Can I get transferred onto an earlier Dragonair flight?
Aug 8, 2017, 11:12 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: The people's republic of Glasgow
Programs: British Airways
Posts: 70
Can I get transferred onto an earlier Dragonair flight?
Good day all,
This Sunday, I'll be travelling on Dragonair flight KA803 PVG to HKG leaving at 11:40 and then onwards to Melbourne. Unfortunately due to reasons outwith my control, I will be arriving at the airport at 5am. Provided that there are available seats on an earlier flight, what is the likelihood of being transferred to an earlier flight if I check in early? I realise I could pay to change it, but I cannot justify the cost!
Many thanks in advance.
This Sunday, I'll be travelling on Dragonair flight KA803 PVG to HKG leaving at 11:40 and then onwards to Melbourne. Unfortunately due to reasons outwith my control, I will be arriving at the airport at 5am. Provided that there are available seats on an earlier flight, what is the likelihood of being transferred to an earlier flight if I check in early? I realise I could pay to change it, but I cannot justify the cost!
Many thanks in advance.
Aug 8, 2017, 11:16 am
#2
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
Yes you normally can. PVG operates like a bus terminal generally ie whoever comes can get on as soon as possible subject to availability. Don't worry about it!
Aug 8, 2017, 11:41 am
#3
Suspended
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: 0°48′24″N 176°36′59″W
Programs: Taiwan is a country.
Posts: 1,206
very very likely..
Due to ongoing delays in PVG... outside CX/KA control.. they love to move Pax with connections to earliest flight. Reckon you'll be just fine.
Unless an award ticket.. which can sometimes.. not always.. be problematic.
*spelling
Due to ongoing delays in PVG... outside CX/KA control.. they love to move Pax with connections to earliest flight. Reckon you'll be just fine.
Unless an award ticket.. which can sometimes.. not always.. be problematic.
*spelling
Aug 8, 2017, 5:49 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
Normally you should be fine, however it seems flights are getting close to full load that morning. Maybe it's worth checking out loading the night before again.
Aug 8, 2017, 8:37 pm
#5
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: The people's republic of Glasgow
Programs: British Airways
Posts: 70
Thanks for the replies - this is giving me some hope! It doesn't have to be the first flight out of PVG, but an earlier departure would definitely be great. How do I check the loads on the flights?
Aug 8, 2017, 8:59 pm
#6
Join Date: Nov 2012
Posts: 60
If you dont have special apps like EF (?), do a dummy booking on CX website. If they are still selling the early flights you wanted without denotation of "only X available", then there should be tickets left.
Aug 8, 2017, 9:00 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
If you were only after one seat, you could also check at CX website to see if any seats are still available for sale.
You could also request a load check here and I am sure someone will reply within couple of hours.
Aug 12, 2017, 3:38 am
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: The people's republic of Glasgow
Programs: British Airways
Posts: 70
So that's the night before! I've checked the app be there still seems to be seats for sale on KA857/871, but I was wondering if someone could do a load check for me just in case I have any issues tomorrow? I don't have access to a PC at the moment and I'm just using my phone for everything, so I was hoping for some help in checking! 
Aug 12, 2017, 4:08 am
#9
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
KA857 A320 J0 C0 D0 I0 Y1 B1 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
KA871 A321 J9 C9 D9 I9 Y2 B1 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
KA831 A333 J4 C4 D3 I3 Y2 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
CX365 A333 J2 C2 D2 I2 Y9 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
The loading seems high in Y for the first 3 KA flights.
KA871 A321 J9 C9 D9 I9 Y2 B1 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
KA831 A333 J4 C4 D3 I3 Y2 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
CX365 A333 J2 C2 D2 I2 Y9 B0 H0 K0 M0 L0 V0 S0 N0 Q0 O0
The loading seems high in Y for the first 3 KA flights.
Aug 12, 2017, 4:41 am
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2016
Location: The people's republic of Glasgow
Programs: British Airways
Posts: 70
Thanks for checking! I'm not sure what the numbers mean - my guess is that the first two flights there is only one seat free, then two seats free on the third?
Aug 12, 2017, 6:24 am
#11
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
J number means how many seats the airline can sell for Business class, regardless ticket price. Y numbers means seats left for sale for Economy.
Which cabin will you be in?
Which cabin will you be in?
Jan 22, 2018, 4:54 pm
#14
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: CX
Posts: 211
If there's space permitted (after all the endless DM's ahead), have anyone EVER been turned down to for a earlier standby given their ticket's restriction? I understand the answer is generally no, but curious if anyone ever been turned down. And if so what was the ticket type?
Harm would be waiting landside vs being at a lounge.
Harm would be waiting landside vs being at a lounge.
Jan 22, 2018, 5:54 pm
#15
Join Date: Nov 2017
Programs: CX DM, BA Gold
Posts: 135
PVG is regardless of fare type i believe.
PEK enforces ticket type quite strictly I believe (I've seen pax paying to be moved to earlier flight). But it can be a different story during massive summer IRROPS i guess.
PEK enforces ticket type quite strictly I believe (I've seen pax paying to be moved to earlier flight). But it can be a different story during massive summer IRROPS i guess.