cathay pacific seat assignment

How to Assign Seats on Cathay Pacific (It’s Harder Than You’d Think)

by Gary Leff on March 9, 2014

With only 6 seats in their first class cabin on the 777 though that can be frustrating. It makes it tough to assign seats together (as if such a thing exists on this aircraft) when traveling together.

In addition, Cathay Pacific will only assign seats 6 months in advance on its website, through airline partners, or if you call the US call center.

But you can assign any seats you wish if you call Hong Kong . And they will do so more than 6 months in advance.

That’s useful for getting first class seats together, or getting your preferred first class seats.

It’s also useful as a business class passenger, because on a 777 offering first class (4 class 777, “77H”) what you want is the forward mini cabin — rows 11 and 12, and really row 11. (The middle seats if traveling as a couple, the window seats if traveling solo.)

It’s a little more complicated picking seats for first class.

I explained this back in September but having just walked through the process again I thought I’d share my experience, in part as catharsis because of the long telephone hold times involved.

Choosing first class seats on Cathay Pacific’s 777: Traveling together most passengers want seats 1A and 2A — these seats on the left hand side of the aircraft are ‘separated’ from the rest of the cabin, because seats 1D and 2D open towards the right window seats on the left hand side of the cabin.

Some people like seats 1D and 1K, or even 2D and 2K, when traveling together because the seats open up towards each other.

Of course first class on Cathay Pacific is not like on other airlines, there really are not ‘couples’ seats. Airlines that have 4 seats across often have 2 together in the middle, you can often put up dividers but these are couples seats. Cathay has the most separation between seats, even though they’re not suites with doors, and you cannot see your traveling companion when you’re both seated.

You can, of course, dine together — the ottoman at each seat has its own seatbelt, so you can sit across from each other. The crew will install a table extender and you can have your meal as though dining in a restaurant.

Flying solo I like seat 1A. It’s on the more secluded side of the aircraft (since there are 2 seats accessible from that aisle rather than 4). Some people prefer being farther back in the cabin, but I like looking forward and not even seeing that there are other seats, it gives me more of a sense of traveling in a world without any other passengers at all .

The ability to book seats more than 180 days out is valuable, because for award passengers the best time to grab Cathay first class space is in the earliest days of the schedule. Cathay does release award space on many flights when their schedules load. Of course they also release space close to departure, but by then many of the best seats are likely taken.

It’s frequently the case that award passengers will book early. And award passengers will book two seats. So prepare to call Cathay Pacific in Hong Kong ( +852 2747-1888 ).

And prepare to wait on the phone , so be sure you’re using an inexpensive international dialing method like Skype.

More From View from the Wing

About Gary Leff

Gary Leff is one of the foremost experts in the field of miles, points, and frequent business travel - a topic he has covered since 2002. Co-founder of frequent flyer community InsideFlyer.com, emcee of the Freddie Awards, and named one of the "World's Top Travel Experts" by Conde' Nast Traveler (2010-Present) Gary has been a guest on most major news media, profiled in several top print publications, and published broadly on the topic of consumer loyalty. More About Gary »

More articles by Gary Leff »

[…] You might find this link from Gary Leff of interest and there is a different number to call also. It is mainly about seat assignment on CX, I found it interesting though. http://boardingarea.com/viewfromthew …er-youd-think/ […]

Very useful info. Thanks!

Do you have a preference for business class seats on the 77W? No first class, but it appears to have the new seats on the HKG-JNB flight.

Thanks, Gary.

Gary, do you mean flying solo you prefer 1A since I thought that side had the two seats accessible by aisle instead of four?

@Dan – yes fixed

I am finding F space more difficult on CX – forced to use AsiaMiles (at higher redemption cost) to get access rather than waiting for AA/BA/AS to get access at ~330 days (when little space remains).

Gary I use Cathay pacific quite often. This is their USA toll free number. +1 (866) 892-2598. Enroll in their Asia miles program as well so they will accommodate you for your seating preferences.

I got 2 F on CX from MXP to HKG via AA awards, I was also able to go online at CX website to get seat assigments

@Michael que – my experience is that the US call center cannot unblock blocked seats, nor can they assign seats > 180 days out. I am an AsiaMiles member 🙂

@Gary – are you saying if you call HK, they can unblock seats?

@Paul – yes.

I always can do seat assignments 11 months advanced. But I think it’s very hard for Asiana. Anybody knows how to do seat assignments in advanced for asiana instead of waiting until 48 hours before the flight or at the time u check in. This is really annoying if you are travelling with kids.

