Seat Allocation for QF Booking on Cathay Metal

[robolb]

I've read a few threads on this and am still confused, sorry.

I'm booking a multi city awards flight on the Qantas website.
SYD-HKG-MAD

I get an option for a Cathay flight, with a Cathay flight number.

How do I do a seat allocation?

In talking to Qantas they explained:

1. Make the booking on Qantas website.
2. Get confirmation.
3. Call Qantas to get a reference number (not Qantas booking ref) that Cathay can use.
4. Or the 'ticket' number that Qantas can give me.
5. Call Cathay to request seat allocation

This seems a rather resource intensive and time consuming process.
Is this really the best way to do it?

The same flight option appears through the regular portal (not multi city) as a Classic Reward flight.
Still with a Cathay flight number.

 

[elanshin]

I've read a few threads on this and am still confused, sorry.

I'm booking a multi city awards flight on the Qantas website.
SYD-HKG-MAD

I get an option for a Cathay flight, with a Cathay flight number.

How do I do a seat allocation?

In talking to Qantas they explained:

1. Make the booking on Qantas website.
2. Get confirmation.
3. Call Qantas to get a reference number (not Qantas booking ref) that Cathay can use.
4. Or the 'ticket' number that Qantas can give me.
5. Call Cathay to request seat allocation

This seems a rather resource intensive and time consuming process.
Is this really the best way to do it?

The same flight option appears through the regular portal (not multi city) as a Classic Reward flight.
Still with a Cathay flight number.

When you book with Qantas you'll get the 6 digit booking reference. This is cross useable across many airlines (Cathay included).

You'll need to use Cathy's manage my booking online to log in. From there you can do all sort including assigning seats (note that if you don't have status a solid portion of the plane is likely locked out).

Other things I like to do is get a "special" meal so you get it literally immediately.

 

[robolb]

When you book with Qantas you'll get the 6 digit booking reference. This is cross useable across many airlines (Cathay included).

You'll need to use Cathy's manage my booking online to log in. From there you can do all sort including assigning seats (note that if you don't have status a solid portion of the plane is likely locked out).

Other things I like to do is get a "special" meal so you get it literally immediately.

Many thanks.
Qantas said that 'their' 6 digit booking reference won't work. That I need a different one, but we'll see.
I recall having to do something similar on China Southern last year......

 

[kpro]

Qantas said that 'their' 6 digit booking reference won't work. That I need a different one, but we'll see.
I recall having to do something similar on China Southern last year......

Depends on the airlines. Both QF and CX use Amadeus, so their booking references are interoperable.

 

[SYD]

Many thanks.
Qantas said that 'their' 6 digit booking reference won't work. That I need a different one, but we'll see.
I recall having to do something similar on China Southern last year......

CX used to be different but should be ok now.

Report back if you have issues.

 

[RealtimeY]

Qantas said that 'their' 6 digit booking reference won't work. That I need a different one, but we'll see

I don’t think that’s right, I’d just ignore QF’s advice on this.

As others have said above is really is as simple as putting your QF booking reference straight into the CX website and just choosing your seats.

 

[Thibault]

It should work instantly with the QF ref as soon as the ticket number is produced.

I flew CX last month on two tickets and in both cases, I was able to manage my bookings with the Cathay website.

 

[Flyfrequently]

I called Cathay and sorted our seat allocation on CR J flight MEL-HKG
(-AMS was KLM) @robolb

 

[robolb]

Thanks for the tips folks.

 

[robolb]

Indeed, the QF booking reference worked on the Cathay site, but only for the passenger with Gold QF status. So will call them ref other seat..

 

[serfty]

Depends on the airlines. Both QF and CX use Amadeus, so their booking references are interoperable.

This is my experince in the past and currently. I have an ex KUL Qantas Classic oneworld award on MH, CX & JL. (081- ticketi.e. Qantas ticketed)

All carriers use amadeus and the one booking reference works on each carriers' respective manage booking web sites. (Although JAL is a little 'strange'.)