Big development! Qantas seat selection!

[simongr]

The online seat selection thing is a new innovation for QF but the preallocation of seats system actually changed last year. As such the most recent flight you took where you got bad seats was under the same system as the other flights you took and were able to get good seats.

My point is that you maybe shouldnt judge QF's seat allocation system on just this one flight.

 

[estate]

Ah, so by preallocations you're referring to seats set aside for the people in the different tiers of the QF FF program, is that right?

 

[serfty]

Ah, so by preallocations you're referring to seats set aside for the people in the different tiers of the QF FF program, is that right?

More likely "Theoretical Seats" ...

http://www.frequentflyer.com.au/com...fury-economy-passengers-14036.html#post182339

 

[simongr]

Yes - all domestic seats are/were allocated by the system just before OLCI opens. For a brief window you could actually preselect on line yourself.

So in reality for you nothing has changed - you just got a coughpy selection on one flight.

 

[estate]

But before I always had the option of a better seat. Wouldn't the new system allowing PS and above to pick their own seats at time of booking mean that they all picked theirs two weeks ago, and by the time T-24 rolled around all the good seats had been taken by those more senior members?

And what exactly changed last year that you referred to in your previous post?

Please excuse if these sound like a dumb questions - I probably don't have a full grasp of what this new development allows.

 

[serfty]

Simon is referring to domestic seat pre-allocation, not international.

 

[JohnK]

As usual I will disagree just for the sake of disagreeing. I would love to have facts but I only have my own experience and the experience of others who have reported on AFF. And it is not based on just one flight or one person's experience.

I know the seating allocation system may only have been in place for 1 day but there have been changes to the configuration of the seating allocation system that have come into effect at the beginning of June. I can't prove it as I do not have inside knowledge but based on my pre-allocated seats this month and the inability to select seats more forward, even as the last person to board the flight and there are vacant seats, I would be almost certain that something has changed.

 

[serfty]

Certainly from before the beginning of June.

On checking in MEL-HKG, I received a BP for a great seat for the BNE-MEL leg of a HKG-BNE-MEL return routing 2 days before the flight.

This in early February.

 

[aus_flyer]

estate, I don't mean to sound harsh, but as a NB you really are at the bottom of the list. From what I have been told, the system does not differentiate NBs based on how many SCs they have earned, unless they have moved up to PS.

Unfortunately, not everyone can be seated in front row economy.

I remember a CSM telling me the story once that he had a passenger walk up to him at the front of the plane and said...

Pax: "I want to sit in Business class"
CSM: "Oh, why is that?"
Pax: "Because I'm a silver frequent flyer. I should be upgraded"
CSM: "Well, I hate to break it to you, but half of economy are Platinums, so you better take your seat because if I'm upgrading anyone, there are a lot of people ahead of you".

 

[JohnK]

estate, I don't mean to sound harsh, but as a NB you really are at the bottom of the list. From what I have been told, the system does not differentiate NBs based on how many SCs they have earned, unless they have moved up to PS.

Unfortunately, not everyone can be seated in front row economy.

In my opinion a Bronze when using OLCI should be able to select any seat on the flight that is not already allocated. The new software is now blocking seats and only allowing a Bronze to select from 5-6 rows at the back and in the same way not allowing a Platinum to select a seat in the first 4-5 rows. Other people have also reported the same flaws.

Does not happen on all flights but has only started happening in June since this thread started. I can only put 2 and 2 together and say that Qantas, intentionally or accidentally, has made some changes to the pre-allocation of seats.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

I was on a flight last week (2030 MEL-SYD B763) olcied with many seats in the minicabin greyed out... flight ended up only being 15% full with only two people in the minicabin..

so I dont know if it was a whole heap of people on flexi fares allocated seats who didnt end up using them or blocked for premium pax...

 

[nlagalle]

But before I always had the option of a better seat. Wouldn't the new system allowing PS and above to pick their own seats at time of booking mean that they all picked theirs two weeks ago, and by the time T-24 rolled around all the good seats had been taken by those more senior members?