Gary, for my clarification, can you book your seats via the Hong Kong call center even if you’ve booked your tickets using AA Miles (if so, do you need to have an open Marco Polo Club or Asia Miles account to do so)?

@DougB yes you can and no AsiaMiles account needed

Mucho helpful as always, thank you Sir!

Gary; Thanks for the tip. Just got off of a call-back from CX res concerning an upcoming LAX-HKG flight. After being on hold with HK last night I was given the option to leave a voice mail message that was courteously responded to today. I was told that all seat assignments on award tix must go via BA (oy!). Plus, 2A and 2K are specifially blocked for bassinet (?) use. Maybe time for the ‘ole HUCB? We’re in 1D and 1K, so it might be OK to just hang in there.

@Stu – hang up, call back if you care but personally I actually like 1D/K for 2 people traveling togeher

Gary; Thanks for your advice. [The best, as usual]. We’ll stay in 1D and 1K; and report back.

Comments are closed.

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Cathay Pacific Review – Seats, Amenities, Customer Service, Baggage Fees, and More

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Basic Information

Cathay frequent flyer program, ticketing options, cathay pacific carry-on allowance, cathay pacific checked baggage allowance, other cathay pacific fees and add-ons, how to avoid paying excess fees and travel expenses, premium economy, business class, first class.

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Cathay Pacific has a vast global network serving over 200 destinations across Asia, Australia, the Americas, Europe, and Africa.

If you’re planning on flying this 5-star airline, then we’ve outlined all the info you need, including baggage and other extra fees, in-flight amenities, customer satisfaction, and more.

Airline: Cathay Pacific

Alliance: Oneworld

Category: International airline

Frequent Flyer Program: Cathay (formerly Asia Miles and Marco Polo Club)

Tagline: “ Life Well Travelled”

Mission Statement: “Our vision is to be the world’s best airline. Being the best means that we always strive to excel in everything we do. Our dynamic team provides the highest quality service so that our customers are happy they chose Cathay Pacific.” ( Source. )

Main Hub:  Hong Kong International Airport (HKG)

Destinations: Over 200 destinations across Asia, Australia, the Americas, Europe, and Africa

The Cathay frequent flyer program is a new program that combines Asia Miles and the Marco Polo Club. Members can earn Asia Miles that can be redeemed for flights with Cathay Pacific and Oneworld partners such as American Airlines and Status Points , which count toward elite status.

Cathay Pacific has ten fare options across its four cabin types. Below is information on the booking conditions and benefits, excluding in-flight amenities, which are covered later in this article. Fees can be found in our “Other Fees” section.

Economy Supersaver

This entry-level economy fare is the cheapest available but does come with its restrictions.

You’ll incur a fee to pre-book a seat, and for long and short-haul international routes, the fare cannot be canceled or changed (excluding routes from mainland China to Hong Kong where a fee would be incurred.) With this fare, it’s also not possible to upgrade using miles.

Economy Core

Economy Core allows you to select a seat for free, permits booking changes for a fee (lower than the Supersaver fee for mainland China to Hong Kong flight), and has a higher Asia Miles earning rate. As with the Supersaver fare, you aren’t permitted to upgrade using miles.

Economy Standard

This fare has the same benefits and restrictions as Economy Core but does permit you to upgrade using miles.

Economy  Flex

This flexible fare allows you to select a seat for free, permits booking changes free of charge or for a smaller fee, has a higher earning rate for Asia Miles, and allows passengers to upgrade with miles.

Premium Economy Standard and Flex

Both fares allow you to select your seat for free and permits booking changes and cancellations for a fee. Passengers can collect Asia Miles points with a higher earning rate for Flex fares and are permitted to upgrade using miles on the Flex fare.

Passengers also benefit from dedicated check-in desks, increased baggage allowance, and priority boarding.

Business Save, Standard, and Flex

All of these fare types allow free seat selection and permit changes and cancellations for a fee (lower fee than for Standard and Flex). Business passengers can collect Asia Miles points on all fares, with a slightly higher earning rate for Flex fares, and can upgrade with miles.

Business passengers benefit from dedicated check-in desks, increased baggage allowance, priority boarding, and access to business class lounges.

First Standard and Flex 

Both fare types allow free seat selection, permit changes, and cancellations (First Standard incurs a fee while Flex is free of charge). Both fares have the same earning rate for Asia Miles.

First Class passengers benefit from dedicated check-in areas, fast-track security at some airports, priority boarding, and access to first class lounges.

Hot Tip: If you’re interested in redeeming your miles for reward flights, you can read our article on redeem Cathay Pacific Asia Miles for max value.

