Cathay F/J seat selection OWE

[pauly7]

Hi there

Flying shortly on some CX 777 flights in paid J as a OWE (QF WP).

F seating is on the flights but not selling F, so they are blocked off for now for J seating later. I saw on some blogs that you can request these seats as a OWE at physical Cathay check in at airport?

Does anybody know if you can select these seats via CX online check in 48hr prior too?

Any tips to secure?

Thanks

 

[MEL_Traveller]

They’re blocked for DMs. Can’t hurt to try when OLCI opens… but if not, head to the airport early!

 

[pauly7]

They’re blocked for DMs. Can’t hurt to try when OLCI opens… but if not, head to the airport early!

Don’t suppose you’ve ever tried calling ahead of OLCI to beg? I try to minimise time at airports… but might have to break that rule if can’t use OLCI!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Don’t suppose you’ve ever tried calling ahead of OLCI to beg? I try to minimise time at airports… but might have to break that rule if can’t use OLCI!

I did, years ago, but it was a regional asian flight - PVG to HKG. I was able to secure it as OWE (QF). But the long hauls I understand are reserved for DMs. And there’s some discussion as to whether CX golds are/should be next on the pecking list over OWE.

Can’t hurt to try all avenues!

 

[aus_flyer]

About 18 months ago I could allocate to them in advance as a OWE. Now only available in advance for Diamonds. Try at the airport.

 

[pauly7]

For benefit of anyone trying, I tried to call up - no dice. Interestingly told that F is reserved for those travelling with infants

Will try at OLCI.

 

[madrooster]

These seats are hard blocked for airport control only, if you are not CX diamond or diamond plus.

 

[pauly7]

These seats are hard blocked for airport control only, if you are not CX diamond or diamond plus.

Thank you, looks like I’ll be heading to support to be there right on T-3 hours (MEL)…!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thank you, looks like I’ll be heading to support to be there right on T-3 hours (MEL)…!

Maybe a bit earlier than that, in case there’s someone in front of you in da queue!

 

[pauly7]

These seats are hard blocked for airport control only, if you are not CX diamond or diamond plus.

Would hard blocked show as a block on EF or occupied out of interest?

Looking at my first flight, looks like all F seats are ‘occupied’ sadly…. Won’t bother going to airport T-3 hours if they’ve already been allocated to diamonds…..

 

[LionKing]

As a QF PT, I booked D fare on Regional flight.
Aircraft is 33A, and I cannot book rows 11 and 12, so I am ended up with recliner than lie flat bed.
Is there anything I can do?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As a QF PT, I booked D fare on Regional flight.
Aircraft is 33A, and I cannot book rows 11 and 12, so I am ended up with recliner than lie flat bed.
Is there anything I can do?

If this is an ex Cathay Dragon a 330 where the first two rows were the old first class, then no, nothing you can do

Those seats are reserved for Cathay Diamond members and I some cases passengers connecting off international First class.

You may have luck during online checkin, or asking at the airprort. But those seats can’t generally be pre-selected by oneworld emeralds.

It’s not unknown for that ex first class cabin to go out with empty seats. So don’t feel too bad if you can’t sit there.

 

[KSC]

For benefit of anyone trying, I tried to call up - no dice. Interestingly told that F is reserved for those travelling with infants

Will try at OLCI.

How do you know which 777 has the first class seats?.
Does it show up on the seat map during seat selection?
I have an infant so might be in with a chance

 

[sudoer]

How do you know which 777 has the first class seats?.

CX Boeing 777-300ER Seat Map | AeroLOPA

CX Boeing 777-300ER seat map: cabin layout, per-seat ratings, pitch, and class configuration. Compare variants to find the best seats.

www.aerolopa.com

If the J cabin ends at row 26, the plane has an F cabin. But more obviously, if there's 'F sold as J' you should also see rows 1 and 2 with a 1-1-1 config.

 

[LionKing]

If this is an ex Cathay Dragon a 330 where the first two rows were the old first class, then no, nothing you can do

Those seats are reserved for Cathay Diamond members and I some cases passengers connecting off international First class.

You may have luck during online checkin, or asking at the airprort. But those seats can’t generally be pre-selected by oneworld emeralds.

It’s not unknown for that ex first class cabin to go out with empty seats. So don’t feel too bad if you can’t sit there.

Honestly I don't feel much because no matter which type of J seats, as long as it earns Qantas SC I am happy.

My goal is not to enjoy lie flat J. I am to reach 14000 Qantas SCs so I can brag about something not many HKers can achieve.

I just feel Cathay should have treated OWE better.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Honestly I don't feel much because no matter which type of J seats, as long as it earns Qantas SC I am happy.

My goal is not to enjoy lie flat J. I am to reach 14000 Qantas SCs so I can brag about something not many HKers can achieve.

I just feel Cathay should have treated OWE better.

Maybe, but the program you’re getting status in has similar restrictions against Cathay members in terms of available seating, ie prime seats reserved for their top tier members.

 

[LionKing]

I am currently flying on 33A Aircraft with varying J seats, and what I can see is they are literally blocking every other recliner seats in rear J cabin so passengers who cannot get flat bed can have more space with neighbour free seat.
Actually it feels to me that recliners may end up more space than lie flat due to more open space, and you don't need lie flat seats for 2 hour flight.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I am currently flying on 33A Aircraft with varying J seats, and what I can see is they are literally blocking every other recliner seats in rear J cabin so passengers who cannot get flat bed can have more space with neighbour free seat.
Actually it feels to me that recliners may end up more space than lie flat due to more open space, and you don't need lie flat seats for 2 hour flight.

Only 8 out of 50 seats are flat bed.

These beds - basically the cathay international al J seat - were introduced for the Shanghai and Bejing routes - so quite short flights. But a significant improvement over the seats they replaced which had a fully horizontal leg rest, but only about 60 degrees recline.

 

[SYD]

I am currently flying on 33A Aircraft with varying J seats, and what I can see is they are literally blocking every other recliner seats in rear J cabin so passengers who cannot get flat bed can have more space with neighbour free seat.
Actually it feels to me that recliners may end up more space than lie flat due to more open space, and you don't need lie flat seats for 2 hour flight.

If it’s a “day flight”, that’s a good result. If it’s a late night red eye (even if only 2 hrs), only marginally better.

A couple of years ago our CGK-HKG was subbed from J likely to shell recliner on a midnight departure - not good.

Last year we had the same seat PVG-HKG on a day flight and it was bearable.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

If it’s a “day flight”, that’s a good result. If it’s a late night red eye (even if only 2 hrs), only marginally better.

A couple of years ago our CGK-HKG was subbed from J likely to shell recliner on a midnight departure - not good.

Last year we had the same seat PVG-HKG on a day flight and it was bearable.

Lionking isn’t talking about a subbed aircraft. It’s the old cathay dragon with 8 flat beds for former first, and 42 recliner seats in J. Standard configuration, not a sub.