Cathay now also bans OW FF from pre-selecting seats

[RealtimeY]

Although I've heard that tip a lot, as someone with a 7 digit QFF number I've never had to do it with CX. Good to be reminded that it's still relevant.

 

[SYD]

Although I've heard that tip a lot, as someone with a 7 digit QFF number I've never had to do it with CX. Good to be reminded that it's still relevant.

Not sure, but seven digit is probably ok.

Mine’s technically seven digits BUT has a leading zero. The physical cards show the zero but the app doesn’t…

 

[clifford]

I always add the zero when booking direct with partner airlines but first time ever I think I’ve seen it drop off like that…. I just assumed it would have carried over correctly.

Yes, those zeros (I have 2) are crucially important. Leave them off and you're a nobody.

I'm flying to TPE J in feb and it will be interesting to see how it goes. I'm expecting it to be quite seamless with lounge access....

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Has anyone actually confirmed this is a real ongoing issue?

Currently sitting on a CX plane. First time ever in whY (from many, many CX flights) and although we’re front row, the CSM made a beeline up to us, greeted by name and told us the entire row of 4 seats adjacent was free if we wanted to move!

Unfortunately, she didn’t offer an IFU to J!

Now, the interesting bit was at check in, the agent told us we wouldn’t have lounge access before this flight! I said we’re OWE and he asked to see our cards.

All very strange since the flight was booked as a CR via QF and our FF# were in the system since I was able to select EL / forward seats…

He tried entering the numbers from our vCards without success. I suggested he add a leading zero to the numbers and Bingo. Group 1 boarding, lounge pass and First priority bag tag.

I always add the zero when booking direct with partner airlines but first time ever I think I’ve seen it drop off like that…. I just assumed it would have carried over correctly.

If all on the one ticket, you should have had lounge access under oneworld connecting rules anyway, regardless of status.

 

[SYD]

If all on the one ticket, you should have had lounge access under oneworld connecting rules anyway, regardless of status.

But who wants to argue with brand new staff at a brand new 3rd Party lounge at a brand new airport?

The key issue was the “No lounge access” was a warning sign that something had gone wrong with the CX system - we knew we ought to have access to the Plaza Premium First lounge (which is very nice BTW).

It wasn’t just lounge access, we started with Group 6 boarding, not Group 1. No priority bag tags, no OWE on BPs to show at lounges etc.

Fixed by simply adding a leading zero to our QF FF numbers….that for some reason hadn’t copied across correctly from QF…

I don’t recall ever having that issue ever before flying multiple mixed QF + partner itineraries before. Hence why I was speculating that it may have been related to the recent CX system changes

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But who wants to argue with brand new staff at a brand new 3rd Party lounge at a brand new airport?

The key issue was the “No lounge access” was a warning sign that something had gone wrong with the CX system - we knew we ought to have access to the Plaza Premium First lounge (which is very nice BTW).

It wasn’t just lounge access, we started with Group 6 boarding, not Group 1. No priority bag tags, no OWE on BPs to show at lounges etc.

Fixed by simply adding a leading zero to our QF FF numbers….that for some reason hadn’t copied across correctly from QF…

I don’t recall ever having that issue ever before flying multiple mixed QF + partner itineraries before. Hence why I was speculating that it may have been related to the recent CX system changes

Totally agree, and the ‘leading zero’ is a very useful tip!

 

[clifford]

I don’t recall ever having that issue ever before flying multiple mixed QF + partner itineraries before. Hence why I was speculating that it may have been related to the recent CX system changes

From experience, I believe that BA also requires the zeros.

 

[SYD]

From experience, I believe that BA also requires the zeros.

Quite possibly.

I always include it when booking direct with BA (and other partners), so normally don’t have problems with correct status benefits and earning etc.

We had two paid CX J return trips (Asia and USA) this year which were booked direct. No issue with our full WP numbers in the bookings.

 

[burneracc]

FWIW this was not my experience today; was able to select a preferred seat // extra legroom for free as QF gold / OWS.

Unrelated but is an opup a possibility on CX as a lowly gold? Have flown revenue J and PE with them before.

 

[flyingfan]

Unrelated but is an opup a possibility on CX as a lowly gold? Have flown revenue J and PE with them before.

We got op ups as OWE, surprised as I thought they'd have more of their own elites to prioritise. You can get lucky.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

FWIW this was not my experience today; was able to select a preferred seat // extra legroom for free as QF gold / OWS.

Unrelated but is an opup a possibility on CX as a lowly gold? Have flown revenue J and PE with them before.

Did you have your QF gold number attached to the booking? If so, it worked as expected.

This thread is about having a different, non-status number in the booking, but showing your card at the airport for lou be access and other benefits.

Sure! Op-ups are possible for any status member. But there’s a long queue ahead of golds. And cathay flights can be quite status-heavy.

 

[SYD]

This thread is about having a different, non-status number in the booking, but showing your card at the airport for lou be access and other benefits.

Actually, from what I could tell, the OP was trying to use their QFF details for earn and benefits but there was a hiccup providing seat selection. Quite seperate to CX stopping PAX from mix ‘n match details for earn and benefits (as per the discussion in the other thread).

As reported up thread, we recently had a hiccup with our QF status dropping off a CX booking after / during OLCI. Re-entering our QF FF#s with a leading zero at the checkin counter resolved the issue.

 

[madrooster]

The CX website often drops the leading zeroes in a FF number so if you have a number that begins with a 0, you need to get CX to delete and re-add the number with the correct number including the leading zeroes. It's not just QFF that's affected, BA has numbers beginning with zero as well.

 

[burneracc]

Did you have your QF gold number attached to the booking?

Not initially - but it let me update the loyalty number attached to the booking after. Saw some complaints that that wasn't being allowed to happen anymore, although was also responding to the OP saying that they couldn't preselect a seat as gold.

Sure! Op-ups are possible for any status member. But there’s a long queue ahead of golds. And cathay flights can be quite status-heavy.

ok thanks - its always nice to be able to have hope!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Not initially - but it let me update the loyalty number attached to the booking after. Saw some complaints that that wasn't being allowed to happen anymore, although was also responding to the OP saying that they couldn't preselect a seat as gold.

ok thanks - its always nice to be able to have hope!

Ah, I understand now!

 

[SYD]

The CX website often drops the leading zeroes in a FF number so if you have a number that begins with a 0, you need to get CX to delete and re-add the number with the correct number including the leading zeroes. It's not just QFF that's affected, BA has numbers beginning with zero as well.

The curious thing for us was 8x J flights this year (booked direct with CX) and our QF FF details were in correctly (including leading zero) and no issues with OWE benefits.

The last flight was a CX whY flight booked as a QF CR connecting to QF J to SYD (all one PNR). Out FF details presumably were automatically cut across from QF and no issue selecting front row seats at time of booking and all the way up to OLCI.

By the time we rocked up to check in bags, our QF FF details were MIA. I’ve read subsequently that it’s best not to do OLCI - and for us, there was no real benefit doing OLCI anyway. Just has become the habit….