Cathay Pacific Baggage, Other Fees, and Add-Ons

All passengers are permitted to bring 1 personal item (such as a handbag or briefcase) and 1 standard carry-on bag.

The personal item must not exceed 6 x 12 x 16 inches and the standard carry-on must not be bigger than 22 x 14 x 9 inches.

Weight allowances depend on the cabin type and apply to a combined weight for the personal item and carry-on:

• Economy and premium economy: 15 pounds (7 kg)
• Business: 22 pounds (10 kg)
• First: 33 pounds (15 kg)

Marco Polo Silver and Gold members are allowed increased cabin baggage weight:

• Economy and premium economy: up to 22 pounds (10 kg)

Marco Polo Diamond members are allowed increased cabin baggage weight:

• Economy, premium economy, business, and first class: up to 33 pounds (15 kg)

Lap Infant Carry-On Policy

Lap infants are permitted one piece of carry-on that must not exceed 45 inches. A stroller or car seat is also permitted up to the maximum weight allowance of the cabin weight for the adult ticket.

Cathay Pacific doesn’t disclose its policy on strollers in the checked compartment.

All checked bags must not exceed the maximum linear dimensions of 80 inches and the weight allowance is determined by the route.

On Most Flights (excluding the Americas and Auckland/Christchurch)

Weight can be distributed across the maximum number of pieces, but a single piece should not exceed more than 32 kg or 70 pounds. 

Flights to, from, or through the U.S., Canada, and Central and South America

Hot Tip: For more information on baggage excess fees, waivers, and exemptions check out our Cathay Pacific baggage fees article.

Change or Cancellation Fees (Cash Tickets)

Rebooking date and time change fee : $150 for promotional fares, Economy Saver, Premium Economy Standard, and Business Save. $50 for Standard Economy.

Rerouting : $150 plus the fare difference.

Cancellation for unused and partially used tickets: $150.

Cancellation for expired tickets: $200.

Name correction: Fees dependent on change required.

Tickets issued by Reservations Department:  $39.

Extra legroom seat: $23 to $199.

Seat reservation fee (for Economy Supersaver tickets): $8 to $43.

Unaccompanied minor : $150 plus tax (per one-way route).

Transporting a pet:  Animals aren’t permitted in the cabin or as checked baggage. They’re transported in the cargo hold and fees vary depending on the size and weight of the crate.

Hot Tip: We’ve also included information about Cathay Pacific in this article: Airline Cancellation & Change Fees For Award Flight Bookings .

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Inflight Inclusions, Amenities, and Seat Specs

Amenities include:

• Seat storage for valuables
• Shelf for your cell phone or tablet
• Ergonomically-designed, cushioned seating with adjustable headrest and generous legroom
• 11.6-inch personal touchscreen TV with films, music, and games
• Complimentary meals, award-winning wines, and other beverages
• Newspapers, magazines, and game packs for children

• Welcome drink on long-haul flights
• Regular complimentary snacks and drinks
• Spacious seating with generous recline and legroom (calf rest and leather footrest on Boeing 777-300ER aircraft)
• Larger tray table than economy and cocktail table for extra room for beverages
• Amenity kit on long-haul flights
• Personal touchscreen TV with films, music, and games
• Noise-canceling headphones

• Dedicated cabin crew and a personalized service
• An award-winning seat that converts into a lie-flat bed on long-haul flights
• Ergonomically-designed, cushioned seating with adjustable headrest and generous legroom on short-haul flights
• Privacy partitions, large table, and power outlets
• Fine food with locally sourced ingredients, complimentary award-winning wines, and other beverages
• Amenity kit with Jurlique skincare items
• Soft duvet cover, and pillow

• First Class Suite leather chair, with built-in massages settings, that converts to a lie-flat bed
• 500 thread count cotton duvet and pillows
• Aesop amenity kit with items such as hand balm, facial hydrating cream, and lip cream
• Spacious work area with a power outlet and USB port
• 4.3-inch touchscreen and controller to control a range of services such as do not disturb and wake-up time notices for the crew
• 18.5-inch TV screen with on-demand entertainment
• À la carte dining
• Champagne and award-winning wines

Cathay Pacific has 5 types of airplane in its fleet with varying seating configurations.

Cathay Pacific Customer Satisfaction

The general consensus for Cathay is pretty good, which is what you would expect for a 5-star airline. Many customer reviews state that it’s worth paying a bit extra to fly with them over another airline.

They’re noted frequently for their excellent, attentive service, and Cathay states that their cabin crew try to anticipate the needs of the customer in their first class cabin.

The few negative comments on their social media sites mostly reference poor call center customer experience, with long call wait times and occasionally no answer at all.

