137677

I am fairly new to Cathay but had a multi leg Far East trip so decided to give them a go. The final leg was Haneda/ HKG / LHR - at Tokyo I was given a boarding pass for The London Segment showing seat 1 A ( pre selected ).

On reaching the lounge I was asked if I would agree to move to 2 D ( I declined ) then an hour later the lounge manager came and asked me the same question.

Then on leaving the lounge manager a gentleman introduced himself as the duty manager and offered me USD 150 ( a service credit not cash ) to move because there was a couple on board and it was really important to them that they sat in 1A and 2A and he was trying to demonstrate good customer service.

I have never seen or heard anything like this happening on BA - is it normal on CX.

APeverell

As the layout of the 777 F goes, the couple could go with any pair of 1/2 ADK, or they can sit across 1DK or 2DK. They apparently do not know that there is a wall between 2A and 2D.

Personally, I'd prefer DK across over front and back.

Psychiatrist

Did you agree?

USD 150 to move to a windowless seat? No way! Perhaps USD 5000?

I know a fellow FTer who would rather sit in a J window seat than be upgraded to a windowless F seat!

sscywong

1K for 1A... USD150 ok... But K is already not as private as A because D and K share the starboard aisle....
2K for 1A... need serious consideration....
D? No way as Psychiatrist said

Also I can't think of any reason why CX willing to pay USD150 for another passenger for your 1A........ The couple are both DM+?

suziemay

I've never had the pleasure of flying first class but that sounds horrible to me. I can't believe they offered you money. I think it's OK that they asked and once you said no, that should have been the end of it. I imagined you (or your company) either paid a lot of $ or used a lot of miles for the seat. I would be so insulted. Maybe I'm over-reacting!

cxfan1960

I don't understand. As they had 2A-2D, they could swap 2A with 2K or 1D so they can be next to each other. They may be able to do that even without compensation. I would decline swapping my 1A with 2D too.

TheBOSman

Put an extra 0 at the end of that offer number and we can start a negotiation .

Daffie

Or did they? OP didn't mention if it was a full load or what.

If 1K and companion was a VIP and/or travelling on F/A fares, while OP is just on an redemption award. I would too, try my best to accommodate 1K's request.

cxfan1960

OP did mention swapping with 2D. If it was not full load, I assume either 2D or 1D was not occupied, it is easier to exchange a window seat for a middle seat or another window seat. Most passengers would not have problem. In the worst scenario, they could take 1D and 2D.

Possible, but for USD150

Daffie

Seeing that a D seat had to be utilized, I assume loading was at least 4+, if not full. Possible there might be another "pair" for the other seats? Or higher VIP (Govt, celeb, etc) that they do not want to disturb.

Yeah, $150 was rather weak. But it's interesting that OP was asked at the HND lounge, for a seat arrangement on his HKG-LHR leg. Maybe the HND staff just didn't have the empowerment to offer anything higher. And interesting 2X that ground staff didn't ask OP again at HKG.

percysmith

Well at least in HND they offered to pay for it. Perhaps if ex-HKG they would've simply moved you and not explain why (parrot the "seat assignments are not guaranteed" on loop).

QRC3288

I've been asked to move on a number of occasions. Never once been offered any compensation. My bet is the pax who wanted to move were cash F pax.

Last time I swapped in F was earlier this year. I was aasigned 2K, and a family had 1A, 1D, 1C and 2D. I happily switched. 2A was unoccupied and I basically ended up with two seats, while the family got the entire 1-2DK zone.

I think it's common for folks not to realize there is a wall between A and D.

cxfan1960

Yes, but for USD150, it may be more respectful that they just move the passenger without saying anything.

Do you mean 1K instead of 1C?

daniellam

Perhaps Mrs. Tung was travelling? Years ago, media reports say that she insists on sitting in seat 1A.

Psychiatrist

I was in 77W 11K once and HKSAR CE was in 12K. Police escort sat in the main J cabin.

I would have expected them to move me but they didn't. That would have been a legitimate reason to move me as it would be a potential security threat? Or perhaps the CE didn't want to cause a fuss?