Nov 19, 2014, 9:27 am
Last edit by: Prospero
Awards: All Cathay Pacific / CX (Including First and Business Class)
Questions, Availability, Discussion
NOTE: Multiple reports starting in June 2021 that CX is allowing only a 24 hour hold and could cancel reservations not being ticketed beyond 24 hours.
Please feel free to use this thread for questions regarding CX Economy, Premium Economy, First and Business Class award redemption using AAdvantage miles, as well as questions regarding award availability, routings and related issues. Please go to the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Forum to discuss or ask about meals, equipment, service, etc. on CX, as there is an existing wealth of information there - and this is the American Airlines AAdvantage Forum
.
AA Flight award chart for oneworld® and partner airlines
Other related threads that may be of interest:
FT Discrepancy between CX Award Search and AA availability: Discrepancy between QF and CX award search and AA availability
FT How , When to Select CX Seats on CX Award: How / when to select seat on a Cathay (CX) award / flight (consolidated)
FT Cathay Pacific Experience - Seats / Interline/ Baggage FAQs: Cathay Pacific Experience / Seats / Interline / Baggage FAQs
Also, for Rules about awards, see AA oneworld and Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (2015 on).
Expert Advice:
Only "MileSAAver" awards apply to oneworld and AA partners.
Premium Economy seats are not available with AAdvantage awards, may be soon as AA sells Premium Economy Feb 2017.
Be aware that what you see on the BA, JL, or QF sites may not be visible to the AA reservations folks. You may want to note the flight on which the F award seat is shown as "available" on those sites and if the AA agent doesn't see any availability suggest that the AA agent check that specific one again. If the AA agent still cannot see it, thank them, hang up, and call back a little later.
Sometimes CX will make flights available for award booking to CX frequent flyers, but not release the seats immediately for other oneworld frequent flyers. Usually though, the seats, if not taken by CX frequent flyers, are released after a while to other OW programs.
Although CX may release seats for award earlier, AA can book them no more than 331 days prior to departure. The awards that CX does release are available as early as 355 days prior to departure for CX and BA frequent fliers, and sometimes that means the awards you want w AA miles will be snatched up prior to the 331 day mark.
*** AA does not have a set schedule to load flights. They can load it anytime after midnight 331 days out. Most of the time it is within a couple to 12 hours of that. Other times, it can be a full day or a day and a half afterwards, especially on the weekends where there's most variability. Unlike JL award space, it is not a specific time of day.
4Keep in mind that when booking eastbound space to North America that it's one day later in HKG so that space usually becomes available 330 days in advance to North America; this is not always true, since CX has already loaded the availability a month prior to AA - it is just up to AA to load and release the seats on SABRE, so it typically ends up being 330 days out, but not necessarily.
Similarly... if you are trying to book westbound, US->HKG->Somewhere then AA may not be able to book the HKG->Somewhere segment 331 days in advance of the US->HKG flight, if it is still 332 days out in HKG. As it is the flights from US->HKG that are hardest to get, if you find a seat US->HKG at the 331 day mark when it is first available for booking through AA but cannot book the continuation, you can just put that US->HKG segment on hold with AA, then call back the next day when connecting flights will be loaded into the system to try to book the onward flight from HKG.
AA does not charge "YQ" surcharges [what they sometimes call "fuel surcharge"] on CX award segments (BA Avios does), thus the taxes and fees on your "free" ticket on CX or KA are almost always significantly less than for the same routing on BA.
There is a Hong Kong Departure Tax (HK) of $120 HKD (approx $15.50 USD) on every segment departing Hong Kong. Exemptions apply. If your ticket includes this tax and you qualify for an exemption, a refund can be applied for either in person at HKIA landside or via post to Civil Aviation Department. AA charges this tax for children under 12 years of age despite the exemption. In order to obtain a cash refund at HKIA, you will need passenger passport, passenger boarding pass, passenger ticket receipt showing the fare calculation line which will show the HK tax being charged. This receipt can be obtained at any AA counter worldwide including HKIA as well as Airport Express in-town check-in (AA check-in). As the AA counter at HKIA operates only during limited hours, Airport Express in-town check-in would be the the convenient option.
