CX seat selection
May 7, 2017 | 8:55 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Virginia
Programs: HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott nobody
Posts: 470
CX seat selection
Hi,
Is there anyway for me to book an Economy Save seat and be sure I would be able to get an aisle seat sometimes before the day of travel in late September?
I know Economy Save does not allow seat selection during booking. The issue is when I can select seat and how do I find out my chance of getting an aisle seat before travel date. I don't even seem to be able to see the seat map for full economy fare.
I have read the mention of T-48. Can I assume that a block of seats will become available at the minute for everyone with Economy Save? (and hope that they are not all middle seats)
I am comparing CX to UA. UA allows advance seat selection. For a 15 hour flight, this may be the tie-breaker for me.
Thanks.
Is there anyway for me to book an Economy Save seat and be sure I would be able to get an aisle seat sometimes before the day of travel in late September?
I know Economy Save does not allow seat selection during booking. The issue is when I can select seat and how do I find out my chance of getting an aisle seat before travel date. I don't even seem to be able to see the seat map for full economy fare.
I have read the mention of T-48. Can I assume that a block of seats will become available at the minute for everyone with Economy Save? (and hope that they are not all middle seats)
I am comparing CX to UA. UA allows advance seat selection. For a 15 hour flight, this may be the tie-breaker for me.
Thanks.
Last edited by EdofFX; May 7, 2017 at 8:58 am Reason: add question
May 7, 2017 | 9:25 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
Sometimes Economy Save puts you in V class then you can do advance seat selection
If you have oneWorld elite status then you can also call to get it pre-allocated
And I can tell you, not ALL seats will be open to you at T-48 if you don't have any status with CX / oneWorld... But usually sharp at T-48, usually there will be some aisle and window seats left, particularly aisle seats since there's quite a lot of it there (4 columns of aisle seats v. 3 columns of middle seat v. 2 columns of window seat on 77W) but don't expect them to be located in the forward section of Y...
If you have oneWorld elite status then you can also call to get it pre-allocated
And I can tell you, not ALL seats will be open to you at T-48 if you don't have any status with CX / oneWorld... But usually sharp at T-48, usually there will be some aisle and window seats left, particularly aisle seats since there's quite a lot of it there (4 columns of aisle seats v. 3 columns of middle seat v. 2 columns of window seat on 77W) but don't expect them to be located in the forward section of Y...
May 7, 2017 | 9:46 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Virginia
Programs: HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott nobody
Posts: 470
Thanks for your insight. This is very helpful.
I don't have status with any OW airlines. So my best hope is for T-48. The flight leaves EWR after mid-night, hopefully not too many people stay up at that hour to check in.
The likelihood of all the way in the back was something I did not think about. I don't mind the bumpiness or the last to clear customs, but the aroma may be another consideration.
I don't have status with any OW airlines. So my best hope is for T-48. The flight leaves EWR after mid-night, hopefully not too many people stay up at that hour to check in.
The likelihood of all the way in the back was something I did not think about. I don't mind the bumpiness or the last to clear customs, but the aroma may be another consideration.
May 7, 2017 | 11:50 am
#4
Join Date: Jan 2015
Programs: Aeroflot Bonus - Gold, Marco Polo - Silver
Posts: 155
Online check in at t-48 usually works well. However, on booked out flights it is useless. So if you travel on Chinese national day or around Hong Kong public holidays, the seat selection may be disabled/all seats taken at t-48.
I've noticed that tickets bought through expedia.com.hk for ex-HKG itineraries allow a seat selection at purchase of the ticket (no extra cost). That is valid for core economy booking classes and fare buckets (incl. S and N). I'm able to "prefer" a specific seat (e.g. 39K). The preference is also visible on Cathay.com my booking. So far I've also gotten that seat at check-in.
I've noticed that tickets bought through expedia.com.hk for ex-HKG itineraries allow a seat selection at purchase of the ticket (no extra cost). That is valid for core economy booking classes and fare buckets (incl. S and N). I'm able to "prefer" a specific seat (e.g. 39K). The preference is also visible on Cathay.com my booking. So far I've also gotten that seat at check-in.
May 7, 2017 | 7:13 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Virginia
Programs: HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott nobody
Posts: 470
Thanks all. I just tried Expedia.com.hk and had no luck there. Seat availability is not shown, perhaps because I am starting my trip at EWR? not sure.
I will ask my TA if she can make a seat selection for me.
It seems I will probably end up on UA if I cannot solve this seat selection obstacle. I can select my seats on UA and the seat map currently looks wide open for my dates.
