Last year when I booked CX F using AA miles, I remember finding a step by step process on how to use Cathay's online tools. I can't find the reference, nor did I spot it in the FAQ or in this thread. Does anyone know the link to it? Could it be added?

BN online checkin question for FAQ RE op-up
 

Does checking in online set your BN? Since BN is a tie-breaker is it best to check in online at the 48 hours? Does it make a difference if you don't get a boarding pass online but get the boarding pass at the airport?

Excellent thread, thank you everyone!

Yes, OLCI counts in terms of BN (i.e. check-in 48hrs prior = roughly BN1 although some pax with connections at other outports may get it first due to time zone/flight time factors). Yes, it is advisable to check-in at 48hrs for a higher chance of op-up.

If you don't print your boarding pass at OLCI, you can still get it at the airport without any change in your BN.

Special occasion upgrades
 

Thanks Toyotaboy.

Another thing I've seen to add to the FAQ RE op-ups is that they seem to have special occasion op-ups. My first J-F upgrade was the first flight after I made gold status and I saw a comment at the checkin desk passenger printout about my upgrade being recognition for the status change.

I was upgraded on the first flight after I made DM. I did not see the register that time. It was also a necessary Op-op as the flight was completely full and I watched them jockey seats around on expertflyer, including my J seat going free for a moment and the F seat I got being taken. Every seat on the flight was eventually taken. However I don't know if I was selected because of my status change or if I was the highest ranking DM. I am actually probably about the lowest revenue DM getting my miles via TPE and RTWs and there tend to be a lot of DM in J class.

There were three J-F upgrades (not DM me) on my last SFO-HKG flight and one of the very happy recipients said "a birthday upgrade!"

I've only scored one J-F per year and both have been the first flights after my status qualification.

Has anyone else noticed this?

Yes, for me. First op-up was on the day after I joined MPO as GR and on a "hot" route as well, JFK-HKG. I asked MPO earlier if the agents would be aware of my status because I wouldn't have my card in-hand yet and they said they would leave a "note" ;). I guess that did the trick.^

My first long-haul op-up (JFK-HKG) was my first flight as GO. I did ask the desk agent was the flight full and they told me yes. So I'm not sure if it's a status op-up or just lucky regular op-up.

That's exactly me. I try to OLCI ASAP and managed to get 2 long-haul BN1s. So far both BN1s has netted me an op-up.... :p

As you mentioned, BN is a tie-breaker for same tier op-ups. ie. if they had to choose between 2 GOs, in normal circumstances, they'd choose the one with the smaller BN. So yes, many people do check in online right at 48 hrs to maximize their chances. It does not make a difference however, where you get your boarding pass. As I like to collect my BPs, I never print my own, and get them at check-in. I still get op-uped.

I'm looking for up to date/recent info on status matches. I remember seeing something a few months back about being matched to SL status, but I'm considering a switch back to CX as my primary transpac carrier. I would make the switch if they would match my BR Diamond to CX Gold.

You shall ask MPC. It is at their discretion. If you have flown a few sectors on CX/KA lately, that may help. BR's programme is pretty good though.

I'm booked in J on a 74A HKG-DPS-HKG. If I go to CX.com and try to book F tickets, it says 'unavailable'. So it appears after reading this thread, that this is a 3-class aircraft but that the F section will be either closed off entirely or held back for elites to be 'upgraded' into (not really upgrade into F but J service in F seats). Does that sound right?

Yes, that's correct.

2 Questions about online check-in
 

SInce I will be flying for the first time with CX in July and never done an online check-in,

I'm just wondering, I've heard that you don't have to print out your boarding pass, is this right? I would like to check-in online just to make sure that I get my seats, but get the pass at the airport.

I checked the demo on the website:

1: What I'm not sure is, how do I confirm the check-in a the very end of the process without printing the boarding pass?

2: Because I'll be flying to Rome on CX and then with a domestic flight with Alitalia, on the way back, will I be able to still do an online check-in with Cx on my departure from Italy?

I'm sorry about these questions, but I'm just a bit worried that I'll make a mistake, and want to be very sure of what I'm doing.

I never print out my BP. I seldom even bother to print out the confirmation. You simple do OLCI until the end. You can then select to print out the confirmation, the BP, or do nothing.

Yes.

The reason I don't print out the BP is that self-printed BP is annoying when checking in at the gate. The gate agent actually has to check it against a paper print-out instead of just sliding the magnetic bar code, which turns a 2 seconds give-n-go process into a 15 second give-wait-check-go proceed. This is not an upgrade but a downgrade in service in my opinion. Chalk up another IT blunder for CX.