Not all CX flights offer First class; CX Business is markedly different on long haul and regionally configured aircraft.
If you're looking for multiple seats in First on a particular flight but can find only some but not all that you're looking for, take what's available in F, then take the rest of the seats you want on J (if available) on the same flight, and check back periodically to see if an F seat has opened up for award. There is no additional charge (in money, although there will be in miles) to change to an award to a higher cabin of service (e.g., J to F, Y to F, Y to J) as long as the award keeps the same origin/destination airports.
Be aware your award must conform to some rules on a) MPM (Maximum Permitted Mileage - your award routing can not exceed 125% of the most direct routing available); a useful tool is Great Circle Mapper.
The Most Significant Carrier (transpacific usually, CX in most of these posts,) must offer a non-"constructed" fare between your origin and destination (you might find an unconstructed fare between DFW and SIN, but might not from Killeen to SIN).
If you can't pick your CX seats online, either due to them being blocked or you just want to call, you need to first get the CX PNR from AAdvantage at 1-800-882-8880. Then call CX at 1-800-233-2742. Some seats that are blocked on CX website are assignable via AA reservations. Close to departure AA can even assign 2A, 2K.
Note: if the Cathay Manage booking tool doesn't appear to recognize your CX PNR, you need to enter your first name AND middle name, separated by a space, in the "First Name" field.
AAward bookings containing CX flights that are put on hold will be restricted to only 24hrs, not the usual 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the patterns for west coast routes?
Because LAX has 4 daily flights to HKG, it tends to be the easiest option for blocks of 3 or more J award seats. SFO and YVR only have 2 daily flights and even if 5 award seats were initially released at 355 days prior to departure, some of those may be gone by the time the 331 day mark rolls around. If you need 4 or 5 J award seats on these west coast routes, either use Avios to book at 355 days or consider routing through LAX where there may still be availability at 331 days out.
Can I visit my companion in First Class if I'm in Business Class?
"Up-cabin visits" are not permitted per CX policy, though have been granted under special circumstances. But putting crew in the awkward position of being asked to violate policy is generally frowned upon. Down-cabin visits are permitted ex-USA. However, on flights to the USA, down-cabin visits are not permitted and this rule is vigorously enforced.
Posts made in 2017 may be read in ARCHIVE: 2017 AA Awards in Cathay Pacific / CX, KA...
Posts made in 2016 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2016).
Posts made in 2015 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2015).
Posts made in 2014 may be read in ARCHIVE: Awards: CX / Cathay Pacific / (inc. F and J) - 2014.
N.B. Older posts have been moved and archived to: Cathay Pacific / CX (inc. First and Business Class) award - ARCHIVED.
Questions, Availability, Discussion
NOTE: Multiple reports starting in June 2021 that CX is allowing only a 24 hour hold and could cancel reservations not being ticketed beyond 24 hours.
Please feel free to use this thread for questions regarding CX Economy, Premium Economy, First and Business Class award redemption using AAdvantage miles, as well as questions regarding award availability, routings and related issues. Please go to the Cathay Pacific Asia Miles Forum to discuss or ask about meals, equipment, service, etc. on CX, as there is an existing wealth of information there - and this is the American Airlines AAdvantage Forum
.AA Flight award chart for oneworld® and partner airlines
Other related threads that may be of interest:
FT Discrepancy between CX Award Search and AA availability: Discrepancy between QF and CX award search and AA availability
FT How , When to Select CX Seats on CX Award: How / when to select seat on a Cathay (CX) award / flight (consolidated)
FT Cathay Pacific Experience - Seats / Interline/ Baggage FAQs: Cathay Pacific Experience / Seats / Interline / Baggage FAQs
Also, for Rules about awards, see AA oneworld and Other Airline Partner Award information, rules (2015 on).
Expert Advice:
Only "MileSAAver" awards apply to oneworld and AA partners.
Premium Economy seats are not available with AAdvantage awards, may be soon as AA sells Premium Economy Feb 2017.
