Hi,

My wife and I are flying 881 next week. I'm on business (J-paid for by my company of course!) and my wife will be traveling coach (paid by us of course!). I was just wondering - it's a 14 hr flight, and I want my wife to get some rest and relaxation during the flight also. Could I swap seats with her for half the flight? Will the FAs allow that, and will my co-passenger mind?

Have any of you done this kind of thing? I fell kinda guilty flying J when my wife's sitting down below, but I'm in a sticky situation here - if I fly coach with her my boss will know I wouldn't "mind" flying coach, and will try sending me on coach for all business trips! Can't have that, can we :-)

I lok forward to your comments. Thanks!

Unless your are flying Sep 5, all of the other CX881s that week are either oversold or almost oversold in Y, while J has availability. I would explain to agent when checking in and see if they can upgrade your wife. Not sure how successful this will be but can't hurt to ask.

Thanks for your reply. We are flying 9/1. However, my wife's not flying full-fare coach, she's only flying discounted. Can there be a chance for an upgrade? Will my being AA Plat/OW Sapphire help at all?

Why don't you just swap seats with your wife at check in---your boss will never know.

Tango, thanks for your reply. But I was just trying to see if there's a way both of us could be "more comfortable" rather than one of us be "extremely comfortable" and the other "extremely uncomfortable" during the 14-hour flight :-)

I suspect that this will be at the discretion of the inflight service director (or whatever CX calls them) on your particular flight.

However, to make things easier, I would suggest that you try to change your seat to downstairs, and specifically to a center-section aisle. First off, it would make it easier to visit if you don't have to use the stairs. Second, if the business cabin has empty seats, they're likely to be in the middle seat of the center section.

Def. agree w/ wideman on downstair seating.. at least it will be easier to visit each other. Still I second Tango's suggestion, being such a good husband who "want his wife to get some rest and relaxation", you will score big if you offer your comfty J seat to her...

Thanks for all your suggestions, ppl. Based on your advice, here's what I'll do:

1. Get a seat downstairs (Aisle) - done that
2. Explain the situation to the check-in agent and ask for her "suggestion"
3. If not upgraded, exchange boarding passes with wife
4. Visit her at regular intervals during the flight

Talk to you all when I get back from HKG (hopefully after scoring big with the missus !

Also suggest if there is any way to note on her res file that she is travelling with you, a J/Sapphire, it might give her a chance at being op upgraded if the flight is oversold in the back. CX elites and other oneworld Emeralds and Sapphires will have priority of course, but it's worth a go even before doing the other things being suggested when you get to the airport.

A point to note: CX are generally very strict on observing the divisions between cabins, so you may find that it's your wife who's going to be doing the visiting.

'Tis a very brave man who sits in J whilst the boss sits in Y. You have been warned!

I understand that Eastern philosophy includes a sense of balance of all things.

Suppose, for example, you were to sit in the miserable coach seat while your wife luxuriates in the splendor and comfort of business class. Next day, or the day after that, you may smile contentedly knowing that it wasn't necessary for you to buy the US$2k bauble that was in the jewelery shop window, an apology for the flight over. Yin and yang are in balance.

Bon voyage.

Ask nicely... all the North American flights are fully booked these days -- last week, I was flying back to YVR from HKG on CX 838... J was less than half booked, but I got an op up to F (yes...) Y was very overbooked on all these SFO/LAX/YVR flights due to the promotions released earlier in June. If you ask nicely, you will never know...

But be there for boarding -- it was chaotic at the gates, although CX was good in keeping everything in order.