If you’re travelling with Cathay Pacific in premium economy, why not take the oportunity to upgrade to the comfort of business class?

You could use your Asia Miles to secure your upgraded seat, or even cold hard cash during special promotions. Selected frequent flyers can also be upgraded to business class for free in return for their ongoing loyalty.

Wherever your travels take you, here’s everything you need to know about landing a business class upgrade on Cathay Pacific from Australia to Hong Kong and beyond.

Cathay Pacific business class upgrades 101

Upgrades on Cathay Pacific are all one-class – meaning economy passengers can move forward into premium economy, but only premium economy travellers can grab a seat in business class.

There's an exception if you're on a Cathay Pacific flight where premium economy isn't offered, in which case you could indeed upgrade from economy straight to business class.

Also note that the number of upgrades available on any given flight can be limited, and even then, not all fare types can be upgraded using miles.

From premium economy, upgrades are permitted from the higher W- and R-class fares, but not the discounted E-class sale fares.

If you're in a position to upgrade from economy to business class you'll need to be booked on a flexible Y, B, H, K, L, M or V ticket: selecting anything else keeps you stuck down the back.

Provided you're on an eligible ticket, upgrades can be confirmed instantly via the Cathay website, wherever available.

Should you be booking a ticket and intending to upgrade, we'd strongly advise contacting the Cathay team to check what's available before paying for your premium economy ticket, as being flexible with your dates or schedule could help secure a coveted upgrade.

Here are the current rates for upgrades, listed per one-way sector.

You can upgrade to business class between Sydney and Hong Kong for 18,000 miles, or you could upgrade your full Sydney-HK-Sydney trip for 36,000 miles.

It's a similar scenario for journeys onwards from Hong Kong to the likes of London and Los Angeles, which can both be upgraded one-way for 25,000 miles.

Keep in mind, however, that upgrades are subject to availability, and you'll need to be booked on a Cathay Pacific (CX) flight number aboard a Cathay Pacific aircraft (not a codeshare flight).

Free Cathay Pacific business class upgrades using Status Points

An exclusive perk for Cathay Pacific's Cathay Gold and Diamond members, complimentary upgrades to business class are also possible using single-sector 'Bookable Upgrades': gifted by the airline to those top-tier travellers once they reach certain Status Points milestones. 

Both Gold and Diamond members receive four single-sector Bookable Upgrades when reaching 1,000 and 1,600 Status Points respectively, usable on flights of up to 3,700 miles in the case of Gold members, and of any distance in the case of their Diamond counterparts.

Again, those upgrades are subject to availability, and can only be redeemed on flights marketed and operated by Cathay Pacific.

Cathay Pacific business class upgrades at the airport

Making a last-minute trip somewhere and didn't have a chance to upgrade online? No dramas: you can use Asia Miles to upgrade at the airport, too.

Available on all Cathay Pacific flights, you simply present your membership card and your itinerary to the check-in staff. If a last-minute upgrade is available on your flight, the seat is yours!

Airport upgrades are only available on your next onward flight – so if you’re travelling from Sydney to London via Hong Kong, you can only upgrade the Sydney-Hong Kong flight while on the ground in Australia.

These upgrades are also charged at the same ‘one-way’ rate as online.

Paying for Cathay Pacific business class upgrades

Even if you are not a Cathay member, make sure your current email address is attached to your Cathay Pacific reservation, as the airline routinely sends 'Upgrade Bids' invitations around seven days before departure. 

Similarly to Qantas Bid Now Upgrades, Cathay Pacific's Upgrade Bids allow you to bid for available upgrades in an auction-like system. However, while Qantas allows passengers to use both cash and points to place bids, Cathay Pacific only accepts cash.

Note, however, that participation in an Upgrade Bids promotion is by invitation only, and there's no way to 'request' a paid upgrade offer if you haven't received one. 

A few tips…

As with most airlines, upgrading from one class to another means you'll earn frequent flyer points and status credits as per your original premium economy (or economy) fare, rather than at the higher business class rates enjoyed by full-fare-paying travellers.

You also won't be able to upgrade when travelling on a ticket which was already booked using frequent flyer points, whether through Cathay Pacific's Cathay scheme, Qantas Frequent Flyer or any other program.

Also note that if you upgrade at the airport, you probably won't have a guaranteed meal aboard.

It's unlikely the crew would have nothing to offer you but expect to be served only after orders have been taken from the other passengers who confirmed their flight in advance.

Additional material by Brandon Loo.