Be aware that what you see on the BA, JL, or QF sites may not be visible to the AA reservations folks. You may want to note the flight on which the F award seat is shown as "available" on those sites and if the AA agent doesn't see any availability suggest that the AA agent check that specific one again. If the AA agent still cannot see it, thank them, hang up, and call back a little later.
Sometimes CX will make flights available for award booking to CX frequent flyers, but not release the seats immediately for other oneworld frequent flyers. Usually though, the seats, if not taken by CX frequent flyers, are released after a while to other OW programs.
Although CX may release seats for award earlier, AA can book them no more than 331 days prior to departure. The awards that CX does release are available as early as 355 days prior to departure for CX and BA frequent fliers, and sometimes that means the awards you want w AA miles will be snatched up prior to the 331 day mark.
*** AA does not have a set schedule to load flights. They can load it anytime after midnight 331 days out. Most of the time it is within a couple to 12 hours of that. Other times, it can be a full day or a day and a half afterwards, especially on the weekends where there's most variability. Unlike JL award space, it is not a specific time of day.
4Keep in mind that when booking eastbound space to North America that it's one day later in HKG so that space usually becomes available 330 days in advance to North America; this is not always true, since CX has already loaded the availability a month prior to AA - it is just up to AA to load and release the seats on SABRE, so it typically ends up being 330 days out, but not necessarily.
Similarly... if you are trying to book westbound, US->HKG->Somewhere then AA may not be able to book the HKG->Somewhere segment 331 days in advance of the US->HKG flight, if it is still 332 days out in HKG. As it is the flights from US->HKG that are hardest to get, if you find a seat US->HKG at the 331 day mark when it is first available for booking through AA but cannot book the continuation, you can just put that US->HKG segment on hold with AA, then call back the next day when connecting flights will be loaded into the system to try to book the onward flight from HKG.
AA does not charge "YQ" surcharges [what they sometimes call "fuel surcharge"] on CX award segments (BA Avios does), thus the taxes and fees on your "free" ticket on CX or KA are almost always significantly less than for the same routing on BA.
There is a Hong Kong Departure Tax (HK) of $120 HKD (approx $15.50 USD) on every segment departing Hong Kong. Exemptions apply. If your ticket includes this tax and you qualify for an exemption, a refund can be applied for either in person at HKIA landside or via post to Civil Aviation Department. AA charges this tax for children under 12 years of age despite the exemption. In order to obtain a cash refund at HKIA, you will need passenger passport, passenger boarding pass, passenger ticket receipt showing the fare calculation line which will show the HK tax being charged. This receipt can be obtained at any AA counter worldwide including HKIA as well as Airport Express in-town check-in (AA check-in). As the AA counter at HKIA operates only during limited hours, Airport Express in-town check-in would be the the convenient option.
Not all CX flights offer First class; CX Business is markedly different on long haul and regionally configured aircraft.
If you're looking for multiple seats in First on a particular flight but can find only some but not all that you're looking for, take what's available in F, then take the rest of the seats you want on J (if available) on the same flight, and check back periodically to see if an F seat has opened up for award. There is no additional charge (in money, although there will be in miles) to change to an award to a higher cabin of service (e.g., J to F, Y to F, Y to J) as long as the award keeps the same origin/destination airports.
Be aware your award must conform to some rules on a) MPM (Maximum Permitted Mileage - your award routing can not exceed 125% of the most direct routing available); a useful tool is Great Circle Mapper.
The Most Significant Carrier (transpacific usually, CX in most of these posts,) must offer a non-"constructed" fare between your origin and destination (you might find an unconstructed fare between DFW and SIN, but might not from Killeen to SIN).
If you can't pick your CX seats online, either due to them being blocked or you just want to call, you need to first get the CX PNR from AAdvantage at 1-800-882-8880. Then call CX at 1-800-233-2742. Some seats that are blocked on CX website are assignable via AA reservations. Close to departure AA can even assign 2A, 2K.
Note: if the Cathay Manage booking tool doesn't appear to recognize your CX PNR, you need to enter your first name AND middle name, separated by a space, in the "First Name" field.
AAward bookings containing CX flights that are put on hold will be restricted to only 24hrs, not the usual 5 days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the patterns for west coast routes?
