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
May 13, 2024 | 1:16 am
#1351
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 287
Although the intention is good I think you might get even get led further astray from anecdotes. The reality is the route really matters (related to how many Diamonds are on your flight), load factor matters (and this is highly variable, especially in this weird post-covid ramp up), class of service you're in matters (Y to PEY? Y to J on non-PEY planes? J to F? PEY to J?), plane type matters (regional config? long-haul with or without PEY? yes or no f class section?), etc.
But I'll throw my numbers in the hat because why not. I am a Diamond, and have flown on op-up-eligible flights (economy class) regionally on I think 4 sectors if I'm counting right since HK dropped quarantine in november 2022. I was upgraded twice I think (including a quadruple upgrade with Mrs. QRC, helper and little one, that one is easy to remember)....but both were to/from Taipei, on planes without PEY (one was regional plane, the other was a long-haul A330 without PEY). I've got a bunch of other flights but no upgrade was possible due to biz or f already.
From my opinion, I would say most important factor above all else which you have some "control" in guessing fairly accurately, is how Diamond-heavy is the route and is it a business flight or not. SIN, TPE, PEK, PVG used to be key destinations with a lot of Diamonds (although Taipei at certain times of day or weekend can be tourist heavy), and my instinct is that someone less than Gold did not have more than a tiny chance on such flights. Although as I write this I realize I don't even know the CX op-up priority anymore! I've been back and forth to Singapore on many sectors since quarantine lifted and I admit to glancing at that thing in galley or at crew iPads. I still see a lot of Diamonds on Singapore flights.
I have yet to figure out patterns to CX flights and what's going on these days. For example I just noticed flights to Singapore were cut to 4x daily some time recently. Went to book a flight there in a few days, and J class seems half full just a few days out. It all still seems very much in flux and not quite as predictable as pre-Covid. That's my two cents
But I'll throw my numbers in the hat because why not. I am a Diamond, and have flown on op-up-eligible flights (economy class) regionally on I think 4 sectors if I'm counting right since HK dropped quarantine in november 2022. I was upgraded twice I think (including a quadruple upgrade with Mrs. QRC, helper and little one, that one is easy to remember)....but both were to/from Taipei, on planes without PEY (one was regional plane, the other was a long-haul A330 without PEY). I've got a bunch of other flights but no upgrade was possible due to biz or f already.
From my opinion, I would say most important factor above all else which you have some "control" in guessing fairly accurately, is how Diamond-heavy is the route and is it a business flight or not. SIN, TPE, PEK, PVG used to be key destinations with a lot of Diamonds (although Taipei at certain times of day or weekend can be tourist heavy), and my instinct is that someone less than Gold did not have more than a tiny chance on such flights. Although as I write this I realize I don't even know the CX op-up priority anymore! I've been back and forth to Singapore on many sectors since quarantine lifted and I admit to glancing at that thing in galley or at crew iPads. I still see a lot of Diamonds on Singapore flights.
I have yet to figure out patterns to CX flights and what's going on these days. For example I just noticed flights to Singapore were cut to 4x daily some time recently. Went to book a flight there in a few days, and J class seems half full just a few days out. It all still seems very much in flux and not quite as predictable as pre-Covid. That's my two cents
May 13, 2024 | 6:11 am
#1352
Join Date: Apr 2001
Location: HKG/HND/OOL
Programs: QF Emerald. SQ Gold.
Posts: 3,584
It's also very easy on PE (even redemption PE) to/from Aus/NZ.
Revenue oversells Y, bumps the elites from Y to PE, bumps everyone in PE to J. I've done it, and even my status-less brother's done it
My mate's also heard from his dad and brother than CX lounges open 24/7 too https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...l#post36110009
Revenue oversells Y, bumps the elites from Y to PE, bumps everyone in PE to J. I've done it, and even my status-less brother's done it
My mate's also heard from his dad and brother than CX lounges open 24/7 too https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cath...l#post36110009
post covid i flew ave 1 au hkg PE a month as OWE and never had i been op up even on full caabin.
i came to believe i am blacklisted for all the complaints i filed haha
May 13, 2024 | 8:56 am
#1353
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, BA Bronze, Hertz President's Club
Posts: 576
One thing to bear to mind is staff bookings. Let's assume you are booked in Premium Economy, which is full. Business is rather empty and Economy has 10 seats available. However, there are (hypothetically) 20 staff on the standby list.
It is in the interest of airlines to uplift as many people off a standby list as possible. If they are admitted into Economy, then 10 seats from there need to be made available and therefore, 10 people will get bumped to PEY and 10 from there up to Business.
Unless you're a DM of long tenure, very important to the airline etc. then being 10th in the upgrade list in a PEY cabin is going to be a much better shot of you getting an upgrade than being 10th in Economy.
Point is: go book PEY!
It is in the interest of airlines to uplift as many people off a standby list as possible. If they are admitted into Economy, then 10 seats from there need to be made available and therefore, 10 people will get bumped to PEY and 10 from there up to Business.
Unless you're a DM of long tenure, very important to the airline etc. then being 10th in the upgrade list in a PEY cabin is going to be a much better shot of you getting an upgrade than being 10th in Economy.
Point is: go book PEY!
