Big development! Qantas seat selection!

[jingles]

Why am in the minority when I have proof what is happening to me on almost every flight. I have to use OLCI over and over and eventually manage to get the first seat in WHY more often than not but I should not be wasting my time using OLCI. There have been times when I have been one of the first to use OLCI and there are 6-7 spare aisle seats in front of where I have been pre-allocated a seat. Why?

I have seen the same happen.

I have checked in pretty much dead on 24 hours prior to the flight using OLCI, have gone to allocate my seat and been faced with 3 options, the rest of the seating allocation is greyed out.
No matter hoe early i have checked in i have never been faced with more than 10 seat choices.

I have been sequence number 5 (the lowest i have achieved with OLCI) and still have no seating choice.

Of course i am only bronze..

 

[dede]

So what does sequence number refer to? Is this the Seq Nbr on the boarding pass?

 

[aus_flyer]

So what does sequence number refer to? Is this the Seq Nbr on the boarding pass?

Yes it is.
It shows that you are the XXth person to check in for the flight.

 

[Flashback]

Sans the possible domestic seat choosing, I don't understand why people are whinging about international flights. Am I missing something?

You have always been able to do it, via the phone. Now they're giving you an option online, that's the only change with international.

 

[abc12345678]

Just some feedback on my Dom flight seat allocations since Jan 1:

On 767:

36 x I have had Row 23.
8 x I have had Row 24.
4 x I have had 25,26 or Exit.

On 737:

16 x I have had Row 4.
4 x I have had Row 5.
1 x I haev had Row 6.

Additionally I have had 4 ODU's.

Most of the time I try OLCI close to T-24. If no front row aisle I will select second row aisle and keep trying during the day.

I think it is safe to assume that many CL/WP's are likely to be on Flexi's and may change flights at some stage during the day - this free's up front row.

I always book cheapest fare (Red-E-Deals 90% of the time) around the time I need to travel (6-9am) and (4-7pm).

Most bookings are done 2-4 days in advance.

Be interesting to hear others feedback and experiences. I am obviously happy with how this system is working and am unsure if I'm likely to be as luck with the new system.

 

[JohnK]

Be interesting to hear others feedback and experiences. I am obviously happy with how this system is working and am unsure if I'm likely to be as luck with the new system.

I think most people know my situation by now.

Most of my allocations on 767 are row 27,28,29,30 and once row 45 since the new system has been in place. I try to avoid 737's but generally get allocated row 6,7,8,9 if I happen to be one by accident or Qantas has decided to substitute it quite late.

Luckily on most flights I have been able to get the first seat in WHY but I constantly have to use OLCI.

I think docjames is actually quite correct this time and it would appear that my experience are an exception rather than what should be happening.

 

[banger2]

Hi All,
What an interesting thread this is. I think the online seat choice is a great development, however I do agree that the higher status passengers need to have their value in seat selection retained(I'm only bronze atm, so maybe shooting myself in the foot saying that!). From this thread and other in the past, it does appear there is still some mystery as to how Qantas allocate seating, or selection availability of seating, although status seems to be the common theme with regards to getting the front of the bus.
If I could pose a question related to a subject touched on in several of the posts, regarding the sequence number. I understood this number to indicate how many people checked in before you? So I checked a heap of boarding passes I had as I was curious, and noted on one of them sequence 289...on a 767. A 767 doesnt have that many seats??? Would the sequence number possibly take into account where BP have been printed and subsequently changed, thus adding extra numbers to the sequence number?
cyas
ashley

 

[Standby]

I think most people know my situation by now.

Most of my allocations on 767 are row 27,28,29,30 and once row 45 since the new system has been in place. I try to avoid 737's but generally get allocated row 6,7,8,9 if I happen to be one by accident or Qantas has decided to substitute it quite late.

Luckily on most flights I have been able to get the first seat in WHY but I constantly have to use OLCI.

I think docjames is actually quite correct this time and it would appear that my experience are an exception rather than what should be happening.

John,I was having a beer with a QF mate last night and he actually mentioned this choose a seat option for high tier punters. I wasnt paying absolute attention but he did say ,I'm pretty sure, Chairmans/Plat get to view the entire cabin and choose ,Honestly cant remember if Gold get the same or slightly less access but Silver definitely less than the higher Gold/Plat/Chairmans tiers.
So next week when its available on Qantas.com you should see most seats which seems better than yr getting with OLCI.

 

[parsonstrish]

I'm a little perplexed re seating. I recently qualified for Gold and since then my domestic seats have made no difference to seat allocation (usually middle of y).

I've just booked a cheap (well, it is to me) syd-sfo trip in October. My pre-allocated seating is 37J outward and 54J return. On my previous o/s trips (while ps) I've been able to call and ask for the front row economy and nine times out of ten kept the seat.

I've just rung QF and the girl said the first two rows were blocked so perhaps they are now sticking to higher status for the first two rows as discussed.

Obviously I've been incredibly lucky previously. Thinking I should ask for the exit seat on outward flt. but unsure if that is open to all?

 

[Sequel]

(The following relates to domestic rather than int)

At T-25 when the QF computers are gearing up for the opening of OLCI, there are 2 WP's booked on the flight with Fwd Aisle, and 2 WP's with Fwd Window, then at T-24 when a SG uses OLCI, they can theoretically choose from any seat apart from 4ACDF on a 737, leaving the right number of seats for the booked WP's. Thats how it works (supposedly) now.