Because LAX has 4 daily flights to HKG, it tends to be the easiest option for blocks of 3 or more J award seats. SFO and YVR only have 2 daily flights and even if 5 award seats were initially released at 355 days prior to departure, some of those may be gone by the time the 331 day mark rolls around. If you need 4 or 5 J award seats on these west coast routes, either use Avios to book at 355 days or consider routing through LAX where there may still be availability at 331 days out.
Can I visit my companion in First Class if I'm in Business Class?
"Up-cabin visits" are not permitted per CX policy, though have been granted under special circumstances. But putting crew in the awkward position of being asked to violate policy is generally frowned upon. Down-cabin visits are permitted ex-USA. However, on flights to the USA, down-cabin visits are not permitted and this rule is vigorously enforced.
Posts made in 2017 may be read in ARCHIVE: 2017 AA Awards in Cathay Pacific / CX, KA...
Posts made in 2016 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2016).
Posts made in 2015 may be read in ARCHIVE: AA Awards on Cathay Pacific (2015).
Posts made in 2014 may be read in ARCHIVE: Awards: CX / Cathay Pacific / (inc. F and J) - 2014.
N.B. Older posts have been moved and archived to: Cathay Pacific / CX (inc. First and Business Class) award - ARCHIVED.
AA Award: Cathay Pacific / CX availability, etc. (2018-2022 archive)
Apr 23, 2018, 1:33 pm
#316
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: WAS
Posts: 1,626
The Wiki notes that "Sometimes CX will make flights available for award booking to CX frequent flyers, but not release the seats immediately for other oneworld frequent flyers. Usually though, the seats, if not taken by CX frequent flyers, are released after a while to other OW programs."
Does anyone have recent experience or insights into how this plays out? I see that CX is offering award seats to Asia Miles members on a flight that I would like to take. Award seats are not available through AA, BA or JL. I'm just trying to gauge the likelihood and timing of when that seat may become available to OW partners or whether I need to try to transfer some points to Asia Miles to grab the seat.
Thanks!
Does anyone have recent experience or insights into how this plays out? I see that CX is offering award seats to Asia Miles members on a flight that I would like to take. Award seats are not available through AA, BA or JL. I'm just trying to gauge the likelihood and timing of when that seat may become available to OW partners or whether I need to try to transfer some points to Asia Miles to grab the seat.
Thanks!
Apr 23, 2018, 3:35 pm
#317
Join Date: Nov 2007
Programs: Marriott Bonvoy Platinum, Hilton Honors Diamond, Delta Gold
Posts: 4,351
Disagree. I've booked 1F and 1J with hopes of 2nd F opening many times and it almost always did. Except once when it didn't and my husband wanted me in front, but I knew he enjoyed First way more than I did so I declined. Sorry, J is not a punishment or a terrible place to be and I was perfectly fine with it. It depends on everyone's personal situation and feelings, there are no blanket rules on who gets to sit in F if you only have 1.
Apr 23, 2018, 4:39 pm
#318
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: RDU <|> MMX
Programs: AA EXP 2MM, SK EBS
Posts: 12,486
The Wiki notes that "Sometimes CX will make flights available for award booking to CX frequent flyers, but not release the seats immediately for other oneworld frequent flyers. Usually though, the seats, if not taken by CX frequent flyers, are released after a while to other OW programs."
Does anyone have recent experience or insights into how this plays out? I see that CX is offering award seats to Asia Miles members on a flight that I would like to take. Award seats are not available through AA, BA or JL. I'm just trying to gauge the likelihood and timing of when that seat may become available to OW partners or whether I need to try to transfer some points to Asia Miles to grab the seat.
Apr 23, 2018, 5:58 pm
#319
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: So Cal
Posts: 937
pretty chauvinistic view, no? Why is the husband doing the offering, maybe the wife flies first all the time for business and is the trip planner, the husband never flies first.
What if the husband and wife are both female? What if one is plus size and the other is tiny?
