When will award seats be made available / when are awards released?
Aug 5, 2011, 11:24 pm
#91
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: MNL
Programs: CX DM, SQ KFG, Marriott Plat, AccorG
Posts: 143
Most of you are using miles for free award tickets, yes? As opposed to upgrades? I wonder what my chances are for 1 upgrade from HKG-JFK, J-F, late Aug, then? Do they allocate more seats for "free" tickets (since they use up more miles?)
Am astonished lots of AA/BA fliers get seats. Am hoping I get it. Been MPO GO for close to 20 years! (But still waitlisted for past 2 months.) :-(
Am astonished lots of AA/BA fliers get seats. Am hoping I get it. Been MPO GO for close to 20 years! (But still waitlisted for past 2 months.) :-(
Aug 10, 2011, 2:21 am
#92
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: Laguna Beach, CA
Programs: SPG Gold, HHonors Gold, Hyatt Diamond
Posts: 363
Thanks for all the info in this thread. I'm currently holding 2 award seats in F from LAX-YYZ-HKG-BKK and back in early January but obviously preferring to change to a flight via LAX, SFO, or YVR on the way out or via pretty much anywhere else on the way back. However we were willing to spend the extra time in flight to get our preferred dates.
I've been checking the JMB site (which has been very accurate for AA availability) a couple times a day but it sounds like maybe just once a day until the date gets closer will be sufficient. Unfortunately so far all the flights we would switch to have only one seat available.
I've been checking the JMB site (which has been very accurate for AA availability) a couple times a day but it sounds like maybe just once a day until the date gets closer will be sufficient. Unfortunately so far all the flights we would switch to have only one seat available.
Aug 12, 2011, 1:26 pm
#94
Join Date: Oct 2008
Location: Helsinki
Programs: BA Gold
Posts: 406
Here's my understanding of the F versus J booking/seating issue on CX regional flights--and my booking for later in August:
Flying in F from YYZ-HKG w/ a connection to DPS late in August. All along, the HKG-DPS flight has been SOLD as a 2-class regional flight. However, the original aircraft, a 777 (2-class with Regional Business) was changed to a 744 (3-class) a couple of weeks ago. Still, CX has told me that only J is sold and thus I can only get J seats. In fact, if one looks at CX785 on days when the 744 is indicated, the F cabin always shows "X" (not available) in all 9 seats. As many have written, however, these F seats are apparently released (in most cases) on day of flights at the airport/gate/lounge. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
My return trip in early September is another story--I'm booked SIN-HKG-ORD. In this case, I'm booked in F (with seats in F) on both flights. CX734 (1605 hours) from SIN is almost always a 744 and as such, they sell F and assign F seats. There may be one of two others sold as F, but most flights are still operated as 2-Class Regional Business flights. What I don't know about on this route is in the event of a switch to a 3-class from 2-class if CX lets you book and get seats for F or if they treat it like the DPS flights.
Hope that helps, MMM
Flying in F from YYZ-HKG w/ a connection to DPS late in August. All along, the HKG-DPS flight has been SOLD as a 2-class regional flight. However, the original aircraft, a 777 (2-class with Regional Business) was changed to a 744 (3-class) a couple of weeks ago. Still, CX has told me that only J is sold and thus I can only get J seats. In fact, if one looks at CX785 on days when the 744 is indicated, the F cabin always shows "X" (not available) in all 9 seats. As many have written, however, these F seats are apparently released (in most cases) on day of flights at the airport/gate/lounge. I'm keeping my fingers crossed.
My return trip in early September is another story--I'm booked SIN-HKG-ORD. In this case, I'm booked in F (with seats in F) on both flights. CX734 (1605 hours) from SIN is almost always a 744 and as such, they sell F and assign F seats. There may be one of two others sold as F, but most flights are still operated as 2-Class Regional Business flights. What I don't know about on this route is in the event of a switch to a 3-class from 2-class if CX lets you book and get seats for F or if they treat it like the DPS flights.
Hope that helps, MMM
I have booked Cathay Pacific First Class award ticket for HEL-AMS-HKG-SGN by using Finnair points. HEL-AMS will be in business, because it is the highest class available. However, HKG-SGN (2 class service) sector will be in economy, because no business class awards were available.