With the new system, how is the computer going to know how many seats to block from SG, PS etc? It has no way of knowing how many WP's are going to be on the flight when the SG books and selects a seat at 30 days out. As a WP I can only see the chance of getting my preferred seat reduced, especially as a lot of my flights are booked at short notice.

 

[jaffa]

Okay,

After talking in depth to a QF contact l have re an upcoming itin in J Dom, this is what l was told.

In J, row one is blocked for CL,WP's row 2 SG's row 3 & below open. This is for bookings made and paid prior to T25.

For this example l will use a 4 across seat plan in J and 6 in Econ.

However, if at T24 only 2 WP's, CL passengers are booked then OLCI will make the 2 remaining row 1 seats available to SG or any staus who may adjust their already allocated (but not checked in) row 2 seats to row 1 if they are quick enough.

If prior to T24 a SG books at 3 months out they will be able to allocate the next best avail row 2 seat in J. If 1 week prior to T24 all four, row 2 seats have been bought by SG's and a WP/CL wants to book and allocate, Then they will be offered row 3 if there are no row 1 seats avail.

If prior to T24 6 WP's/CL are booked and paid in J and these bookings are made prior to 4 SG's booking Then 2 of the the row 2 seats will become allocated to the WP's/CL passengers and 2 of the SG will be allocated row 3. But only if the higher status is booked 1st.

The same is for Econ, 1st row WP's/CL row 2 SG. However this may change after the program begins, apparently it is being concidered that 2 rows for WP/CL and 2 rows for SG mat be introduced.

Only row 1 and 2 in each section is being blocked for status. The rewards will be for those who book early.

Last min status bookers may get a 2nd chance at T24 if they are quick & there is un-sold availability in the blocked rows.

Otherwise it will be the "best un-allocated seat available" at time of check in. No allocated seats will be bumped at T24 for any status at all.
If there is un-sold availabilty in a blocked row at T24 then it is up for grabs for allocation.

Walk up counter sales at time of flight or below T24 will get best available un-allocated.

Now l think l have explained this right as l was told.
Please don't shoot the messenger.

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Only row 1 and 2 in each section is being blocked for status. The rewards will be for those who book early.

But sice you have to be PS or higher (according to early posts) to pre-allocate effectively everything else is reserved for status Silver and above...

IMHO brings real value to silver!!

 

[JohnK]

The same is for Econ, 1st row WP's/CL row 2 SG. However this may change after the program begins, apparently it is being concidered that 2 rows for WP/CL and 2 rows for SG mat be introduced.

With all due respect I don't think this is good enough.

Only row 1 and 2 in each section is being blocked for status. The rewards will be for those who book early.

Again let's reward those booking early on their once in a blue moon trip and who cares what happens to the high status FFers booking a little later but travelling a lot more often.

Last min status bookers may get a 2nd chance at T24 if they are quick & there is un-sold availability in the blocked rows.

Otherwise it will be the "best un-allocated seat available" at time of check in. No allocated seats will be bumped at T24 for any status at all.
If there is un-sold availabilty in a blocked row at T24 then it is up for grabs for allocation.

Simply not good enough and QF is likely to lose business if this is indeed the model they decide to implement.

Please don't shoot the messenger.

Not having a shot at you and thanks for the explanation....

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Again let's reward those booking early on their once in a blue moon trip and who cares what happens to the high status FFers booking a little later but travelling a lot more often.

"Once in a blue-moon fliers" are probably unlikely to even have PS status, so no early booking for them.

At a minimum, according to previous post, you'll need SG status to get access to the first two rows (or WP for the first row), so unlikely to be "infrequent" fliers.

Simply not good enough and QF is likely to lose business if this is indeed the model they decide to implement.

I suspect most of the outrage will be from the savvy high-status QF fliers that don't send a lot of actual profit QF's way. I don't think QF will care about losing those pax to be honest.

 

[v8Statesman]

"Once in a blue-moon fliers" are probably unlikely to even have PS status, so no early booking for them.

I think JohnK may indirectly be talking about people like me. I am a WP. But I do not fly every week. I do book my flights most times 60+Days out.

When I do fly I SC maximize to retain my WP.

 

[dede]

Out of interest what are your tips for maximising SCs?

 

[v8Statesman]

Out of interest what are your tips for maximising SCs?

Short answer, never fly direct. Long answer, ask something specific in a new thread to aviod hijacking this one.

 

[JohnK]

I suspect most of the outrage will be from the savvy high-status QF fliers that don't send a lot of actual profit QF's way. I don't think QF will care about losing those pax to be honest.

I don't know how you define "savvy high-status QF fliers that don't send a lot of actual profit QF's way" but in a business all customers are important especially ones that use your services more often. In this global financial crisis that is likely to last until at least 2014 possibly a lot longer your high status frequent flyers, savvy or not, need to be looked after as they are the ones that keep the airline going.

Personally I do not think there is anything wrong with the current system. Why is QF changing it and who is it likely to benefit the most? Low status frequent flyers who do not travel very often....

 

[dede]

What IS the current system and how does it differ to what's explained above?

 

[Grooba]

Probably because the Platinum or Chairmans Lounge person that was originally allocated 4C decided to change to a different flight at the last minute, opening up that seat just before #149 non-status passenger checked in.

Makes perfect sense, thanks NM.