Cathay has some great reviews on TripAdvisor , with 72% of travelers rating them excellent or very good, 15% average, and 13% poor or terrible.

Negative reviews on sites such as TripAdvisor tend to cover flight delays with a lack of communication or compensation from ground staff during these events.

Most Common Complaints

No official statistics can be found on Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department website .

Consumer Rankings and Ratings

We’ve rounded-up the results for a few popular review sites so you can see how Cathay is rated.

Skytrax Ranking : 5 Star Airline (out of 5)

Skytrax Customer Rating : 7/10

Tripadvisor Airline Review Rating : 4/5 (average from 13,293 reviews)

Kayak Customer Rating: 8/10 (average from 5,613 reviews)

Safety and Performance

Cathay Pacific has a 7/7 safety record as awarded by AirlineRatings.com . This takes into consideration whether the airline has an IATA Operational Safety Audit Certification, combined with information from the World’s Aviation Governing Body, plus government and crash records.

Awards and Notable Mentions

IMA Italian Mission Award 2018: Best Economy Class

Ming Pao Weekly Elite Awards 2017: Airline Category

APEX Regional Passenger Choice Awards:  Best Entertainment (Asia and Australia region)

Cellars in the Sky 2017 Award by Business Traveller Magazine: Best First Class Sparkling

Charity Partnerships

As with many other airlines, Cathay collects spare change from its passengers, and the collection is donated to UNICEF who they’ve had a long-standing relationship with since 1991.

Cathay also participates in relief projects, holding fundraising events for donations and transporting relief supplies and rescue teams to required areas around the world.

In Hong Kong, Cathay has a volunteer team with over 1,500 staff participating in activities for local communities.

Final Thoughts

Many customers of Cathay Pacific tend to agree with the airline’s 5-star status, with its excellent service in the air, relatively young fleet of aircraft, generous seat width, and extensive legroom, it’s no wonder people love it.

Some disgruntled customers complain that Cathay isn’t as good as it used to be. Cost-saving is blamed for this with less cabin crew and quality of meals deteriorating.

However, these complaints are in the minority, and Cathay is mostly perceived as a high-quality airline with a real emphasis on service.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the carry on baggage allowance for cathay pacific.

All passengers are permitted to bring 1 personal item (such as a handbag or briefcase) and 1 standard carry-on bag .

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About Amar Hussain

Amar is an avid traveler and tester of products. He has spent the last 13 years traveling all 7 continents and has put the products to the test on each of them. He has contributed to publications including Forbes, the Huffington Post, and more.

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What are fare classes?

Your fare class is a letter assigned to your ticket, and each fare class comes with its own set of benefits and flexibility. It will determine your baggage allowance, the option to select your seat in advance, the number of Asia Miles and Status Points you’ll earn and more.

Your fare class also determines your eligibility for potential upgrades using Asia Miles or other carrier miles programmes. Please note that not all codeshare (non-Cathay Pacific) flights are eligible for upgrades.

• 1 Cathay members may enjoy additional baggage allowance according to their member status. Please refer to our Baggage information page for more details.
• 2 For journeys between Hong Kong and New Zealand, please visit our Baggage information page for more details. For flights with the ultimate ticketed origin/ destination within the U.S. or Canada, please refer to Baggage information carrier rules page for more details.
• 3 Cathay members may enjoy free seat pre-selection according to their member status. For passengers traveling with a child or an infant, please visit our our Reserve your seat page for more details.
• 4 Applicable to flights marketed and operated by Cathay Pacific only and subject to availability.
• 5 The fee charged for flight change or cancellation and no-show will vary based on your fare type (with lower costs for a higher fare type in general). Fees are subject to change without prior notice.
• 6 Fees may apply for selected countries/regions and are subject to change without prior notice. You can find the exact amount when purchasing the ticket online or by contacting Customer Care or your travel agent.
• 7 Status Points and miles accrual will vary based on fare type and fare class. You can use our Status Points and Asia Miles calculator to see how many Status Points and miles you can earn for a particular journey.

Your questions, answered

For Economy cabin, if there are still seats available, all three fare types (Light/Essential/Flex) will be available for booking.

For other cabins, the fare types available for booking will depend on the availability of the seats allocated for each corresponding fare class.

You can change and reissue your ticket to a higher fare type or cabin. This can be done in Manage Booking or by contacting Customer Care or your travel agent. A change fee may apply as per the fare terms and conditions.

Please note that you are not able to change your ticket to a lower fare type.

Yes, it is possible to combine different fare types in one itinerary. An example would be flying Economy Light to your destination and returning on Economy Flex.

