nic3456

I have a flight coming up to HKG using AA Miles on CX. Currently, we are booked in F in seats 1D & 2D. I called AA to try and change to 1A/2A or 1K/2K, but she said those seats are reserved for Elite Status passengers. I asked if/when those seats would open for others and she said never - I questioned and asked what if it ended up empty and she maintained I could still not get those seats. There are only 6 seats in F on that CX 777 and I would prefer a window seat. Any tips/ideas on this? I'm assuming if the seat was indeed empty the day I flew the FA would let us move, but I would rather find a way to lock in and not take the chance.

Lomic

You can try calling CX, since they have much better control over their seating than AA, but I know other airlines which restrict front of first class to high tier elites as well. I can't imagine you'll have a problem getting the seats if they're still empty when you board the plane and no one is waiting to upgrade to F.

neo_781

Above advice is good but I believe that CX routinely blocks some of those seats on the 777 and they open up closer to departure.

AAExpDFW

Call AA and ask for the CX PNR (it will be different than the AA one). Then go to cathaypacific.com and pull up your reservation that way. You can then use their seat maps to try and change your seat. CX is very good at reading your OW status and giving you access to those seats if you qualify.

As EXP, I've sat in 1A several times....by selecting it directly within the CX website.

Heads up....for first name try just your first name. If it doesn't like it try first name middle initial and then first name middle name. No spaces. CX is a little odd sometimes that way. So if your name is John Adam Jones, try JOHN, then JOHNA then JOHNADAM until they let you in.

arlflyer

You should be able to get 1A and 1K on the CX website. 2A and 2K, however, will be either explicitly blocked because they are the bassinet seats, or CX will let you take them online but it likely won't stick. Closer in to departure you will have a better shot at them if they're not taken.

Regardless, the play here is through CX - web or phone - not AA.

Good news is that on CX F there is really no bad seat in the house in my opinion. Every seat is very private and you can dine as a couple anywhere.

mrwangkai

I was told by the AA agent that only 2D is available for a flight in Feb 2015. Are the other seats already taken, or just not available for award booking selection? Thanks!

FrontOfTheCurtain

Withou any addional info, origin/destination, flight number and departure date the only advice I can give is this.

Depending on your OW status, there may be other options for you. Follow what AAExpDFW had posted earlier in this thread:

Call AA and ask for the CX PNR (it will be different than the AA one). Then go to cathaypacific.com and pull up your reservation that way. You can then use their seat maps to try and change your seat. CX is very good at reading your OW status and giving you access to those seats if you qualify.

As EXP, I've sat in 1A several times....by selecting it directly within the CX website.

Heads up....for first name try just your first name. If it doesn't like it try first name middle initial and then first name middle name. No spaces. CX is a little odd sometimes that way. So if your name is John Adam Jones, try JOHN, then JOHNA then JOHNADAM until they let you in.

conde

As AAExpDFW and others have mentioned, call AA to obtain the Cathay Pacific PNR/Record Locator. Unfortunately, when entering that into the Cathay Pacific web site's Manage Booking section, all seats in First Class may appear to be taken, disabled with only 2D available.

When that happens, call Cathay Pacific's customer service, provide them your CX PNR with your other associated flight information. The Cathay Pacific customer service representative was able to reserve 1K (LAX->HKG) and 1A (HKG->LAX) in the First Class cabin for my AA award ticket (on Cathay Pacific). I did not have elite status with Aadvantage or Asia Miles/Marco Polo when my seats were assigned nor do I have elite status now.

It is possible that 2D is the only seat available, but make sure that a Cathay Pacific representative confirms that is the case, not an AA representative.

mrwangkai

Thanks for getting back. I don't have status with AA, but has Sapphire w/ OW through US Airways Gold. The route I'm on is CX873 from SFO-HKG. The ticket is still 'On Request', when I called in, I was assured that the ticket is booked but is in queue to be processed. This probably meant that it may not available on CX's site just yet.

tng11

When selecting seats on the CX site - I haven't been able to pick anything other than 2D on my AAdvantage award bookings.

The QR manage booking function seems to let non-status passengers select all of Row 1 as well - so I use that method now to avoid having to call in.

I've been selecting 1A as of late, as I've been booted out of 2A a few times by the computer even if I get an agent to select it for me.

starbuk

CX website does not let me choose any F seats, only J.. weird.

RedElmo

How can you select seats now?
I currently bought a economy ticket from American Airlines operated by Cathay but when i called with Cahty's Record Locator they said they cannot assign me a seat till 72 hours prior to check in. They wanted to sell me a extra leg room seat for $139. Same with a Award booking From AA but operated by CX. How can I get CX to assign me a seat earlier?

My ticket is a Fare Type V... so I dont understand how i cant get a seat assignment.

On Cathay's website it says
* The following passengers can request a seat in advance
- Members of The Marco Polo Club and oneworld alliance holding elite status
- All First and Business Class passengers
- Passengers holding tickets on eligible fare types – W, R, E, Y, B, H, K, L, M, V, T

skeeze666

I booked a first class flight for November of this year using Alaska miles on Cathay Pacific from the US to Hong Kong, continuing on in business to JNB a week later. I tried to select a seat online for the first class cabin and it only allowed me to choose the rear middle seat (out of 6 total seats).

I emailed [email protected] and listed my preference in order out of all the seats and asked if they could kindly assign me the best available based on my preferences. Though they would not/could not give me 2A, they were able to assign me 1A and I am thrilled.

Dave Noble

Ignoring where you purchased the ticket from, for the paid journey are you booked on an AA codeshare flight number or a Cathay Pacific flight number ? This could potentially make a difference

For the award booking, this will be in X class which is not on the list of eligible fare types

RedElmo

It is a AA 8938 but operated by Cathay Pacific flight CX885

Ya I figured the Award booking is not eligible but the type V should be...