upgrade
 

Business class upgrade deadline for my upcoming trip to LA on July 9 11pm flight had passed. Notice that econ. class was sold out. What is my chance of getting upgrade at check-in?(either with miles or op-upgrade) I am holding a K class ticket. Did not make silver last year but have AA gold.

What do you mean that your Business Class upgrade deadline has passed? Do you mean that you're on waitlist for Business Class upgrade and you're still not confirmed? But do you have a firm economy class booking?

You need to have a confirmed economy class booking in order to get on the flight. CX will process upgrades based on status. Generally only if economy class is overbooked. Your July 9th booking is still a few days off, so it's still hard to tell till 24 hours prior departure.

CX will upgrade their own top tier members first. Generally, CX Invitation, CX Diamond, CX Gold, other Oneworld Emerald, other Oneworld Sapphire, CX-Silver, AND THEN other Oneworld Ruby. So if you're flashing your AA Gold card, you're quite low on the upgrade list.

I'd say to leave your CX MPC number on file as your chances are better for an op-up than AA Gold.

I totally agree with Guy Betsy. Make sure that your CX Marco Polo Club number is in the booking. It would be even better if you have a status with CX to get an ops upgrade.

Op-up or Miles-up?
 

I agree with Guy Betsy if the original poster were hoping for an op-up. However, it seems that he is hoping to be upgraded using his miles. If that were the scenario, then his chances are only there the flight is not oversold such that CX must op-up econ passengers to bus and occupy all bus class. In other words, chances of miles-upgrade would only exist if there are bus seats left after accomoding op-up passengers in case of oversell.

Thanks for the info. When I called MPC, they told me that my waitlist would expire on July 5 or 6 (if I do not received confirmation of upgrade by that date I will have to request it again during check-in). I have a confirmed econ. booking and using my MPC number. It is interesting that CX will process op-up before miles, it seems more logical to process the miles-up before op-up. Also when CX process their upgrade will they give priorty to fare class or status . What I mean is that will a MPC Silver with a lower fare class ticket get upgrade before me.

That op-ups occur before miles-up is something I have always found strange as well.

I can understand the logic a bit better (still not agreeing entirely) that in the case of op-up vs award-ticket cx gives the former cx priority since it means that cx gets revenue from the lower class fare - as opposed to getting nothing except miles for awards (but miles is also a kind of currency of value!) However, this logic breaks down when it is op-up vs miles-up since in both cases, cx will get revenue for the lower class - and - in case of op-up, cx gets nothing more but in the case of miles-up, cx gets also the miles. Therefore I agree with you that cx should give priority to miles-up as against op-up. In both cases, the plane will carry the same passengers.

CX is holding on to full fare tickets that may have a last minute booking. That is one reason why your upgrade has not gone through. Generally witin 48-72 hours, if those seats are not sold, or if CX thinks that there will be more seats available, your seat will confirm.

CX will process op-ups according to status and when the computer gets to you. I do not know how CX does op-ups in other places other than HK but generally an instruction to op-up is on the passenger PNR when you check in. So yes, maybe CX does see what the booking class is before anything can happen.