Unavailable Seats, Under Airport Control
#1
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Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYJ
Posts: 2,230
Unavailable Seats, Under Airport Control
I've booked us on a KA flight from KWL to HKG in October. It's a single class (all Y) A320. The seat map on cathaypacific.com shows rows 22-28 as being "extra legroom seats." row 22 is the first row of seats, there is no business class.
MPC Gold are supposed to be able to choose these seats but they show as unavailable in the MMB section when I'm logged in. I just spoke with someone at MPC (they answered after the first ring by the way! ^ ) and they told me that these seats are under airport control.
I have seen that the accessible/bassinet seats in F for example are blocked off in both the 744 and 777 but it seems strange to me to be blocking off 7 rows of seats (6 in front plus the emergency exit row in the middle)
The person at MPC told me that these seats are strictly under the control of airport staff at KWL. Can this be true? Will KA/CX sell their tickets and then just assign seats just before the flight? Just wondering if there is any way to get the seats up front assigned now.
MPC Gold are supposed to be able to choose these seats but they show as unavailable in the MMB section when I'm logged in. I just spoke with someone at MPC (they answered after the first ring by the way! ^ ) and they told me that these seats are under airport control.
I have seen that the accessible/bassinet seats in F for example are blocked off in both the 744 and 777 but it seems strange to me to be blocking off 7 rows of seats (6 in front plus the emergency exit row in the middle)
The person at MPC told me that these seats are strictly under the control of airport staff at KWL. Can this be true? Will KA/CX sell their tickets and then just assign seats just before the flight? Just wondering if there is any way to get the seats up front assigned now.
#2
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Join Date: Jul 2007
Posts: 4,477
yes it is true. In case of a very light loaded flight that to balance the weight only centre section being allowed to pre-book. So the very front section and very back section will be blocked out.
You will not be able to pre-select those seats.
But then again I am not in the system. So I will not be able to tell you what exactly going on. I can only tell from my experience about the possible condition that why the section was blocked and 'given as airport control'.
If that is the case near the check-in time, that the flight remains very empty. Those seats will not be assigned at check-in but you will be free to move as soon as the flight taking off.
You will not be able to pre-select those seats.
But then again I am not in the system. So I will not be able to tell you what exactly going on. I can only tell from my experience about the possible condition that why the section was blocked and 'given as airport control'.
If that is the case near the check-in time, that the flight remains very empty. Those seats will not be assigned at check-in but you will be free to move as soon as the flight taking off.
#3
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
I've booked us on a KA flight from KWL to HKG in October. It's a single class (all Y) A320. The seat map on cathaypacific.com shows rows 22-28 as being "extra legroom seats." row 22 is the first row of seats, there is no business class.
MPC Gold are supposed to be able to choose these seats but they show as unavailable in the MMB section when I'm logged in. I just spoke with someone at MPC (they answered after the first ring by the way! ^ ) and they told me that these seats are under airport control.
I have seen that the accessible/bassinet seats in F for example are blocked off in both the 744 and 777 but it seems strange to me to be blocking off 7 rows of seats (6 in front plus the emergency exit row in the middle)
The person at MPC told me that these seats are strictly under the control of airport staff at KWL. Can this be true? Will KA/CX sell their tickets and then just assign seats just before the flight? Just wondering if there is any way to get the seats up front assigned now.
MPC Gold are supposed to be able to choose these seats but they show as unavailable in the MMB section when I'm logged in. I just spoke with someone at MPC (they answered after the first ring by the way! ^ ) and they told me that these seats are under airport control.
I have seen that the accessible/bassinet seats in F for example are blocked off in both the 744 and 777 but it seems strange to me to be blocking off 7 rows of seats (6 in front plus the emergency exit row in the middle)
The person at MPC told me that these seats are strictly under the control of airport staff at KWL. Can this be true? Will KA/CX sell their tickets and then just assign seats just before the flight? Just wondering if there is any way to get the seats up front assigned now.
