Marco Polo anniversary upgrades on CX/KA
Feb 23, 2018, 7:40 am
#241
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
What I think not normal is I am entitled to lounge as CXGO not as op-up passenger but they failed to recognise that and I know it was easy to deny upgrade but that experience in KUL was the only time they denied to downgrade me back to my original seat, other ports were fine.
You just keep arguing you want your old seat. I've had them push back before. They pretend they're doing you a big favor to upgrade to those awful regional J seats.. it's such a no brainier to stay in coach if you're sitting next to a friend and he/she can't be upgraded, especially given how ho hum the regional J hard product is, and genuinely bad the soft product is. Occasionally you have to drive that point home, to the point of being abrupt and rude and gets awkward. But they will put you back in your original seat eventually. My logic is, I paid for coach for me and my friend to sit together. Splitting us up violates a big reason I bought the ticket to begin with.
Feb 23, 2018, 8:06 am
#242
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
have done so.
they upgraded me once when i was travelling with kids intra asia. i said i want to sit with family, and their attitude was "look u should be happy we upgraded you so shut up and no we not gonna upgrade ur family"
i told them "i dont value your gracious upgrade the same manner other HK publics might so why dont you give it to someone who wants and give me back my old seat with family"... they looked shocked and agrrogantly confused unable to work out why a pleb wont take an upgrades seat!
at least in JAL and ANA they would APOLOGIZE they had to upgrade you... in those cases i say "please dont apologize, i am grateful for your kindness for this change"
point being either party shouldnt expect upgrade occurence or acceptance to be granted
they upgraded me once when i was travelling with kids intra asia. i said i want to sit with family, and their attitude was "look u should be happy we upgraded you so shut up and no we not gonna upgrade ur family"
i told them "i dont value your gracious upgrade the same manner other HK publics might so why dont you give it to someone who wants and give me back my old seat with family"... they looked shocked and agrrogantly confused unable to work out why a pleb wont take an upgrades seat!
at least in JAL and ANA they would APOLOGIZE they had to upgrade you... in those cases i say "please dont apologize, i am grateful for your kindness for this change"
point being either party shouldnt expect upgrade occurence or acceptance to be granted
Feb 23, 2018, 8:09 am
#243
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
I didn't see you were GO. Yea, that's a clear mistake somehow they didn't recognize your status.
You just keep arguing you want your old seat. I've had them push back before. They pretend they're doing you a big favor to upgrade to those awful regional J seats.. it's such a no brainier to stay in coach if you're sitting next to a friend and he/she can't be upgraded, especially given how ho hum the regional J hard product is, and genuinely bad the soft product is. Occasionally you have to drive that point home, to the point of being abrupt and rude and gets awkward. But they will put you back in your original seat eventually. My logic is, I paid for coach for me and my friend to sit together. Splitting us up violates a big reason I bought the ticket to begin with.
You just keep arguing you want your old seat. I've had them push back before. They pretend they're doing you a big favor to upgrade to those awful regional J seats.. it's such a no brainier to stay in coach if you're sitting next to a friend and he/she can't be upgraded, especially given how ho hum the regional J hard product is, and genuinely bad the soft product is. Occasionally you have to drive that point home, to the point of being abrupt and rude and gets awkward. But they will put you back in your original seat eventually. My logic is, I paid for coach for me and my friend to sit together. Splitting us up violates a big reason I bought the ticket to begin with.
For op-ups, there was only once I asked to seat with my travel companion in my original seat, but they upgraded my travel companion to sit with me instead.
Feb 23, 2018, 10:46 pm
#244
Join Date: Oct 2016
Posts: 107
I still remember my very first upgrade by CX when I was still a student at LHR lounge. They asked for my boarding pass and tear it apart without saying anything LOL I was literally shocked until after maybe 30 seconds they handed me a new boarding pass. Maybe no need to apologise but proper notification would be great.
Apr 11, 2018, 7:53 pm
#245
Join Date: Dec 2015
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX DM
Posts: 37
I had been on the WL for an upgrade to J for a few months and even extended it to T-48 but it never cleared (expertflyer was showing reasonable I availability). At T-4 there was availability for straight J redemption on the CX website but when I requested an instant upgrade for myself and my partner at check-in a bit later we were told nothing was available but to check again later....
Once I got to the lounge I asked again and was informed there was a memo on my booking that it was my 5 year anniversary and this milestone had a higher priority than any attempt for a mileage upgrade and I would need to wait until closer to boarding to find out. Luck have it when we got to the gate we were both upgraded to J (even though she was on a separate booking).
This upgrade was approximately 1 week after my 5 year anniversary date.
Once I got to the lounge I asked again and was informed there was a memo on my booking that it was my 5 year anniversary and this milestone had a higher priority than any attempt for a mileage upgrade and I would need to wait until closer to boarding to find out. Luck have it when we got to the gate we were both upgraded to J (even though she was on a separate booking).
This upgrade was approximately 1 week after my 5 year anniversary date.
Jun 11, 2018, 12:48 am
#247
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HK
Programs: Qantas (Lifetime Gold), PAL (Elite), British Airways (now sadly blue), Cathay MPO DM
Posts: 647
I find the comments on travelling with friend hilarious. I travel with my husband all the time and make a point of noting when I check in that "we don't need to sit next to each other if there are better seats available"!
Mar 20, 2019, 7:20 am
#248
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,436
I think you may be right. My anniversary is in mid-February (Asia Miles anniversary in fact, not MPO). I just had my 18th anniversary last month and was upgraded on IAD-HKG-CAN (coincidentally the longest + the shortest flight in the network) for Q to J, and was specifically told that I was upgraded because it was my 18th anniversary. On the other hand, I did not receive any upgrade 2 years ago when I flew in early March (so still within weeks of my 16th anniversary). I did not fly until 5 months after my 14th anniversary and was likewise not upgraded.
Mar 21, 2019, 4:57 am
#250
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,436
My flights were 4-5 days after my anniversary date. You can see your anniversary date on your MPO portal and also on your monthly statement.
Mar 23, 2019, 4:16 am
#251
Join Date: Apr 2018
Programs: CX ows, DL E+
Posts: 188
Mar 23, 2019, 11:25 am
#252
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,436
Apr 9, 2019, 11:39 pm
#253
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: AAdvatage Executive Platinum / Cathay Pacific Marco Polo Club - Green
Posts: 169
Anyone experienced a 20 year upgrade with CX as a green member? My anniversary date is 30th March... am currently booked to fly to LAX on Friday, but I have my AA number in the system... maybe I should switch it back to MPO to see if I get the upgrade. I'm emerald with AA but now only green with CX but have flown over a million club miles.....
Apr 9, 2019, 11:56 pm
#254
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: HKG
Programs: CX Diamond / OWE
Posts: 277
Anyone experienced a 20 year upgrade with CX as a green member? My anniversary date is 30th March... am currently booked to fly to LAX on Friday, but I have my AA number in the system... maybe I should switch it back to MPO to see if I get the upgrade. I'm emerald with AA but now only green with CX but have flown over a million club miles.....
