Offered Money to Move Seats
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2006
Programs: BA GGL CCR
Posts: 87
Offered Money to Move Seats
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.
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.
#2
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Asia Pac
Programs: AA UA DL AS CXDM JL NH Hilton Hyatt Marriott SPG IHG
Posts: 545
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.
Personally, I'd prefer DK across over front and back.
#3
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond / SQ Gold / Bonvoy Platinum / Hyatt Globalist / Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,098
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!
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!
#4
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
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+?
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+?
#5
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 423
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!
#8
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: AA & SPG Plat
Posts: 387
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.
#9
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
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
Possible, but for USD150
#10
Suspended
Join Date: Sep 2015
Programs: AA & SPG Plat
Posts: 387
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.
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.
#11
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,966
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).
#12
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,720
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.
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.
#13
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
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.
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.
#15
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond / SQ Gold / Bonvoy Platinum / Hyatt Globalist / Hilton Gold
Posts: 1,098
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?
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?