And what exactly changed last year that you referred to in your previous post?

Please excuse if these sound like a dumb questions - I probably don't have a full grasp of what this new development allows.

Question though, how heavily loaded was the flight? You may have gotten a flight that had more PS SG and WP's on board and they would get forward seating before you.

 

[anat0l]

Isn't it amazing how every thread about check-in evolves eventually into a thread about the merits and mechanics of checking in (and OLCI).

Just to complete the mix, a little side anecdote is attached to this message. You can find this image and other funny cartoons at Auckland International Airport.

 

[serfty]

In my opinion a Bronze when using OLCI should be able to select any seat on the flight that is not already allocated. The new software is now blocking seats and only allowing a Bronze to select from 5-6 rows at the back and in the same way not allowing a Platinum to select a seat in the first 4-5 rows. Other people have also reported the same flaws.

Does not happen on all flights but has only started happening in June since this thread started. I can only put 2 and 2 together and say that Qantas, intentionally or accidentally, has made some changes to the pre-allocation of seats.

Sorry John, but as a WP I have invariably been able to select from the first several rows since Altea commenced implementation.

If you mean June last year you are correct as that how long it's been around.

 

[estate]

estate, I don't mean to sound harsh, but as a NB you really are at the bottom of the list. From what I have been told, the system does not differentiate NBs based on how many SCs they have earned, unless they have moved up to PS.

Unfortunately, not everyone can be seated in front row economy.

I fully understand my status, whether "nearly Silver" or not, doesn't give me anything. And I have no problem with that - if I really wanted the benefits I'd be flying more to get them. I'm not trying to get something for nothing here; that's not my point.

My point is it appears to me that since the last time I flew (April), seat selection options available to NBs when checking in online 24 hours out from departure have been drastically reduced. If it is simply a coincidence that there were lots of PS and above on the plane (which was my first thought) then I can accept that, although I reserve the right not to like it of course

But on both flights there were empty seats in rows in front of me, including aisles. This leads me to believe QF have changed something recently and are preventing NBs from choosing seats further forward when checking in online. They didn't used to do this because I have never sat at the back of the plane before, even when I wasn't a QF FF member. Hopefully this was just one bad experience caused by a few coincidences and the next time I fly it will be back to the way it was. But right now it looks like NBs have been disadvantaged by a change QF have made.

And btw, surely us lowly NBs aren't bottom of the list - wouldn't that be those with no QF status at all...? ;-)

 

[JohnK]

Sorry John, but as a WP I have invariably been able to select from the first several rows since Altea commenced implementation.

Then obviously you do not need to be concerned.

If you mean June last year you are correct as that how long it's been around.

No I definitely mean June this year. When Altea was first installed I was getting great seats pre-allocated then ~4 months later Qantas did some tinkering with the configuration which moved me further back in the cabin and now in June 2009 we have got to the point where a Platinum cannot select vacant seats in the first 5-6 rows of WHY. To me these changes are drastic.

 

[aus_flyer]

I wonder if perhaps Qantas are tweaking the system so that the old system of "middle seat free" for WPs will return?

As many of you would know... before OLCI, the middle seat was often left empty for WPs, but since OLCI, anyone can put themselves in the middle seat - even in front row economy.

I know this was very unpopular with WPs - so perhaps they are changing this? It could explain why the seatmap is largely greyed out, even when there are empty seats.

 

[simongr]

On my flight to MEL on Monday the rows in front of me (and mine) all had the middle seat free.

 

[PeteJ]

The "Select Seats" link is active again in the "Manage Your Booking" page, opposite the "Online Check-in" link.

However, if I click on the link I get the message "Your flight is not eligible for seat selection however you can nominate aisle or window seat preference". It does show the seats I selected for domestic bookings last month when the link was active for 24 hours or so.

 

[chrisb]

However, if I click on the link I get the message "Your flight is not eligible for seat selection however you can nominate aisle or window seat preference".

Same for me for 2 flights next week.