Oct 29, 2013, 4:27 am
Last edit by: ZZ100
Is it possible to buy a (cheap) upgrade on Cathay Pacific upon check-in?
The short answer is no.
Cathay, as a general rule, does not allow you to purchase last minute upgrades if there are empty seats in Y+, J or F. The only way to upgrade a ticket is to pay the fare difference between your current ticket, and an available fare class in the higher cabins. Note that if your current ticket has restrictions (cancellation fees, non-refundable) these still apply.
There are been stories of people who have been offered cheap upgrades by Cathay, but this is more an exception than a common occurrence.
If I upgrade my ticket using asia miles, do I still earn miles?
Yes, you will earn miles for the original fare class that you booked, not the upgraded cabin.
How do I get a free upgrade / operational upgrade (op-up)?
Cathay Pacific does not upgrade passengers just because there are empty seats in higher classes. Upgrades will only occur where there is overbooking in lower classes.
The order of upgrades when required is believed to be:
I am travelling on an award ticket. Will I still be considered for a free upgrade?
Yes - there are many stories of passengers on award tickets, or who upgraded a class using miles, getting (additional) upgrades.
What happens if the aircraft has 4 or 3 cabins, but is only selling Business and Economy seats?
It is likely if you have Marco Polo status, and to a lesser extent oneworld status, you may be able to sit in either First Class seats (if booked in J) or Premium Economy (if booked in Y) with service of the original cabin. There doesn't appear to be consistency yet as to how these semi-upgrades are allocated. Some people have been able to choose seats in the higher cabin during online check-in, or some will get them on request at check-in. However, there is no entitlement to these seats.
Will I get an upgrade on my Birthday, or for my membership anniversary, or for reaching xx number of lifetime club miles?
Please see this link for members' experience with these kinds of upgrades: Marco Polo Anniversary Upgrades
I want to use Asia Miles to upgrade a BA flight. How do I do this?
As of 22 June 2018, it is no longer possible to upgrade BA flights with Asia Miles.
How do I upgrade a CX flight using miles?
If you already have issued your original ticket:
If you have not made any booking yet, and you want to check availability:
If you don't receive a new e-ticket before departure, call up Marco Polo club to double check if the upgrade has been issued.
The short answer is no.
Cathay, as a general rule, does not allow you to purchase last minute upgrades if there are empty seats in Y+, J or F. The only way to upgrade a ticket is to pay the fare difference between your current ticket, and an available fare class in the higher cabins. Note that if your current ticket has restrictions (cancellation fees, non-refundable) these still apply.
There are been stories of people who have been offered cheap upgrades by Cathay, but this is more an exception than a common occurrence.
If I upgrade my ticket using asia miles, do I still earn miles?
Yes, you will earn miles for the original fare class that you booked, not the upgraded cabin.
How do I get a free upgrade / operational upgrade (op-up)?
Cathay Pacific does not upgrade passengers just because there are empty seats in higher classes. Upgrades will only occur where there is overbooking in lower classes.
The order of upgrades when required is believed to be:
- VIP (Heads of State, Government Bodies, or Canto Pop/Movie stars)
- CX Diamond Plus
- CX Diamond Invitation, Diamond
- CX Gold
- CX management staff on travel duty
- oneworld Emerald
- CX staff on duty nominees , other airline staff nominees, CX staff on personal travel
- oneworld Sapphire
- CX Silver
- oneworld Ruby
- CX Green
- Asia Miles
- Non status
I am travelling on an award ticket. Will I still be considered for a free upgrade?
Yes - there are many stories of passengers on award tickets, or who upgraded a class using miles, getting (additional) upgrades.
What happens if the aircraft has 4 or 3 cabins, but is only selling Business and Economy seats?
It is likely if you have Marco Polo status, and to a lesser extent oneworld status, you may be able to sit in either First Class seats (if booked in J) or Premium Economy (if booked in Y) with service of the original cabin. There doesn't appear to be consistency yet as to how these semi-upgrades are allocated. Some people have been able to choose seats in the higher cabin during online check-in, or some will get them on request at check-in. However, there is no entitlement to these seats.
Will I get an upgrade on my Birthday, or for my membership anniversary, or for reaching xx number of lifetime club miles?
Please see this link for members' experience with these kinds of upgrades: Marco Polo Anniversary Upgrades
I want to use Asia Miles to upgrade a BA flight. How do I do this?
As of 22 June 2018, it is no longer possible to upgrade BA flights with Asia Miles.
How do I upgrade a CX flight using miles?
If you already have issued your original ticket:
- Try upgrading using Manage My Booking on the website (not always successful)
- If self-service doesn't work, try calling Marco Polo hotline to check availability
- If there is availability, you will need to issue the upgrade immediately to secure it. They may give you a few days grace before isssuing the upgrade, but this is now rarely given.