Disagree. I've booked 1F and 1J with hopes of 2nd F opening many times and it almost always did. Except once when it didn't and my husband wanted me in front, but I knew he enjoyed First way more than I did so I declined. Sorry, J is not a punishment or a terrible place to be and I was perfectly fine with it. It depends on everyone's personal situation and feelings, there are no blanket rules on who gets to sit in F if you only have 1.
Apr 25, 2018, 7:41 am
#320
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 13
Trying to decipher flight availability on Expert Flyer.
For this, based on y'alls experience, as this flight gets closer in, are those I fares likely to be opened for award booking? Thanks!
For this, based on y'alls experience, as this flight gets closer in, are those I fares likely to be opened for award booking? Thanks!
Apr 25, 2018, 9:21 am
#321
Original Member
Join Date: May 1998
Location: NYC
Programs: AA 2MM, Bonvoy LTT, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 14,639
Now till June is a long time. If a week prior to departure and I is not 0, that's a positive sign.
Apr 25, 2018, 3:16 pm
#322
Suspended
Join Date: Oct 2011
Location: LAX
Programs: AAdvantage EXPLAT, Hilton Diamond, SPG/Marriott Gold, IHG Platinum, Citi Exec MC, Amex Plat
Posts: 1,443
Disagree. I've booked 1F and 1J with hopes of 2nd F opening many times and it almost always did. Except once when it didn't and my husband wanted me in front, but I knew he enjoyed First way more than I did so I declined. Sorry, J is not a punishment or a terrible place to be and I was perfectly fine with it. It depends on everyone's personal situation and feelings, there are no blanket rules on who gets to sit in F if you only have 1.
Apr 25, 2018, 3:53 pm
#323
Join Date: Jul 2017
Programs: AAdvantage
Posts: 13
Ah - that's helpful. So, F is the big bucket and inside it is A. J is then the big bucket and inside it are C, D, and I. Correct?
Apr 25, 2018, 6:20 pm
#324
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: KBOS
Programs: AA EXP, HH Diamond, Global Entry
Posts: 78
Apr 29, 2018, 4:31 pm
#325
Join Date: Mar 2013
Programs: HHonors Diamond, IHG Plat, Club Carlson Gold, SPG Gold, Marriott Gold
Posts: 316
pretty chauvinistic view, no? Why is the husband doing the offering, maybe the wife flies first all the time for business and is the trip planner, the husband never flies first.
What if the husband and wife are both female? What if one is plus size and the other is tiny?
Chivalry is dead because people like you killed it.
Apr 29, 2018, 6:04 pm
#326
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum; Amex Plat; Four Seasons; Fairmont; HH; etc.; "Retirees-In-Training"
Posts: 658
[We used FT member Jasper2009, aka [url]http://luxurytravelconsulting.com/award-bookings/]
For a trip last year (booked in 2016), I was able to get two F awards tickets (on JL) to Tokyo. Apparently, the ease of doing that was a fluke, and gave me the wrong idea about "how easy this is".
I could NOT find two F tix back from HKG on CX, however.
So we turned to the awards booking service, and we discussed several options.
What we first did, was to get 1 F and 1 J, making it clear that 2 F seats but on separate flights was an absolute non-starter.
The service was able to monitor for flights, and while we were in Japan, he let us know that another F seat did open up about 2 weeks before our return flight, so we grabbed it. For a 15 hour flight, at our ages, it was *well* worth the relatively small fee.
We did something similar a few months ago, on a trip to Europe. We wanted to try LH F, but because we don't have the right status (or something like that), we could only have a chance of their F about 2 weeks prior to departure. Meanwhile, we were booked F in BA. Two weeks prior to departure, 2 F seats on LH opened up, and we changed. Again, the fees were a small issue, given the luxury of the travel.
NOTE: It also helped a LOT that we were flexible, and could travel +/- a day or two, most of the time.
We've since used the service several more times, with terrific success, thus far, at least...
As for the CX flight back last year, IF we had not gotten the second F seat, DH and I had been (very friendly) "fighting", with each of us *insisting* that the other take the F seat. I *think* I was "winning" such that DH would be willing to take the F seat, as he really has more trouble sleeping on narrow "beds" than I do. Hopefully, with more "practice"
he'll get more used to sleeping on J flat bed seats. We both agree that I "enjoy" the F service more, but good sleep is a health issue, and in my mind, pretty much non-negotiable.But CX F really, really spoiled us!