Please purchase your ticket via our website or through a travel agent. Note: combination fare types are currently not available via the Cathay Pacific app.

Yes, you can share your baggage allowance with your travel companions if you check in together for the same flight(s) at the airport.

Yes, prepaid extra baggage is available for purchase up to 24 hours before the scheduled flight departure time. Extra baggage options are also offered at the airport during check-in.

Yes, our optional add-ons – including advance seat reservations, prepaid extra baggage and lounge pass – are available after you purchase your ticket. 

Advance seat reservation is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Alternatively, you may reserve another seat type that is complimentary for your fare. If the seat type of your choice becomes available, you can update your selection in Manage Booking or during online check-in.

Please note you will not be entitled to a full or partial refund of your purchased fare if the seat type of your choice is unavailable. Visit our Reserve your seat page for more details.

Your selected seat(s) will remain the same. However, due to operational, safety or security reasons, we may reassign you an alternative seat. Please note you will not be entitled to a full or partial refund of your purchased fare due to a change in your advance seat reservation.

You may choose Economy Light and purchase a regular seat reservation separately for an additional fee. For example, if you’d like to reserve an extra legroom seat, you may choose to purchase Economy Flex or Economy Light and an extra legroom seat reservation.

We highly recommend that you always compare the costs of different Economy fare types and travel extras separately before purchasing your ticket, as they may vary by route. Note: preferred seat pre-selection is only available for Economy Flex fare.

No, early standby can only be used on the date of travel. It must be an earlier flight departing on the same day and on the same route.

Upgrade Bid is available for all Economy and Premium Economy fare types except award tickets. Please visit our Upgrade Bid page for more details.

With some connecting flights, you may be seated in a lower cabin class for the shorter leg of your journey due to:

• The cabin you booked is unavailable on the aircraft
• Limited seat availability for shorter connecting Cathay Pacific and interline flights
• Commercial agreement with other airlines on seat availability for the cabin you booked

Yes, it is possible to combine different cabins in one itinerary. An example would be flying Economy (any fare type) at the start of your trip and returning in Premium Economy.

Please purchase the combination fare of your selected cabin and one higher cabin up via our website. Note: combination fares are currently not available via the Cathay Pacific app.

How to Select Seat Assignment on Codeshare Cathay Pacific (CX) Flights

Posted by Travel Gadget Reviews | Nov 9, 2016 | Airlines , Travel Tips | 6

Flying Cathay Pacific (CX) as a Code-share

Cathay Pacific is one of my favorite airlines for flying to Asia.  My first flight on Cathay Pacific was a flight from JFK-HKG in economy.  I have since flown on Cathay Pacific and its sister airline Dragonair a number of times for both long haul and regional trips. Some were code-share flights; I ended up having to figure out how to get my seat assignments for my CX flights.

How To Select Your Seats

The key is to get your CX’s booking reference number .  To get this number, you can:

• Call your booking airline and ask for your Cathay Pacific’s booking reservation number. Most agents can get this info for you quickly.  You can then go to Cathay Pacific’s website to lookup the reservation and select your seats.

• If you have trouble with the Cathay Pacific’s website, you can also call Cathay Pacific to request your seats directly.  Representatives can look up your reservation by name and flight details.  However, they’d be able to pull it more quickly if you give them the CX’s reservation number.

Options for Non-CX flights

There are external sites that allows you to check on your flights, which can be helpful if you book on a partner flight.  You can use sites like checkmytrip.com (Amadeus CRS) to retrieve information about your reservation, assuming the airline that you book uses the same system.  For example, I had a code-share on Japan Airline (JAL) booked through British Airways (BA) earlier this year.  I went to checkmytrip.com, plugged in my BA’s PNR and was able to get my JAL’s PNR. I was then able to pull up my reservation on JAL’s website and choose my seats!

Unfortunately , this option does not work on Cathay partnered flights booked through American Airlines. Even though both carriers are part of the Oneworld alliance, AA uses the Sabre CRS.  While there are equivalent sites for Sabre (e.g. virtuallythere.com), I have not used it personally to see if it works for looking up CX’s PNR.  I tend to just call AA and request my CX reservation number.

Ideally, things would be easier if the PNR on the code-share flight is provided on the original reservation, or if the same PNR is used across the same systems.  However, airline systems — especially when airlines use different systems — can be quite complex.  So, if you are particular about your seat preference, it’s a good idea to plan ahead and get your seat assignments in well before your trip.

If you have other tips or advice on how to look up partner airline’s PNR number, or a recent experience with choosing seats on a code-share flight, please share in the comments below.

