I actually would welcome this provided elite members get free access :p

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Overhead space is causing much air-rage and I wouldn't be surprise if an actual fight breaks out soon because of it. I almost snap when someone tried to stick his hardcore bag next to my medicine bag and jamming against it as I have CPAC and other fragile stuff in it. I quickly stopped him and he ignored me and keep jamming, if it wasn't for the FA to quickly come over and help him gently put the bag in next to mine I would of snap right there.

Cathay Pacific now charges for exit row seats.
 

:td: I really hate all the airlines doing it. Boo CX :mad: following everyone down the drain like QF.

There is always a strong demand for extra legroom seats, and the Cathay Pacific move is in line with similar practices adopted by other major international airlines.

You left out some very important information:

Members of the Cathay Pacific’s Marco Polo Club loyalty programme (Silver tier and above), who are already able to reserve the Extra-legroom Seats, will continue to enjoy the service free of charge. The seats will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

Presumably then non-MP OneWorld elites would still have to pay. :td: Not sure if they can reserve these seats now anyway.

Of course, as a MP elite, if this means a no-status passenger who books earlier and pays the fee can get the seats, this is a meaningful devaluation. It would seem better to withhold opening these seats for sale to the general public until 24 hours in advance or such.

We'll really know when CX is going down the crapper when they start charging US$90 like BA for non-status J pax to get any kind of advance seat assignment.

Granted, this move doesn't affect me (I don't like the extra legroom seats), but I'm not happy about it nonetheless.

Yes, we can reserve exit-row seats now. I'll find out if that's still the case soon.

better you just book business or first class in future to avaoid any dissapointment

Merging two threads discussing same issues into one...


Thank you!


Guy Betsy
Cathay Pacific Asiamiles forum moderator

Non-MPO oneworld elites will have to pay for these seats... taken from the CX website:

That's not nice ...as it is, to earn points on CX, AAdvantage members have to pay higher coach fares (H class and above). Another disincentive to fly CX if you are an AAdvantage member.

Excellent point, and AA allows OW elites to reserve exit rows on AA flights (AA doesn't charge... yet).

This adds to the disparity in treatment between the two airlines. CX pax earn miles on nearly all published AA fares, while the poster above notes that AA only earns miles for Y/B/H in coach. I've never understood that disparity. And CX pax can upgrade (!) on AA with miles. No chance of CX allowing that for us AA folk.

What's next? Cabanas in the Wing for MPO only?

Geez, with CX closing ranks, and JL about to go under, what's a OW Asia traveler to do? :(

I can add more to this - AA is treating MPC members better than their own:D:
- CX DM/GO can use the FL/AC on NA domestic itinerary.
- Asia Miles can be used to upgrade on AA's I fare.
(Unfortunately, I am not sure if any CX members received op-ups on AA flights - only the other way.)

It's more that AA is overly generous, rather than CX being particularly miserly. Look at QF and BA - both of them are not generous to CX passegners travelling with them. Also CX is miserly with it's own members - no status bonus for mileage earning.

Basically AA is more desperate for OW pax compared to the other airlines. Therefore they are willing to pay more to CX, QF, BA for those airlines to award mileage when travelling on AA.

The lounge access question is more one of AA (and other US airlines) wanting to charge their own members for it.

AAdvantage members can now upgrade an I fare with miles, albeit with a $550 co-pay.

I won't bash CX too much. They've given me more op-ups than any other airline, including several long haul.

The Ms. earns AM while I earn AA miles. My ticket is always about $400 more on CX coach just to be able to earn AA miles. As CX reduces the already limited perks for OW elites, the willingness to pay diminishes. What's the last straw ...hmm, maybe an even lower priority of op-up for OW elites?

I tend to agree, although I have no idea how generous AA is to other OW members. Personally, I have never been upgraded by BA, QF or AA in my 9 years with the MPC, of which 5 years have been as a CX DM. And I do multiple flights with BA and AA every year, though not with QF.