CX Reserved seating

[simongr]

Just putting the final touches on the trip next for mrssimongr and I - allocating CX seats (yes I know I should have done this months ago) and it was an interesting conversation.

I was initially told that as this wasn't a CX issued ticket that they couldn't pre-allocate seats, then because it was a redemption ticket I couldn't do it. I reflexively went "Isn't preallocated seating a benefit of oneworld emerald?" (a slightly more refined version of DYKWIA?) and after a few more minutes on hold I was given 20AD SYD-HKG in the 1-1-1 config J class and 16 DG HKG-JFK on the 1-2-1 config J class.

Is it normal for CX to be sticky with seating allocations?

I have been struggling with working out the best arrangement for us to fly in the herringbone config. If this doesnt work (being across from each other) we will try and change at the airport on Tuesday.

Trip report being mulled over already

 

[NM]

The only problem I have experienced with pre-allocation on CX is when I was booked on the AA codeshare flight number. But a call to the AA EXP fixed the problem. I had booked the AA flight number since there was no D available on the CX flight number at the time of booking. The flight showed "Seat to be allocated at check-in" (or something similar). So I called the EXP desk to have them change me to the CX flight number when I saw D availability appear. I said the only reason to change the flight number was so I could pre-allocate a seat. The EXP agent took that as a challenge and called her OneWorld support number and asked that CX allocate a specific seats for me (asked for 89K) and about 5 mins later she came back saying it was done - and it was. So no need to change flight numbers.

Were you doing the seat allocation via CX or through AA EXP desk?

I am not sure if I would go for adjacent or opposite seats on the new CX business class config. Neither is ideal. On a recent flight I saw a couple with an infant sitting ahead of me in two adjacent K seats. They kept standing up to chat over the partition. But I don't think cross-aisle seating would have been any better for them.

 

[simongr]

I was doing it through calling CX directly. Maybe a call to the EXP desk in the morning aor a reassessment of seats at check in (probably too late by then)...

Mind you I seem to have very little success calling the EXP desk - I always seem to end up with a non-EXP AAgent who eventually transfers me to the EXP desk...

 

[NM]

I was doing it through calling CX directly. Maybe a call to the EXP desk in the morning aor a reassessment of seats at check in (probably too late by then)...

Mind you I seem to have very little success calling the EXP desk - I always seem to end up with a non-EXP AAgent who eventually transfers me to the EXP desk...

Are you calling the US EXP number printed on the back of your card? My last two calls have been answered by the same agent, and she knew she had spoken with me before, so must be in my "profile".

 

[simongr]

Yep - I think it doesn't cope well with the voice recognition of a Oz based pom who spends half his life talking to Americans...

 

[NM]

Yep - I think it doesn't cope well with the voice recognition of a Oz based pom who spends half his life talking to Americans...

Could well be the problem. You do have to speak "Merkin" to get it work. It seems to understand two languages - American and Southern.

 

[Evan]

I will see if i can steal a seat in the new layout on sunday morning on my way back to Singapore and give you an idea what may be better for a couple.
E

 

[simongr]

Thanks that would be handy