Cathay Pacific Asia Miles - Switching Seats on CX - your thoughts?

I admit this is sort of a strange question, but hear me out please. Here is the scenario:
My best friend has asked me to come along with he and his 2 children to Thailand in November (SFO - HKG - BKK RT). The 3 of them all share the same last name and mine is of course different. My thought was to cash in miles for 2 business class seats under his childrens name and then purchase 2 economy tickets under our names so we can get AA miles. The thought was to change seats with the children (they are 13 and 10) once on board.
I have actually done this before (3 years ago) with no issues whatsoever. I happened to mention this to the AAdvantage desk when checking availability and they quickly told me it would not be allowed on CX. They explained about the manifest matching who is sitting where and with the new security procedures in place since 9/11 that changing seats is not allowed, especially between cabins of service. I'm not questioning any security procedures at all, but I am asking you all (the CX experts) what you think? Being that they are my friends children, if we explained this when checking in, would they allow it or not? Thank you for your feedback.

Well, when it's all PAID ticket and you want to switch around the seat (provided it happens upon boarding and no continuous switches), it's a common practice as long as the chief purser is informed at the start. I've seen people changing seat with their parents (inclusive of myself) between J-Y cabin.

Although I don't see any violation of T&C (because you are actually flying on that plane), it may look a bit obvious to the cabin crew about your intention, and at worst case, they may ask his two children to sit up front.

I like the idea of getting status miles for your trip, but leaving the children unattended in the back just seems wrong to me.

You may change into any seat you like on the plane, even between classes, as long as you notify the ISM or Senior Purser.

However, please take note that once you have changed yours seats, you should stick with them....

On a recent flight from SIN-HKG in F, a gentleman in 2A who was op-upped was traveling with his family......only him in the family of 5 was upped, so even before the flight took off the entire family was taking pictures in the F cabin.....right beside my seat, using the scenary picture as the background (I was in 1A).

During the course of the flight, the following took place:

Taxi and take off from SIN.....Daughter 1 in Seat 2A....
Caviar service......Wife in Seat 2A....
Main meal service.......Man in Seat 2A.....
Dessert and cheest service/drinks......Daughter 2 in Seat 2A...
Prior to landing, taxi to gate.....Son in Seat 2A....

In addition to these seat switches.....the Daughters and Son must have visited the F cabin no less than 10 times total....each time "playing" with the seat controls....... :rolleyes:

My colleague (in 1K) saw much more clearly than I could, and we simply sighed and laughed at the entire incident........the family was obviously very thrilled to have been give the one F seat.....

So moral of story, please do not attempt any switches between cabins, as they are quite annoying and impolite to those seated around you.......

I like the idea of getting status miles for your trip, but leaving the children unattended in the back just seems wrong to me.

BA has a rule about this, that parents must accompany children, but CX doesn't, so whatever floats your boat, JonnieB. :)

On a recent flight from SIN-HKG in F, a gentleman in 2A who was op-upped was traveling with his family......only him in the family of 5 was upped, so even before the flight took off the entire family was taking pictures in the F cabin.....right beside my seat, using the scenary picture as the background (I was in 1A).

...

So moral of story, please do not attempt any switches between cabins, as they are quite annoying and impolite to those seated around you.......

I do not understand how the mind of these people work. They seem to be morons. The damn flight is only close to 4 hours - what if it were long haul? Jesus.

So, JonnieB, are you the one that CX management in HK and SIN are talking about ?

If you haven't done this before... then there's someone else out there doing exactly the same thing you're planning to do .. ie buying the J class tickets on child's fares and the adults in coach and then switching seats...Let this be known that CX MANAGEMENT/RESERVATIONS knows about this sort of scam that some people are already doing.... and they're not going to sit idilly by.

I don't know what actions CX are doing... maybe something in the lines of charging the full adult fares once a switch of seats take place...mid air. Just so you know that CX KNOWS about such schemes...

So, JonnieB, are you the one that CX management in HK and SIN are talking about ?

