CX Advance Seat Selection

[samh004]

This morning I received a member email from MPC advising a new service to do advance seat selection, which I assume was not possible before on CX bookings?

Reserve your seat in advance online

• Go to [noparse]http://www.cathaypacific.com[/noparse] or [noparse]http://www.dragonair.com[/noparse]
• Select "Manage Your Trip" → "Manage My Booking"
• Log on to your membership account OR enter your reservation details
• Select "Service Requests" → "Seat"
• Then choose your preferred seat

This service is available to:

• Silver or above members of The Marco Polo Club
• Ruby or above oneworld® members
• All First and Business Class passengers, and passengers travelling in eligible fare classes Y, B, H, K, M, L and V (Economy Class)

The fee structures are also being reduced for online transactions and increased for offline transactions (such as on the phone). You need to be logged in to see these fees, but online services are essentially USD$20 or 2000 miles, while offline services are USD$50 or 5000 miles.

Also noted are their updated checked baggage allowances that I’m sure most will like much more than QF’s updated baggage allowances.

Full email here.

 

[JohnK]

Interesting announcement as I have been able to do this for a while now using

• Select "Manage Your Trip" → "Manage My Booking"
• Log on to your membership account OR enter your reservation details
• Select "Service Requests" → "Seat"

 

[samh004]

Interesting announcement as I have been able to do this for a while now using

• Select "Manage Your Trip" → "Manage My Booking"
• Log on to your membership account OR enter your reservation details
• Select "Service Requests" → "Seat"

Perhaps they’re just rehashing old news. I got it in my inbox and took it at face value

 

[KitKat]

Wonder if they reserve seats for their own higher FF members, like QF CL. Am flying CX 580 HKG-CTS which I think is a 747 but ? 2 class ie no first, tried preselecting a seat at the pointy end (1st few rows), but unable to - only able to get upper deck (paid for J seat). Maybe I am wrong and it is a 3 class flight.

 

[samh004]

Wonder if they reserve seats for their own higher FF members, like QF CL. Am flying CX 580 HKG-CTS which I think is a 747 but ? 2 class ie no first, tried preselecting a seat at the pointy end (1st few rows), but unable to - only able to get upper deck (paid for J seat). Maybe I am wrong and it is a 3 class flight.

Could definitely be something to explore further. Perhaps try phoning their call centre and see what they can offer you, but please report back after the flight to help build our knowledge

Although perhaps someone on Expert Flyer could provide this info now?

 

[Joshua]

Are they blocked or not even visible? There's always the possibility they aren't using Zone A on the plane for the relatively short haul flight. All HKG-CTS routes don't have F sold, only C & Y. All scheduled on a 747 too, which does have F. Unlike QF, it doesn't mean they'll simply sell the F seats as C.

Someone with a bit more experience might be able to answer that one, JohnK maybe?

 

[KitKat]

Have tried calling, they don't seem to be able to see those seats. So could not select.
Rechecked again with Manage your booking but all A zone seats taken/blocked in both directions. Plenty of other J seats available.
Maybe will try again upon check-in....

 

[Sprucegoose]

Wonder if they reserve seats for their own higher FF members, like QF CL. Am flying CX 580 HKG-CTS which I think is a 747 but ? 2 class ie no first, tried preselecting a seat at the pointy end (1st few rows), but unable to - only able to get upper deck (paid for J seat). Maybe I am wrong and it is a 3 class flight.

A CL is a OWE.

 

[KitKat]

A CL is a OWE.

Relating to a possibly similar situation in which you can't select 1st row on QF Dom 737 despite being WP unless you are CL (I presume) till T-80

Sorry for the confusion and more confusion

 

[samh004]

Relating to a possibly similar situation in which you can't select 1st row on QF Dom 737 despite being WP unless you are CL (I presume) till T-80

Sorry for the confusion and more confusion

It’s a good point, but CL is basically QP, for a better lounge.

So a CL member is generally Chairmans Lounge Platinum similar to Qantas Club Silver…

 

[Alanslegal]

Wonder if they reserve seats for their own higher FF members, like QF CL. Am flying CX 580 HKG-CTS which I think is a 747 but ? 2 class ie no first, tried preselecting a seat at the pointy end (1st few rows), but unable to - only able to get upper deck (paid for J seat). Maybe I am wrong and it is a 3 class flight.

Sometimes CX do not sell F seats on certain routes even though the aircraft they are operating has a F cabin. I believe it comes down to cost as (historically) it is likely the number of F pax will be very low (ie 0-2) and thus the need to staff the F cabin will be approx. 3-5, making it unviable. Just send those 0-2 F pax to the J cabin instead.

 

[JohnK]

As a QF Platinum I am generally able to pre-allocate decent seats on CX but not the first row whether this is business class or economy. I have been able to get the second row on most occasions though.

Someone with a bit more experience might be able to answer that one, JohnK maybe?

Not an expert but I have been on a number of CX flights with First Class but no passengers there and the cabin is blocked off.