I am looking for help with how to get seats reserved on CX. My boyfriend and I cashed in all our AA miles for 2 CX First tickets...which on Sunday was 180 days away. But, the CX 800 number was closed so I called yesterday morning about 8:15 - 8:30am and the seats that I wanted to reserve 1A & 1K were already taken. Is there another way to request seats? Online, calling another number? Keep calling back? My next time to call back is on July 4. I would appreciate any ideas or suggestions. Thank you, Ms Buni

If the seats are occupied, then there is probably no way to get them unless they cancel their reservation.

3DG or 4DG are perfectly fine seats. I wouldn't spend any more time worrying about it.

Call back once in a while to see if they've been freed, otherwise, sit back and enjoy CX FC.

Ditto.

One thing that has not been mentioned is that if you book your reservation more than 180 days in advance, you can call CX and ask them to request those seats automatically for you when the seating window opens. It's worked for me many times, I have always gotten my requested seat-so if your return is more than 180 days out, call now and have the res. agent put a "request" in for you.

That is unless a Marco Polo Diamond Club member has also requested for those seats!

Don't know how CX manages seats... but on SQ for example, if certain seats have already been booked when a PPS Club member calls, he/she may request for his/her favorite seat be put on waitlist (even though he/she has a confirmed reservation - though not his/her favourite seat). If another PPS Club member also requests for the same seat, when the seat becomes available, the SQ computer reservation system will determine the seniority of the seat waitlisted by 1)Highest Tier, 2)Longer PPS member, 3)Highest number of accumulated miles! So it will depend if CX has any MPO members on hold for those seats too!

But then again, look at BA where seats 1A/1K are permenantly blocked off for their GOLD members until check-in.

Thank everybody for all your advice...as you can tell I am very excited about this trip! I finally had an agent put in a que for our seats for tomorrow morning....I will call to check. I guess loosing my status a few years ago doesn't help. Oh, well! I am sure that no matter where we are in CX FC we will be very happy.

Ms Buni

I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I have to say that when I am travelling in First with someone else (which is the best way to enjoy it IMO) then I would always go for 3/4DG. Otherwise you won't be able to talk to each other when you are in your seat.

Unless Ms Buni is aware that 1AK or 2AK
are window seats across the aisle from each
others , and still prefers them : I've
seen people , don't know if by choice or
by default , sit opposite each others and
talk so loudly , another reinforcement of
the image of the loud Americans !

I am very aware of the placement of seats 1 A & K and 2 A & K. My boyfriend enjoys window seats, plus I am sure that the arrival in to Hong Kong and Sydney will be pretty spectacular with the morning arrival. We are considering on the way back sitting in row 3 but, I have until July 18 to decide. Once again, I would like to thank everybody for all the wonderful advice.

The Hong Kong arrival isn't always spectaular now (certainly not like the old Kai Tak one). It depends which direction they are using the runways.

If you are landing on 05 (i.e. towards the east) then there is very little to see as you come in because your approach is over the Pearl River estuary to the west of HK.

If you are landing in the opposite direction (i.e. 23 towards the west) then you may get a good view of HK on the approach primarily from the left side (A seat) depending on the weather.

I'm less certain about Sydney - I have been there a few times and recall that you got views of the city both sides because we flew past the airport over the sea (with the city on the left side) then did a 180 and approached with the city on the right side. Someone more regular there may be able to correct me.