- In a few days, or longer if they are busy, your miles will be deducted, and you will be emailed a new e-ticket with the upgrade class details on it, and your online booking for your original booking class will disappear.
If you have not made any booking yet, and you want to check availability:
- Call Marco Polo club to check for availability on the flights/dates you want, or check for normal redemption availability on the website.
- Book a revenue ticket in the class of service for which you will be paying. Do NOT do this via the website -- call a CX telephone sales number/travel agent.
- Put the booking on hold.
- Call the Marco Polo/Asia Miles Service Center. Have them book the upgrade and give you a deadline to have the ticket issued. (It's usually about 72 hours).
- Have telephone sales/travel agent issue your revenue ticket.
- Call Marco Polo/Asia Miles back. Give them the revenue ticket number against the PNR and ask them to issue your upgrade.
- In about two or three days, you'll get a new ticket with the upgrade showing.
If you don't receive a new e-ticket before departure, call up Marco Polo club to double check if the upgrade has been issued.
The Ultimate Upgrade Question thread
Aug 28, 2016, 8:06 am
#496
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
Aug 28, 2016, 8:49 am
#497
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
Aug 28, 2016, 9:10 am
#499
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
while there are some AA knowledgeable folks in here, the AA forum is probably the right spot for these questions for the two of you. Practically, from Asia Miles / Cathay point of view, of course this (the act of getting an upgrade) is possible...just enter your Asia Miles # at booking and use AM to upgrade the ticket. Provided you're in the proper fare class (W/R) and redemption availability is there, it will process. However, I suspect your question is more "will I still get AA points for my underlying fare class when I do this", and whether or not the AA system will give you the points for the underlying fare class, or the systems will conspire to screw you over.
You'll definitely be able to strip the CX MPC/Asia Miles number from the booking once you're confirmed and ticketed, and presumably can add your AA number. However, whether or not AA mucks it up afterwards is another story and probably a question for that forum. Even if you strip the FF #, I've seen reports in here where the original program that was stripped is still credited, even though you changed the FF #. I am not sure what AA's systems are like in this situation.
You'll definitely be able to strip the CX MPC/Asia Miles number from the booking once you're confirmed and ticketed, and presumably can add your AA number. However, whether or not AA mucks it up afterwards is another story and probably a question for that forum. Even if you strip the FF #, I've seen reports in here where the original program that was stripped is still credited, even though you changed the FF #. I am not sure what AA's systems are like in this situation.
Aug 28, 2016, 7:18 pm
#500
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
AA's system seems to process partner upgrades reasonably well. Though the QF points upgrade was a while ago. The CX OPups (AA number entered at the gate) processed fine a bit over a year ago.
Always keep your BPs until the miles credit (properly) while wandering
Fred
Always keep your BPs until the miles credit (properly) while wandering
Fred
Aug 29, 2016, 12:49 pm
#501
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: SBA
Programs: UA & AA 1 million miler
Posts: 1,134
AA's system seems to process partner upgrades reasonably well. Though the QF points upgrade was a while ago. The CX OPups (AA number entered at the gate) processed fine a bit over a year ago.
Always keep your BPs until the miles credit (properly) while wandering
Fred
Always keep your BPs until the miles credit (properly) while wandering
Fred
Aug 29, 2016, 5:54 pm
#502
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: country Western Australia
Programs: QF SG(LTS) - AA LTG(1MM)
Posts: 2,771
Happy wandering
Fred
Sep 11, 2016, 9:39 pm
#503
Join Date: Jul 2001
Posts: 271
Here's a new one that I haven't seen asked... if a KA flight is booked with a CX flight number (like for example CX5802 HKG-PVG operated by Cathay Dragon) can you still upgrade with Asia Miles? Marco Polo service center is telling me no (this is part of a LAX-HKG-PVG itinerary in D upgrading to F -- they say that only the transpacific can be upgraded unless the KA leg was booked with the KA flight number). Is this right or should I go the call again until I get a knowledgable agent route?
Thanks!
744
Thanks!
744
Sep 11, 2016, 10:21 pm
#504
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
Here's a new one that I haven't seen asked... if a KA flight is booked with a CX flight number (like for example CX5802 HKG-PVG operated by Cathay Dragon) can you still upgrade with Asia Miles? Marco Polo service center is telling me no (this is part of a LAX-HKG-PVG itinerary in D upgrading to F -- they say that only the transpacific can be upgraded unless the KA leg was booked with the KA flight number). Is this right or should I go the call again until I get a knowledgable agent route?
Thanks!
744
Thanks!