We wish they had more flight paths.
GC
Apr 29, 2018, 6:12 pm
#327
Join Date: Oct 2014
Posts: 265
Couple of Questions: Currently have an itinerary from DEN-DFW-HKG-KUL-DPS Business class (AA + Cathay). We are trying to find a way to upgrade to first class and drop the HKG-KUL-DPS to HKG-DPS.
We found a way to upgrade to first and skip the KUL stop, Changes the routing to DEN-LAX-HKG-DPS. Problem is, we can't get from DEN-LAX on a Milesaver award (only "ANYTIME" is available in Economy and maybe Business).
1 .Are we able to take an Anytime award for a single leg? 1b. If so, How would it price out for miles if we took the Economy Seat (30k Anytime for just that leg, milesaver is 12.5k but unavailable) - Downgrading from first to Economy for this leg is understood if it's possible.
2. Also, if we did take the Anytime and pay extra points, can we upgrade from Economy if a milesaver business/first opens?
Thank you!!
We found a way to upgrade to first and skip the KUL stop, Changes the routing to DEN-LAX-HKG-DPS. Problem is, we can't get from DEN-LAX on a Milesaver award (only "ANYTIME" is available in Economy and maybe Business).
1 .Are we able to take an Anytime award for a single leg? 1b. If so, How would it price out for miles if we took the Economy Seat (30k Anytime for just that leg, milesaver is 12.5k but unavailable) - Downgrading from first to Economy for this leg is understood if it's possible.
2. Also, if we did take the Anytime and pay extra points, can we upgrade from Economy if a milesaver business/first opens?
Thank you!!
Apr 29, 2018, 8:49 pm
#328
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: Thousand Oaks, Ca., USA
Programs: AA Lifetime Plat; Bonvoy Titanium Lifetime Elite;Hyatt Globalist; HHonors Diamond; United Silver
Posts: 8,317
Apr 29, 2018, 11:14 pm
#329
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: PHX & AGP
Programs: AA Lifetime PLT, Bonvoy Lifetime Titanium, Hilton Gold
Posts: 11,463
For a trip last year (booked in 2016), I was able to get two F awards tickets (on JL) to Tokyo. Apparently, the ease of doing that was a fluke, and gave me the wrong idea about "how easy this is".
I could NOT find two F tix back from HKG on CX, however.
So we turned to the awards booking service, and we discussed several options.
What we first did, was to get 1 F and 1 J, making it clear that 2 F seats but on separate flights was an absolute non-starter.
The service was able to monitor for flights, and while we were in Japan, he let us know that another F seat did open up about 2 weeks before our return flight, so we grabbed it. For a 15 hour flight, at our ages, it was *well* worth the relatively small fee.
We did something similar a few months ago, on a trip to Europe. We wanted to try LH F, but because we don't have the right status (or something like that), we could only have a chance of their F about 2 weeks prior to departure. Meanwhile, we were booked F in BA. Two weeks prior to departure, 2 F seats on LH opened up, and we changed. Again, the fees were a small issue, given the luxury of the travel.
NOTE: It also helped a LOT that we were flexible, and could travel +/- a day or two, most of the time.
We've since used the service several more times, with terrific success, thus far, at least...
As for the CX flight back last year, IF we had not gotten the second F seat, DH and I had been (very friendly) "fighting", with each of us *insisting* that the other take the F seat. I *think* I was "winning" such that DH would be willing to take the F seat, as he really has more trouble sleeping on narrow "beds" than I do. Hopefully, with more "practice" he'll get more used to sleeping on J flat bed seats. We both agree that I "enjoy" the F service more, but good sleep is a health issue, and in my mind, pretty much non-negotiable.
But CX F really, really spoiled us!
We wish they had more flight paths.
GC
I could NOT find two F tix back from HKG on CX, however.
So we turned to the awards booking service, and we discussed several options.
