Preselecting Seating leaving Open Seat between you. Is it gaming?

[Deleted member 29185]

But none of these other status benefits potentially cause the non status person to lose money by paying for seat selection they mightn’t need to (if the benefit was not available to status holders).

No one has to spend money they don't need to. The very worst case scenario is that the non-status flyer may be allocated a middle seat, which is what you are saying a status flyer should do as a courtesy toward those others, because why ... so they don't feel disadvantaged, apparently. That just doesn't make sense to me.

I'd also argue your point that none of those other status perks cost money. In fact, I'd argue that if the non-status flyer wants to avail themselves of them, they all cost considerable money by way of a J fare (or in the case of the lounge, a one off payment for access, when that is permitted). Seat selection is actually the cheaper of the "pay for use" status options.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No one has to spend money they don't need to. The very worst case scenario is that the non-status flyer may be allocated a middle seat, which is what you are saying a status flyer should do as a courtesy toward those others, because why ... so they don't feel disadvantaged, apparently. That just doesn't make sense to me.

I'd also argue your point that none of those other status perks cost money. In fact, I'd argue that if the non-status flyer wants to avail themselves of them, they all cost considerable money by way of a J fare (or in the case of the lounge, a one off payment for access, when that is permitted). Seat selection is actually the cheaper of the "pay for use" status options.

The spending money comes in because once stuck in a middle seat, the next time you go to fly you may decide to pay for an aisle or window. Money you wouldn’t otherwise need to spend if the A+Cers didn’t get to take those seats for free.

And talking only here about the A+Cers who have no intention of being in those seats if the flight is full and they’ll have someone in the middle. They’re just trying it on to see if they can get away with a spare seat.

Sure, that particular group of A+Cers may move eventually, but too late by then for the people who have paid out of fear being stuck in the middle.

Status holders going into lounges doesn’t potentially incur a cost on non status holders the same way seat selection does.

 

[burmans]

Money you wouldn’t otherwise need to spend if the A+Cers didn’t get to take those seats for free.

Status is hardly something anyone has got for free! Usually many thousands, if not tens of thousands are spent on that quest for status.

And if they havent got status then those couples also need to pay for seat selection just like the single.

 

[blackcat20]

The spending money comes in because once stuck in a middle seat, the next time you go to fly you may decide to pay for an aisle or window. Money you wouldn’t otherwise need to spend if the A+Cers didn’t get to take those seats for free.

And talking only here about the A+Cers who have no intention of being in those seats if the flight is full and they’ll have someone in the middle. They’re just trying it on to see if they can get away with a spare seat.

Sure, that particular group of A+Cers may move eventually, but too late by then for the people who have paid out of fear being stuck in the middle.

Status holders going into lounges doesn’t potentially incur a cost on non status holders the same way seat selection does.

But two solo people could equally choose A+C, leaving B for the next solo traveller. They arent going to offer up their seat either....

 

[zenyattamondatta]

But two solo people could equally choose A+C, leaving B for the next solo traveller. They arent going to offer up their seat either....

But apparently it's what's in their hearts that matters.

 

[juddles]

.....Status holders going into lounges doesn’t potentially incur a cost on non status holders the same way seat selection does......

Forgive me MEL traveler, but I fully expect my status to trump every single person who has paid less or the same.I expect my seat selection to override theirs. Why should it not?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

And if they havent got status then those couples also need to pay for seat selection just like the single.

Would silvers (who can renew for around $1000 with a DSC offer?) and above fork out the extra $180 to pay for A+C if they didn’t really want those seats (ie would give them to B when they turn up).

Probably not, because that would be $180 down the drain.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The potential downside is those that fork out for seat selection when they might not otherwise have to. Easy for status holders to dismiss the additional costs. Not so easy for the individuals and families without status.

Paying for an extra seat is a different proposition to gaming the middle. If all members of a booking were required to take contiguous seating, it would leave more windows and aisles open at the time of check in. Removing the need for some at least to fork out for pre-assigned seating (to avoid a middle).

Years ago, when seating was done at the airport, members of a party would turn up and be assigned seats next to each other.

Now, we are able to select seats on line, and members of a party wanting to select A+C can do so, and in many cases free of charge with silver or above. Non status members looking at seat maps... perhaps burned once... may now feel compelled to pay for a seat they wouldn’t otherwise have the need to.

I guess it’s a difference in perspective... those with status selecting A+C won’t see any problems, those without free access to seating will be potentially inconvenienced.

But none of these other status benefits potentially cause the non status person to lose money by paying for seat selection they mightn’t need to (if the benefit was not available to status holders).

The spending money comes in because once stuck in a middle seat, the next time you go to fly you may decide to pay for an aisle or window. Money you wouldn’t otherwise need to spend if the A+Cers didn’t get to take those seats for free.

And talking only here about the A+Cers who have no intention of being in those seats if the flight is full and they’ll have someone in the middle. They’re just trying it on to see if they can get away with a spare seat.

Sure, that particular group of A+Cers may move eventually, but too late by then for the people who have paid out of fear being stuck in the middle.