744
Done it plenty of times. Technically they'll have to change you to all be one "airline"....but just bother the MPC agent and they can contact reservations and do it for you while you're on the phone. It's the same thing with companion awards....both must be under either KA or CX flight #, but not one and the other. (CX+CX and KA+KA are both valid. CX+KA are not). It's a dumb legacy systems thing they haven't integrated yet or are too lazy to do. Tell them to switch you to either the CX or KA flight # so all your segments are the same.
Just did this two weeks ago. And many times before that.
Sep 12, 2016, 8:32 am
#505
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: AA Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2
I flew HKG to JFK recently on a non-AA earning fare code but was upgraded to premium economy... Does anyone know if it's possible to now earn AA miles for the flight? Or is it based on what your booked code was?
Also, where the heck is the ticket number on the Cathay boarding pass? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills and can't find it.
Also, where the heck is the ticket number on the Cathay boarding pass? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills and can't find it.
Sep 12, 2016, 8:37 am
#506
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
I flew HKG to JFK recently on a non-AA earning fare code but was upgraded to premium economy... Does anyone know if it's possible to now earn AA miles for the flight? Or is it based on what your booked code was?
Also, where the heck is the ticket number on the Cathay boarding pass? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills and can't find it.
Also, where the heck is the ticket number on the Cathay boarding pass? I feel like I'm taking crazy pills and can't find it.
1) you paid the fare difference between your fare code and PE
2) you upgraded using Asia Miles beforehand/at check in
3) you were operationally upgraded for free as a result of economy being overbooked
for 1) you will get the miles. For 2) and 3), no AA miles. I'm sure PE was enjoyable however!
Sep 12, 2016, 9:09 am
#507
Join Date: Sep 2016
Programs: AA Gold, SPG Gold
Posts: 2
Ahhh okay yup it was #3. Good to know, thanks a bunch!
And yeah, I've flown business a number of times but didn't expect premium econ to be as significantly nicer than normal coach as it was. Def made the flight much more pleasant.
And yeah, I've flown business a number of times but didn't expect premium econ to be as significantly nicer than normal coach as it was. Def made the flight much more pleasant.
By 'upgrade', you mean either
1) you paid the fare difference between your fare code and PE
2) you upgraded using Asia Miles beforehand/at check in
3) you were operationally upgraded for free as a result of economy being overbooked
for 1) you will get the miles. For 2) and 3), no AA miles. I'm sure PE was enjoyable however!
1) you paid the fare difference between your fare code and PE
2) you upgraded using Asia Miles beforehand/at check in
3) you were operationally upgraded for free as a result of economy being overbooked
for 1) you will get the miles. For 2) and 3), no AA miles. I'm sure PE was enjoyable however!
Nov 27, 2016, 12:29 am
#508
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
op-up when cabin's not full
I've just got op-uped to J from PEY last night HKG-SYD. Received email from expertflyer about seat change at -2 hours. However, it still shows as 8J 1W 9Y at -1 hour, and there are still 2 seats empty (unselected) at PEY section.
Is this a normal practise for CX to op-up someone so they can free 1 seat at the lower cabin just in case?
Is this a normal practise for CX to op-up someone so they can free 1 seat at the lower cabin just in case?
Nov 27, 2016, 1:00 am
#509
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
I've just got op-uped to J from PEY last night HKG-SYD. Received email from expertflyer about seat change at -2 hours. However, it still shows as 8J 1W 9Y at -1 hour, and there are still 2 seats empty (unselected) at PEY section.
Is this a normal practise for CX to op-up someone so they can free 1 seat at the lower cabin just in case?
Is this a normal practise for CX to op-up someone so they can free 1 seat at the lower cabin just in case?
* The 1W might just be J being sold as W at the last few hours, in which case W was already oversold. They were op-upping W passengers before boarding.
* There might be Y->W instant upgrades that hadn't been processed, and they had to op-up W passengers to make room for such upgrades.
* Or perhaps others...
It is difficult to imagine CX op-upping passengers for no reason.
Nov 27, 2016, 1:23 am
#510
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: ORD [formerly] + HKG
Programs: CX Diamond, AA exExPlat, BAEC exGold, HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Starriott Titanium, GE
Posts: 2,966
That can be one of the followings:
* The 1W might just be J being sold as W at the last few hours, in which case W was already oversold. They were op-upping W passengers before boarding.
* There might be Y->W instant upgrades that hadn't been processed, and they had to op-up W passengers to make room for such upgrades.
* Or perhaps others...
It is difficult to imagine CX op-upping passengers for no reason.
* The 1W might just be J being sold as W at the last few hours, in which case W was already oversold. They were op-upping W passengers before boarding.
* There might be Y->W instant upgrades that hadn't been processed, and they had to op-up W passengers to make room for such upgrades.
* Or perhaps others...
It is difficult to imagine CX op-upping passengers for no reason.