Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 21540363)

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?

Originally Posted by correctioncx (Post 21540702)

U already have all the perks of f class pax already - lounge access if connecting and baggage as well. Getting assigned into 1A is not a perk so get over it! It is a specific cabin CX decide to give priorty to its members first.

How will ur spend crush us if u don't even know how much we spent. Given how easy is to maintain exp many of us here can make it 3 times easily and also getting CK.

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 21541600)

Easy killer, you don't want the moderator to shut you down again. My assumption was a simple one - I probably spend/fly more in the US than typical HK-based CX flyers spend/fly in the US. It wasn't a personal attack. Let me try and make this simple.

1) 1A used to be a perk for F-ticketed long-haul passengers, both revenue & award.
2) At some point CX changed its policy.
3) FTers haven't been able to explain when or why (nor are they obligated to).
4) I think it is bad practice to dilute benefits mid-way through a traveler's itinerary.
5) I'm dreading my Sunday HKGDPS flight next August because of this policy. Thankfully DPSHKG is with regional aircraft, so no walk of shame for me.
6) I'll just ask management about it, since FTers thus far don't seem to know any history behind the change, other than to say they like it because it benefits them personally. As noted, there are plenty of policies in life that benefit me, that I still think are bad policies.

Originally Posted by CanucksHKG (Post 21544013)

Can't believe this debate is still going on. :confused::confused:

jamienbaker...just give up, will ya?
Just accept the fact not every company will ever run the same, what is logical with AA does not mean CX should do the same.

If you're so inclined to find out when + why CX changed such policy, maybe you should write to the Club and ask. Oh wait, you're not a MPO member...

Originally Posted by CrazyJ82 (Post 21544209)

I've been looking in on this thread from time to time and refrained from comment because the whole argument is so silly. But I can't restrain myself any longer. ;)

Someone is really saying they're going to spend the next 10 months "dreading" a 4-hour flight to a tropical paradise because they'll be slumming it in long-haul J instead of getting an F seat they didn't pay for along with the J service they did? I know FTers are prone to a lack of perspective on things, but surely this takes the cake.

Whoever at Cathay City ultimately gets this complaint tossed in their lap is likely to conclude no good deed goes unpunished. For a while, for whatever reason, they were willing to extend this seating benefit to connecting long-haul F pax ticketed in J for that flight -- as a courtesy. Now they've decided to change and extend the courtesy to a different group of pax also ticketed in J on the flight (MPO elites). And instead of being grateful for the times this courtesy was extended, someone is going to complain. Including a threat to no longer not spend USD25,000 per ticket with them (what the ticket would cost if you were to pay CX cash for it).

Originally Posted by Happy (Post 21891005)

So we are booked in HKG-DPS in J despite holding F tickets funded with AA miles. Lowly OW Ruby only.

Upon reading I chose Upper deck seats several months ago. Periodically I checked My Booking and the Nose Section was always fully blocked. J cabins slowly filled up but still had seats in both Main and Upper Deck.

A week ago or so I checked again, they pretty much remained the same with 2 or 3 more J seats taken.

I just checked an hour before and noticed that both Main and Upper Deck J cabins were fully occupied. HOWEVER, 1A and 1K were NOT occupied and the website allowed me to take those 2 seats.

I was under the impression that CX would only release the Nose section at the airport check in for the worthy passengers. There have been many reports that folks from the partner redemption even being OW Emerald were still denied seats in the Nose section when politely asked at the gate.

Now we took the 1A and 1K through My Booking, would CX "downgrade" us back to the J cabin now it only shows 82 A and K vacated by us? i.e. CX would "plug" some MPC Diamonds to put them back in F and put us at the back?

Enlightenment is much welcome.

I wouldn't mind to sit at the business section should it be served by a Regional Jet. However I much prefer to sit at the Nose F section in a 747 with its not so nice old J seat.

Originally Posted by jamienbaker (Post 21891074)

I'd check your res again, after the fact. I was once able to select those seats, but within 24 hrs I had been moved out of them. But then, nobody seems to know the official policy and whether it has actually changed. Also, I found DPS Is better than HKG for clearing OWEs into the coveted seats. Regrettably, I'm booked on this flight next August but waitlisted on SQ. Hopefully SQ comes through, or the the 744 is downgsuged to a regional aircraft. I really can't stand the whole 744 F seat uncertainty thing.

Originally Posted by Happy (Post 21891143)

JL site also shows this is a 772... but CX site has the 744 seat map for months on end despite it also shows 772 in the itinerary.

I dont care much about the uncertainty. I just DONT like being put in the 747 old J seats when holding a F ticket. I think CX should go by the Inbound flight class of service for seat assignment given that HKG-DPS is almost always a next day connection for us who are coming in from US.

Originally Posted by TalkFlyer (Post 21891444)

Just returned fr DPS on 772 last week, & it's old J seats w the crap PTV of poor display & sound! Seat was big enough but still it's a big difference btw 744 F seats I think. The food was ok but a bit letting down of the appetizer of tasteless shrimps! The service was still good & one more good thing that it's not fishbone seats & you can get closer to your travel companion.
Don't worry & don't expect too much to ruin your holidays.

P.S. DPS airport is new & just open in Oct 2013. It's much much better than the old one & beautiful. The immigration staff are friendly & SLOW.
The lounge is worse than before as it looks like a temporary one!

Originally Posted by Happy (Post 21891143)

Hmmm, right now the only available J seats are the 2 vacated by us, row 82 at the upper deck. If such are taken overnight, where CX would put us to?!

Should I self-move back to row 82, which after all, are among the better J seats.

OK, just checked JL site, there are FOUR J seats available on this flight with the seat map showed only TWO vacant seats being 1A and 1K.

Stupid BA site is down so unable to check how many seats are available as my experience is, BA has accurate number whenever it is below 4. Above 4 BA does not even show a number. On one flight BA never showed how many available prior to our flight, just being available. I decided to chance the 777 main J cabin instead of the full mini cabin - great decision as the main J cabin was less than 1/3 full - far better than a full up mini cabin.

JL site also shows this is a 772... but CX site has the 744 seat map for months on end despite it also shows 772 in the itinerary.

I dont care much about the uncertainty. I just DONT like being put in the 747 old J seats when holding a F ticket. I think CX should go by the Inbound flight class of service for seat assignment given that HKG-DPS is almost always a next day connection for us who are coming in from US.

Originally Posted by brunos (Post 21892036)

No reason to worry.
1A&K are BUSINESS seats and the nose of the aircraft is part of the business cabin. CX blocks the nose for DM when the flight is heavily booked, but they usually release those two seats a few days before departure. The other seats in the nose remain blocked for DMs.
My take is that they feel that there won't be more than 7 DMs so they can allocate 1A&K to other pax. This has become common practice at CX (happened to me a couple of time) and you should not worry.

Originally Posted by brunos (Post 21892036)

No reason to worry.
1A&K are BUSINESS seats and the nose of the aircraft is part of the business cabin. CX blocks the nose for DM , but they usually release those two seats (1A&K) a few days before departure. The other seats in the nose remain blocked for DMs. If the load in Business is light, they might decide to keep the nose empty and not release seats in the nose.
My take is that they feel that there won't be more than 7 DMs so they can allocate 1A&K to toher pax. This has become common practice at CX (happened to me a couple of time) and you should not worry.