I will ask my TA if she can make a seat selection for me.
It seems I will probably end up on UA if I cannot solve this seat selection obstacle. I can select my seats on UA and the seat map currently looks wide open for my dates.
May 7, 2017 | 8:43 pm
#8
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Lowly CX & IHG
Posts: 382
I found that if you're CX GR (which is US$100/year or offered along some CC) and selected a preference of aisle/window/etc. seat in profile, upon booking S/N/Q (maybe other?) tickets the system will assign a seat based on the preference, which you can see after ticketed or even "pay later", but no further change possible until T-48. Some hidden enhancement?
May 11, 2017 | 5:14 pm
#9
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Virginia
Programs: HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott nobody
Posts: 470
I have a follow up question. There is no way for me (without any airline status) to see which seat is available before I purchase a CX ticket, even for a V fare, right?
I know I cannot pre-book for Economy Save, and I can Pre-book for a V fare. But where can I see what is available before I commit to a particular flight? If a particular flight no longer have aisle seats available, it does not make sense for me to book it and then find out. I just want to confirm this is how CX works. Thanks.
I know I cannot pre-book for Economy Save, and I can Pre-book for a V fare. But where can I see what is available before I commit to a particular flight? If a particular flight no longer have aisle seats available, it does not make sense for me to book it and then find out. I just want to confirm this is how CX works. Thanks.
May 11, 2017 | 7:31 pm
#10
Join Date: Jun 2016
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: Lowly CX & IHG
Posts: 382
I have a follow up question. There is no way for me (without any airline status) to see which seat is available before I purchase a CX ticket, even for a V fare, right?
I know I cannot pre-book for Economy Save, and I can Pre-book for a V fare. But where can I see what is available before I commit to a particular flight? If a particular flight no longer have aisle seats available, it does not make sense for me to book it and then find out. I just want to confirm this is how CX works. Thanks.
I know I cannot pre-book for Economy Save, and I can Pre-book for a V fare. But where can I see what is available before I commit to a particular flight? If a particular flight no longer have aisle seats available, it does not make sense for me to book it and then find out. I just want to confirm this is how CX works. Thanks.
Alternatively, use third-party tools like ExpertFlyer.
May 11, 2017 | 8:14 pm
#11
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Virginia
Programs: HHonors Gold, IHG Platinum, Marriott nobody
Posts: 470
Thanks. That makes more sense now. I stopped at the passenger details screen and did not realize there is still a chance to see available seats before payments. I will try that on my next trip. Thanks again.
May 11, 2017 | 8:15 pm
#12
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: CRK MNL
Programs: CX Gold, OWS, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,549
I tried to seat my brother and his family (2 adults, 1 7yo child, 1 9mo old baby) in row 31 (behind the emergency exit seats) of KA A320, but it doesn't allow my brother (with baby) to be seated in that row. Was this for safety reasons?
May 13, 2017 | 2:57 am
#13
Join Date: Feb 2015
Location: CRK MNL
Programs: CX Gold, OWS, Accor Plat
Posts: 1,549
I am trying to change the seats of my brother's family to the forward cabin (row 25), the system always gives an error:
"Due to internal system error, you are unable to proceed further. Please close the current browser and try again. Should this problem persist, please contact our Global Contact Centres. (err_mmb_100)"
What seems to be the problem?
"Due to internal system error, you are unable to proceed further. Please close the current browser and try again. Should this problem persist, please contact our Global Contact Centres. (err_mmb_100)"
What seems to be the problem?
Aug 31, 2017 | 2:25 pm
#14
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Cambridge
Programs: BA Silver
Posts: 1,282
I had an aircraft change (from A359 to A333) which caused my assigned seat to be dropped (naturally). The Manage Booking on cathaypacific.com would not let me choose a new set (it reads: "We were unable to process your previous request. No further seat change is allowed"). The CX call centre in TLV is not the brightest one; is there a way to do it online? I'm a OWE and had no problem choosing my seats after the ticket was issued.
Aug 31, 2017 | 3:24 pm
#15
Join Date: Jul 2016
Programs: CX
Posts: 211
I had an aircraft change (from A359 to A333) which caused my assigned seat to be dropped (naturally). The Manage Booking on cathaypacific.com would not let me choose a new set (it reads: "We were unable to process your previous request. No further seat change is allowed"). The CX call centre in TLV is not the brightest one; is there a way to do it online? I'm a OWE and had no problem choosing my seats after the ticket was issued.