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I’m new to this codeshare thing, but I do noticed whenever I fly with Cathay Pacific, there are always American Airline flyers who fly with us. Does that mean I can order through AA (which is always cheaper than Cathay Pacific) to fly back to Hong Kong and most likely I’ll get to fly in a Cathay Pacific airplane anyways?

Shorter version of my question: Can I buy cheap on AA and fly on CP’s flights?’

Yes, that’s possible. If you can find a cheaper fare on AA than CX. I can’t say I usually see fares on AA that’s cheaper than CX. They are usually roughly equivalent, but maybe you have better luck? FWIW, on the AA booking site, a flight not operated by AA will be specified, i.e. “Operated by Cathay Pacific Airways” or Japan Airlines, or whatever the operating airline it is. If the prices are roughly equal and you have your heart set of flying CX, I would just book directly with the operating airline. Otherwise, if there is a flight change …  Read more »

I booked flights on CX using AA miles. The in bound was in economy class and outbound was in Business Class. I was able to reserve the Business Class seats but they would not allow me to choose the Economy Class seats. It said: “This flight sector does not allow seat request in advance.”

From CX’s website: https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_US/about-us/contact-us/faqs/manage-booking/seat-requests.html “Who is eligible to request a seat?” Members of The Marco Polo Club (Silver tier or above) and oneworld Ruby tier members or above All First and Business Class passengers. Customers holding tickets on eligible fare types – Y, B, H, K, L, M, V, W, R, E, T” Is your economy ticket fare class in the eligible fare type list? If not, you can try giving AA or CX a call to see if they could request a seat for you. I have a vague recollection that you may not be able to request a …  Read more »

Thanks for this post. BA said seat selection was only possible on Cathay Pacific leg at check-in. I phoned – got the CX reservation number – selected seats and meals on the Cathay Pacific website with no probs!

Glad to hear! I do the same as well. Since I’m usually traveling with family and these CX flights are usually long haul flights, I prefer to select my seats ahead of time whenever possible. Thanks for reading!

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Cathay Pacific New Seat Assignment Rules

Cathay Pacific's seat assignment rules have changed in a couple important ways. While this isn't brand new, several Award Booking clients and readers have asked about it, so here are the new seat assignment changes and what it could mean for your next Cathay Pacific first class or business class flight.

All Cathay Pacific Seat Assignments May Be Made 1 Year in Advance

This is the good news. Previously, it was only possible to reserve seats 180 days in advance, so at least now you can select seats at the time you make your booking, rather than having to wait and potentially forget to select them 180 days out.

Note that Cathay Pacific first class and business class award seats can always be assigned in advance. For economy class, you'd need to be on a paid ticket in one of these fare classes:  W, R, E, Y, B, H, K, L, M, V.

Cathay Pacific First Class Seats 2A and 2K Cannot Be Assigned in Advance, Unless You Have a Medical Reason

Ok, now for the bad news, concerning Cathay Pacific First Class . Previously, even though seats 2A and 2K were always blocked online, it was possible to call Cathay Pacific and request these seats, with the understanding that you could be moved from the seat if another passenger needed that seat. 

Well, unfortunately, due to some passengers complaining in the few cases where they were moved from either 2A or 2K in order to accommodate another first class passenger who needed the seat, the policy has now changed: is is now impossible to book 2A and 2K in advance unless you are a passenger with a medical need. 

Specifically, these are the two reasons you would be able to book 2A or 2K in advance:

• You're traveling with a baby, and need a bassinet
• You are in a wheelchair

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How to Make the Most of Economy Class on Cathay Pacific

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If you want to fly cheap to Asia but prefer a cushier, more perk-laden experience, Cathay Pacific's economy or premium economy ticket may be your best bet. The Hong Kong-based airline offers economy passengers top-of-the-line service, plus perks not found on some other carriers’ economy class flights, like spacious seats, unique menu offerings and lots of entertainment options.

Shelves built into seats keep your device at eye level, perfect for binge-watching a show or any of the in-flight entertainment options. Cathay Pacific recently quadrupled its video content (think: Asian cinema, Hollywood hits and music), which streams from 11.6-inch, high-definition touch screens on many flights.

Here's what you need to know to make the most of your Cathay Pacific economy flight.

Cathay Pacific economy vs. premium economy

Trying to decide between Cathay Pacific economy and Cathay Pacific premium economy? Premium economy takes its comforts a step further, adding a generously reclining seat, expanded legroom and padded leather footrests. There is also a slightly increased baggage allowance, plus added bonuses like a welcome drink on board and an amenity kit with socks, an eyeshade, earplugs, toothbrush and toothpaste.