What we first did, was to get 1 F and 1 J, making it clear that 2 F seats but on separate flights was an absolute non-starter.
The service was able to monitor for flights, and while we were in Japan, he let us know that another F seat did open up about 2 weeks before our return flight, so we grabbed it. For a 15 hour flight, at our ages, it was *well* worth the relatively small fee.
We did something similar a few months ago, on a trip to Europe. We wanted to try LH F, but because we don't have the right status (or something like that), we could only have a chance of their F about 2 weeks prior to departure. Meanwhile, we were booked F in BA. Two weeks prior to departure, 2 F seats on LH opened up, and we changed. Again, the fees were a small issue, given the luxury of the travel.
NOTE: It also helped a LOT that we were flexible, and could travel +/- a day or two, most of the time.
We've since used the service several more times, with terrific success, thus far, at least...
As for the CX flight back last year, IF we had not gotten the second F seat, DH and I had been (very friendly) "fighting", with each of us *insisting* that the other take the F seat. I *think* I was "winning" such that DH would be willing to take the F seat, as he really has more trouble sleeping on narrow "beds" than I do. Hopefully, with more "practice"
he'll get more used to sleeping on J flat bed seats. We both agree that I "enjoy" the F service more, but good sleep is a health issue, and in my mind, pretty much non-negotiable.But CX F really, really spoiled us!
We wish they had more flight paths.
GC
VERy few airlines release F awards many months out, well except for BA, but their F product isn't very underwhelming and not worth extra miles or Co-pay. Regarding LH F, they do not release F awards to other Star Alliance partners until 2 weeks before departure and most of the time you can get 2 tickets without much hassle. CX can be a little more difficult, they too release tickets about a week before departure. It's all a game, and if you use Expert Flyer you can find any award seats your little heart desire. Some practice and patients goes a long way.
Apr 30, 2018, 12:09 am
#330
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: AA Lifetime Platinum; Amex Plat; Four Seasons; Fairmont; HH; etc.; "Retirees-In-Training"
Posts: 658
Just to help you understand this game.
VERy few airlines release F awards many months out, well except for BA, but their F product isn't very underwhelming and not worth extra miles or Co-pay. Regarding LH F, they do not release F awards to other Star Alliance partners until 2 weeks before departure and most of the time you can get 2 tickets without much hassle. CX can be a little more difficult, they too release tickets about a week before departure. It's all a game, and if you use Expert Flyer you can find any award seats your little heart desire. Some practice and patients goes a long way.
VERy few airlines release F awards many months out, well except for BA, but their F product isn't very underwhelming and not worth extra miles or Co-pay. Regarding LH F, they do not release F awards to other Star Alliance partners until 2 weeks before departure and most of the time you can get 2 tickets without much hassle. CX can be a little more difficult, they too release tickets about a week before departure. It's all a game, and if you use Expert Flyer you can find any award seats your little heart desire. Some practice and patients goes a long way.
But we prefer to have help, in part because we are often unable to monitor closely enough because of our schedules (which include both work and travel; we were staying at a Buddhist monastery in Japan when that second CX ticket opened up, and we would have missed it!). Much nicer to know that for a very modest fee (given the value of these F seats to us!), we have someone keeping any eye out, and using a variety of software, etc., and just grabbing the seat(s) for us right away.
It's not worth that relatively small amount of money to be constantly checking, over what could be a long period of time. Or worse, missing seats, because we were busy/unavailable at "that particular time"... Obviously, others have different priorities.
Also, we may be wrong, but I'm not convinced we have easy access (or any access, perhaps?) to all of the same software to monitor and grab these precious F seats. Again, it's just "worth it to us" to have the help in getting those F seats whenever possible.
In our case, it turned out that because Jasper2009 is also a travel agent, he has now booked a number of cruises for us, as well as many hotels, with perks similar to Amex Plat Travel perks, so no loss there. And *definitely* with much more personalized service. (This reminds me a bit of Amex Plat Travel was when they first started, circa 1990 or 1991, and there was, I think, just one office in Phoenix, and a handful of agents.)
And many people here who are asking have little experience, as was the case with us initially.
GC