Seat allocation on BA and Cathay

[sanne]

My husband and I are silver and have enough points to book 2 J BNE to LHR. I am looking at sometime in August 13. It seems impossible to book QF via Singapore, the only flights available are either BA or CX ( from HK ). We like flying QF, we get to choose our seats when we book plus prefer the 380 from Singapore. But it seems we will have to be happy to fly what we can book.

My question is.....can we select our seats on BA and CX when we book. If not, when will we be able to.

We both hope to be Gold by December, will anymore seats or selection be available then with an existing booking.

Thanks for help with this. This site is invaluable for information from all the expert flyers.

 

[simongr]

On BA unless booking expensive J fares you won't be able to select seats at booking but once you hit gold you can.

CX should be fine.

 

[sanne]

Thanks Simongr for your reply. That's exactly what I need to know.

If you had the choice, who would you pick for best seats and service, J BA or CX to LHR?

 

[simongr]

Assuming you get the new CX J it would be an absolute no brainer and I would go CX. Service is great and seat is brilliant - the food obviously has strong asian tones which on a long couple of flights can be a bit much for me but the cheese is great and the port is great.

If the older style CX J (still flat and horizontal) and travelling as a couple there is a closer call. Service on BA can be grumpy and the food can be not great - but the yin yang seating is nice for couples. the "coffin" style seating makes it harder for couples to travel "together" but I think this is offset by the better overall experience - and I prefer transiting HKG to SIN and BKK.

 

[sanne]

I am looking at flights for Aug/Sept 13 and if we fly BNE/HKG/LHR can I assume that CX will have the new seats?

I think there is a choice of QF or CX from BNE to HKG......which do you prefer for this leg?

I like asian food so that is no issue for me. We will be travelling as a couple.

Really grateful for all your advise.

 

[simongr]

QF would be sloping beds and CX would be lie flat. If an overnight flight I would be going CX but if day time then I would probably go QF as I get the 100% status bonus vs. zero status bonus on CX.

 

[Paddy55]

On BA unless booking expensive J fares you won't be able to select seats at booking but once you hit gold you can.

CX should be fine.

(Bump)

Part way through a DONE4, and had no trouble, on a QF issued ticket, getting several BA and CX flight seating selected.... except a BA transatlantic rebooked recently - QF can't won't.
Be tomorrow before I can call BA but just wondering if there's been a recent change.
(BAs Call Centre doesn't seem to enjoy a great reputation either)

 

[Shano]

.... except a BA transatlantic rebooked recently - QF can't won't.
Be tomorrow before I can call BA but just wondering if there's been a recent change.
(BAs Call Centre doesn't seem to enjoy a great reputation either)

I'll be interested how you get on. I have BA seat allocations for LHR-MUC and HAN-LHR but our TA couldn't do BA LHR-LAX?

Just need to choose which seat:

         A   B       D   E   F   G       J   K   
17      +   +       +   +   +   +       -   -       
18      -   -       +   +   +   +       -   -       
19  W   +   +       +   +   +   -       +   +   W   
20  W   -   -       +   X   +   +       +   +   W   
        A   B       D   E   F   G       J   K   

            A   B       J   K   
60  U       +   X       +   +       U   
61  U       +   +       -   +       U   
62  U   E   -   -       -   -   E   U   
63  U   E   +   +       -   +   E   U   
64  U       +   +       +   +       U   
            A   B       J   K

EDIT:

Just went into BA MMB. My issue seems to be the I class fare. BA want to charge $100 to do advanced seat selection on the main deck and $120 for the upper deck. Will take my chances with OLCI.......

 

[JohnM]

I believe that CX seat selection only opens at T-180 days. I have some CX flights on my upcoming DONE4 and I'm needing to wait a few more days before seat selection opens fro those flights in October.