 W6 R4 E1 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V2 S0 N0 Q0 O0. Given those numbers -- I0, I wouldn't be very confident on clearing the waitlist for an upgrade confirmation. The waitlist will disappear at T-96 (4 days before departure). Theres a chance that closer to departure, CX may open more discount tickets and possibly open some upgrade awards. Problem is that if that happens after waitlist expires, T-96, those awards become first come, first served, no more waitlist.
The strategy would be to call MPC every day and inquire about upgrade availability. If upgrade is still not confirmed, ask at the check-in counter for instant upgrade.
We really need a FAQ about this in the "Will my award waitlist clear?" thread.
Jul 8, 2019 | 3:00 pm
#1121
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 7,224
As I mentioned, I use Sabre, which is not available to the general public. I used KVS long time ago but not anymore.
Jul 9, 2019 | 11:18 am
#1122
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: HKG
Programs: CX Gold, MB Titanium
Posts: 145
At the end of the wiki, the part about having a hold booking and calling Asia Miles to check for upgrade, I was wondering if this is still current.
I have booking on hold via the website, however I can cancel and call instead.
I have booking on hold via the website, however I can cancel and call instead.
Jul 9, 2019 | 2:43 pm
#1123
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 7,224
If you have a booking on hold, I think you can just call and ask. Never tried it myself as the online hold is a new function, but I don't see why it would be any different.
Jul 10, 2019 | 4:57 am
#1124
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: somehere Asian
Programs: Marco Polo
Posts: 426
Your booking on Business Class of CX321 (HKGBCN), 17Jul19 has been confirmed. Please check details on Manage Booking and issue ticket before 13/07/2019 18:00.
Clicking on Manage Booking lets me see the booking as usual, with a yellow marking for the upgraded sector, but no way to issue or confirm. So I still need to call!? - which I just tried, but gave up after 20min on hold. This must be the most frustrating customer service/website experience after Qatar!!
Any other way to get this upgrade finalised?!