Article: Qantas Blocking Exit Row Seats on Long-Haul Flights

[AFF Editor]

Qantas Blocking Exit Row Seats on Long-Haul Flights is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Qantas Unlocks Exit Row Seats on Long-Haul Flights

Qantas passengers will finally be able to select exit row and extra legroom seats on long-haul flights again from tomorrow, with the airline removing the

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

 

[offshore171]

Explanation makes sense.

 

[defurax]

QF could simply ask exit row pax to wear N95 masks...

 

[Jean Prouvaire]

I was able to select an exit row seat on a classic reward economy flight to LA in late May, but then ticketing was delayed due to the seat not being allocatable. When I followed up, the call centre rep said it was indeed for the reason stated in the article - the seats were blocked because the exit rows were facing crew. I was put into 71D instead, which - while not quite as good as an exit row - is also a fine seat, so no complaints.

 

[Pushka]

QF could simply ask exit row pax to wear N95 masks...

But we know there are always people who would refuse to do that.

 

[Flossy1962]

Qantas Blocking Exit Row Seats on Long-Haul Flights is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Qantas Unlocks Exit Row Seats on Long-Haul Flights

Qantas passengers will finally be able to select exit row and extra legroom seats on long-haul flights again from tomorrow, with the airline removing the

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

We had this happen on a recent flight to Vancouver from Sydney. We had paid for the exit row seats and not notified of the seat change to the row behind. The flight crew were a bit disbelieving that we had booked the seats, happily I had the paper receipt with me. We were moved to bulk head seats which was great, no harm done! Then two hour wait on the phone to arrange the refund….

 

[Bandicoot]

But we know there are always people who would refuse to do that.

Qantas Blocking Exit Row Seats on Long-Haul Flights is an article written by AFF editorial staff:

Qantas Unlocks Exit Row Seats on Long-Haul Flights

Qantas passengers will finally be able to select exit row and extra legroom seats on long-haul flights again from tomorrow, with the airline removing the

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can leave a comment or discuss this topic below.

Covid is airborne. If Covid is in the cabin air then this is a talisman, not a protection.

 

[Pushka]

Covid is airborne. If Covid is in the cabin air then this is a talisman, not a protection.

I simply commented that people would potentially refuse to wear N95

 

[annie63]

We had booked and paid for exit row seats on a flight to London at Christmas time. Two weeks before the flight we noticed that we had been moved to the row behind. When we rang Qantas we were told that it was for social distancing reasons, but when we boarded the flight they had allocated the seats to other people. We applied for a refund for the seats in January when we returned to Australia and just today have received a part-refund after following up several times. I have always been very loyal to Qantas, but problems with call waiting times, as well as these hiccups with seating have left me questioning why I am being loyal. Consequently, my husband and I have booked with Qatar for our July trip to France. Sorry Qantas!

 

[Pushka]

Consequently, my husband and I have booked with Qatar for our July trip to France. Sorry Qantas!

That is very poor of Qantas.

Coming from Adelaide unless we transit via eastern states we have no choice but to fly with the other airlines. So we've flown Cathay, Singapore air, Emirates and Qatar. I've never regretted not flying Qantas internationally since.

 

[jrfsp]

I noticed this was also the case on domestic A330 MEL-PER flight the other day.

To block seats due to cabin crew sitting in the exit jump seats for about 10 mins per flights seems a bit ridiculous.

 

[Franky]

We had booked and paid for exit row seats on a flight to London at Christmas time. Two weeks before the flight we noticed that we had been moved to the row behind. When we rang Qantas we were told that it was for social distancing reasons, but when we boarded the flight they had allocated the seats to other people. We applied for a refund for the seats in January when we returned to Australia and just today have received a part-refund after following up several times. I have always been very loyal to Qantas, but problems with call waiting times, as well as these hiccups with seating have left me questioning why I am being loyal. Consequently, my husband and I have booked with Qatar for our July trip to France. Sorry Qantas!

