Code Share Flight Seat Selection
 

Apologies in advance if this has been discussed somewhere else, mods feel free to merge with exsisting thread.
I booked a ticket with a QR ticket number that has one leg operated by CX (code share). Flight # QR 3451/CX701
When I tried to select a seat for the CX leg I couldn't do it on either the CX or QR website. The CX website shows I have also tried to select seats through the Royal Jordanian website but the CX seat map is all greyed out while the QR legs are selectable.
I've also tried to contact both airline's customer service with which a CX agent claims that I can only be assigned seats during check-in at the airport but I can see empty/selectable seats if I purchase the flight on CX's site
Is this a known issue for CX? Is there any way for me to select a seat before check in?

Thank you so much for your help!!

JTTA -
Your email is a little scant on detail re the routing making it difficult to understand the reason for your difficulty.
I suspect that your booking is perhaps some way out and that Cathay have yet to confirm the operating aircraft or the flight time or perhaps it is a route that has yet to be restarted or is subject to change.
Others here may be able to suggest other reasons

Thanks for your comment! Below is the complete route:
Outbound (Sept 2, 2023):
QR730 DFW - DOH
QR818 DOH - HKG
Return (Sept 19, 2023):
QR3451 HKG - BKK (CX701) --- This is the (only) leg operated by CX which I am having trouble getting a seat assignment
QR835 BKK - DOH
QR731 DOH - DFW

While it could be that CX have yet to confirm the operating aircraft, I find it weird that I am able to select seats if I only book the HKG - BKK leg for the same date and flight. This particular flight number (CX701) has also been flying consistently for the last couple days according to flight aware data. Would love to hear what others think since I have not flown with CX in a long time.

I agree that it seems odd as this is a regular Cathay route flown 5 times daily normally recently by A330.
It is a very busy route but unlikely to be full this far out
Question is this a paid ticket ? If not that is probably why you are having difficulty as it is probable that the airline has no availability.

Yep it is a paid ticket, ticketed by Qatar. The fare class is N

Did you call? 2747 3333/+18339332244

Yep, HUCA 2 times with the same answer.
Also tried whatsapp just now. The agent on whatsapp said that the seats are "airport blocked" and claims that I can only get a seat 48hrs before departure.
Not really sure what "airport blocked" means since the agent just told me it is "blocked by the airport". Wonder if anyone else had the same expirience before.

Used to be: “Passengers holding tickets on eligible fare types - W , R , E , Y , B , H , K , L , M , V , T”. Not S/N/Q

Correct, all seats are blocked.



Even if I changed the query to Y class, all seats are still blocked. I suspect that's because CX no longer allows free seat selection with Economy LIGHT fare, and all code-share tickets are treated as if they were LIGHT fare. I see you have JL Sapphire. Maybe you can call CX again and insist on that point (advance seat selection being a oneworld benefit) to see if they can unblock a seat for you by getting supervisor approval.

Ahh that definatly make sense (but also makes no sense why all code share is LIGHT fare lol), yeah I guess I can try to be more stern on the phone to see if they can override the system.

Thanks everyone for your help! :)

I have pushed both AA and CX a lot to assign a seat on an AA*CX flight from HKG to LAX without any success (as OWE). I think the system is hard-coded to disallow seat selections on all Economy codeshare flights. Since BKK to HKG is somewhat short, and the fact that the CX seating assignment module (Amadeus "Theoretical Seating"?) does tend to assign elites pretty reasonable seats, I would not spend hours fighting for that seat assignment. This could be due to the Econ Light Fare family change, or it could be a remnant of the COVID-era seating policies that never got fixed.

If you do decide to call and asking for a specific seat doesn't go anywhere, try to ask the agent if you can indicate your seating preference. If the agent has native Amadeus it should be a different command that doesn't involve the agent pulling up a seat map that is full of blocked seats. I have never tried that but figured it might be worthwhile to try

Correct, NSSA for non-smoking seat aisle and NSSW for window.

Thanks yall, I'll give it a try

Has anyone managed to reserve a seat as OWE? I have a similar problem with AY codeshare on CX HKG-MEL. Would rather have an exit row seat than not on such a long flight. AY tells me to call CX and CX tells me to call AY.

I would try to call CX again and get the CX agent to help.