Can I swap seats to F if I'm in J...?
Jan 9, 2019, 9:05 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2017
Posts: 248
Can I swap seats to F if I'm in J...?
Hi All,
Pretty new to the points/miles game--have started accruing CC pts 2 yrs ago (USA) and currently starting with airline miles. So far, have only made one international redemption for 2 J's. Flying F with CX, JAL, & SIN are amongst my bucket list. Due to the fact our child will be age 2 soon, and that CX doesn't normally release 2, much less 3 F's, the thought came to mind: would I be able to swap seats with my spouse (in F) if I'm booked in J for parts of the flight? Any experiences or feedbacks would be much appreciated---and not just for CX but for any other airlines you've had experiences with. Thanks!
Pretty new to the points/miles game--have started accruing CC pts 2 yrs ago (USA) and currently starting with airline miles. So far, have only made one international redemption for 2 J's. Flying F with CX, JAL, & SIN are amongst my bucket list. Due to the fact our child will be age 2 soon, and that CX doesn't normally release 2, much less 3 F's, the thought came to mind: would I be able to swap seats with my spouse (in F) if I'm booked in J for parts of the flight? Any experiences or feedbacks would be much appreciated---and not just for CX but for any other airlines you've had experiences with. Thanks!
Jan 9, 2019, 9:47 am
#2
Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: HKG
Programs: CX DM, SPG Pt, Le Club Accor GO, Shangri-La GC Jade
Posts: 1,327
No. As far as I know no airline out there allows such swap mid-flight.
Don't try to do this. You can easily find tons of such "fight (not flight) reports" resulting from mid-flight cross-cabin attemp
Don't try to do this. You can easily find tons of such "fight (not flight) reports" resulting from mid-flight cross-cabin attemp
Jan 9, 2019, 9:41 pm
#4
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HK
Programs: Qantas (Lifetime Gold), PAL (Elite), British Airways (now sadly blue), Cathay MPO DM
Posts: 647
I've swapped seats with my husband in Y (I was J). The attendand said it was fine once only. Not multiple times. Having said that they are usually always friendlier when infants are involved. (And I'm Diamond which may have helped).
Jan 10, 2019, 10:53 am
#5
Join Date: Nov 2006
Programs: MPC,CA,MU,AF
Posts: 8,171
It is usually better to swap when boarding instead of mid-flight. I did it once mid-flight when I was DM. The ISM Oked that when I boarded the flight.
Jan 10, 2019, 10:38 pm
#8
Join Date: Sep 2007
Location: HK
Programs: Qantas (Lifetime Gold), PAL (Elite), British Airways (now sadly blue), Cathay MPO DM
Posts: 647
How does that allow each partner to enjoy half the flight in the better class?
(In other words, it doesn't achieve the objective of the swap - at least the one I did and perhaps the OP).
I'm not sure you need to flag the change planned later when boarding, although shortly after when they come and introduce themselves is probably good. I use the "is there anything else I can help you with" part of the introduction as a nice hook for things like this!
(In other words, it doesn't achieve the objective of the swap - at least the one I did and perhaps the OP).
I'm not sure you need to flag the change planned later when boarding, although shortly after when they come and introduce themselves is probably good. I use the "is there anything else I can help you with" part of the introduction as a nice hook for things like this!
Jan 10, 2019, 10:53 pm
#9
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Denver • DEN-APA
Programs: AF Platinum, EK Gold, AA EXP, UA 1K, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 21,602
Depending on the route and inventory, I’ve seen CX release as many as 4 and even 5 F award seats close in. Just keep checking inside 10-14 days and up until departure.
Jan 11, 2019, 1:57 am
#10
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: China
Programs: A3 G CZ S
Posts: 50
But actually, for CX F class passenger, it's allowed to invite one partner in lower class to share dinner (if the rule hasn't been change)
In deed, dinner time only, and it's not expected to swap seat after that
Jan 11, 2019, 2:09 am
#11
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: MNL
Programs: CX MPO DM, Le Club Accor Platinum, World of Hyatt Explorist
Posts: 2,284
Jan 11, 2019, 4:13 am
#13
Join Date: Jul 2015
Location: SYD | HGH
Programs: CX DM, Hyatt Globalist, Hilton DM, Marriott Plat
Posts: 2,121
You can give your meal to your lower class friend if you decide not to eat, however the friend has to have the meal in his/her own seat.
Jan 11, 2019, 4:17 am
#14
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
In my experience this is completely inaccurate advice. I'm not saying it's never happened, but in too many CX F flights to count (50+. Not sure if I'm at 100 yet, but I think over 50) I have never seen someone join for a meal, ever. I have seen people ask on multiple occasions, and denied is the result almost every time. In one occasion a gentlemen asked to have his friend join from the back. The ISM did permit it, provided he ate and drank nothing. They played cards for an hour and frankly it was a little anmoying they we're on 1A, I was in 2A.It probably has happened, for sure. But it is definitely not the norm, nor has it ever been in the decade+ I've been flying CX F.
Jan 11, 2019, 4:21 am
#15
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: Hong Kong
Programs: CX, UA, Shangri-La, Hyatt, Starwood
Posts: 7,708
This is correct. I had an associate in PEY on a flight from the US earlier this year. I told the SP I didn't feel like caviar that flight. She proactively offered to bring it back to PEY during meal time, and did. (She knew we were together because we boarded together and she took a picture of him in my F seat).