#4
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Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYJ
Posts: 2,230
MPO should definately be able to get you the emergency row if you have the TKT issued already. Not sure about the front rows as it might work the same way as those F seats sold as J and Y+ seats sold as Y, but suggest you to call again. Things might get more complicated as KWL is not supported by OLCI. CX are usually willing to release blocked seats to MPO elite members as long as the agent knows how to do it.
This might be a similar problem to the one mentioned in the thread about not allowing MPC elite to choose the emergency exit rows. It seems to me that since CX has done their "upgrade" recently, there are a lot more blocked seats than there used to be. We just need to find the key.
#5
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: Sydney, Australia
Programs: CX GO by flying, ex-QF PS, AMEX Platinum, CA & KrisFlyer Nobody
Posts: 525
Unavailable Seats, Under Airport Control
MPC loses control after 55 hours before the departure - if you just requested such seats within 55 hours before departure MPC will not be able to help. I have been in such situations for quite a bit of time - I've been advised either to select the seats in OLCI, or if not available then request them again at airport. MPC, in these situations, doesn't even to be able to check the availabilities.
#6
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Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYJ
Posts: 2,230
MPC loses control after 55 hours before the departure - if you just requested such seats within 55 hours before departure MPC will not be able to help. I have been in such situations for quite a bit of time - I've been advised either to select the seats in OLCI, or if not available then request them again at airport. MPC, in these situations, doesn't even to be able to check the availabilities.
i was hoping that someone would have the golden key but i guess we'll just have to wait until we get there.
#7
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437
I tried CX reservations and MPC, both agents tried a both gave me the same answer; that can't. I you know the key word that I can tell them, please share. If I could say to them "type xyz into the xxx field" I think they would.
This might be a similar problem to the one mentioned in the thread about not allowing MPC elite to choose the emergency exit rows. It seems to me that since CX has done their "upgrade" recently, there are a lot more blocked seats than there used to be. We just need to find the key.
This might be a similar problem to the one mentioned in the thread about not allowing MPC elite to choose the emergency exit rows. It seems to me that since CX has done their "upgrade" recently, there are a lot more blocked seats than there used to be. We just need to find the key.
Code:
4G*KA701Y30JUNKWL« AUTH-168 320 0 - KWL 1 - HKG NO SMOKING-KWLHKG LAV GAL GAL A B C H J K BHD BHD BHD BHD BHD BHD 22 / / . / / / 22 23 /MH /MH . . /MH /MH 23 24 /MH /MH /MH /MH /MH /MH 24 25 / H / H / H / H / H / H 25 26 / / / / / / 26 27 / / / / / / 27 28 . * . . * . 28 29 * * . * * * 29 30 * * . . * * 30 31 Q Q Q Q Q Q 31 32X Q Q Q Q Q Q X32 AVAIL NO SMK: * BLOCK : / LEAST PREF: U BULKHEAD: BHD AVAIL SMKING: - PREMIUM: Q UPPER DECK: J EXIT ROW: X SEAT TAKEN: . WING: W PAID : P LAVATORY: LAV GALLEY: GAL PREF ACCESS LAV: PAL DOOR: DOR SCREEN: SCR CLOSET: CLS PREF ACCESS : H BASSINET: B UMNR: M REARFACE: ¤¥
#9
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Original Poster
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: YYJ
Posts: 2,230
CX/MPC has pulled through
Just got an email informing me of confirmed seats in row 22, the first row. We are very pleased. Kudos to CX and/MPC for pulling this through.
Interestingly, all the other seats still remain unavailable as does a large block of seats in the rear half.
Interestingly, all the other seats still remain unavailable as does a large block of seats in the rear half.
Last edited by BenSenise; Jun 27, 2012 at 11:31 am Reason: Spelling corr
#10
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: TPE / HSZ
Programs: CX GO (=SPH), IHG Diamond Amb, Hertz 5*, Accor, Hilton, National
Posts: 6,437