Has any one ever been offered a cash upgrade option at check-in when flying Cathay. I'm flying to London mid year in PE and would pay cash to go into J if it was reasonable. I'm also QF Gold atm, do they do much in the way of Op-ups?
I've never heard of this for CX or many airlines at all (United used to do it from Sydney to SFO/LAX, not sure if they still do, and some airlines do it onboard, eg Air Asia X and Scoot). I think your best bet would be using points to upgrade, but if possible just do that on the Hong Kong - London leg, as BNE-HKG is daytime and for that premium economy will be fine. You'd find more value in business class for the longer overight leg from Hong Kong to London.
Michael, unfortunately Cathay doesn't offer this. BA still does. Very low chance of an op-up as a QF Gold, especially with all the Amex complimentary Cathay Diamonds and Golds in Australia. Also, I am sure that David didn't mean to suggest otherwise, but to upgrade with points, they will need to be in an Asia Miles account and not a QF account.
Thanks Guys, I've experience the cash upgrade with BA a few times over the past couple of years hence the question... PE will be sweet all the same, I was just keen to see there new J first hand. Cheers
CX actually does cash upgrades but not for the HKG-LHR route. They do it at YVR and some US outstations from time to time. You may have a slight chance of an op up as PE tends to be overbooked at times and you may be the lucky one especially if you are travelling alone.
David: They typically charge in the range of CAD/USD1,000 Y-J, J-F for CAD 1,900 one-way. That was before PE was introduced. IIRC, they only do it on flights that the premium cabins are relatively empty and Y is pretty full. But I have never seen them offer the cash upgrade option in Australia, HKG or LHR. Staff at HKG are somehow ignorant or in denial that these upgrade occur, I asked about it in HKG and they quoted me the full price difference between J and F which is quite substantial. This is quite similar to the QF cash upgrade option which is pretty elusive.
Ah, so it's more ad hoc based on occupancy... that's how United used to do it out of Sydney too. But $1,000 to go from economy to business class one-way is higher than I expected. Quite a few years ago I was booked on economy with United for SYD-SFO, and when I checked in they offered me an upgrade to business on that leg for something like A$400. Now that was a no-brainer, and because it meant that I could fire up my laptop and write a freelance article en route (one that I was due to do but planned to so in San Fran) I actually came out ahead!
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Cathy Pacific - cash upgrade?
MikeM
MikeM
qantas
Member since 18 Oct 2012
Total posts 71
Cathy Pacific - cash upgrade?
Has any one ever been offered a cash upgrade option at check-in when flying Cathay. I'm flying to London mid year in PE and would pay cash to go into J if it was reasonable. I'm also QF Gold atm, do they do much in the way of Op-ups?
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,021
I've never heard of this for CX or many airlines at all (United used to do it from Sydney to SFO/LAX, not sure if they still do, and some airlines do it onboard, eg Air Asia X and Scoot). I think your best bet would be using points to upgrade, but if possible just do that on the Hong Kong - London leg, as BNE-HKG is daytime and for that premium economy will be fine. You'd find more value in business class for the longer overight leg from Hong Kong to London.
PK
PK
Member since 03 May 2012
Total posts 57
Michael, unfortunately Cathay doesn't offer this. BA still does. Very low chance of an op-up as a QF Gold, especially with all the Amex complimentary Cathay Diamonds and Golds in Australia. Also, I am sure that David didn't mean to suggest otherwise, but to upgrade with points, they will need to be in an Asia Miles account and not a QF account.
MikeM
MikeM
qantas
Member since 18 Oct 2012
Total posts 71
Thanks Guys, I've experience the cash upgrade with BA a few times over the past couple of years hence the question... PE will be sweet all the same, I was just keen to see there new J first hand. Cheers
Waynec
Waynec
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Aug 2012
Total posts 88
CX actually does cash upgrades but not for the HKG-LHR route. They do it at YVR and some US outstations from time to time. You may have a slight chance of an op up as PE tends to be overbooked at times and you may be the lucky one especially if you are travelling alone.
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,021
Wayne: that's very interesting! I've never been on a cash upgrade route for CX - any idea how much they typically charge?
Waynec
Waynec
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Aug 2012
Total posts 88
David: They typically charge in the range of CAD/USD1,000 Y-J, J-F for CAD 1,900 one-way. That was before PE was introduced. IIRC, they only do it on flights that the premium cabins are relatively empty and Y is pretty full. But I have never seen them offer the cash upgrade option in Australia, HKG or LHR. Staff at HKG are somehow ignorant or in denial that these upgrade occur, I asked about it in HKG and they quoted me the full price difference between J and F which is quite substantial. This is quite similar to the QF cash upgrade option which is pretty elusive.
David
David
Member since 24 Oct 2010
Total posts 1,021
Ah, so it's more ad hoc based on occupancy... that's how United used to do it out of Sydney too. But $1,000 to go from economy to business class one-way is higher than I expected. Quite a few years ago I was booked on economy with United for SYD-SFO, and when I checked in they offered me an upgrade to business on that leg for something like A$400. Now that was a no-brainer, and because it meant that I could fire up my laptop and write a freelance article en route (one that I was due to do but planned to so in San Fran) I actually came out ahead!