The WP shadow

[RooFlyer]

Travelling overwhelmingly in J due to the munificence of clients, I was oblivious to the existance of the WP 'shadow' until being a regular reader of these pages.

An international long-haul trip in whY (fare O) is coming up (horrors!) and I'll be travelling with 2 friends (QFF members, no status).

So how does it work?

* When I check in (and I usually check in early, having selected my seat in advance), with or without travel companions, am I guaranteed an empty seat beside me? Or is it 'subject to space being available'?

* Can I enquire at check in that there is indeed an empty/blocked seat there? And if the agent doesn't know about the 'shadow' concept (ie there isn't an empty seat there, or a blocked one), do I have any redress?

* That is, is there a policy or stated WP benefit I can print out and take with me?

* Does this apply on 1W partners as well as QF?

Thanks.

 

[TonyHancock]

* When I check in (and I usually check in early, having selected my seat in advance), with or without travel companions, am I guaranteed an empty seat beside me? Or is it 'subject to space being available'?

Subject to availability.

* Can I enquire at check in that there is indeed an empty/blocked seat there? And if the agent doesn't know about the 'shadow' concept (ie there isn't an empty seat there, or a blocked one), do I have any redress?

No redress, and no guarantee.

* That is, is there a policy or stated WP benefit I can print out and take with me?

Nope

* Does this apply on 1W partners as well as QF?

Nope...but like QF OW partners may choose to look after OWE's.

It is very hit and miss and from experience appears to be dependent on space and also I suspect "status seniority". It's nice if you get it but don't hold your breath. I usually check expert flyer, which seems to be accurate right up to the last minute.

....and there a few reasons why a "shadow" may disappear when you are expecting a free seat next to you.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks. Pretty definitive ... I won't hold my breath ! .

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've had a large number of flights where the seat so is wide open and a shadow is following me, and then on boarding...BAM... Shadow gone and someone is sitting there - despite the cabin being wide open with other spare seats.

Story of my life with this dodgy shadow.

TH is right - you can't count on it to be a benefit.

 

[mrfreeze]

I've had a large number of flights where the seat so is wide open and a shadow is following me, and then on boarding...BAM... Shadow gone and someone is sitting there - despite the cabin being wide open with other spare seats.

Story of my life with this dodgy shadow.

TH is right - you can't count on it to be a benefit.

My work colleague and I were off to Sydney for a week of beer and food.... I mean work training... and at check in was told we had a blocked seat between us - I had chosen exit row window and aisle for us.
The last passenger walked on and straight to our row, then the seat between us.

Bam, seat block gone and other free seats in the other exit rows and around the plane.
At least on our Sydney to Melbourne trip we had all 4 seats in the row to ourself.

Sometimes when I have flown J* I have ended up with a "spare" seat next to me, though I suspect (know) it is just luck this has happened.

 

[serfty]

...
The last passenger walked on and straight to our row, then the seat between us.

Bam, seat block gone and other free seats in the other exit rows and around the plane.
...

Could very well be the old last on, best remaining seat trick.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I jumped on a flight right after my last post and had the exact same thing happen again. I had the only blocked seat in an otherwise full J cabin, then MR 1A decides to take my shadow. Clearly he isn't a fan of the non-existent legroom in row 1 either

 

[EmilyHoward]

The whole spare seat business is interesting in that it is very hit and miss. I never bank on getting a spare seat next to me and not expecting it, it's quite a nice surprise if one does get a spare. As is said 'It ain't all over till the Fat Lady sings!' Having said that I do appear to sing quite often.

EH

 

[danny09]

Most of the flights im on I do have a constant shadow.

In Y & J it's always empty next to me unless its the last seat on the plane, even on oversold flights getting an Op-Up to J which is the best bonus.

Its one of those unpublished benefits that I really enjoy.

 

[simongr]

I am at 25% with an empty seat next to me.

 

[ashleyn]

From my experience if you choose the exit row, seems to negate any chance of a shadow.

 

[docjames]

Qantas seem to like to have all exit row seats full.

It's been a long time since I've been on a QF flight where there have been vacant exit seats (738s / 763s). Despite often the a/c being only ~60% load.

 

[Stoopidsteve]

Qantas seem to like to have all exit row seats full.

It's been a long time since I've been on a QF flight where there have been vacant exit seats (738s / 763s). Despite often the a/c being only ~60% load.

won't that be because punters have paid for those seats in advance?

 

[CaviAck]

Qantas seem to like to have all exit row seats full.

It's been a long time since I've been on a QF flight where there have been vacant exit seats (738s / 763s). Despite often the a/c being only ~60% load.

That might not be entirely true. I was running late for my flight and made the check-in deadline by 10-15mins, asked for a better seat and was offer a choice of 2 seats one being an exit row the other being a middle seat. The flight was on a 738 and was almost full, and as a NB I managed to grab an aisle exist row seat, intriguingly the man before me left his boarding pass and was a WP1. Out of the 12 available exit row seats, 11 were occupied, the empty one being between me and the person in the window seat. Probably the biggest and luckiest fluke I've gotten from QF so far.

 

[madrooster]

Qantas seem to like to have all exit row seats full.

79H and 79J were both empty on QF93 on 06/02. I thought it was highly odd...

No one proceeded to sit in those rows after take off either???

 

[docjames]

I was thinking more domestically than international.

 

[EmilyHoward]

I am at 25% with an empty seat next to me.

You keep statistics??? LOL

EH

 

[simongr]

Obsessive Compulsive [-]Disorder[/-]* Personality - I tend to remember things and looking back the shadow is the rarity rather than the norm.



* Its only a disorder if it affects my life

 

[danny09]

Has anyone experienced a shadow behind them? maybe 3 out of the last 10 whY flights I have had a shadow behind me. (Fairly full flights,me in 4A,5A being blocked/no one sitting in there)

is this just good luck? or does QF really want me to recline with no pax behind me?

 

[EmilyHoward]

Has anyone experienced a shadow behind them? maybe 3 out of the last 10 whY flights I have had a shadow behind me. (Fairly full flights,me in 4A,5A being blocked/no one sitting in there)

is this just good luck? or does QF really want me to recline with no pax behind me?

Danny, I'm sure Qantas actually want you to be able to recline without hindering the person behind. It can't be anything else.

EH