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
#122
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
Change of upgrade at the aiport system?
I asked for a mileage upgrade from PEY to J and was on waiting list. I was told that T-48 the waitinglist will be cleared. I went to the airport, based on an dummy booking it looked like 6 seats in J were still available (about 4 hours before departure) and so I tried to ask for a mileage upgrade again but was told that at the moment only few seats are available and I should ask "frequently" again because there is not such a waitinglist anymore at the airport.
This was new for me. In the past they noted my request and I was called if an upgrade is possible instead to ask them again and again (which is nerving for both sides). I changed the lounge and asked another one again and he confirmed the changed system but at least told me that CX is waiting now if people buying tickets until one hour before departure and he suggested that I should ask again 50 minutes before departure whether then seats are available for an upgrade.
I understand of course that CX tries to sell the tickets before upgrade using miles but what I do not understand why it is no longer possible to note the request to a "new waiting list" at the airport respectively after T-48
I asked for a mileage upgrade from PEY to J and was on waiting list. I was told that T-48 the waitinglist will be cleared. I went to the airport, based on an dummy booking it looked like 6 seats in J were still available (about 4 hours before departure) and so I tried to ask for a mileage upgrade again but was told that at the moment only few seats are available and I should ask "frequently" again because there is not such a waitinglist anymore at the airport.
This was new for me. In the past they noted my request and I was called if an upgrade is possible instead to ask them again and again (which is nerving for both sides). I changed the lounge and asked another one again and he confirmed the changed system but at least told me that CX is waiting now if people buying tickets until one hour before departure and he suggested that I should ask again 50 minutes before departure whether then seats are available for an upgrade.
I understand of course that CX tries to sell the tickets before upgrade using miles but what I do not understand why it is no longer possible to note the request to a "new waiting list" at the airport respectively after T-48
#123


Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 8,238
Change of upgrade at the aiport system?
I asked for a mileage upgrade from PEY to J and was on waiting list. I was told that T-48 the waitinglist will be cleared. I went to the airport, based on an dummy booking it looked like 6 seats in J were still available (about 4 hours before departure) and so I tried to ask for a mileage upgrade again but was told that at the moment only few seats are available and I should ask "frequently" again because there is not such a waitinglist anymore at the airport.
This was new for me. In the past they noted my request and I was called if an upgrade is possible instead to ask them again and again (which is nerving for both sides). I changed the lounge and asked another one again and he confirmed the changed system but at least told me that CX is waiting now if people buying tickets until one hour before departure and he suggested that I should ask again 50 minutes before departure whether then seats are available for an upgrade.
I understand of course that CX tries to sell the tickets before upgrade using miles but what I do not understand why it is no longer possible to note the request to a "new waiting list" at the airport respectively after T-48
I asked for a mileage upgrade from PEY to J and was on waiting list. I was told that T-48 the waitinglist will be cleared. I went to the airport, based on an dummy booking it looked like 6 seats in J were still available (about 4 hours before departure) and so I tried to ask for a mileage upgrade again but was told that at the moment only few seats are available and I should ask "frequently" again because there is not such a waitinglist anymore at the airport.
This was new for me. In the past they noted my request and I was called if an upgrade is possible instead to ask them again and again (which is nerving for both sides). I changed the lounge and asked another one again and he confirmed the changed system but at least told me that CX is waiting now if people buying tickets until one hour before departure and he suggested that I should ask again 50 minutes before departure whether then seats are available for an upgrade.
I understand of course that CX tries to sell the tickets before upgrade using miles but what I do not understand why it is no longer possible to note the request to a "new waiting list" at the airport respectively after T-48
And CX is trying to get us to be more loyal? Management is hilarious. I'm going the other direction. I just flew on Eva J class longhaul, wow. Virtually identical hard product to CX, excellent service (similar attention to what I get onboard as a CX Diamond), and a simply superb wine list that could suffice for CX F class. I am nowhere near familiar with Eva as I am CX, maybe I got a great crew who knows. But I do know one thing...I'll happily start spreading my business out to them when I have work in TPE and can use it as a launching pad for North America flights.
I only flew on CX or KA 5 segments last month (4 CX, 1 KA), which is the lowest in a long time. I flew 9 flights on CX competitors - the most in a long time! Of those 5 CX/KA flights, 2 of them I was not on the manifest as DM. I have no idea what's going on but this has been an issue since Amadeus. On the other 3 flights, while the ISM came around and gave me the greeting, the SP/FP serving my section wasn't aware. I was seated in Y class and they were short haul segments, so it wasn't a big deal....but still annoying. It's a little embarrassing asking the FA to go check if it's okay if I can have a can of Coke. Not the end of the world, but what's the point of being loyal then? I have always raved about CX's on board consistency towards DMs, and something has occurred in the last 3-4 months that it has fallen absolutely off a cliff. So basically, on those 5 flights I got identical service as I would've gotten flying a rival airline. The only difference is a.) I got op-upped twice, once of which I declined because I was flying with a non-status companion and KA couldn't upgrade him. And b.) I got access to Wing F for the ex-HKG flights, which I've been to more times than I can count in my life and I don't really value. Other than these two factors, really there is zero benefit to being DM if these standards are the "new normal". It's true, I'm getting op-upped more under this new system than the old one. But the difference is somewhat marginal...before maybe it was 20-25%? Now it's about 40%. And I feel like the overall experience has absolutely nose-dived, and the earn/burn remains utterly horrible.
Nonsense like what you're posting are exactly why I'm sending business elsewhere. While significantly elevating their hard products in the last 5-6 years (F 6 years ago, J 3 years ago), the CX soft product has significantly weakened and in some cases, leaves me scratching my head. How hard is it to have a waiting list?! Or a seat block? And how expensive are these things? Probably not much. A lot less than this silly marketing effort they're running.
#124




Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 718
And I'm sorry, but if you don't think dressing smartly increases your odds of an upgrade, you are clearly unfamiliar with how the airline world works, particularly for Asian airlines. Flirting helps, too; it singlehandedly got me upgraded to J between EZE-MIA one time.
#125




Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: ORD
Programs: AF/KLM, M&M, ATMOS, MR PLT
Posts: 8,809
I remember in the past I read somewhere that CX is (or may be was) offering an option "bid to upgrade from Y to PY or from PY to J".
Is that option still alive or CX discontinued that option?
Is that option still alive or CX discontinued that option?
#126
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot Am, MU Pt
Posts: 3,092
#127




Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 3,085
Anyone kind enough to check the fare buckets for 806 on the 21st of March? Seems to me pretty full, unable to do any dummy bookings in J and W. Dad has an R ticket but does not have status with CX :/
#129
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: USA/Hong Kong
Programs: Marco Polo Green/AAdvantage
Posts: 39
I'm on request for upgrade from PEY to J. My question is...Does CX really text/ call/ or email when the seat is opening up? or Do I have to call CX to check from time to time? Thanks in advance for the insight.
Last edited by jackykli; Mar 15, 2015 at 8:59 am
#131
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 102
Hey guys, I'm currently on the waitlist for Business Class tickets. Unfortunately, I was a former MP silver member (didn't fly that period), got downgraded to green and now even that has expired. I really hope this doesn't affect their consideration towards my redemption.
I want to know my chances of being upgraded. Thank you, I really value all of your advice!
CX 845
April 16, 2015
I was on the waitlist for 2 weeks already(?)
In addition about being upgraded, I have a question about Cathay or AM notifying me about the waitlist being cleared. The CS rep. said that if I don't receive an email or SMS at or before April 10, 2015 at 5 am HK time, my waitlist will be canceled.
Does that mean I can receive an email or text from them ANY TIME from now until April 10th (or 9th since I live in NY)?
And, should I call Asia Miles frequently to ask about the upgrade? But will that be not so good and turn them off for offering me an upgrade?
I want to know my chances of being upgraded. Thank you, I really value all of your advice!
CX 845
April 16, 2015
I was on the waitlist for 2 weeks already(?)
In addition about being upgraded, I have a question about Cathay or AM notifying me about the waitlist being cleared. The CS rep. said that if I don't receive an email or SMS at or before April 10, 2015 at 5 am HK time, my waitlist will be canceled.
Does that mean I can receive an email or text from them ANY TIME from now until April 10th (or 9th since I live in NY)?
And, should I call Asia Miles frequently to ask about the upgrade? But will that be not so good and turn them off for offering me an upgrade?
Last edited by Samuel72991; Mar 14, 2015 at 2:50 pm
#133
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 102
Sorry guys for posting so much questions, I just logged in to Cathay"/ site to manage my booking. I see a message that says: "our records show you have not issued a ticket for this booking yet. Please call........ Otherwise your booking will be cancelled.."
Why is this the case? I paid for the ticket 2 weeks ago but the system shows I haven't issued it yet? What does that mean??
Why is this the case? I paid for the ticket 2 weeks ago but the system shows I haven't issued it yet? What does that mean??
#134
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 102
The message also tells me to call the club service centre to issue the ticket before April 10th at 6 am (HK time). But my MP Green membership just expired. Should I still call them or what should I do?
Sorry guys for asking so many questions, now I'll wait for responses.
Regards,
Samuel
Sorry guys for asking so many questions, now I'll wait for responses.
Regards,
Samuel





