Which program will you use to get 3-4 first class redemption seats on SQ?

Most who fly regularly on CX and actually pay for their tickets with $ rather than points will welcome this change. CX are correct in giving F seats on flights where only J is sold to their own loyalty tier members over people who redeem Z awards with other oneworld carriers.

That wasn't my point, though I realize I didn't make it clear. I'm next flying SQ, as in DPSSIN when I leave Bali. I considered SINEWR for a family of four and had no trouble finding availability. However, I chose to fly SINHKGJFK in F on CX as the product is better. Going forward, I clearly will have to avoid 744s on CX as I'd rather fly regional J and know I've got the best product, than old J on the 744 but be at the mercy of CX's "thumb our nose at F long haul passengers" policy which I'm still hoping somebody can help me understand the when and why said policy was revised.

I disagree. As noted, I'm all for a hierarchy existing within booking class, but I'm very nervous about diluting the fences (for lack of a better term) between booking classes. The old policy gave preference to revenue, and I generally believe revenue should trump loyalty. Imagine the CX passenger buying an F ticket to the US and being hit up for a bag fee because a domestic segment is on an all-coach aircraft. Thankfully 744s will be gone at some point, and it is easy enough to choose regional aircraft so as to avoid the altered policy...which nobody seems to be able to give me any history on but that's ok. I can look back fondly on my time in the nose from when CX had a revenue-biased policy.

how far out did you find 4 seats on SIN-EWR? which program?

Transferred Amex points into SQ, saw ample availability last Xmas. Colleague is traveling with me and got family of 5 on the nonstop with no problem at all, booking around the same time. Unsure whether shut down of route impacted availability. Checking close in, I believe you'll also find ample J availability.

Edit - just checked Sunday and Monday, both days have at least 4 awards at the lowest level. Like CX, SQ is good with last minute availability, or so it seems in this limited example.

Is it a 772 or a 744? Conflicting info on CX MMB
 

So I looked up our flights on CX site for the first time since booking it in Feb, now I finally had time to work on the logistics of this upcoming trip in Dec.

We are coming in SFO-HKG overnight, then HKG-DPS, AA F awards. CX MMB shows HKG-DPS is on 772, yet the seat map is a 744. Of course the F section is totally blocked. We are assigned the middle seats of row 14 which I do not like. (we both prefer window seats). I changed the seat assignments to upper deck 82A and K.

However I am still not sure we would be on 772 or 744, given we are flying on a Friday.

Is the seat map available online a better indicator of which aircraft would be flying this route? Or since it is still 2.5 months out from departure, chances of equipment change would be very high given CX's practice.

I find seat map to be the best indicator. I've flown this route multiple times, the seat maps (closer in) have always been reliable, though even on day of departure the aircraft type listed remains incorrect. Unbelievably, the only day I could book next August is a Sunday, meaning I'll once again fall victim to the 744 in J. I'm obviously hoping for a regional aircraft.

744 operates HKG-DPS v v Sun, Tue, Sat in December. Other days are 773 with regional seats. Subject to change on any given day, of course......

Rat! So we are stuck with the 744.

Fantastic policy. Fully support CX here.

Of course you do, because it benefits you. But that doesn't make it a good policy. Any policy that results in staff telling First Class passengers that, "we know you are traveling in First Class today, but it is important we give priority to our Business Class passengers" is a bad policy. Nobody should ever overhear that in an airport. Ever.

When something benefits me, that doesn't make good policy. For example, on American Airlines, you can waitlist for upgrades and awards (nothing unusual there). However, there is a noticable gap between the time that upgrade/award seats are made available and when the waitlists begin to clear - sometimes hours. This allows non-status members (like my wife and kids) to jump the queue and grab the upgrades before waitlisted premium passengers ever get the chance. Does this benefit my family? Absolutely. Do I think it is a good policy? Absolutely not.

Nonsense.

- You didn't have an F ticket on HKG-DPS. You had J.

- If there was such as thing as an F ticket on the HKG - DPS route then one should be able to buy one for HKG-DPS-HKG, which one cannot.

- HK based DMs buying J to fly to DPS probably spend a materiallymore, on average, w/ CX than you do.

It makes commercial sense for CX to prioritize them, and objectively seems fair to do so.

Don't argue with him otherwise he might "crush"
You. Really sick of the AA freeloaders here tying to dictate how CX is to be run. What doesn't make senses is the stupid AA system where all explats get upgraded to F class domestically over someone holding a full fare F class pax!

Easy now. I don't consider myself an AA freeloader and I purposely identified a bad AA policy in hopes of proving I can be fair and balanced.

I realize CX doesn't publish an F-class fare on the segment. They do to JKT, and from the US the F fares JFKDPS and JFKJKT are the same...though perhaps that was a coincidence (last time I checked).

All I'm saying is it is a slippery slope when airlines start breaking down fences between booking classes. If you buy an F ticket from HKG to Columbus, Ohio, your last segment will be on an RJ without first class. Despite no F class on the RJ, I would only hope that the US airline in question give you the courtesy you deserve as a long-haul F passenger; lounge access, free bags, priority boarding, etc.

The point about HK-based DMs buying J spending more than me personally on CX is valid. But again, you seem to be suggesting that on a multi-segment itinerary, revenue spend of local passengers should be the deciding factor for perks, coming at the expense of thru-ticketed passengers. Let's hope you honestly don't believe that. If you come to the U.S., chances are on that metric, my local spend would crush you at every turn. However, I do NOT believe that I should be prioritized above you. I believe the best policy is to migrate towards the highest common denominator (based on length of haul) in a service industry. If you flew 15 hours on a revenue (or reward) ticket to HKG and are continuing on in a 744, the best policy is to put you in the nose.

The difference, apparently, is entitlement. If the situation was reversed, I would gladly step aside for a long-haul, F-ticketed passenger. You, and most others, would not.

BTW, why has nobody been able to identify when CX changed their policy?