Upgrade certificate following involuntary downgrade
Jun 24, 2019, 12:58 am
#16
Join Date: Jun 2001
Location: Bangkok/Singapore
Programs: Frantic Hilton/Marriott runs
Posts: 926
Bumping this thread, is there a restriction against using these upgrade certificates on an award flight?
I don't see any terms on the voucher specifying that the original flight must be on a certain booking class.
I don't see any terms on the voucher specifying that the original flight must be on a certain booking class.
Jun 24, 2019, 2:06 am
#17
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: Vancouver, Manila, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong
Programs: CX-DM, Marriott Gold, Fairmont Premier
Posts: 335
Jun 24, 2019, 2:32 am
#18
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: ZOA, SFO, HKG
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I believe that certificate is a A-card, which is not really an upgrade certificate (Note - CX does award upgrade certificates to MPC elite above certain threshold).
The A-card is space available only. You will get upgraded when there is an actual seat available (Note - PEY is considered as a separate class of service).
The A-card also comes with other perks. But since you are a BA Silver, they are pretty much meaningless to you.
The A-card also comes with other perks. But since you are a BA Silver, they are pretty much meaningless to you.
Jun 24, 2019, 3:16 am
#19
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
I personally value them slightly more than points upgrade, as they can do E -> J or OSQN -> PEY upgrades. And you can use them after knowing that you would not get an op-up.
However, they are also quit hard to use, if you want to get a good value out of it. I have been trying to use one for the last six months, and every single time the upper class was full, once even sold the last J seat at -1 hour.
However, they are also quit hard to use, if you want to get a good value out of it. I have been trying to use one for the last six months, and every single time the upper class was full, once even sold the last J seat at -1 hour.
Jun 24, 2019, 7:23 am
#20
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Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
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I believe that certificate is a A-card, which is not really an upgrade certificate (Note - CX does award upgrade certificates to MPC elite above certain threshold).
The A-card is space available only. You will get upgraded when there is an actual seat available (Note - PEY is considered as a separate class of service).
The A-card also comes with other perks. But since you are a BA Silver, they are pretty much meaningless to you.
The A-card is space available only. You will get upgraded when there is an actual seat available (Note - PEY is considered as a separate class of service).
The A-card also comes with other perks. But since you are a BA Silver, they are pretty much meaningless to you.
I don't remember the small print, but I think that they do not require that the ticket be a paid ticket.
The question of the priority order for upgrade is a different one.
Jun 24, 2019, 10:55 pm
#21
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: YYZ
Programs: CX GO, AC Aeroplan 25K, AMEX PLAT, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium, IHG Spire Amb
Posts: 464
About half a year later my waitlist from PEY to J from YVR to HKG didn't clear so I was pretty stressed calling in frequently to see if any J seats opened up but to no avail. Once getting to YVR I asked the check in if I could upgrade with points and she said there's no availability for upgrading with points. Then I pulled out the upgrade certs and gave it to her, she made a few calls, and my wife and I had 2 J seats from YVR to HKG.
I guess certs have higher priority than points. I could have been really lucky though.
Same thing also happened from HKG to BNE.
.
I guess certs have higher priority than points. I could have been really lucky though.
Same thing also happened from HKG to BNE.
.
I wonder what the official policy is.
Sep 15, 2019, 9:00 pm
#22
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
I have a quick question - we currently have two certificates due to an operational downgrade. My outbound YYZ-HKG (booked PEY) flight is already down to J2 ten days out so probably no dice on this one, but the return flight is looking more promising however its still just under a month out. Flying on a Tuesday so hopefully that will help.
My question - we are flying SGN-HKG first connecting to HKG-YYZ. Do I request the upgrade at check in at SGN or do I have to hold onto them and ask when we get to HKG?
My question - we are flying SGN-HKG first connecting to HKG-YYZ. Do I request the upgrade at check in at SGN or do I have to hold onto them and ask when we get to HKG?
Sep 16, 2019, 4:53 am
#23
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
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I have a quick question - we currently have two certificates due to an operational downgrade. My outbound YYZ-HKG (booked PEY) flight is already down to J2 ten days out so probably no dice on this one, but the return flight is looking more promising however its still just under a month out. Flying on a Tuesday so hopefully that will help.
My question - we are flying SGN-HKG first connecting to HKG-YYZ. Do I request the upgrade at check in at SGN or do I have to hold onto them and ask when we get to HKG?
My question - we are flying SGN-HKG first connecting to HKG-YYZ. Do I request the upgrade at check in at SGN or do I have to hold onto them and ask when we get to HKG?
If so you will only know if you are upgraded at HK airport.
But you probably want to initiate the procedure when you check in at SGN. However, be very sure that they do understand that you want to upgrade the HKG-YYZ leg, not the SGN-HKG.
Once you arrive in HKG, immediately go to the CX transfer desk to check that they have all the information.
Sep 16, 2019, 12:49 pm
#24
Ambassador: Alaska Airlines
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: BWI
Posts: 7,390
Is your certificate "upgrade at airport"?
If so you will only know if you are upgraded at HK airport.
But you probably want to initiate the procedure when you check in at SGN. However, be very sure that they do understand that you want to upgrade the HKG-YYZ leg, not the SGN-HKG.
Once you arrive in HKG, immediately go to the CX transfer desk to check that they have all the information.
If so you will only know if you are upgraded at HK airport.
But you probably want to initiate the procedure when you check in at SGN. However, be very sure that they do understand that you want to upgrade the HKG-YYZ leg, not the SGN-HKG.
Once you arrive in HKG, immediately go to the CX transfer desk to check that they have all the information.
Obviously if I surrender them at SGN they won’t be able to give it to me in HKG if I don’t clear. I presume they will tell me to surrender them at the gate podium in HKG instead.
Sep 16, 2019, 10:39 pm
#25
Join Date: Dec 2000
Location: HKG
Programs: AA 3MM EXP, SQ Solitaire, LH SEN, CX DM, Hyatt CC, Marriott LT Titanium
Posts: 3,179
I wonder if you can use these certificates at the in town check in the day before... Would they give you the upgrade seat if there is availability at check in, or will need to wait till x number of hours before departure?
Sep 17, 2019, 12:29 am
#26
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Hong Kong, France
Programs: FB , BA Gold
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The way it worked for me is that I show the certificate at check-in and they enter the details in their system.Then I get notified in the lounge or at the gate and they take the certificate. Even if you retained the paper version of the certificate, you could not reuse it as the system knows that it has already been used.