QRC3288

I'm not 100% sure, but from reading on here it sounds like a virtual lock if you're coming in on an F flight where only J is offered on the next flight. But if you are originating HKG and had a F award or something but got downgraded due to aircraft swap, I suspect if you have enough paperwork there with you they'll just let you in regardless heaps of people here have asked something similar so maybe they'll chime in or you can search.

As for your flight, BKK is not "very uncommon" to have F. A more precise way of putting it would be say to say F is very unpredictable to/from BKK, particularly compared to LH destinations where you can be assured of F. About the only regional destinations CX seems dedicated to serving consistently with paid F are Japan routes, and I suspect that's because it's probably the only regional destination with consistent paid (cash) demand for F tix with HKG as beginning/end of the journey. It seems from reading on here most F pax to/from DPS/BKK/MNL etc are transiting HKIA and/or on awards. which tells me that's probably low revenue (from CX's point of view) utilization of the F cabin. So CX basically treats those routes as the first to play ring-around-the-rosie with aircraft type whenever needs arise. But indeed CX does regularly put F cabins (sometimes as 2-class, others as 3) on BKK/TPE/MNL/SGN routes and you can get those seats with strategizing and a bit of luck.