Seat Map Unavailable Error - Overbooked Flight?
 

When trying to change my seat in Manage Booking, I get an error saying the seat map is not available and I can only choose from Window/Aisle. Does this mean the cabin is overbooked and there is a chance of an upgrade?

This can happen, when you try to allocate a seat on non-CX metal.

For example, a CX ticket on RJ metal. Though, using the metal's website might give you options to allocate a specific seat. Sometimes, you will need the booking reference corresponding with the metal operator (though sometimes, the original booking reference just works on the metal's website as well).

Oh I'm flying CX metal.

Maybe you could indicate the flight number and date?

This has just happened to my booking. Seat map was available the last few times I've checked and now 4 days before departure, it's no longer available. But the return flight still pulls up the seat map.

There's also a disclaimer message for the flight without seat map saying "For operational reasons, Cathay Pacific may occasionally re-assign seats without prior notice"

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​​​​EDIT: It's on CX metal. It's CX256 on 03MAY in PEY

I can still see the seat map for this flight. The flight is neither full nor likely overbooked at this point. Not sure why you can't see a map, but I can see that if nothing else, seat 31E is open for anyone to choose.

​​​​​​ Interesting, maybe it's because my booking is for 2 people and there's only 1 seat available 🤷🏻‍♂️

If you're in PEY, why didn't you already pre-select your seats??

Blocked seats 33AC and 33HK

I’ve been in a similar situation on 6 Apr CX101, where I released 33HK on a cancellable tix on 5 Apr and couldn’t get them back - blocked seats under airport control.

Only in airport check in could I get check in desk to place a phone call and get them back.

If you phone them changes are they will be able to give you preasssigned seats together.

Up to T-48 and with a healthy amount of HUACA, the blocked seats can be released.

I have 2 bookings which used to be open for seat selection. A few days ago somehow reservation became unavailable with all seats (except the already chosen ones) blocked. One in Y and one in J. Both marked with a OWS no.

The flight took off with 5 seats empty in W. Unlikely to be oversold originally.

Thanks everyone, turned out at least 2 of the seats were not selectable as their IFE were INOP, saw a pax wanting to move to one of those seats and the crew stopped them from doing so and explained the situation and the pax said they were happy not to watch IFE.