First Class Upgrade Miles Redemption
Jan 25, 2023 | 2:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: HKG, DTW
Programs: CX Diamond, UA Gold, DL Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 32
First Class Upgrade Miles Redemption
I have a confirmed revenue booking in Business Class, and I wanted to upgrade one of the flights to First Class with Asia Miles.
I checked on the CX redemption website, and it showed that there was 1 First Class seat available for direct redemption.
However, when I called the Marco Polo hotline, the staff told me that I have to waitlist for the upgrade, while she also told me from her system, direct redemption was available.
Previously, I thought that as long as there are seats for redemption, you can redeem an upgrade reward.
Anyone knows how does upgrade redemption work? Is this situation normal? Or did they make any new changes to the redemption policy? Thanks!
I checked on the CX redemption website, and it showed that there was 1 First Class seat available for direct redemption.
However, when I called the Marco Polo hotline, the staff told me that I have to waitlist for the upgrade, while she also told me from her system, direct redemption was available.
Previously, I thought that as long as there are seats for redemption, you can redeem an upgrade reward.
Anyone knows how does upgrade redemption work? Is this situation normal? Or did they make any new changes to the redemption policy? Thanks!
Jan 25, 2023 | 3:55 pm
#2
Join Date: May 2017
Posts: 57
Similar thing happened to me but with a PEY -> J upgrade. Specifically chose that flight as I saw award space, but staff told me award space and upgrade space are different, which makes absolutely no sense to me. Her advice is to call about upgrade space before making a booking since there is no way to check online apparently 
Jan 26, 2023 | 11:52 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 7,226
Full award space has always only been a good indicator of upgrade space. They have never been 100% the same, at least in the past couple of decades.
Jan 27, 2023 | 6:21 am
#4
Join Date: Aug 2011
Posts: 1,042
Definitely agree availability of full redemption ticket is a good indicator but not 100% reflective of mileage upgrade availability. I can recall at least two datapoints that shows it could go either way:
- Attempted Y+ to J upgrade for HKG-YVR around 2016. Saw on CX.com redemption tickets for J were available but MPC hotline agent told me no upgrade space available. Upgrade finally confirmed at check-in counter.
- Recently attempted Y to J upgrade for HKG-HKT. CX.com showed redemption ticket available and sure enough the call agent was able to confirm the mileage upgrade for me.
- Attempted Y+ to J upgrade for HKG-YVR around 2016. Saw on CX.com redemption tickets for J were available but MPC hotline agent told me no upgrade space available. Upgrade finally confirmed at check-in counter.
- Recently attempted Y to J upgrade for HKG-HKT. CX.com showed redemption ticket available and sure enough the call agent was able to confirm the mileage upgrade for me.
Jan 27, 2023 | 5:32 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Earth. Residency:HKG formerly:YYZ
Programs: CX, DL, Nexus/GE, APEC
Posts: 11,079
Definitely agree availability of full redemption ticket is a good indicator but not 100% reflective of mileage upgrade availability. I can recall at least two datapoints that shows it could go either way:
- Attempted Y+ to J upgrade for HKG-YVR around 2016. Saw on CX.com redemption tickets for J were available but MPC hotline agent told me no upgrade space available. Upgrade finally confirmed at check-in counter.
- Recently attempted Y to J upgrade for HKG-HKT. CX.com showed redemption ticket available and sure enough the call agent was able to confirm the mileage upgrade for me.
- Attempted Y+ to J upgrade for HKG-YVR around 2016. Saw on CX.com redemption tickets for J were available but MPC hotline agent told me no upgrade space available. Upgrade finally confirmed at check-in counter.
- Recently attempted Y to J upgrade for HKG-HKT. CX.com showed redemption ticket available and sure enough the call agent was able to confirm the mileage upgrade for me.
Jan 27, 2023 | 9:49 pm
#6
Join Date: Jan 2018
Programs: CX Macro polo Silver, AA platinum
Posts: 129
I had similar experience but another way around for upgrading PE to J as I couldnt find the award seat for the J and decided to waitlist for it, after contacting the customer service personnel told me that there was availability to upgrade immediately. I am not sure whether my CX Gold helped.
Feb 1, 2023 | 7:32 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 3,087
It is definitely not. CX recently has been doing all they can to shut down any usability of these bookable mid-tier upgrade certificates by harshly zeroing out the applicable revenue buckets (A, I etc) altogether and just lowering fares for the fare classes above them. Mileage redemptions mean $ to CX from their accounting / revenue perspective, but loyalty means zilch. Such sad state of affairs.
Feb 2, 2023 | 1:17 am
#9
Join Date: Nov 2019
Programs: Marco Polo Club
Posts: 24
I had the same issue recently. I booked a revenue J class flight from ICN-CDG via HKG, both sector in J class, I saw a seat available in First class to upgrade and called the hotline and turns out that I’ve been put on the waitlist.
Feb 2, 2023 | 7:17 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2017
Location: HKG, DTW
Programs: CX Diamond, UA Gold, DL Platinum, Bonvoy Titanium
Posts: 32
Feb 2, 2023 | 9:24 pm
#11
Join Date: May 2012
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, CX Gold
Posts: 39
have you tried searching for FCL award availability on ICN-CDG?