Does seat availability for a booking change when QFF membership level changes?

[arraitch]

Folks,

'Scuse me if my inexpert searches have failed to find the answer to this one, but ...

As a Gold I've made a couple of Y- bookings where, eg, Rows 4-10 on a 738 are blocked from advance seat selection. I'm scheduled to hit Platinum a couple of weeks hence; can I expect availability to open up as a consequence, or doesn't it work retrospectively?

Thanks in advance to all and any!

 

[samh004]

You will see more forward rows as a Platinum, but I believe (and there is a thread with all of this somewhere…) that the front row of economy is blocked to CL only. Not sure though, can’t recall. As you should know, at T-24 you can move yourself there if there’s something when everything opens up anyway

 

[arraitch]

Thanks for responding, samh004. Yeah, I've seen a thread or three about this topic, discussing blocked row(s) for CLs, seats opening up at T-80 and OLCI at T-24. I just don't recall mention of whether it's seat selection for only new or all bookings that are affected by an upgraded membership.

 

[dk4]

'Scuse me if my inexpert searches have failed to find the answer to this one, but ...

As a Gold I've made a couple of Y- bookings where, eg, Rows 4-10 on a 738 are blocked from advance seat selection. I'm scheduled to hit Platinum a couple of weeks hence; can I expect availability to open up as a consequence, or doesn't it work retrospectively?

Row 6 and back, excluding the exits.

As a general rule, on domestic mainline brand jets, WPs in economy will see availability as everything excluding; the first two rows of seats, the exit rows & any other bulkheads(/bassinets).

As noted, it is worth checking back, prior to check-in opening (especially around the time frames that you have noted) to see if the blocking has been removed from the coveted row 4 seats.

 

[medhead]

And I made platinum last week and all my flights changed to give better seat selection as mention. Row 6 back on 737s.

 

[samh004]

And I made platinum last week and all my flights changed to give better seat selection as mention. Row 6 back on 737s.

Did your allocations automatically move though, or could you just suddenly see the front of the cabin, but needed to move yourself through all your flights individually?

 

[arraitch]

Ahh, OK. Thanks for your clarifications, dk4 and medhead. So in three weeks from today, I'll be anxiously awaiting the posting of credits from a ADL-PER flight!

 

[Australian]

Did your allocations automatically move though, or could you just suddenly see the front of the cabin, but needed to move yourself through all your flights individually?

ok, there are limits to platinum pampering!

 

[medhead]

Did your allocations automatically move though, or could you just suddenly see the front of the cabin, but needed to move yourself through all your flights individually?

ok, there are limits to platinum pampering!

Indeed there are limitations, I could suddenly see the front of the cabin but had to manually move myself. That is when I discovered that I could no longer select seats on a classic award.

 

[samh004]

Indeed there are limitations, I could suddenly see the front of the cabin but had to manually move myself. That is when I discovered that I could no longer select seats on a classic award.

So a Gold can select seats on a classic award, but a Platinum can’t

I’m lucky I’m heading for Gold

 

[medhead]

So a Gold can select seats on a classic award, but a Platinum can’t

I’m lucky I’m heading for Gold

I can select seats just need to ring up and a nice person will do it for me.

It could be related to having a J segment in the booking as there are other reports of a similar situation on a J classic award. I've submitted feedback.

 

[Aus ATC]

On the 738s row 6 and back are available for WP from time of ticketing. T-80 and generally rows 4 and 5 become available for seat selection.

Although for my flight today the best I could get was 7D (at about T-70)!!

Similar situation with the wide body aircraft, but I don't fly them often enough to determine the pattern.

 

[docjames]

Not seeing a huge difference in seat avaialbility now Gold instead of Silver.

Disappointing.

 

[arraitch]

Having attained Platinum somewhere between ADL and PER on Sunday , I thought that some before and after screenshots of seating availability might be of interest. In confirmation of medhead's experience:

On a 763 as Gold; ditto as Platinum:



On a 738 as Gold; ditto as Platinum:



Now, about that anytime access to QPs ...

 

[samh004]

Having attained Platinum somewhere between ADL and PER on Sunday , I thought that some before and after screenshots of seating availability might be of interest. In confirmation of medhead's experience:

On a 763 as Gold; ditto as Platinum:

On a 738 as Gold; ditto as Platinum:

Now, about that anytime access to QPs ...

Thanks for those, they paint a very clear picture of what you get. Your flights are very empty

 

[arraitch]

Thanks for those, they paint a very clear picture of what you get. Your flights are very empty

Yeah, barring the folk in row 18 on the 738 - who I guess must be Silver - 'tis rather quiet. But then, the bookings are from and to PER for March and Easter, so there may be some seats as yet unallocated.

 

[straitman]

Thanks for those, they paint a very clear picture of what you get. Your flights are very empty

I would simply suggest that most seats have not been allocated. This is no real reflection on seats sold at all.

 

[arraitch]

I would simply suggest that most seats have not been allocated. This is no real reflection on seats sold at all.

Fully understood thanks, straitman. Sorry, but a "Wink" icon is the closest I could get to a "Facetious" one!

 

[serfty]

Remember that for most fares, only PS and higher status can select seating at all.

To arraitch, remember to try again at or soon after T-80 hours to see if more seating opens up.

 

[arraitch]

To arraitch, remember to try again at or soon after T-80 hours to see if more seating opens up.

Thanks for the reminder, serfty. Checking back at T-80 meant the following moves just recently:

332 from 4A, 4B to 1A, 1B
738 from 3A, 3C to 1D, 1F
738 from 2D, 2F to 1A, 1C
321 from 2G, 2H to 1A, 1C
734 from 3A, 3C to 2A, 2C
734 from 3A, 3C to 2A, 2C

Presumably some pesky Platinums affected the last two legs, and thus our perfect score.