What do the blocked seats represent?
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,172
What do the blocked seats represent?
I have always wondered what the blocked seats we see on the seatmap on eg expertflyer for CX mean. I often see a pair of blocked seats in F, a few pairs of blocked seats in J which I imagine must be for elites and can understand such a policy.
However, I often see large blocks of seats in Economy blocked off with an x. For instance, for CX 450 on 29-aug (HKG-TPE at 10 hours) under 20% of the seats in Economy have actually been taken but about 70% have been blocked with an x. This leaves a paltry 10% or less seats available.
My Q is what are the blocked seats for? I see some blocked seats being middle seats, so must be courtesy blocks for Golds and upwards? What about others? Are they in anticipation of use by lowly Greens who cannot pre-book seats?
When Greens use online check in, can they choose the seats now blocked?
Or are they only for Silvers? or only for Golds?
Thanks.
However, I often see large blocks of seats in Economy blocked off with an x. For instance, for CX 450 on 29-aug (HKG-TPE at 10 hours) under 20% of the seats in Economy have actually been taken but about 70% have been blocked with an x. This leaves a paltry 10% or less seats available.
My Q is what are the blocked seats for? I see some blocked seats being middle seats, so must be courtesy blocks for Golds and upwards? What about others? Are they in anticipation of use by lowly Greens who cannot pre-book seats?
When Greens use online check in, can they choose the seats now blocked?
Or are they only for Silvers? or only for Golds?
Thanks.
#2
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
However, I often see large blocks of seats in Economy blocked off with an x. For instance, for CX 450 on 29-aug (HKG-TPE at 10 hours) under 20% of the seats in Economy have actually been taken but about 70% have been blocked with an x. This leaves a paltry 10% or less seats available.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
Some of the blocked seats are good, but some are not. I suppose seats are also blocked for reasons other than elites - make sure that traveling companions can stay together, infants can have access to bassinets, etc.
During OLCI, many, but not all, of the blocked seats are released.
During OLCI, many, but not all, of the blocked seats are released.
#4
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: AA Plat4Life4MM/DL MM SM4Life, UA/CO 1K
Posts: 645
My experience with the 74A in F is : they had always block row 4, AK for bassinet use. They will pre-assign you the seat, with a request that if they need the seat(s) for bassinet, you would have to move. I have not flown on the 73A enough to memorize what seat(s) they block.
Cheers
Cheers
Last edited by AA2MM; Aug 26, 2009 at 3:32 pm Reason: spelling
#5
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
My experience with the 74A in F is : they had always block row 4, AK for bassinet use. They will pre-assign you the seat, with a request that if they need the seat(s) for bassinet, you would have to move. I have not flown on the 73A enough to memorize what seat(s) they block.
Cheers
Cheers
Yes, row 4 is probably the worst row in F. Also rows 16 and 17 are often blocked. These are seats I would not normally request.
#7
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: HKG/MEL
Programs: QF Platium(OWE)/CX Diamond(OWE)/SPG Platium/Marriott Titanium/Hyatt Globalist/Accor Platium/
Posts: 111
For CX450, the flight continue to NRT. CX might block some seats for passenger boarding at TPE. Another reason is CX only open OLCI 48 hours before the flight depart, most of the seats will be unblock when OLCI open. (Except bassinet & exitrow)
Besides Bassinet & exitrow seat, CX also blocked some seat for crew rest. Such as, 80K in 74A, 12K & 67-69 HK in 33B. (Long Haul & Australia Flight) Those seats are impossible to get except 67-69HK. They will use it when Y is completely full.
Besides Bassinet & exitrow seat, CX also blocked some seat for crew rest. Such as, 80K in 74A, 12K & 67-69 HK in 33B. (Long Haul & Australia Flight) Those seats are impossible to get except 67-69HK. They will use it when Y is completely full.
#8
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,172
Another thought - then perhaps CX 450 would be a popular flight for people taking advantage of the ex-tpe fares and who wish to fly to NRT.
Does it mean that they effectively only have to transit/stopover at TPE from HKG to NRT both segments on CX 450 instead of having to start from TPE, fly to HKG then onwards to NRT? It appears that CX450 will have the advantage of making the journey less circuitous?
Does it mean that they effectively only have to transit/stopover at TPE from HKG to NRT both segments on CX 450 instead of having to start from TPE, fly to HKG then onwards to NRT? It appears that CX450 will have the advantage of making the journey less circuitous?
#9
Suspended
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Another thought - then perhaps CX 450 would be a popular flight for people taking advantage of the ex-tpe fares and who wish to fly to NRT.
Does it mean that they effectively only have to transit/stopover at TPE from HKG to NRT both segments on CX 450 instead of having to start from TPE, fly to HKG then onwards to NRT? It appears that CX450 will have the advantage of making the journey less circuitous?
Does it mean that they effectively only have to transit/stopover at TPE from HKG to NRT both segments on CX 450 instead of having to start from TPE, fly to HKG then onwards to NRT? It appears that CX450 will have the advantage of making the journey less circuitous?
but if you are burning AM it's not a bad place to go to the America.
#10
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Lima, Peru
Programs: LAN Commodore
Posts: 733
Im flying LAX-HKG on Sept. 13. More than 75% of the seats in economy are x`d when checking the information on ExpertFlyer. The same for my flight back some two weeks later. Thinking this might just be a fluke, I checked the same date for the JFK-HKG flight which is supposed to usually be fairly full. I found the same thing, very few reserved seats and almost all xd. Are the flights going out empty (good for me, will be able to stretch out), or am I missing something?
Last edited by david_33; Aug 31, 2009 at 4:00 pm
#11
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX Diamond (OW Emerald), former SQ Krisflyer Gold
Posts: 2,527
When OLCI opens 48 hours before departure, almost all of those X'ed seats except bassinet rows will become available for anyone to snag.
#12
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver DEN-APA
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Blocked seats available to OW Emeralds in advance?
2A and 2K are blocked on our SFO-HKG 773 next January. As an AA EXP/OW Emerald on an award ticket, will CX let me reserve one?
#13
Join Date: Sep 2007
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2A and 2K are both bassinet seats, so yes they will be willing but remember should anyone with a baby need it, you can be move. Call them up for it.
#14
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