What to expect flying economy with Cathay Pacific

Before you board your Cathay Pacific economy flight, learn about baggage allowances, boarding processes and upgraded economy tickets. Here’s what to expect.

Baggage allowance

On economy flights, passengers are allotted two checked bags with a combined weight of 66 pounds (on most flights), plus a carry-on of 15 pounds not exceeding 9 inches by 14 inches by 22 inches. Premium economy has a slightly higher checked baggage weight allowance of 77 pounds, but otherwise its policies are the same as economy.

Economy boarding on Cathay Pacific is fairly standard, occurring after first and business classes. Premium economy has dedicated check-in counters at some airports, plus priority boarding at the gate.

Economy seats

Cathay Pacific economy seats are some of the widest economy seats of any airline; they’re ergonomically designed with an adjustable headrest. You can upgrade to an extra-legroom seat, but it’ll cost you between $45 and $212.

Food and drink

Cathay Pacific economy class also offers some interesting food and drink options, most notably its Betsy beer, a pale ale created specifically for enjoying at 35,000 feet. In addition to complimentary wine and beverages, economy passengers on long-haul flights also receive a meal option.

Shredded pork and preserved vegetables with steamed jasmine rice or Hong Kong-style beef curry, broccoli and steamed jasmine rice are just some selections you might see on a long-haul flight from Hong Kong.

Wi-Fi is enabled on all Cathay Pacific Airbus A350 planes and is being rolled out on its Boeing 777 and Airbus A330 aircraft. You can find out whether your flight has Wi-Fi and how much it will cost (around $20 for flights over six hours) by checking your flight status.

Ways to get good value

Book with points.

You can save cash on your Cathay Pacific flight by redeeming Asia Miles for your ticket. You earn Asia Miles by flying Cathay Pacific or one of its partners, including Oneworld alliance member airlines. You can also earn Asia Miles by staying at partner hotels.

» Learn more: A points collector’s guide to Cathay Pacific

Skip the extra legroom

Skipping the extra legroom upgrade is an easy way to save while flying economy on Cathay Pacific.

Book a Oneworld multi-carrier award flight

If you’re a Cathay Pacific enthusiast, chances are you’ve likely heard of the Oneworld multi-carrier award . It allows you to book a reward ticket with an itinerary including two Oneworld alliance airlines — not including Cathay Pacific — or three or more Oneworld alliance airlines when Cathay Pacific is included. This allows you to book an extended trip to multiple locations at a deep discount, and is a great way to maximize the value of your Asia Miles.

» Learn more: Award sweet spots for booking flights with Asia Miles

Final thoughts on Cathay Pacific economy

If you’re flying economy or premium economy to Asia, Cathay Pacific is a solid option. That’s because it boasts perks like wider seats, complimentary drinks, tasty meal options, the option for extended legroom seats and even a beer perfectly formulated for consumption at 35,000 feet, all with little or no added cost. Plus, Cathay Pacific is well known for its top-notch service and little extras, which makes flying economy on a long-haul flight less painful.

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On a similar note...

• Cathay Pacific >
• Planes & Seat Maps >
• Boeing 777-300ER (77G) Layout 3

Cathay Pacific Seat Maps

• Airbus A330-300 (33E) Two Class Layout 1
• Airbus A330-300 (33K) Three Class
• Airbus A330-300 (33P) Two Class Layout 2
• Airbus A350-1000 (351)
• Airbus A350-900 (35G)
• Boeing 777-200 (772) New Regional
• Boeing 777-300 (73Z) Layout 2
• Boeing 777-300ER (73Z) Layout 6
• Boeing 777-300ER (77A) Layout 4
• Boeing 777-300ER (77H) Layout 1
• Boeing 777-300ER (77K) Layout 5

Seating details Seat map key

Traveler photos (28).

In-flight amenities

Audio on Demand service is offered to all passengers on long-haul aircraft. Passengers may choose from up to 888 CD albums in 24 different genres. Audio books are also available. Click here for more information.

In all classes on long-haul aircraft, more than 100 movies are offered each month on the AVOD (Audio/Video On Demand) system. Click here for more information.

All Classes of serivce offer a 110V AC power port to charge any electronic device. 

As of early 2019, Cathay Pacific is working on bringing WiFi to all of their 777-300ERs. 

More information

On long-haul flights, complimentary meal and beverage service is offered in all classes. Cathay serves Chinese inspired food. Click here for more information.

Cathay Pacific has six of this Boeing 777-300ER with new Business Class (3 Classes) aircraft in its fleet. This plane seats a total of 340 passengers.

