Confusing seatmap on CX 747

[wafliron]

My grandmother is flying on CX252 (747) LHR-HKG in the near future and I'm trying to select some good seats for her, however the seatmap displayed by QF is completely confusing me:



Seats A, C, H and J in rows 30 through 33 are obviously appealing due to the 2-4-2 layout, but I cannot for the life of me work out why there would be 2-4-2 Y seating in the middle of the main deck of a 747, nor why the 2-4-2 layout would only be available for 4 rows of the cabin. I cannot find a single seatmap online which reflects this layout (SeatGuru, SeatExpert, etc), nor can I find any discussion on forums about these seats.

Can anyone shed any light on this for me - is the seat map correct? Why would it be 2-4-2 for rows 30-33? I've checked EF and it is also showing the same seatmap, albeit showing all the seats in rows 30-33 as taken (which is also confusing, unless it's got to do with this booking being on FF points via QF and my OWE status is playing a role in available seats via QF but not via EF).

Thanks.

EDIT: Of course, just after posting this, I stumbled across this article: http://www.ausbt.com.au/cathay-pacific-refits-boeing-747s-for-premium-economy-new-economy. It mentions CX launching a new four class 747 layout from 01/05/2012 on exactly the route my grandmother is flying, and says that the PE cabin is rows 30-33. The number of PE seats (26) mentioned also lines up exactly with the number of seats in rows 30 through 33 on the above seatmap. Has my grandmother somehow lucked out and can select seats in CX's new 747 PE cabin despite being on a Y ticket?

 

[serfty]

... Has my grandmother somehow lucked out and can select seats in CX's new 747 PE cabin despite being on a Y ticket?

Almost certainly 'lucked out' - .

 

[wafliron]

Almost certainly 'lucked out' - .

Unfortunately it looks like that's not the case Almost positive she is on a PE-config 747, but I don't think she can actually select those seats - probably shown as available due to a glitch in the booking systems.

I tried to select 30H last night but got a "your seat selections could not be confirmed" error at the end. Then called QF this morning who also couldn't put her in 30H - in fact, the best they could do was row 51 despite the seatmap in my OP showing economy as being wide open up the front (ignoring rows 30 - 33).

 

[codash1099]

As I understand it, CX are accelerating the retirement of 747's and are not adding PE or new seating.

 

[simongr]

Unfortunately it looks like that's not the case Almost positive she is on a PE-config 747, but I don't think she can actually select those seats - probably shown as available due to a glitch in the booking systems.

I tried to select 30H last night but got a "your seat selections could not be confirmed" error at the end. Then called QF this morning who also couldn't put her in 30H - in fact, the best they could do was row 51 despite the seatmap in my OP showing economy as being wide open up the front (ignoring rows 30 - 33).

Why not try selecting seats on the CX site rather than QF?

 

[MarcB]

This could also be a glitch with the QF system. I noticed on EF that when looking at flights with PE being sold, you can't choose a PE seat map - it just shows up those seats at the front of the Y seat map as it is in this QF map. The same is true for when you select seats on CX website - except in that case, the PE seats are blocked although visible...

 

[moa999]

Now CX is on Amadeus just log into their system with the same ref.
I have previously found the two sytems dont link perfectly on seat selection for some reason.

 

[simongr]

I always log into the website of the carrier I am travelling with to select seats - it boggles my mind that people default to QF to select seats on other carriers.

 

[wafliron]

Why not try selecting seats on the CX site rather than QF?

Because she (I) can't select seats when managing the booking via the CX website unfortunately. She doesn't meet the following criteria (from the CX FAQ):

1. Who is eligible to request a seat?
The following customers can request a seat in advance

• Members of The Marco Polo Club (Silver tier or above) and oneworld Ruby tier members or above
• All First and Business Class passengers
• Customers holding tickets on eligible fare types – Y, B, H, K, L, M, V, W, R, E

Thanks for the suggestion though.

 

[simongr]

That probably explains the: "your seat selections could not be confirmed" error then.

 

[wafliron]

That probably explains the: "your seat selections could not be confirmed" error then.

I suspect that's more likely explained by a glitch in the QF website, showing her seats that she can't actually access (as QF staff system couldn't select rows 30 - 33). She's definitely able to select seats at some level via QF (different to via CX).

 

[simongr]

I have been able to select seats on the QF site in the past but then the selections disappeared.

 

[wafliron]

I have been able to select seats on the QF site in the past but then the selections disappeared.

Thanks for the tip... will keep an eye on them and see what happens.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I have been able to select seats on the QF site in the past but then the selections disappeared.

Thanks for the tip... will keep an eye on them and see what happens.

this is correct. QF always displays a completely empty seat map for CX flights. Any seat selection requested via the QF map will not hold. (Have a think about it... do you really think you are the very first person to request a seat on that flight?)

The only way to secure a seat on CX is via CX.

 

[wafliron]

this is correct. QF always displays a completely empty seat map for CX flights. Any seat selection requested via the QF map will not hold... The only way to secure a seat on CX is via CX.

Thanks for clarifying - hopefully CX will look after her at check-in as she is elderly.

(Have a think about it... do you really think you are the very first person to request a seat on that flight?)

No, I hadn't considered that, and I should have. I'm blaming the oversight on working ~40 hours in the first three days of this week :shock: