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G-CIVC Nov 24, 2024 3:08 am

I was on an HKG-SHA last week (fyi, this is consistently the single most elite heavy flight in the whole CX by far). ~30 out of 39 in J alone were DMs so I was asked if I could move to the PVG flight (with Aria) which I declined. The check in staff at the podium acknowledged that they usually would not ask DMs but the system prompted them to ask every single pax for that day. I asked and there was no cash or mileage compensation (so I politely declined ;) )

Fyi, I didn't get my first meal choice as they only had 13 of each loaded. I tried to probe a bit with the crew as to how they maneuvered around the cabin (as I was sitting up front but they came to me quite late), but they just shrugged it off and told me 'we are full today' blabla. oh well

cxwaterboy Nov 24, 2024 3:30 am

I’m curious to hear why SHA seems more DM heavy. I’m not saying PVG isn’t. I’ve seen the queues on a Monday/ Tuesday morning.

The amounts of flights to PVG just gives me more flexibility. It’s easier to do a day return there as well.

QRC3288 Nov 24, 2024 4:08 am


Originally Posted by cxwaterboy (Post 36693156)
I’m curious to hear why SHA seems more DM heavy. I’m not saying PVG isn’t. I’ve seen the queues on a Monday/ Tuesday morning.

The amounts of flights to PVG just gives me more flexibility. It’s easier to do a day return there as well.

Proximity to what I need to do, in my case. Biggest point: office is 25-40 mins max from SHA. PVG is 45 minutes if I’m lucky and realistically 55-75. (We’re based in Puxi.) Smaller points: walk from jetbridge to immigration to car is in average faster at SHA than PVG.

And I usually stay in Puxi, unless some exceptional reason calls me to Pudong.

so it’s just about speed.

I almost always try for the SHA flights. Unfortunately since I usually book travel close in, it is sometimes totally zeroed out in J and I end up from PVG. But SHa is my preference, especially for flying TO Shanghai. (CXs 60 minute shenanigan I think has made PVG more attractive to me on departure since I can pick up my BPs with the desk that’s always open there at PVG, whereas I’d be worried the agents would just leave at SHa? Is this true?)

I don’t mind PVG, apec helps big time. But if given choice I take SHA. I’m in Shanghai at least every 6 weeks.

fredx Nov 24, 2024 6:40 am


Originally Posted by QRC3288 (Post 36693216)
Proximity to what I need to do, in my case. Biggest point: office is 25-40 mins max from SHA. PVG is 45 minutes if I’m lucky and realistically 55-75. (We’re based in Puxi.) Smaller points: walk from jetbridge to immigration to car is in average faster at SHA than PVG.

And I usually stay in Puxi, unless some exceptional reason calls me to Pudong.

so it’s just about speed.

I almost always try for the SHA flights. Unfortunately since I usually book travel close in, it is sometimes totally zeroed out in J and I end up from PVG. But SHa is my preference, especially for flying TO Shanghai. (CXs 60 minute shenanigan I think has made PVG more attractive to me on departure since I can pick up my BPs with the desk that’s always open there at PVG, whereas I’d be worried the agents would just leave at SHa? Is this true?)

I don’t mind PVG, apec helps big time. But if given choice I take SHA. I’m in Shanghai at least every 6 weeks.

Actually SHA is exempt from the universal 60 min rule because of airport mandatory restriction, all airlines close at T-40 except Domestic MU which closes at T-35.

And don’t worry they will leave one or two staff to deal with those who miss the flight.

Fly Me To The Moon Nov 24, 2024 7:31 am


Originally Posted by QRC3288 (Post 36693216)
Proximity to what I need to do, in my case. Biggest point: office is 25-40 mins max from SHA. PVG is 45 minutes if I’m lucky and realistically 55-75. (We’re based in Puxi.) Smaller points: walk from jetbridge to immigration to car is in average faster at SHA than PVG.

And I usually stay in Puxi, unless some exceptional reason calls me to Pudong.

so it’s just about speed.

