Cathay Pacific Seat Selection

When you need to travel to a far-away destination by air, being able to select a seat you desire can be a huge relief in itself. For such instances, Cathay Pacific Seat Selection offers great flexibility. You can decide to choose a seat whenever you like, and most of the time it’s free. This guide covers everything about the seat selection policy of this airline. You just have to go through it and prepare for a comfortable air journey ahead!

Cathay Pacific Airways Seat Selection Policy

Want a seat of your choice on your upcoming Cathay Pacific flight? Note down the rules for seat selection first.

• Cathay Pacific assigns seats to its passengers on a first-come and first-served basis.
• Need a seat you like on your Cathay Pacific flight? You must pay for it.
• You may not have to pay the seat selection charge if you are eligible for the Cathay Pacific free seat selection benefit.
• The Cathay Pacific seat selection cost varies based on factors such as your cabin class, membership status, time of seat selection, etc.
• If you paid for a seat and the airline changes it, you can get a refund for it.
• You won’t get a refund if you pay for a seat but don’t use it.
• You can select your seat either while booking your flight, after making the reservations, or during check-in.
• The airline allows passengers to choose a Cathay Pacific preferred or regular seat if available on their flight for free during check-in. The check-in opens 48 hours before flight departure for Cathay and oneworld members and 24 hours before for others.
• Cathay Pacific holds your flight only up to 20 minutes before the check-in counters close.
• If you get an exit row seat and are later found unfit for the same, the airline may move you to another seat without providing you a refund.
• You are not allowed to transfer your seat to another passenger.
• After selecting a seat, you can later switch to another similar one or one that’s free. If you switch to a more expensive one, you have to pay the fare difference.
• Keep in mind that Cathay Pacific may change seat prices at any time.
• If you are a citizen of India or Nepal, you can’t buy a Cathay seat through Miles Plus cash.
• First, Business and Premium Economy passengers get Cathay Pacific advance seat selection for free.
• You won’t earn Asia Miles for purchasing seats on a Cathay Pacific flight.

Want Exit Row Seats? Confirm You Are Eligible

You can have those seats by the exit rows, but you have to confirm if you meet the following conditions:

• Be at least 12 years of age and above. 
• Physically fit with no mobility issues 
• Must be able to assist during emergencies.
• Don’t have the responsibility of an infant passenger.
• Can understand cabin crew language and carry out instructions well.
• Not be intoxicated or drug-abused.
• Don’t require an extension seat belt.

Keep note that in the aircraft Boeing 777-300 (77A): 40C and Boeing 777-300 (77K): 40C, 40H, extra legroom seats are not located near emergency exit doors.

Cathay Pacific Seat Selection 48 Hours

Forgot to select your seat on your Cathay flight? If you are a Cathay member, you are at an advantage. If you are a Gold, Silver, or Diamond member, the airline serves you as a priority during online check-ins. It allows you to select a seat of your choice if available up to 48 hours before your flight departure.

Cathay Pacific Seat Assignment Options

When opting for a seat on your Cathay flight, you will be getting the following options:

• Regular Seat: It’s a normal seat scattered in the Economy cabin with a regular incline and limited features.
• Preferred Seat: These are near the front of the Economy cabin. They offer slightly better leg space and a faster disembarking of the aircraft.
• Extra Legroom Seat: You will find these at the front of the cabin, which allows you to get on and off your plane the quickest and offers the most legroom.

How to Select Seat in Cathay Pacific Flight?

Cathay Pacific flight offers you the following ways to choose your seat on your flight.

During Booking

You can make your seat selection right away during the time of booking.

1. First, visit the Cathay Pacific Airlines website and start searching for a flight.
2. When you find a suitable flight option, proceed to book it.
3. During the process, you will find seat selection.
4. Don’t skip it. Go through the airline’s seat map.
5. Choose one of the available seats that you like.
6. Continue with your Cathay Pacific seat booking process.
7. At the payment page, check the calculated fees.
8. If applicable, it will show you added seat selection charges with your flight charges.
9. Make the collective payment to confirm your booking and seat selection.

Once you are done with this procedure, you will receive a confirmation email with your flight booking details.

[Note: You can also reserve your seats during the booking with the assistance of the airline’s customer service or via a travel agency.]

After Making Reservations

Did you find it important now to choose a particular seat on your flight after booking it? No worries, you can still pick one through the airline’s online portal.