May 28, 2024 | 6:42 am
#1355
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: somehere Asian
Programs: Marco Polo
Posts: 426
Can someone please tell me whats the (local) number to call in Indonesia for processing the upgrade that had been wait-listed, but is now approved? I have 18hrs to call them, and emailed them too, but not have had a reply yet. (I will also need to purchase some 16.000 miles, which I am short of at the moment). Thanks
May 28, 2024 | 6:43 am
#1356
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 13
Data point - HKG to LHR, PE cabin completely full, DM, no op-up despite a fair few empty seats in J empty. Huge difference from pre Covid where op-ups actually existed. Imo CX has gone severely downhill since Covid. Didnt even get the usual cabin manager pre-flight greeting
May 28, 2024 | 7:09 am
#1357
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 22,113
Data point - HKG to LHR, PE cabin completely full, DM, no op-up despite a fair few empty seats in J empty. Huge difference from pre Covid where op-ups actually existed. Imo CX has gone severely downhill since Covid. Didnt even get the usual cabin manager pre-flight greeting
I got opuped from PE to J from AKL mid last year as OWS.
May 28, 2024 | 7:20 am
#1358
Join Date: Jan 2020
Posts: 13
but PE was completely full though. Pre-Covid I had around 1/3 success rate of op-ups ex-HKG to LHR and CDG, its been completely 0 for the past three years. For the price point its becoming increasingly tempting to switch to SQ.
May 28, 2024 | 8:42 am
#1359
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 22,113
We cant comment on your actual cases but it is in our advantage to tell you what you believe is true and you should indeed switch to SQ.
May 28, 2024 | 9:15 am
#1360
Join Date: Aug 2015
Programs: Hilton Honors Gold, Marriott Gold, BA Bronze, Hertz President's Club
Posts: 576
- Economy is full and people have been upgraded into PEY
- People have upgrade vouchers into Premium Economy, of which some didn't clear
- 10 staff requested Premium Economy but 7 were downgraded into Economy
Which flight are you taking to London? Some flights are more DM heavy vs others. As mentioned, sometimes OWS get upgraded.
The market vs pre-COVID has changed. Everything's a bit different, therefore the type of passengers you get and what times they fly is also different.
May 28, 2024 | 8:22 pm
#1362
Join Date: Jan 2017
Programs: CX GO, IHG Dia Amb
Posts: 826
I have an impression that CX flights are not as full as pre-Covid. They used to be able to somehow get their flights full in all classes, but now even flights to Tokyo or London may not completely full in low(er) season. It surely affects the chance of op-up.
May 31, 2024 | 2:38 am
#1363
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: CRK MNL
Programs: CX Gold, OWS, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,548
On my recent flight with CX MNL-YVR return, J cabin was full in 3 sectors, only the HKG-MNL is around half occupied. Not sure of the situation at the back of the plane.
Jun 1, 2024 | 7:28 am
#1364
Join Date: Jan 2023
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 27
Question regarding Asia Miles upgrade award for only one leg of multi-city itinerary
I am planning to book a Economy Essential multi-city ticket for HKG-SGN & SIN-HKG. Would I be able to use AM to upgrade the SIN-HKG leg [i.e., from Y to PE] only without upgrading the HKG-SGN leg [i.e., sticking with Y]? And if yes, is this something that might be problematic to do online on the CX website, or is it fairly straightforward?
Also, after I upgrade the SIN-HKG leg from Y to PE using Asia Miles, can I then use Manage Booking on the CX website to swap out my CX FFN and replace it with my BA FFN (I have BA Silver/OW Sapphire and CX Green, so I want to swap in my BA FFN once the Asia Miles upgrade is done) for BA mileage accrual and OW Sapphire benefits across the full multi-city HKG-SGN, SIN-HKG itineary?
Also, after I upgrade the SIN-HKG leg from Y to PE using Asia Miles, can I then use Manage Booking on the CX website to swap out my CX FFN and replace it with my BA FFN (I have BA Silver/OW Sapphire and CX Green, so I want to swap in my BA FFN once the Asia Miles upgrade is done) for BA mileage accrual and OW Sapphire benefits across the full multi-city HKG-SGN, SIN-HKG itineary?
Jun 1, 2024 | 9:01 am
#1365
Join Date: Mar 2024
Programs: Agoda VIP DM; Booking Genius L3; Trip Plt; ... (smirk!) // ALL Accor GO; Ascott ASR SL
Posts: 617
I am planning to book a Economy Essential multi-city ticket for HKG-SGN & SIN-HKG. Would I be able to use AM to upgrade the SIN-HKG leg [i.e., from Y to PE] only without upgrading the HKG-SGN leg [i.e., sticking with Y]? And if yes, is this something that might be problematic to do online on the CX website, or is it fairly straightforward?
Also, after I upgrade the SIN-HKG leg from Y to PE using Asia Miles, can I then use Manage Booking on the CX website to swap out my CX FFN and replace it with my BA FFN (I have BA Silver/OW Sapphire and CX Green, so I want to swap in my BA FFN once the Asia Miles upgrade is done) for BA mileage accrual and OW Sapphire benefits across the full multi-city HKG-SGN, SIN-HKG itineary?
Also, after I upgrade the SIN-HKG leg from Y to PE using Asia Miles, can I then use Manage Booking on the CX website to swap out my CX FFN and replace it with my BA FFN (I have BA Silver/OW Sapphire and CX Green, so I want to swap in my BA FFN once the Asia Miles upgrade is done) for BA mileage accrual and OW Sapphire benefits across the full multi-city HKG-SGN, SIN-HKG itineary?
fairly easy, just call CX's hotline & they'll sort it out for you in no time (you will not be able to do it yourself online)
2) yes, you can input another FF no. after your AM upgrade has been cleared
have personally tried & done both of what you've mentioned