I almost always try for the SHA flights. Unfortunately since I usually book travel close in, it is sometimes totally zeroed out in J and I end up from PVG. But SHa is my preference, especially for flying TO Shanghai. (CXs 60 minute shenanigan I think has made PVG more attractive to me on departure since I can pick up my BPs with the desk that’s always open there at PVG, whereas I’d be worried the agents would just leave at SHa? Is this true?)

I don’t mind PVG, apec helps big time. But if given choice I take SHA. I’m in Shanghai at least every 6 weeks.

Just out of curiosity, have you (or anyone) taken the CX 327 SHA-HKG service, which is available on M and Th 22:30 - 01:30+1?

This departure would give me a full day in Shanghai, and I can even leave for the airport after an early dinner. Interested to know of this flight's departure and arrival punctuality.

cxwaterboy Nov 24, 2024 8:37 am


Originally Posted by QRC3288 (Post 36693216)
Proximity to what I need to do, in my case. Biggest point: office is 25-40 mins max from SHA. PVG is 45 minutes if I’m lucky and realistically 55-75. (We’re based in Puxi.) Smaller points: walk from jetbridge to immigration to car is in average faster at SHA than PVG.

And I usually stay in Puxi, unless some exceptional reason calls me to Pudong.

so it’s just about speed.

I almost always try for the SHA flights. Unfortunately since I usually book travel close in, it is sometimes totally zeroed out in J and I end up from PVG. But SHa is my preference, especially for flying TO Shanghai. (CXs 60 minute shenanigan I think has made PVG more attractive to me on departure since I can pick up my BPs with the desk that’s always open there at PVG, whereas I’d be worried the agents would just leave at SHa? Is this true?)

I don’t mind PVG, apec helps big time. But if given choice I take SHA. I’m in Shanghai at least every 6 weeks.

SHA does seem to sell better than PVG. I'm seeing J5 to SHA and J9 on other flights to PVG.

Imagine you're gold in J to SHA and being IDB/downgrade because everyone else is DM or above ;)

VE105 Nov 24, 2024 11:41 am


Originally Posted by QRC3288 (Post 36692919)
the guy who used to run mpc told me in person they weren’t sold, solely for ID pax, off duty crew etc, def not the likes of us cash paying cattle. Timing was pre COVID, maybe 2018 or 2019. I can’t speak for recently. Or maybe that wasn’t true, or we all had one too many drinks? I’m not sure id mix that up, but who knows. I don’t have really any way to verify except call some friends at swire which I’m not plalning on doing ;). What I can say without question is my last two SIN sectors 11DG were full, but all 4x were industry people. I explicitly asked on one flight (cx staff) and actually knew a guy traveling on the other, while other seat was his colleague it turned out. Not normal revenue pax.

Those seats are really a bad look for cx if they’re actually filling with unsuspecting cash pax. Same with one of the seats on 77K, the one in back mini cabin D side near the lav. Even regionally, I’d be quite displeased. Never gotten them and always had this (maybe false???) idea in my head that CX didn’t actually sell them.

I bought a last minute J class ticket earlier this year and was assigned 11D. I went to a CX outport lounge and the agents there switched me to 23D. I talked with the lady in 23G who told me she was a duty travel crew and her colleague was being moved to 11D :D

VE105 Nov 24, 2024 11:44 am


Originally Posted by Fly Me To The Moon (Post 36693506)
Just out of curiosity, have you (or anyone) taken the CX 327 SHA-HKG service, which is available on M and Th 22:30 - 01:30+1?

This departure would give me a full day in Shanghai, and I can even leave for the airport after an early dinner. Interested to know of this flight's departure and arrival punctuality.

Was on CX501 today and the queue at immigration and taxi were horrible. Luggage also took longer to come out. Will never do a post-midnight arrival flight again...

VE105 Nov 24, 2024 11:48 am


Originally Posted by G-CIVC (Post 36693124)
I was on an HKG-SHA last week (fyi, this is consistently the single most elite heavy flight in the whole CX by far). ~30 out of 39 in J alone were DMs so I was asked if I could move to the PVG flight (with Aria) which I declined. The check in staff at the podium acknowledged that they usually would not ask DMs but the system prompted them to ask every single pax for that day. I asked and there was no cash or mileage compensation (so I politely declined ;) )

Fyi, I didn't get my first meal choice as they only had 13 of each loaded. I tried to probe a bit with the crew as to how they maneuvered around the cabin (as I was sitting up front but they came to me quite late), but they just shrugged it off and told me 'we are full today' blabla. oh well

They don't carry extra meals now? I thought for a flight of 39 pax they would load like 42 or 43 meals.