1. Go to the Manage Booking section of the Cathay Pacific official website.
2. Enter your flight reservation number and surname to log in to your account.
3. Click your flight and choose the “Select Seat” options.
4. A portal will open showing you available seats on your flight.
5. Choose one that suits your requirements and continue.
6. At the payment portal, check if any seat selection fee is applied.
7. If yes, make the payment and confirm your choice.

Once your request is processed, you will receive a seat selection confirmation email.

Note: Again, you can take the help of the airline’s customer care executive to choose a seat on your flight after booking. Remember that if you booked via a travel agency, only the agent can help you with seat selection and other flight-related matters.]

When Checking In

Want a preferred Cathay Pacific flight seat at the last moment? Why not. When the online check-in portal opens 90 minutes before your flight’s departure, it prompts the passenger one last time to choose a seat. You can then make your selection. You will get this opportunity at the airport check-in counters, too.

Cathay Pacific Seat Selection Availability

Your ultimate guide to who can choose which seat on Cathay Pacific.

Seat Type	Free For	Not Available For	Fee Applies To
Regular Seat	– Cathay Diamond, Gold, or Silver members- Travelling with a Diamond, Gold, or Silver member (same booking & fare type)- oneworld Emerald, Sapphire, or Ruby members- Economy Flex or Economy Essential fare holders- Passengers with a child/infant (under 12) in the same booking	– Unaccompanied minors- Group bookings (10 or more passengers)	All others not meeting the free criteria
Preferred Seat	– Cathay Diamond or Gold members- oneworld Emerald or Sapphire members- Economy Flex fare holders- Passengers with a child/infant (under 12) in the same booking	– Unaccompanied minors- Group bookings (10 or more passengers)	All others not meeting the free criteria
Extra Legroom	– Cathay Diamond or Gold members- oneworld Emerald or Sapphire members- Economy Flex fare holders	– Unaccompanied minors- Bookings with children/infants	All others not meeting the free criteria
At Check-in	– All passengers can select Preferred or Regular seats for free during check-in (seat type not guaranteed)	– Extra legroom seats still require eligibility or a fee at this stage	– No fee for Preferred/Regular at check-in

Cathay Pacific Seat Selection Fees

Does the chart before suggest that a fee is required to select a seat on your Cathay Pacific flight? Find out the amount you need to spend based on your destination to lock your seat.

Flights between Hong Kong SAR and…	Extra Legroom Seats	Preferred seats	Regular seats
Zone 1: Chinese Mainland (Chongqing, Fuzhou, Guangzhou, Haikou, Hangzhou, Nanjing, Ningbo, Sanya, Wenzhou, Wuhan, Xiamen), Philippines (Manila), Taiwan, China, Vietnam (Hanoi).	USD 45	USD 22	USD 12 – USD 14
Asia (excluding Zone 1 places)	USD 53 – USD 61	USD 24 – USD 26	USD 13 – USD 21
Australia, Israel, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates	USD 162 – USD 180	USD 46 – USD 54	USD 37 – USD 46
Canada (Vancouver), Europe, New Zealand, South Africa, United States (Los Angeles, San Francisco)	USD 196	USD 63	USD 48 – USD 55
Canada (Toronto), United States (Boston, Chicago, Dallas, New York).	USD 212	USD 66	USD 50 – USD 58

Get A Refund For Your Cathay Flight Seat

There are certain situations where you may wish to get a refund for your Cathay Pacific seat reservations:

• Cathay Pacific cancels your flight, or there is a disruption.
• You missed your connecting Cathay Pacific flight because your previous Cathay Pacific flight was delayed.
• You change to a new flight (same route), but the seat you chose is not available.
• The airline changed your seat due to operational or safety reasons, but didn’t provide you with another similar one.
• You upgraded to a higher cabin using miles, cash, or a bid.
• You had paid for a regular seat and later shifted to an Economy Essential or Economy Flex.

If any of these situations precisely describe your travel condition, you can request a refund.

Applying For A Seat Refund

Important points to consider when applying for a Cathay Pacific seat refund:

• You must request a refund of your Cathay Pacific flight within 30 days of the original flight departure. 
• You can do so by filling out the airline’s online seat refund form or contacting their Customer service.
• Your seat will automatically cancel once you fill out the refund form.
• You will receive your refund in the original payment method and currency. If you paid via miles and cash both, you will first get the cash and then the miles (go to the Membership account).

Conclusion

Selecting a seat on your Cathay Pacific flight is nearly free for most passengers. They offer various opportunities to choose a flight seat you like for free, especially during the check-in process. By using this guide, you can identify the right time to make your Cathay Pacific seat selection. Now, head to the airline’s website. A seat is waiting to be chosen by you.

Common Questions