My question is that if no award tickets to business class will be released for HKG-SGN flight, do you think I will be upgraded to business class anyway (assuming seats available) at check-in or at HKG, because I am, after all, travelling with a first class award ticket?
Aug 12, 2011, 6:38 pm
#95
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 4,531
Very interesting topic, thanks for all the info.
I have booked Cathay Pacific First Class award ticket for HEL-AMS-HKG-SGN by using Finnair points. HEL-AMS will be in business, because it is the highest class available. However, HKG-SGN (2 class service) sector will be in economy, because no business class awards were available.
My question is that if no award tickets to business class will be released for HKG-SGN flight, do you think I will be upgraded to business class anyway (assuming seats available) at check-in or at HKG, because I am, after all, travelling with a first class award ticket?
I have booked Cathay Pacific First Class award ticket for HEL-AMS-HKG-SGN by using Finnair points. HEL-AMS will be in business, because it is the highest class available. However, HKG-SGN (2 class service) sector will be in economy, because no business class awards were available.
My question is that if no award tickets to business class will be released for HKG-SGN flight, do you think I will be upgraded to business class anyway (assuming seats available) at check-in or at HKG, because I am, after all, travelling with a first class award ticket?
Apr 24, 2012, 9:10 pm
#96
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: OR
Posts: 1,534
Anyone think CX will release more F award seat when showing F5, J0, Y1 ? The flight is a 747 with T-25 days.
Try to decide when I should go ahead to purchase instead of hopping to use miles.
If I do the purchase, I want my A fare before they disappear.
Try to decide when I should go ahead to purchase instead of hopping to use miles.
If I do the purchase, I want my A fare before they disappear.
Apr 24, 2012, 10:00 pm
#97
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
What flight #? You're based in Oregon, so maybe one of the SFO or YVR flights? I'm not familiar with the YVR routes, but if you're hoping for CX873 SFO-HKG I'd say you're best off buying the A fare now. That flight seems to always be overbooked in Y and sometimes J, which overflows to F (aka, no last minute reward redemptions).
Apr 26, 2012, 8:45 am
#99
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,052
If Y was not so heavily booked, then I would have been fairly confident of them releasing an F award at T-24 to 36 hours.
DAK
May 14, 2012, 9:10 am
#100
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: OR
Posts: 1,534
5 days out. CX released one more F award seat to partner when it shows F3, J1 Y1. One the afternoon flight, it shows F5, J1 Y0, CX released 3 F seats for partner. Basically they hold back 2 F seats for sale on both flights.
In the end, I successfully grab 3 F award seats. It helps when it has total of 9 F seats.
In the end, I successfully grab 3 F award seats. It helps when it has total of 9 F seats.
May 14, 2012, 10:59 am
#101
Ambassador, Hong Kong and Macau
Join Date: May 2009
Location: HKG
Programs: Non-top tier Asia Miles member
Posts: 19,740
There is a fair chance that they have oversold Y and will need to do op-upgrades at check-in. They will never oversell F, but they may not be able to release them to awards if they anticipate needing them at check-in to accommodate upgrades if too many Y pax turn up (they will move J pax to F and Y pax to C).
If Y was not so heavily booked, then I would have been fairly confident of them releasing an F award at T-24 to 36 hours.
DAK
If Y was not so heavily booked, then I would have been fairly confident of them releasing an F award at T-24 to 36 hours.
DAK
To Cathay, getting $$$ > extinguishing AM liability I guess. Who knows how many AM expire in members' hands each year for lack of availability at suitable times to fly them.
May 14, 2012, 6:49 pm
#102
Join Date: Aug 2001
Posts: 1,052
5 days out. CX released one more F award seat to partner when it shows F3, J1 Y1. One the afternoon flight, it shows F5, J1 Y0, CX released 3 F seats for partner. Basically they hold back 2 F seats for sale on both flights.
In the end, I successfully grab 3 F award seats. It helps when it has total of 9 F seats.
In the end, I successfully grab 3 F award seats. It helps when it has total of 9 F seats.
DAK
May 15, 2012, 11:15 am
#104
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: ORD
Programs: HH Diamond, Hyatt Globalist, Bonvoy Platinum
Posts: 1,028