If you haven't done this before... then there's someone else out there doing exactly the same thing you're planning to do .. ie buying the J class tickets on child's fares and the adults in coach and then switching seats...Let this be known that CX MANAGEMENT/RESERVATIONS knows about this sort of scam that some people are already doing.... and they're not going to sit idilly by.

I don't know what actions CX are doing... maybe something in the lines of charging the full adult fares once a switch of seats take place...mid air. Just so you know that CX KNOWS about such schemes...

But the OP is using Miles Award for children. To my knowledge, the award rate for child and adult is the same.

In this case, would CX benefit? Because IF adults took the award, and OP's friends 2 children bought the child fare, then CX would be missing out. So I don't see how this specific instance can act against CX. :confused:

Actually, come to think of it, it's rather beneficial for them because they would be charging for adult fare, who otherwise be issuing award for themselves.

But the OP is using Miles Award for children. To my knowledge, the award rate for child and adult is the same.

In this case, would CX benefit? Because IF adults took the award, and OP's friends 2 children bought the child fare, then CX would be missing out. So I don't see how this specific instance can act against CX. :confused:

Actually, come to think of it, it's rather beneficial for them because they would be charging for adult fare, who otherwise be issuing award for themselves.

No...I'm not talking about the award in exchange for seats scenario. It's just that there are people out there... who buy 2 child fare seats in J/F, whereas the adults will buy the coach fares. Then they ask the kids to sit in coach and the adults up there.

It's simply wrong...

No...I'm not talking about the award in exchange for seats scenario.

Thanks for clarification :)


Well, I doubt that the family will even be able to check-in peacefully. For sure it will raise some doubt if 2 junior school students are "up front" and parents are "far back", I'm sure it will raise some alarm at checkin.

So, JonnieB, are you the one that CX management in HK and SIN are talking about ?

If you haven't done this before... then there's someone else out there doing exactly the same thing you're planning to do .. ie buying the J class tickets on child's fares and the adults in coach and then switching seats...Let this be known that CX MANAGEMENT/RESERVATIONS knows about this sort of scam that some people are already doing.... and they're not going to sit idilly by.

I don't know what actions CX are doing... maybe something in the lines of charging the full adult fares once a switch of seats take place...mid air. Just so you know that CX KNOWS about such schemes...

This is not the case at all. We would cash in miles for J (110K AA miles with no differentiation between adult and child) and purchase 2 H or higher Economy class fares. We would not switch back and forth, just once upon entering the aircraft.

My question is how will anyone even know? Just switch boarding passes after you go through security and have the adults take their seats in J and the kids in Y. Unless there is an obvious gender-name issue, I don't think the ages of passengers are listed in the manifest.

My question is how will anyone even know? Just switch boarding passes after you go through security and have the adults take their seats in J and the kids in Y. Unless there is an obvious gender-name issue, I don't think the ages of passengers are listed in the manifest.

In this particular case there is both gender and name.

In this particular case there is both gender and name.

You get on board.. and switch seats. The ISM comes round to the coach seats to wish you (as Oneworld Emerald) a welcome and see a child there instead .. and nothing on her manifest.

Okay, there is nothing in the rule book for you to say that you can't do it. They're just award tickets.. so what? But in CX's eyes, you're still cheating. If the kids were in coach and you're in J, you *may* get away with the notion that you want the kids to enjoy the experience of flying J. But it's kinda difficult to gel if its the other way round... What? The kids say, " OH , we fly J all the time, so this time we'd like to give to our uncle JonnieB the experience of flying J?"

Why don't you just stick the kids in coach and give them the miles, and you fly J, and not be too greedy about miles. Get a consolidator fare on CX... it'll be about $300 cheaper than H class fares. ie no miles on fares issued in anything other H, B, Y for AAdvantage.

Actually only one of them is a child.. 13 is considered an adult already.

You get on board.. and switch seats. The ISM comes round to the coach seats to wish you (as Oneworld Emerald) a welcome and see a child there instead .. and nothing on her manifest.

