Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Interesting about baby-bassinet seat

Called MPO on my future trip and wanting to reserve seats. Row 39 and 40 are fully booked except baby-bassinet seats. Asked to be put on them but the agent refused, saying even if she puts me on it now the system will automatic release it in a few days. Huh? She said the best way to do it is to go to airport early and ask the ground check-in to put me there, by then they are sure there will be no baby pax and will put MPO members on it on First-Ask First-Serve basis..... told her the last couple of times I fly the seats are empty, and even when I asked the ground-crew they said no seats available. The agent said she doesn't know but that's what she is told to tell callers like me to do, and she can't comment on the ground crew procedures... huh??

Anyway, after I insisted she said the best thing she can do for me is to "reserve" it for me, but she can't assigned me to it... huh???

Is this true guys? Or have I just talked to a really good BS agent?

Is this true guys? Or have I just talked to a really good BS agent?

Did you call again to another agent?

Somehow this is the way it works (hang up and call again).

I think this is procedure. CX need to keep the baby basinet free until day of check-in because they need to be able to accommodate any infants travelling. Therefore CX cannot pre-assign anyone that seat unless it is someone who has confirmed they have an infant with them.

This is a fair enough policy it seems.

I think this is procedure. CX need to keep the baby basinet free until day of check-in because they need to be able to accommodate any infants travelling. Therefore CX cannot pre-assign anyone that seat unless it is someone who has confirmed they have an infant with them.

This is a fair enough policy it seems.

I did that before. The agent did not deny my request but told me that I could lose the seat if someone needed that. In OP's case, the agent plainly refused up front. That was not what happened to me.

She said the best way to do it is to go to airport early and ask the ground check-in to put me there, by then they are sure there will be no baby pax and will put MPO members on it on First-Ask First-Serve basis.....

She could just warn you about that you could lose your seat instead of refusing you. Anyway, if the check-in agents are uncertain about the bassinet situation, they will still warn you that you may lose your seat even though they issue you the BP.

She could just warn you about that you could lose your seat instead of refusing you. Anyway, if the check-in agents are uncertain about the bassinet situation, they will still warn you that you may lose your seat even though they issue you the BP.

I just want to know the proper procedure. I posted awhile back that on my return trip from HKG to JFK some lucky guy had row 30 DEF all by himself (he was seated in middle E with both D and F open. I specifically asked if any 31ABC, 30DEF, 31 HJK were opened, and both the MPO agent and check-in agent told me no. That is not a good business policy.