Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - CX Holding Back Seats 2 A/K on the A340s?

Hi All,

I just noticed that seats 2 A/K on the A340s (both -300 and -600) are showing as reserved on almost all JFK-HKG flights (both the new non-stop and the post 7/1 CX 889). Is it a new policy for CX to hold these seats back for Diamonds? I have checked several different days on both flights and those seats are always showing as reserved.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by PresRDC:
Hi All,

I just noticed that seats 2 A/K on the A340s (both -300 and -600) are showing as reserved on almost all JFK-HKG flights (both the new non-stop and the post 7/1 CX 889). Is it a new policy for CX to hold these seats back for Diamonds? I have checked several different days on both flights and those seats are always showing as reserved.</font>

Since making res in August for my Feb trip, I would check CX.com for avaiable seats about every couple of weeks. 2A/K were blocked from day 1 and never released. I didn't bother asking at the airport so I don't know what the possibility of getting one was.

Seats 2A/K on the A340 and 4A/K on the 747 are "bassinet positions" (or "baby seat" as what the CX agents call them). They are not specifically held back for Diamonds!! (for some reason on flyertalk.com, everyone assumes "status" when seats are blocked off etc.)

Basically, depending on the reservation system used to display the seat map, these seats either show as unavailable (in the case of itn.net [sabre based version]) or available (in Galileo) or "I" in native Sabre.

You can still get these seats even if you are not Diamond by calling CX reservations directly. The agent however will usually caution you saying that they are "baby seats" (as they call them) and that you would have to give them up in the event a passenger travelling with an infant decides to fly first class on that flight.

absolutely correct. I just booked my HKG-JFK on July 2 and the bassinet nature of 2A was pointed out to me with all the glorious details. Advantage of booking 2AK is that you know there will be a baby in FC and thus can change your flight date.

<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by mhtaipei:
absolutely correct. I just booked my HKG-JFK on July 2 and the bassinet nature of 2A was pointed out to me with all the glorious details. Advantage of booking 2AK is that you know there will be a baby in FC and thus can change your flight date. </font>

That is if there are TWO babies in FC. If there is only ONE baby, then the other person in 2K may be asked to "give up their seat" while you in 2A would have no clue it happened. Or it could happen to be the case where the baby's parents can afford to pay full-fare (adult fare even and CX would have no clue there would be a baby until check-in!) and get the baby a regular seat (with child safety seat attached).


[This message has been edited by daniellam (edited Mar 17, 2004).]

I had no problem getting seat 2A assigned for my upcoming flights aboard Cathay Pacific's A340-300s. I was however warned about the baby situation and that I might be reseated.

I also was able to get 2A for all my F flights through AA. They (AA) don't know anything about "baby seats", so I'm glad I checked this thread. Hope there are no babies, except myself.

There are some seats which are blocked off as "B" Bassinet seats and AA can't even access these. These are mostly found on the regional Business Class aircraft, and are mostly the bulkhead seats.