It's true that only when u have tried business-class (and my case, it's from op-up), that u will start to consider paying for the discounted business-class fares from your own pocket. In the past few years, I only paid for some D-class short-haul fare to TPE (on TG) and one F-class to PVG (on KA); and that too after I enjoyed the benefits of several short and long-haul op-ups.

Only this year that I started paying for short-haul D-class fares to SIN and long-haul I-class fares to CDG; both on CX. And this is good for CX as the trend will continue as long as I find the fares value-for-money. In fact, I am planning for another ex-TPE D-class fare to DPS and LHR this summer (if my schedule permits).

Not everyone is blessed with a company that can pay or rich enough to pay for premium class travel everytime he/she travels. But op-ups certainly induce one to pay for premum class travel (esp for long-haul) once u taste the benefits and exclusivity of premium class travel.

exactly, and that was probably why CX changed thier rules and only allow the more expensive fare class YBHK to redeem mileage upgrade.

I haven't issued any upgrades from Y to J since they introduced the YBHK restriction. For me, I couldn't justify the fare difference. On the routes I frequent, K class is at least 30% more expensive and in terms of fare rules there is no difference at all between K and V class.

Much of this is due to the fact that I could get guaranteed seats but I wonder if any DM/GOs are in the same boat? I'm going to use my miles to upgrade from J to F instead...

On CX you need I class not D class, huge difference in price not so much in fare rules etc

Some I-fares might not be available (in my case the TPE-SIN-TPE), so, D-fares are the most economical available. I managed to grab I-class for TPE-CDG-TPE. For my "possible" (still not confirmed yet) upcoming trips to DPS and LHR, apparently, only D-fares are available (the last time I checked).

This doesn't make a lot of sense to me. CX's op-ups, are just that, operational upgrades. They do it or else they (1) have to bump people and/or (2) can't (over)book as many seats. Either seem to be a less-than-optimal way of running an airline. CX's opups seem infrequent enough that I can't for the life of me think anyone out there buys down a cabin class expecting a free upgrade, so they're not risking the revenue integrity of the premium cabins by doing this.

Would SQ rather IDB a passenger and pay compensation than upgrade someone (usually a high level elite, on an expensive ticket)? That seems pretty stupid to me. Does SQ have to report IDB statistics to some authority, like the US carriers must?

I will try to ask for an Op-up from Y to J on my return flight YVR-HKG CX 839(34D) this week.
I'll be travelling with my mother and aunt, total 3 person.Do you think i will get any chance of getting op-upped?

Should i do online check-in or counter check-in, which one i stand a greater chance for an OP-UP ?:p

SQ purposely do this and realize they loses a few thousands bucks here and there. However, their primary goal is to establish "an atmosphere" - they purpose wants to make sure it's only Business management that rides in J, and super rich at F. That's their selling point. And judging by a few arrogant posts in here, there are people that like it this way and wishes CX would follow suit.

Ah. they could do whatever they want. Right now I have moved the trips I can decide to other airlines, burn CX miles on other airlines, well, and perhaps think of ways to spend less miles on awards. (Eg. LHR-AMS on BA, AMS-HKG on CX, HKG-KIX on whoever, OSA/TYO-LHR on JL, all together for 115000 miles, which happens to be less than the 120000 CX was asking for for LHR-HKG+ a destination some 1600miles from HKG)

Yes, I'm proud to have CX as HKG's mother airline, but I cannot yet afford to pay the extra just to get on the CX plane. btw, i've paid less, had more flexibility, and managed to get on NZ's PE class oneway. I didnt even had to beg for an opup!

sealalula

Are you flying on your birthday?
Depending on your marco polo/oneworld status, asking for an upgrade at checkin will not result in any upgrades. Usually the system has pre-determined passengers with status as opup, if the flight is full. Though there is still a chance at the boarding gate.

online checkin will improve your chances of any opup, but marco polo status is still king.

Good luck asking for the upgrades at check in, especially if you are asking for 3 opup for the 3 passengers traveling together.

Um, can't anyone use miles to get into J or even F? By prioritizing op-ups by elite status and/or fare class, they can pretty easily keep the riff-raff out of the premium cabins. Still seems like a stupid strategy to me.

your chances are pretty slim since its still mid june and Y doesn't look too full. plus you have three people traveling together. your lucky if one of you gets op-upped, imo three is just pushing it :rolleyes: but you never know, it might be your lucky day ;)

If you're trying to claim that SQ never upgrades people for operational reasons (i.e. overbooking) and prefers to IDB those people instead, I'm sorry but that would be a false statement.

Even at SIN, let alone outstations where they are under much less pressure to stick to rules, I have seen direct evidence of operational upgrades. I.e. standing next to the gate while waiting to sort out an issue where at least 5 people's BP beeped and a new one was spitted out in a higher class.

The reason why you don't see vast numbers of operational upgrades on SQ is because they do not overbook to such high margins as other airlines. It's not because they IDB'd the overbooked passengers.

To be honest, your post reads as though you might have some axe to grind with SQ more than anything else.

To be equally honest, I have no such axe, and you shouldn't guess other people's motives, that's a sure sign of arrogance. If you like what you read, follow suit. If you don't, refute it like the way you just did, no need to add your unwarranted commentary.

I have flown SQ a few times, and I have nothing to grind with them. In fact I think their FAs are the friendliest ever, and I chatted up one easily.

I am simply posting what some who few SQ regularly tells me, and how they like to fly SQ J/F vs. other airlines because SQ seems to provide the best J/F atmosphere (i.e. making sure Business Class is truly BUSINESS class.) That is a fact, merely pointing out one exception like you did does not refute or settle this debate one bit, your condescenting tone at the end not withstanding.

People on these forums sometimes really need to chill out a bit.

Hmm well, i dont think i will be asking for an op-up as my chances look slim.
But i will try to sneak into J when no one is looking hehe
Like i did it last time :P