​​​​​DP for op-up this month as follows:
- HKG>FOC, A330 (33E), Y (paid) to J
- 3 lovely kiddos in the same PNR: namely an SL, a birthday GR and a nobody GR
- BNs in single digits
- Y fully occupied; as per crude observation, perhaps ten-odd pax were upgraded (?)

(Me - redeemed J for that flight via miles :D)


Disclaimer: op-up taken with gratitude (not taken for granted) by all beneficiaries - even if it was only a short hop - CX sure made their day!

Yes it is indeed W0 right now.

CX 831JFK
21/06/25 14:50HKG
22/06/25 19:0577W
Daily
77% / 31mF5 A5 J3 C3 D3 P3 I3 W0 R0 E0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S0 N0 Q0 O0

Reporting back for the mandem. A very full flight that was over sold in Y and fully booked in Y+.

Gate agent called my name and the airline gods shon on my back. PE to J on a 15 hour flight. Magic!

OWE - with AA, fly Cathay six times a year.

Hi All, - really appreciate any help here - I am going on a very special a holiday with my significant other, first time for them to travel to Europe - we made this booking a few months ago and have one confirmed Business class redemption (U) ticket and one Premium Econ (R) ticket on CX289 07/16 to Frankfurt. We waitlisted right away the premium economy upgrade to business right away as we snagged the last biz award ticket available. I've been checking the seatmap and in the last few days, and seats are slowly getting filled. Would anyone be able to tell me what my chances of confirming an upgrade before the waitlist expires (4 days before the flight) on expert flyer? Would really appreciate it!

I've just now found this thread and in all my calls to Cathay's local HK agents, they consistently has been telling me I am "position 1"on the waitlist, I'm not so sure now after reading this thread that that is accurate, as I'm a lowly green member ATM, was Gold last year, will be Silver after this flight.

Does anyone have any insight as to what the pecking order is for mileage upgrades? I'm guessing its not as simple as first added to the list, first one to get cleared for an upgrade - I'm sure when you are added to the list is a factor, but what would the chances be since I am only currently Green? and does anyone know why the CX agents repeatedly tell me I am first on the waitlist if I am not? The agents even put me on hold to check after I asked very nicely and explained that I was technically first to be added to the list as I was also the last person to snag the last award seat, and they "made an exception to give waitlist priority information to me and checked the system" and would consistently tell me I am first on the upgrade list.

Really appreciate any insight!

mine cleared about two weeks out. Status matters and own member trump OW redemption.

Just curious if we need a “Will my award waitlist clear? Master thread 2025”?

Well (he said, returning from lurkerdom) I have been an HK-based DM for many years and do HKG-LHR about 6 times a year, sometimes more, usually in J and until the economics changed, once or twice a year on redemption upgrades from PEY. I even managed something similar through Covid, quarantining lots as a result. I also usually do half a dozen short- and medium-haul regionals on CX p.a. Keeping status hasn't been a big problem, albeit at a cost.

Since, IIRC, shortly before Covid, I haven't been favoured with an op-up from J to F on that route at all. Even when PEY has been full and F was wide open. There are often more than 10 DMs on board both ways, some in PEY despite empty seats in J and some in Y despite empty seats in PE. Last week there were 15 DMs on 254 and no upgrades.

This suggests that CX policy may have changed on op-ups to and from J. Do we have any ITK to confirm or refute this, at least for the London route?

May I ask, just out of curiosity, how could you tell precisely how many DM on board? Or you asked the flight attendant and she told you?! (Apologies - am throwing back a question without answering yours...)

You can just ask the ISM or SP. Sometimes they'll tell you sometimes they won't. There are sometimes notes written or posted in the galley, although less than before now that the in flight iPad rules supreme.

I don't think they're supposed to tell you but if you fly enough you're bound to see familiar faces. And some are just more friendly and others not. Also depends on how you ask I suppose. It's not exactly a state secret but it's also not to be shared really, there's some discretion involved.

Many thanks!

happened to me , me and another DM , didnt get upgrade to PEY from Y . but at least 1 SL got the upgrade seat to PEY .

so i really wanted to know how they choose who to upgrade.

could be milestone rewards

You're sure they didn't redeem miles or pay cash for the upgrade?

Also could be a birthday upgrade, or milestone upgrade as cxwaterboy says.

The ISM can process AM cabin upgrade up until final departure.

not any more , you can only pay $$$ to get upgrade in the cabin since at least one year ago , as i asked about the am upgrade last year.