Status holders going into lounges doesn’t potentially incur a cost on non status holders the same way seat selection does.

IMHO the ones 'gaming the system' are the pax who know they can pre-select but are too lazy to do it/can't be bothered and feel that they will automatically get their desired seats together because a) booked 6 months ago b) are in the same booking c) have an aisle and/or window seat request in their profile. On full flights they can expect to get two middle seats possibly rows apart - they are not the victims you make them out to be.

You make it sound like paying for seating is the only way to get seats together if you don't have status. This is not the case as advance seating on QF & VA domestic flights is free for anybody (with the exception of exit rows) at the time of booking for those that choose to take the initiative and take 30 seconds of their time to manage their booking on the airlines' website and pre-allocate their seats.

I believe JQ allow checkin at T-48 so if you're not travelling on a plus bundle (with free seat selection) or have elected not to pay for seating as a standalone option you still have a good chance of getting a non-middle seat. In fact when on a JQi flight BNE/MEL vv when I went to do OLCI I found that I'd already been assigned an aisle seat but was able to change that to my preferred window. Unsure of TT's policy as I've never flown them.

On international flights many airlines will edit the flight around T-48 and preseat family groups together because it's in their interests to do that ahead of time versus the bunfight that would ensue if it was left until checkin when many pax have already done OLCI.

There is still a huge proportion of people out there who think that T-24 - T48 is the first chance they get at picking a seat so in this case they never felt forced into paying for a seat at the time of booking for fear of ending up in the middle. Then there are those who don't even attempt to do OLCI and just 'turn up early' ie one hour prior and expect an aisle because they have a generic seat request for aisle in their NB profile.

 

[Peter D]

People with mobility issues really shouldn't be in the exit row.

Not an issue on wide bodied aircraft. Some airlines accommodate special needs in these seats.

 

[Peter D]

My thoughts are if the airlines were going to frown on the A+C seating allocation by a couple in the same booking, they would only allow in the seat allocation map, pairs of adjacent seats when seating is being chosen. As they open up the entire seat map, then it is less of an argument.

A way around this "pairs" allocation is for each pax to have their own booking, so thus defeating the issue outlined in the previous paragraph and allowing them to separately choose an A+C seating arrangement.

We have had this happen to us recently on Air New Zealand when paying for seats as couple on the same booking. Web site closed out C once A had been selected. It would then only allow B or anywhere else but not C in the same row.

I may have to use your solution next time.

I haven’t tried A+C on other airlines recently so don’t know if they do the same to couples.

 

[Milboo]

I don’t like that! I may book with a friend on the same ticket but it doesn’t mean I want to sit beside them for 12 + hours either before we’re going to be in each other’s pocket for 2-3 weeks or have just spent that time together!

I like my window seat. They like their aisle seat.

We get on a plane and barely speak until the other end - both preferring a bubble approach to flying.

 

[serfty]

We have had this happen to us recently on Air New Zealand when paying for seats as couple on the same booking. Web site closed out C once A had been selected. It would then only allow B or anywhere else but not C in the same row.

AirNZ have done this for decades. Back when I flew them as an Elite I would have to call up to get specific seating when traveling with SWMBO.

 

[suze2000]

I think if an airline forced me to preselect B then I might instead choose the window behind if it's available.

Travelling with FIL, I put him in the row behind us at the window because he's also a large unit and I didn't want the three of us squishing up in the same row. (plus we were about to spend weeks with him - enough is enough!)

 

[JohnK]

I think if an airline forced me to preselect B then I might instead choose the window behind if it's available.

I have not yet been forced to choose contiguous seating on any airline. If that happens I will not fly with that airline again.

 

[serfty]

I have not yet been forced to choose contiguous seating on any airline. If that happens I will not fly with that airline again.

That'll be interesting for you if Qantas were introduce such an "Enhancement".

 

[zenyattamondatta]

That'll be interesting for you if Qantas were introduce such an "Enhancement".

Fortunately there's been no sensible argument in favour of it.

 

[JohnK]

That'll be interesting for you if Qantas were introduce such an "Enhancement".

All my eggs in the one basket and such? Seriously I cannot imagine that will ever happen.

Someone will get a middle seat. Better that'd be someone who does not fly often and is happy to wait until they get to airport to find out what seat they've been allocated.

 

[BrockF]

Had a recent experiment when travelling with wife across the ditch. A+C on th way over on a very empty flight. Read this thread and felt guilty so changed to C and D on way back to see what would happen, even though loading looked very light. Got a big surprise when the CSM realised we were travelling together and offered to move people so we could have A+C! Didn’t take up the offer though as felt guilty enough for looking at bookings, pre selecting seats and seeing an empty flight and pre-selecting where we wanted to sit!
My opinion - game away of you want, but be prepared for someone sitting between you.

 

[straitman]

I cannot believe that this thread is going around its little circle for about the 5th time.

There has been nothing new to get me to believe people are gaming the system by leaving a middle seat empty. On the other hand there have been a few posts against it that are quite well put and convincing.

 

[QF WP]

Everyone is entitled to their opinion and to share it @straitman. You don't need to game the system in Dom J