AA distance-based awards flying CX F

[Nizar]

I've been at these distance based awards for some time now and think they represent excellent value, perhaps more so in J, but tempted to try one in F
oneworld Airlines Award Chart

However with CX F it seems that availability is always non-existent (looking at HKG-LHR but this is true also with HKG-JFK) when looking several months out but seems to open up 3-4 days prior to date of flying.

What would be the ideal strategy for flying CX F using a distance based award of which the other legs need to be secured several months beforehand ?
I am thinking something simple like MEL-SYD-HKG-LHR-DXB-MEL. The QF F A380 legs will need to be looked as far back as possible. So should I book the HKG-LHR into J and then move it into F a few days before flying or as soon as the F cabin becomes available ? Would that work ?

Does anyone know exactly when the CX F cabin opens up ? Is it 96 hours before ? Or ?

Cheers, appreciate any advice.

 

[Mwenenzi]

CX F seats hard to get. A lot of people wanting these, from many FFP (OW, AS).
From what I have read CX will fly with empty F & J seats
Look here on FT:
Cathay Pacific / CX (inc. First and Business Class) awards - questions, availability - FlyerTalk Forums
Decrease in F Award Tickets Available? - FlyerTalk Forums
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/amer...-now-severely-restricting-award-space-cx.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/cathay-pacific-asia-miles/1529261-do-cx-try-fill-f-cabins.html

Book what you can when you can. CX will not wait for just you

 

[knasty]

I booked J on CX HKG-LHR then switched to F T-3 and T-7 respectively. The original outbound was via CDG as I couldn't get direct at that stage but was able to snag F direct. FWIW both times availability came just after lunchtime.

 

[TheBOSman]

CX is seemingly random on when they release F. They used to release a seat or two at the open of the booking window, and would make many unsold seats available within a few days to weeks before flight date. I don't think all of the HKG-LHR flights have F at all, at least not from what I've seen looking at the route on BA's award search. I would likely book it in J as far out as I could, but be prepared to change dates if needed to lock in an F seat. Start looking again probably at 90, then 60, then 45 and weekly after that (and possibly daily as it gets really close). Of course, the more flexibility you have, the more likely you are to find. I know LAX-HKG on the new fourth daily flight has decent F availability after it begins 1 June 2014.

 

[Nizar]

Thanks all for your input.
LAX-HKG is a good tip. I'm happy to alter the itinerary/schedule as needed to get the seats I want.

I booked J on CX HKG-LHR then switched to F T-3 and T-7 respectively. The original outbound was via CDG as I couldn't get direct at that stage but was able to snag F direct. FWIW both times availability came just after lunchtime.

Knasty what do you mean "respectively" ?
Should I start looking at T-3 or T-7 ?
From what I've seen so far, seems more the former than the latter ?
Or maybe I should just check daily starting from T-7 ?

 

[knasty]

As in outbound to LHR opened up @ 3 days, return flight @ 7 days. 77W have 6 F and 747 9 F seats. For the return leg on 747 all 9 F seats were available as revenue seats up to T-7 then they released a handful as award seats.