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Originally Posted by tedhl
(Post 11782767)
this is interesting, I never knew about this :confused:. I used to get upgrade from J to F like 50%+ of the time on my KA PVG/PEK flights (not now anymore as J is quite empty usually and I'm traveling Y more often on these flights as well).
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Originally Posted by christep
(Post 11783122)
The normal collective wisdom of the people here is that asking for op-ups on CX almost never improves your chances, and very often decreases them.
However, my personal experiences when checking in at the gate is that when people ask for op-ups the agents usually says "I'll see what I can do" and unless I'm very lucky it seems most of the time the agents says "congrats, you've been op-up." Now, I don't know if I keep bumping into Diamonds but I see plenty of times when people asked for op-ups they get them. Of course, so far I've been 0 for 3 when I do ask for op-ups, so maybe I'm just a lowly Silver and asking them for op-ups is insulting them. |
Originally Posted by cxfan1960
(Post 11783154)
Even Y is not that full anymore. I was in Y on a PVG-HKG flight. The flight was originally overbooked (every booking class, including J, was zeroed out about a day earlier). However, the two seats next to me were unoccupied.
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Originally Posted by Cathay Boy
(Post 11785034)
Of course, so far I've been 0 for 3 when I do ask for op-ups, so maybe I'm just a lowly Silver and asking them for op-ups is insulting them.
Of course, there were also cases where the check-in agents just informed me that there would be no op-ups but ended up got upgraded at the gates (at least 3 times, including a long-haul to LAX). |
Was denied a birthday upgrade from HKG-LHR, J-F. Asked at check-in and asked at the Lounge. A short while after, a rep came over to tell me they couldn't give me the upgrade.
Was granted an upgrade at check in on another birthday from TPE-HKG, Y-J. Guess it really depends... |
Originally Posted by Mafai
(Post 11793352)
Was denied a birthday upgrade from HKG-LHR, J-F. Asked at check-in and asked at the Lounge. A short while after, a rep came over to tell me they couldn't give me the upgrade.
Was granted an upgrade at check in on another birthday from TPE-HKG, Y-J. Guess it really depends... Second, J to F is asking a lot from CX. For a company that's already stingy on upgrades J to F is asking a lot. |
Originally Posted by Mafai
(Post 11793352)
Was denied a birthday upgrade from HKG-LHR, J-F. Asked at check-in and asked at the Lounge. A short while after, a rep came over to tell me they couldn't give me the upgrade.
Guess it really depends... |
No chance
Given that, if the senior purser knows and her crew was very nice. They asked me why I didn't tell them earlier since I told them mid-flight during a LAX-HKG when my b/d was pasted sometime during the flight due to the time different. They gave me a birthday card with everyone's signature. :)
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Originally Posted by Cathay Boy
(Post 11794571)
First off TPE-HKG is very easily upgraded with or without the birthday.
Second, J to F is asking a lot from CX. For a company that's already stingy on upgrades J to F is asking a lot. It is not offically given out, and when given, is only at the courtesy of the check in agent / station manager. CX is also one of the most generous airlines around in terms of op ups. Go and compare it with SQ for example. Secondly, it is better to be surprised when they do give it to you. Once you start asking for it, it puts pressure on the staff. Remember that it is a courtesy and not a right. So what is going to happen now with people asking left right and centre? CX might very well go the way of SQ - and cancel all op ups altogether. SO.... just wait and let it happen. If it does, thank them and your lucky stars for the wonderful gift you are receiving. But once you and everyone else starts asking for it, then see this perk gets removed entirely.
Originally Posted by Theaser
(Post 11782698)
You should ask for an op-up, they don't check for birthdays for each passenger.
....
Originally Posted by Cathay Boy
Of course, so far I've been 0 for 3 when I do ask for op-ups, so maybe I'm just a lowly Silver and asking them for op-ups is insulting them.
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Well said Guy Betsy.
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I flew J on my birthday every year since 06 from London to Hong Kong and I got op-uped every time. I never asked for it. 1st time was unexpected but 2nd and 3rd time were planned.
I am not saying that you will definitely get op-uped by flying on your birthday with CX. I am just sharing what has happened to me. By the way, I was on Gold status only on all 3 occasions. |
no guarantees but...
Last year NRT-HKG and this year HKG-AMS... both cases at check-in, ground staff specifically mentioning my birthday and the card signed by all staff on board. |
Originally Posted by Guy Betsy
(Post 11796787)
CX does not upgrade people on their birthdays! Period.
It is not offically given out, and when given, is only at the courtesy of the check in agent / station manager. CX is also one of the most generous airlines around in terms of op ups. Go and compare it with SQ for example. Secondly, it is better to be surprised when they do give it to you. Once you start asking for it, it puts pressure on the staff. Remember that it is a courtesy and not a right. So what is going to happen now with people asking left right and centre? CX might very well go the way of SQ - and cancel all op ups altogether. SO.... just wait and let it happen. If it does, thank them and your lucky stars for the wonderful gift you are receiving. But once you and everyone else starts asking for it, then see this perk gets removed entirely. Remember - if you ask for it, your chances gets lowered immediately! If the flight is oversold, CX will have processed your op up even before you would have asked. That's with any Oneworld elite status.. , not only MPC. But remember the pecking order. One thng is for sure is that I feel strongly about upgrades being only given for payment of money or miles and top tiers memeber only for free upgrades, I find it very upsetting knowing how much I spend of my own money to fly well over 250 000 miles a year up front and to have some pimply faced geek next to me bragging about how he only paid $300 for his ticket, he then spends the whole flight playing with all the buttons, asking for every single freebie available and stuffs as many souveniers into his bag as he can |
Originally Posted by bizclassboy
(Post 11895608)
to have some pimply faced geek next to me bragging about how he only paid $300 for his ticket, he then spends the whole flight playing with all the buttons, asking for every single freebie available and stuffs as many souveniers into his bag as he can
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Originally Posted by bizclassboy
(Post 11895608)
You have to bear in mind that most of the posters on here only dream of flying in C or F and will do anything possible to get a sniff of an upgrade, I am sure that goes for SG forum as well. A lot of the stories you read on here are very BUMPED up - pardon the punn, and a lot of the posters who make out they know everyting there is to know about flying premium class, know it from actually reading it on here no by flying it.
One thng is for sure is that I feel strongly about upgrades being only given for payment of money or miles and top tiers memeber only for free upgrades, I find it very upsetting knowing how much I spend of my own money to fly well over 250 000 miles a year up front and to have some pimply faced geek next to me bragging about how he only paid $300 for his ticket, he then spends the whole flight playing with all the buttons, asking for every single freebie available and stuffs as many souveniers into his bag as he can Also it's about maximizing profit. Airlines are slowly founding out every cent counts. In the past airlines like Cathay do act like SG airline, filter out the "unwanted" elements from their business and first class. However, airlines start to realize, hey, why leave empty seats for nothing when you can make a few thousand dollars off of it? Finally, op-up is good for them in the long run. There's a saying, once you've experience something better you can't go back. Many people I know never dream about flying J, but got op-up, and are now loyal customers simply because they want to accumulate miles and use mileage upgrade. Whereas in the past they are strictly cheap fliers that look for cheapest tickets. |
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