All First and Business Class seats are suitable for passengers with reduced mobility. In the Economy Class, aisle seats are also suitable for passengers with reduced mobility, except for the front rows. Seats are designed with their own shell and slide forward instead of reclining into the seat behind. The lavatory behind 12 K is handicap accessible.

On this aircraft, most bulkhead seats are often designated as bassinet locations.

Featured user comments

Read user reviews for Cathay Pacific Boeing 777-300ER (77G) Layout 3

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Seat map key

• Be Aware - See comments
• Mixed Review
• Standard seat
• Blocked seat
• Premium seat
• Emergency exit

Cathay Pacific flies 5 versions of Boeing 777-300ER.

Please choose the correct version from the list:

SeatGuru was created to help travelers choose the best seats and in-flight amenities.

Current Cathay Pacific (CX) seat map listing

Cathay Pacific is the national carrier of Hong Kong. It was founded on September 24, 1946, and is headquartered in Cathay City, Hong Kong International Airport, Chek Lap Kok. Hong Kong is the main hub of the company. The airline is a member of the alliance Oneworld. Cathay Pacific operates regular passenger and cargo services to more than 190 destinations in more than 60 countries. The company has a large fleet of aircrafts. Cathay Pacific's fleet consists of 154 planes.

The founders of seatmaps.com have created and assembled an exhaustive database of seatmaps of all the aircrafts that Cathay Pacific operates. Click on the links below to see our entire array of seatmaps.

Cathay Pacific

• Boeing 777-300 1 type
• Airbus A321neo 1 type
• Airbus A350-900 1 type

Check in rules

Check-in can be done at airport check-in desks, self-service kiosks, and online. Online check-in can be completed 90 minutes to 48 hours prior to departure if the passenger is a Club/Asia Miles member or has purchased a ticket on the Cathay website. Online check-in can be completed 90 minutes to 24 hours in advance with an e-ticket. Check-in at the airport begins 3 hours prior to departure.

The airline is switching from a weight allowance to a piece allowance policy. A calculator can be used to determine your baggage allowance https://www.cathaypacific.com/cx/en_US/baggage.html. It is possible to get a discount of up to 10% if you pay for extra luggage at least 24 hours before departure.

Unaccompanied minors

Children between the ages of 6 and 12 and unaccompanied minors are required to register unless accompanied by an adult passenger who is at least 18 years old. Children between 12 and 18 can travel independently without the unaccompanied minor service. However, it is still possible to register them as unaccompanied minors if extra care and attention are needed.

Infants are defined as children from seven days old to two years old. Infants are allowed to fly without a separate seat on the plane. If desired, a seat for an infant may be purchased according to the infant fare. Children over two years of age must have their own seat. No more than two infants may accompany one adult.

The airline does not allow the carriage of dogs, cats, and other animals in the cabin, except for guide animals with a medical certificate. However, cats and dogs can be carried as checked-in baggage. Animals weighing more than 32 kg together with the container are not allowed. Reservations must be notified at least 48 hours before departure.

Seat maps on other airlines

The same alliance.

• American Airlines
• BA Cityflyer
• British Airways
• Fly Air41 Airways
• Japan Airlines - JAL
• LATAM Airlines
• LATAM Airlines Brasil
• LATAM Airlines Colombia
• LATAM Airlines Ecuador
• LATAM Airlines Peru
• Malaysia Airlines
• Mavi Gok Airlines
• Piedmont Airlines
• PSA Airlines
• Qatar Airways
• Royal Jordanian
• S7 Airlines

The same continent

• Air Arabia Abu Dhabi
• Alliance Air (India)
• Green Africa Airways
• Ibex Airlines
• MIAT Mongolian Airlines
• Myanmar National Airlines
• Pacific Airlines
• PAL Express
• Shenzhen Airlines
• Singapore Airlines
• Skymark Airlines
• Spring Airlines
• Thai AirAsia X

Can I reserve a preferred seat in advance for a fee?

Unfortunately, this option is currently not available. You can purchase our  Economy Flex fares  if you’d like to reserve a preferred seat in advance free of charge.

• Am I eligible to reserve my seat in advance?
• What is an extra legroom seat?
• Can I reserve an extra legroom seat for a fee?
• What is a preferred seat?
• What is a regular seat?
• Can I reserve a regular seat in advance for a fee?
• Can I pay for my seat reservation with Miles Plus Cash?
• Can I earn Asia Miles for paid seat reservations?
• How can I reserve a seat in advance?
• Can I reserve a seat for all flights within my itinerary?
• Why is the seat map sometimes not available online?
• Do I still need to check-in if I’ve reserved a seat in advance?
• How do I change my seat reservation?
• Will I receive a refund if I change or cancel my seat reservation?