AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elites

[dodgeyhack]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

Thanks serfty. Called up the 07 number, took them a while to figure out how to do it but got there in the end. hasn't seemed to have helped so far but maybe i have to give it some time. Decided to call the US anyway, thought it might be interesting to see if they had a clue. Service was good but all they could really do is confirm the system wasnt recognising any Oneworld status. Looks like im stuck in the middle for now; my attempt to pay for a premium seat also failed!

 

[amaroo]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

Apologies for raising the dead.

Booked flights yesterday LAX-LAS-LAX - loving the fact as a QFF I can secure row 16 or 17 on a 737-800 and have the middle seats blocked....for free For a family of 4 - it's perfect.

Also, the E-ticket shows SWMBO as an EMD....assuming that means Emerald? however, she is only Gold.

I'm so enjoying now I've finally reached LTG and have WP locked in until 03/15.......I no longer need to worry about status chasing and convincing myself that spending the extra coin to sit up the front on an one hour flight is a good thing to do

 

[serfty]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

Apologies for raising the dead.

Booked flights yesterday LAX-LAS-LAX - loving the fact as a QFF I can secure row 16 or 17 on a 737-800 and have the middle seats blocked....for free For a family of 4 - it's perfect.

Also, the E-ticket shows SWMBO as an EMD....assuming that means Emerald? however, she is only Gold. ...

I had to read that twice, 'till I realised that rows 16 and 17 have the inbuilt 'comfort' seats (Having 4 seats less enables AA to employ one less FA on these flights).

 

[NM]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

I had to read that twice, 'till I realised that rows 16 and 17 have the inbuilt 'comfort' seats (Having 4 seats less enables AA to employ one less FA on these flights).

yes, but rows 16/17 have reduced pitch compared with the forward rows. 14/15 are exit rows - note row 14 has no recline so 15 is the best for an exit row. But all rows 7-13 have extra pitch. So there is no significant advantage to the exit rows as there is on say a QF 737-800. Rows 16/17, while having the middle seat blocked, do not have the increased pitch. So you have more lateral "space" but less "legatudinal" space.

 

[serfty]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

yes, but rows 16/17 have reduced pitch compared with the forward rows. 14/15 are exit rows - note row 14 has no recline so 15 is the best for an exit row. But all rows 7-13 have extra pitch. So there is no significant advantage to the exit rows as there is on say a QF 737-800. Rows 16/17, while having the middle seat blocked, do not have the increased pitch. So you have more lateral "space" but less "legatudinal" space.

This be true, but if you don't have a "statused" frequent flyer number in the booking you still have to pay to pre-allocate them (e.g. USD37.50 on LAX-DFW)..

What my "double-take' was, that initially I read it as amaroo had been able to call up and get seats blocked, when in fact, these 16-17/B-E seats are never allocated. In fact they have a tray installed between the armrests.

 

[amaroo]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

Apparently they block certain seats to ensure that they can operate with a minimal number of cabin crew.

See here Best MCE / Main Cabin Extra seats on the 738 / 737-800 & blocked seat (consolidated) - FlyerTalk Forums

Post 13 has a photo.

Can't go for the exit row due to kids. When I saw these I jumped straight into them.

FWIW - I couldn't allocate via the AA.au or QFF ( QFF doesn't even show the booking). Did a search on AFF and went on the AA site - bingo.

 

[serfty]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

Apparently they block certain seats to ensure that they can operate with a minimal number of cabin crew.
....

Yep, here the photo:

 

[amaroo]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

yes, but rows 16/17 have reduced pitch compared with the forward rows. 14/15 are exit rows - note row 14 has no recline so 15 is the best for an exit row. But all rows 7-13 have extra pitch. So there is no significant advantage to the exit rows as there is on say a QF 737-800. Rows 16/17, while having the middle seat blocked, do not have the increased pitch. So you have more lateral "space" but less "legatudinal" space.

Yep, here the photo:

After too much consideration I have decided to road test MCE (main cabin extra rows 7-13) as well as the blocked seats as shown in serfty picture.

LAX-LAS-LAX allocated the row 16 (blocked seats)

YUL-MIA row 9

MIA-DFW row 9 another flyer is currently plonked in 9F.....so I might get lucky and have 9E spare - the best of both worlds!

I'll do a TR....so any other poor sod (like me) stuck down the back on a family trip can get an idea on how best to endure AA whY

 

[dodgeyhack]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

After too much consideration I have decided to road test MCE (main cabin extra rows 7-13) as well as the blocked seats as shown in serfty picture.

I planned to do something similar recently. Had 17F LAX-SFO with 7A booked SFO-LAX.
After the first leg, I moved my seat selection to 17A for the return leg.
Those seats are just too good!

 

[amaroo]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

I planned to do something similar recently. Had 17F LAX-SFO with 7A booked SFO-LAX.
After the first leg, I moved my seat selection to 17A for the return leg.
Those seats are just too good!

Hmm, now you have been thinking I've made a dud call They're still wide open........

 

[dodgeyhack]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

Hmm, now you have been thinking I've made a dud call They're still wide open........

Well I guess row 7 is just like row 4 on QF so you know what that's like.
When I walked past and saw three people shoulder to shoulder in the row, it made the choice easy.
I'm not tall, 5"9 or something, so I'm not constrained for leg room on the normal seats.

 

[serfty]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

I planned to do something similar recently. Had 17F LAX-SFO with 7A booked SFO-LAX.
After the first leg, I moved my seat selection to 17A for the return leg.
Those seats are just too good!

Be aware that AA are doing away with this - they are adding a row back up the front and these middle seats are going back into service.

 

[amaroo]

Re: AA.com "preferred seat" selection now available online for Qantas (oneworld) Elit

Be aware that AA are doing away with this - they are adding a row back up the front and these middle seats are going back into service.

Didn't last long - they've only been in service for a year ?

Also read on FT that late operational changes has seen many a EXP sitting down the back in a row of three.