They should be apologising to you…

 

[RichardMEL]

This also affected a friend of mine's parents on a flight from LA. They had paid extra for exit row, been assigned then suddenly not. Upon calling (ad waiting....) QF they were apparently told all was fine do not worry and of course (long story short) come flight time had been moved to a random row at the back of the upper deck. Only through luck of relative low loading did they manage to move to a group of unoccupied seats. I am uncertain if they have been refunded the $$$ for the exit row.

What is so frustrating is a) they could book and pay for them when this policy was in place and b) the bad info and assurances given by QF on the phone.

It may be a minor thing but honestly so poor from a customer experience point of view.

 

[Lynda2475]

To block seats due to cabin crew sitting in the exit jump seats for about 10 mins per flights seems a bit ridiculous.

Especially when that same cabin crew will be interacting with most passengers at closer distance to serve food and drinks through the flight, cleaning the communal bathrooms etc.

Masks are mandatory during take off and landing since you cant eat/drink then so no real risk.

All my international flights this year are in J so i am hoping this policy is gone by the next time I next fly international Y, not before 2023.

 

[maureeng]

If we need a PCR negative result to fly to the USA then nobody on the plane has COVID. So why have these rules and masks.? I have a mask exemption but still think the rules are crazy especially if everyone has proven they are negative.

 

[RichardMEL]

If we need a PCR negative result to fly to the USA then nobody on the plane has COVID. So why have these rules and masks.? I have a mask exemption but still think the rules are crazy especially if everyone has proven they are negative.

I suspect US mandated (and others) mask rules will go away over the next three months.

Anyway I personally feel that if people have PCR tests pre flight it does not in any way guarantee that absolutely nobody has covid. Why?

1. PCR tests are often done a day in advance of flight. There are opportunities to still be infected (but I would agree that probably not infectious for the next 24-36 hours while in flight)

2. You can have rare false negatives

3. Let's say one flies on a Tuesday and does a PCR test on Monday (required the day before for travel to the US). What if they were exposed on the Saturday but have not yet produced anything for the PCR to pick up but by the next day could potentially shed virus?

Now I grant you clearly the chances are much much smaller, but it is definitely not zero. In my view.

 

[Pushka]

If we need a PCR negative result to fly to the USA then nobody on the plane has COVID. So why have these rules and masks.? I have a mask exemption but still think the rules are crazy especially if everyone has proven they are negative.

But we know that PCR test isn't any guarantee given that my son, his wife and grandchild returned to Australia late evening and by the next morning, having only been on the plane (and collected their own car from the car park for the drive home) had tested positive.

3. Let's say one flies on a Tuesday and does a PCR test on Monday (required the day before for travel to the US). What if they were exposed on the Saturday but have not yet produced anything for the PCR to pick up but by the next day could potentially shed virus?

Now I grant you clearly the chances are much much smaller, but it is definitely not zero. In my view.

Certainly not zero by any stretch.

 

[mviy]

Wow. I booked exit row seats for June/July. If I can’t sit in those I hope my upgrades come through even more. Economy leg room for long haul is terrible. Having knees up against the seat in front is not fun for hours on end.

 

[maureeng]

But we know that PCR test isn't any guarantee given that my son, his wife and grandchild returned to Australia late evening and by the next morning, having only been on the plane (and collected their own car from the car park for the drive home) had tested positive.



Certainly not zero by any stretch.

Yes you are right but the fact you don’t have to wear it eating and drinking you could still get it masks or not.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Colleagues had booked exit rows for flights yesterday… without any comment or warning they were simply issued boarding passes with new seat numbers at check-in. Not even told they had been moved. They only realised once I asked them if they still had their exit seats!

Pretty poor. There should be a note in the booking with a link automatically sent to the registered email for a refund (in fact why even need to apply? The refund should have been processed as soon as the pax were moved).

#notmatchreadyforaglobalairlinefollowingthesun

Post automatically merged: Apr 15, 2022

Yes you are right but the fact you don’t have to wear it eating and drinking you could still get it masks or not.

It seems people don’t isolate between getting the test and travelling. You can be out partying and pick it up in the three or four days before travel. It’s a silly system… the US procedure is better… test on the day before only.