sparkzone

First timer, doing ORD-HKG-DPS route for 4 of us (2 adult and 2 kids). Still trying to get 2J upgraded to 2F if CX release it.

Anyway, so 1 adult+1 kid in F and the other 2 in J. I am thinking to request 1A and 2A (bassinet and is blocked at the moment) or is better to go for 2A and 2D since we are party of two? and for the J class, should we go for 11A + 11D? this way we are not too far a part

For HKG-DPS routes, its still showing 747 with no F class available but based on previous posting, CX will upgrade so will see how that will pan out with grouping us closer together

Any tips?

kaka

i'd say, call cx and request for 1A/2A. unless someone doesnt want a window seat badly.
and yes, 11A/D would be best, even not for the "distance apart" - it's the mini-cabin(quieter due to less people)!

QRC3288

F: I'd go for either 1A/2A, or 2D/2K.

J: I'd actually do 11D/G or 12D/G. Here's why:

1.) Assuming the two people sitting in those seats enjoy each other's company, the D/G seating arrangement makes it very conducive to sharing/talking with one another (yet they're still private when sleeping, due to the angle).

2.) Assuming you do end up not getting all four F seats (I'd consider that highly unlikely), CX is not going to let you have a party moving back and forth between the two cabins (presumably why you're considering the A/D combo - which share the same aisle as 1A/2A- instead of the two middle seats in J).

If the people in J don't want to talk to each other, I'd just go ahead and take 11A/12A or 11K/12K instead because (personally) I enjoy the privacy and feel of the new J window seat. I don't see any value in taking 11A/11D, frankly (because it sucks for the person in the D seat). But if I was traveling with someone whose company I enjoyed, the D/G combos are a no brainer in J.

UncleDude

2A and 2D would not work as they are seperated by a Partition, Better 2D and 2K or 1D and 1K.

See partional wall pic here : http://www.mynetbizz.com/travelweb/w...lass-cabin.jpg

cxfan1960

The passengers in F can move back and forth, but not the ones in J. However, it is still a courtesy to keep the traffic low.

Reseating in F (not a real upgrade) on is status-based. However, they may still reseat non-status passengers transiting from/to a longhaul F.

jamienbaker

How old are the kids? We put my 2 (age 8 and 10) in 11D & 11G (new config) so they could talk, adults took 2A and 2D. Granted, 2A and 2D means the adults have to cross through galley if wanting to dine together, but it was still better given each child was just a curtain away from a parent. We spoke to lead FA before takeoff and explained kids were good travelers, and wouldn't be coming back and forth. Once or twice, a son needed something, he just pulled the curtain aside and whispered to me and I went back to help him. Experience was very pleasant for our family, as well as other passengers.

As for the DPS leg, it is hit or miss. We were able to get 2 F seats assigned at the airport, so one adult + one kid. The other adult + kid sat upstairs. Visiting is much easier since this isn't a dedicated F cabin, so no curtain was pulled.

Good luck - Jamie

cxfan1960

I was in a 77D from TPE-HKG four months ago. It was a 3-class sold as 2. I was in 2D. The curtain behind me was closed. It may vary from flight to flight.

QRC3288

Actually, technically this is not true - they cannot move back and forth. CX is supposed to keep people in their cabin of ticketing for the duration of the flight for all North American flights, whether they're seated in Y, J or F. In reality, this is fudged a bit, but I don't think this is a given. The rules don't mention a higher fare class person being able to go back and join the others (although it seems intuitive that you'd have a heck of an easier time going backwards than forwards). I once had an ISM coming back from LAX that was explicit with me while sitting in J that I could not go back to Y and visit. She was on the extreme end of customer service, but technically you're not allowed to.

On the flipside, I was in F a few weeks back flying to SFO, and there was an empty seat in the cabin (4D) the whole flight. About 20 minutes before landing, a teenage-looking girl joined us for landing, escorted by the ISM - I realized later that her parents had been sitting together in F, and she had been back in either J or Y class. At some point before or during the flight the ISM must've been made aware that they were a family, and she did what I thought was a nice gesture by allowing them all to be together when the plane arrived. It really just depends on the crew.

maortega15

I agree that moving in between cabins just depends on the crew. I remember before I was a crew member with CX, last year I asked to be moved to J before landing. They pretty much agreed especially since the ISM was my aunt's best friend who is also an ISM. That was during the blizzard at JFK. A month before that, I was just asked out of nowhere by the ISM if I would like to be moved up to J but declined since I was already falling asleep in my Y seat. And that was about an hour after take off from YVR to JFK! The cabin that day was pretty empty. So it all depends on the crew.

QRC3288

Ditto, just happened to me last week on 77D from HKG-TPE. It was a last-minute aircraft swap (originally was supposed to be a regional 777). The curtain was drawn for the duration of the flight, and only three of us were in the "F" section, despite a relatively full (~75%) regular J section behind us. I received a new BP at the airport where they told me my seat had been changed.

kaiotes

I was all alone in F when i flew from HKG-TPE in Nov

sparkzone

thanks for the info so far, my girls are 6 and 7. very good kids and calm, but we still want to make sure 1 parent seating with 1 kid. Going is Me + Kid in F and Wife + kid in J. Coming back we reverse so all of us can enjoy F . Unless if CX release 2 more F. Anyone know how often that happen? and how close to travel date before they release?

would love to be able to talk to each other and enjoy the experience. so looks like for J, better go with 11D + 11G. For F, looks like better go with 2D + 2K = no partition and still close to J?

QRC3288

1.) I think D/G for J are absolutely the best choice if you want to be together/talk/share things/help them use AVOD/etc. Especially if your kid is 6 or 7. You'll see exactly what I'm saying when you get on the plane. You don't want your child in 11A and you in 11D if the D/G combo is available.
2.) I think it's highly unlikely you'll get all four in F. 4/6 seats given for awards, especially if you're all AA, is something I've never heard of before. There are just too many people who are willing to use (Asia) Miles to upgrade at the gate, last minute purchases, etc. for them to give all four to you. Sorry. I'd be mentally prepared for J.
3.) For F, since it's you and your kid again, it is probably best to do 2D/2K over 1A/2A. The reason people recommend 1A/2A is because they are the only two seats in F sharing that aisle, so you have your own private area (due to the partition along the sides of the D seats), and because people prefer the window seats due to the three windows providing some scenery. 2D/2K share aisle access directly across from one another, so you can more easily monitor what your kid is doing and they can just hop over to your seat.

sparkzone

QRC3288, thanks for the advise now is time to fight for the block bassinet on 2K

jamienbaker

I'm happy to help you hear of it for the first time

Early-August, JFK - I've succeeded in getting all four of us in F, using either AA or BA currency, after initially booking 2F/2J. TWICE. And most recently, was able to get 3 up front all at once. Mind you in every instance, this was all within 7 days of departure. Nothing better than controlling 2/3 of the cabin, the service was tremendous. I don't want to give the OP false hope, but I always chime in when seeing others post that it "never happens". Good luck, don't forget to arrange airport VIP meet and greet so that you don't spend hours at immigration upon your arrival. Your family will thank you.