Severe Overbooking???
May 5, 2015 | 9:12 pm
#16
Join Date: Feb 2011
Posts: 5,797
On company dime, I'm flying PEY now. But I would NEVER pay for it. And I actually feel bad for my company that pays for it. But I think CX has it and it does exactly what CX wants it to do:
1) Make money off suckers (company) that won't pay for J class but will pay for PEY class (like mine)
2) A buffer zone for oversold Y upgrades to relief J class from overcrowding.
3) Gets people that wants to use miles to upgrade to J class
From CX's perspective PEY is a win, screw the pax.
1) Make money off suckers (company) that won't pay for J class but will pay for PEY class (like mine)
2) A buffer zone for oversold Y upgrades to relief J class from overcrowding.
3) Gets people that wants to use miles to upgrade to J class
From CX's perspective PEY is a win, screw the pax.
May 5, 2015 | 9:19 pm
#17
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: YYZ
Programs: Hilton Gold, Marriott Platinum, Club Accor Gold, AC SE100K
Posts: 324
UPDATE!! I got upgraded into PEY, J was very full apparently. Oh well, I’m happy because its my birthday and I avoid the herd of cattle, time to get some good sleep and party all day in HKG. I still haven’t been to the arrival, I’ve heard its underwhelming to say the least?
May 6, 2015 | 12:38 am
#19
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
Probably not. Although I did get a double-class upgrade to J once in EWR, but it was only because a plane went tech a day earlier and they had to fly in a 77W to take us, and of course with much fewer Y seats.
May 6, 2015 | 1:10 am
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Dec 2004
Programs: CX Green, QF Platinum, BAEC Silver, Hyatt Glob
Posts: 10,797
May 6, 2015 | 9:06 pm
#21
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: CX GO (in hibernation mode), AA EXP, SPG GO, HH DM
Posts: 317
you're a GO member? i've never been able to block off the seat next to me ... most they'll do is request it but i always find someone sitting next to me. only success i've had is when moving my seat to somewhere in the back of the bus at the airport in hopes that it isn't a full flight
May 7, 2015 | 1:31 am
#22
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: NYC
Programs: Marriot Am, MU Pt
Posts: 3,092
I don't think they block seats anymore on CX, so if you get an empty seat next to you, I think it's just luck (or the airport was holding the seat for another elite, but they missed the flight). I often get to the airport and then there are some good seats left but seem to be unavailable to most people, but once I ask they call someone, "Please release XX seat for DM." Anyways that's as far as I've seen in the new system.
May 7, 2015 | 2:08 am
#23
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
I don't think they block seats anymore on CX, so if you get an empty seat next to you, I think it's just luck (or the airport was holding the seat for another elite, but they missed the flight). I often get to the airport and then there are some good seats left but seem to be unavailable to most people, but once I ask they call someone, "Please release XX seat for DM." Anyways that's as far as I've seen in the new system.
May 7, 2015 | 7:17 am
#24
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
Yes, the good old days of automatic block when you're a DM are over. It's the luck of the draw now. However, the check-in agent told me that you can still "ask" and they will "try their best"...
May 7, 2015 | 7:45 am
#25
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: JGC Sapphire
Posts: 283
The problem is that empty seat will attract some very annoying passenger...and cabin crew doesn't care at all.
May 7, 2015 | 7:57 am
#26
Join Date: Apr 2014
Programs: JGC Sapphire
Posts: 283
Originally Posted by Cathay Boy
1) Make money off suckers (company) that won't pay for J class but will pay for PEY class (like mine)
2) A buffer zone for oversold Y upgrades to relief J class from overcrowding.
3) Gets people that wants to use miles to upgrade to J class
From CX's perspective PEY is a win, screw the pax.
2) A buffer zone for oversold Y upgrades to relief J class from overcrowding.
3) Gets people that wants to use miles to upgrade to J class
From CX's perspective PEY is a win, screw the pax.
I personally find cheaper PEY on ex-LHR quite reasonable (Normally 10xx-11xx), as I would be paying 8xx for V-Class anyway. But if they sell it at the normal 1800+, why don't I just fly JL via FRA/CDG/HEL...an indirect J + direct PEY mix would cost the same...
May 7, 2015 | 11:15 am
#27
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
you're a GO member? i've never been able to block off the seat next to me ... most they'll do is request it but i always find someone sitting next to me. only success i've had is when moving my seat to somewhere in the back of the bus at the airport in hopes that it isn't a full flight
Anyway as many said I gave up on requesting seat blocking for quite some time already...
Last edited by sscywong; May 7, 2015 at 11:15 am Reason: Typo
May 7, 2015 | 3:22 pm
#28
Join Date: May 2009
Posts: 6,978
There are even some Y that just went ahead to J if the last few rows were fairly empty, again, the crew doesn't seem to come around and check. Usually the get away with it till second meal time.
May 7, 2015 | 9:37 pm
#29
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Los Angeles
Programs: CX GO (in hibernation mode), AA EXP, SPG GO, HH DM
Posts: 317
or is it just plain dumb luck??
May 8, 2015 | 12:37 am
#30
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX MarcoPolo (SL), BA Executive Club (GO)
Posts: 1,875
I think "blocking" is a discretional thing. It has never been a policy. Blocking is up to the check-in agent/flight control manager. If a flight is super empty, they will gladly let you block. If it is 90% above they are unlikely to block it for you as they need the seat. Sometimes, they can block but it is never guaranteed until aircraft has literally pushed back.
Over the years I have had CX block me a seat in Y on HKG-YYZ, HKG-LHR, and HKG-KUL.
I have found though, that outport staff are far less likely to be able to honour a blocking of a seat. I think this is because flights are still managed from HKG, and so they cannot liaise with a flight control manager as easily and ultimately have less control over the flight. In HKG, if the check-in agent is committed to trying to help me block a seat, they always call a flight controller.
Over the years I have had CX block me a seat in Y on HKG-YYZ, HKG-LHR, and HKG-KUL.
I have found though, that outport staff are far less likely to be able to honour a blocking of a seat. I think this is because flights are still managed from HKG, and so they cannot liaise with a flight control manager as easily and ultimately have less control over the flight. In HKG, if the check-in agent is committed to trying to help me block a seat, they always call a flight controller.