Okay, there is nothing in the rule book for you to say that you can't do it. They're just award tickets.. so what? But in CX's eyes, you're still cheating. If the kids were in coach and you're in J, you *may* get away with the notion that you want the kids to enjoy the experience of flying J. But it's kinda difficult to gel if its the other way round... What? The kids say, " OH , we fly J all the time, so this time we'd like to give to our uncle JonnieB the experience of flying J?"

Why don't you just stick the kids in coach and give them the miles, and you fly J, and not be too greedy about miles. Get a consolidator fare on CX... it'll be about $300 cheaper than H class fares. ie no miles on fares issued in anything other H, B, Y for AAdvantage.

Actually only one of them is a child.. 13 is considered an adult already.

I don't think I'm being greedy at all, and I don't need the miles. This is/was all in theory and I'm not attempting to or trying to pull a fast one over on CX. Seems to be a touchy subject with some and not that big of a deal to others. All great feedback and I appreciate everyone's opinions. GuyBetsy - I think you know Tony in Rio. I had a wonderful dinner and drinks with him and Von over Thanksgiving.

You get on board.. and switch seats. The ISM comes round to the coach seats to wish you (as Oneworld Emerald) a welcome and see a child there instead .. and nothing on her manifest.


when i was stuck behind i often moves a bit, (eg the other side of the row when it is empty)and ISM missed me and i saw her shrugs. there is no big fuss. she just moves back and glad she has done her job already.

jonnie, i don't think it i sa big deal. and they cannot fault you of cheating them as you were paying more to them, try it and let us know

i dont even mind if people move around once or twice, as long as it is not too noisy or disturbing to me. it is a pleasure to see other people also enjoy the front cabin

i dont even mind if people move around once or twice, as long as it is not too noisy or disturbing to me. it is a pleasure to see other people also enjoy the front cabin


Thank you for the very generous and humanly thoughts. It's good to know that not everyone "up front" have a very reserved minds. ^ ^ ^

You get on board.. and switch seats. The ISM comes round to the coach seats to wish you (as Oneworld Emerald) a welcome and see a child there instead .. and nothing on her manifest.

I saw something like this happen when I was in First to London the other day - kid was traveling with father. Father got upgraded to F but decided to let his kid go up, and stayed in J. The ISM came, noticed the child, just greeted him like a normal passenger and left. Later on in the flight a flight attendant asked the child whether he traveled a lot (obviously due to his supposed Emerald status). :D

To qualify to be a marco polo member, you have to be at least 18 years old or older.. so the FA asking the child is he or she travels a lot does not make sense to me.

I don't see any problem of switching seat as you are paying the same thing to CX..

To qualify to be a marco polo member, you have to be at least 18 years old or older.. so the FA asking the child is he or she travels a lot does not make sense to me.

I wouldn't imagine that a flight attendant would pay much attention to the minimum age requirement for MPO members...

Besides, the qualifying age was dropped down to 12 for a couple of years in 1998/99. Sometime since then I understand the age has crept back up to 18, but if you argue it long and hard enough with the local office, it's my understanding that they can and do allow those who qualify at 12 to join.

To qualify to be a marco polo member, you have to be at least 18 years old or older.. so the FA asking the child is he or she travels a lot does not make sense to me.

So what are you implying? :rolleyes:

I wouldn't imagine that a flight attendant would pay much attention to the minimum age requirement for MPO members...

Yes, exactly. :)

LOL. Proof that CX cabin crew have a better sense of humour than many flyertalkers!

To spoil the joke by painfully spelling it out. Child is sitting in seat that should be his father's. Cabin crew treat him as if he were a DCP/GCP - as listed on the manifest. Probably make big fuss over calling him "Mr X, so nice to have you back with us" etc.

As to the original bit of the thread. Tacky, imho, if it was buying child fares in J, adult in EY, then swapping. But as the upgrade miles are the same, CX is getting the same amount however you choose to sit

But still a bit odd to leave the kids behind. Personally, I'd rotate.