I guess DM+ got their orders first, they remaining DM based on contributions again? Quite surprised to know their ipad can show that though.

cxwaterboy Nov 24, 2024 1:15 pm


Originally Posted by VE105 (Post 36694001)
I bought a last minute J class ticket earlier this year and was assigned 11D. I went to a CX outport lounge and the agents there switched me to 23D. I talked with the lady in 23G who told me she was a duty travel crew and her colleague was being moved to 11D :D

I didn't realise you could ask ID staff to move. I would assume in the worst-case scenario, they would be IDB. Row 23 is very nice and I'm not surprised they chose that.


Originally Posted by VE105 (Post 36694022)
They don't carry extra meals now? I thought for a flight of 39 pax they would load like 42 or 43 meals.
I guess DM+ got their orders first, they remaining DM based on contributions again? Quite surprised to know their ipad can show that though.

At least they aren't like some US/Europe airlines that don't load enough meals. You'd be quite surprised what they can see on that iPad of doom. A crew member once told me they gather a lot of data to identify their key customers. For example, if you buy a lot of duty-free on board, the crew might come around to hard-sell you.


Fly Me To The Moon Nov 24, 2024 5:32 pm


Originally Posted by VE105 (Post 36694008)
Was on CX501 today and the queue at immigration and taxi were horrible. Luggage also took longer to come out. Will never do a post-midnight arrival flight again...

That's a good point; thanks. Fortunately, I can go through e-channel, only have check-in luggage 50/50% of the time, and will either grab my car from parking or arrange our driver for pick up.

I am tempted to try the CX 327 next month.

QRC3288 Nov 24, 2024 7:36 pm


Originally Posted by Fly Me To The Moon (Post 36693506)
Just out of curiosity, have you (or anyone) taken the CX 327 SHA-HKG service, which is available on M and Th 22:30 - 01:30+1?

This departure would give me a full day in Shanghai, and I can even leave for the airport after an early dinner. Interested to know of this flight's departure and arrival punctuality.

i have not, sorry.

percysmith Nov 24, 2024 7:47 pm


Originally Posted by QRC3288 (Post 36692558)
(or even Sapphire)

Phew. I'm set to head that way in Apr 2025.

Last time I dealt with a CX involuntary downgrade was 2017. The pax was a CX/OW nobody with AM redemption J tix.

VE105 Nov 24, 2024 9:01 pm


Originally Posted by Fly Me To The Moon (Post 36694638)
That's a good point; thanks. Fortunately, I can go through e-channel, only have check-in luggage 50/50% of the time, and will either grab my car from parking or arrange our driver for pick up.

I am tempted to try the CX 327 next month.

e-channel also had long queue as they only opened 1 area out of the 2. But it's bearable (5-8 min queue vs normally no wait) while taxi was 20min vs normally <5min. So if you don't need to rely on public transport like me I think you could give it a try :D

VE105 Nov 24, 2024 9:11 pm


Originally Posted by cxwaterboy (Post 36694186)
I didn't realise you could ask ID staff to move. I would assume in the worst-case scenario, they would be IDB. Row 23 is very nice and I'm not surprised they chose that.


I'm not familiar with the matter but I think duty travel crew has high priority than ID. Anyway, they msut have already checked-in when I booked my ticket so system only got me 11D/G.


Originally Posted by cxwaterboy (Post 36694186)
At least they aren't like some US/Europe airlines that don't load enough meals. You'd be quite surprised what they can see on that iPad of doom. A crew member once told me they gather a lot of data to identify their key customers. For example, if you buy a lot of duty-free on board, the crew might come around to hard-sell you.

But on a DM heavy flight I'd expect them to load at least 15x3. Imagine the pressure on the cabin crew when they have to tell more than 1 DM sorry your meal choice is not available.

I was told by an ISM they knew I'm a "good" pax due to always give good marks in survey :D so of course they'd know if you are a "demanding" pax!


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