Cathay Pacific Seat Selection: Fees, Free Seats and Family Seating

• Standard (regular) seats: the main Economy seats.
• Preferred seats: Economy seats in more popular positions, such as nearer the front of the cabin.
• Extra-legroom seats: seats with more space in front, such as bulkhead or exit-row seats. Exit rows carry safety restrictions on who can sit there.

Which seats are available, and what they cost, depends on the aircraft flying the route. The seat map for the specific flight is the only reliable guide.

For fares, cabins and Hong Kong connections before you book, see our Cathay Pacific flights guide.

For two people who want to sit together on a long flight, the cost of paying for seats on two Light fares can approach the difference to Essential, which also adds a second checked bag. It is worth pricing both before booking.

The Cathay Pacific fare types guide compares Light, Essential and Flex in full, including changes and refunds.

The membership benefit only applies when the membership number is on the booking. Add it in Manage Booking before choosing seats.

1. 1

   Open Manage Booking

   Use Cathay Pacific's website or app with the booking reference and family name.

2. 2

   Open the seat map

   Choose a flight and passenger. Free and paid seats are shown for the fare and passenger.

3. 3

   Select and confirm

   Pay for a seat if a charge applies. Repeat for each flight, including the Hong Kong connection.

4. 4

   Check again before departure

   Aircraft changes can move seat assignments, so review the seat in Manage Booking a few days before travel.

Passengers who do not choose in advance are assigned a seat. Regular and preferred seats become free to choose once online check-in opens, but by then, seats together or in preferred positions may be gone. The Cathay Pacific Manage Booking guide covers other changes you can make online.

Cathay Pacific lets passengers on a booking that includes a child or infant (under 12 when travel starts) choose standard and preferred seats free, even on a Light fare. Book the whole family on one booking so the system can recognise the group.

Choose seats as soon as the booking is ticketed. Bassinet positions for infants are limited, so request one early and confirm it is recorded for every long flight.

Families on separate bookings may not be recognised together. If that cannot be avoided, choose seats on each booking at the same time.

Seat layouts in premium cabins differ by aircraft. In Business, some aircraft have Cathay Pacific's newer Aria Suite while others carry earlier seats, so the seat map is the best way to know what will operate.

Travellers hoping to move up a cabin can compare the options in the Cathay Pacific upgrades guide.

Cathay Pacific says paid seat reservations may be eligible for a refund under its seat refund policy. If something changes after you've paid, for example you move to a fare that includes free seats or an upgrade bid is accepted, ask whoever issued your ticket whether the fee can be refunded.

A paid seat is not a guarantee. Aircraft changes and operational needs can move passengers. Keep the receipt in case a refund is needed.

What are the best seats in Cathay Pacific Economy?

We choose from the seat map for the actual flight rather than give one 'best' row number. An aisle suits someone who gets up often; a window suits someone who wants to settle in and sleep. For couples, look for a pair where the layout offers one, or two aisle seats across from each other.

We generally avoid seats immediately beside toilets and galleys if quiet matters. Check the recline before choosing a last-row seat, and don't assume a bulkhead automatically gives you more usable space. Extra-legroom seats can be worth paying for, but exit rows have safety requirements and won't suit everyone. Cathay Pacific's preferred seats are about location nearer the front of Economy; they don't automatically give you extra legroom.

Will Cathay Pacific seat my family together?

You may not need to pay. Cathay Pacific currently lets passengers travelling with a child under 12 in the same booking reserve regular and preferred Economy seats free, subject to availability and ticket eligibility.

Book everyone together and select the seats early. That's different from leaving seats unassigned and assuming the whole family will automatically get a row together. If you can't find suitable seats, contact Cathay Pacific or your travel agent straight away. Check every flight, including any partner-operated connection, and recheck after an aircraft change. Don't leave it until boarding and rely on other passengers swapping.

Should I choose my seat at booking or wait for check-in?

If the seat matters to you, choose it straight after booking, especially if you need to sit beside someone or want a particular aisle or window. On Economy Light, first check whether you actually need to pay: families travelling with a child under 12 in the same booking, and some eligible members, can select certain seats free.

Otherwise it's a trade-off. Pay early for the available seat you want, or wait until online check-in, when regular and preferred seats become free, and choose from what's left. Extra-legroom seats remain chargeable unless you qualify for them free. If you're travelling alone and happy with any seat, waiting can save money. If sitting together is important, don't rely on check-in availability.

Is a preferred or extra-legroom seat worth paying for?

Treat them as two different choices. Preferred seats are nearer the front of Economy: you're paying for location, not automatically more room. Pay for one if that location, or a particular available seat, matters to you.

Extra legroom is more worth considering if you're tall or find standard Economy cramped. On a nine-hour flight from Australia it can already make a difference; on a sixteen-hour flight from the US, we'd give it more weight. Check the price for each person, each way.

Before paying, check the actual seat: exit-row eligibility, nearby toilets, and any restrictions on storage or armrests. More legroom doesn't necessarily mean a wider seat or more recline. If the seat fees bring you close to Premium Economy, compare the full upgrade before deciding. Our Cathay Pacific Premium Economy guide explains what the extra money buys.

• Fare type confirmed: Light, Essential or Flex
• Membership number added to the booking before choosing seats
• Children and infants on the same booking as their adults
• Seats chosen for every flight, including the Hong Kong connection
• Bassinet requested early for infants on long flights
• Exit-row restrictions checked before choosing an extra-legroom seat
• Seat assignment rechecked a few days before departure