Blocking of seats on QF

[Andy]

On my flight back from Mumbai-QF124, I was surprised to see 3 rows of centre seats (DEFG) were blocked for 1 female passenger each. These 3 females were travelling together and had managed to get the 3 adjoining seats blocked so that they could sleep comfortably fully streached out. so that is 12 seats between 3 Pax.

while all the other passengers (oldies and parents with infants) were squeezed in other seats.

Looks like the travelling party knew some top guns in QF.

 

[TonyB]

What's the connection with the Citibank Rewards Program

 

[serfty]

Qantas will often do this for their elite flyers and other CIP's. It will only happen when loadings permit and no seat is gauranteed.

This year as a QF WP, I have had a row of three seats set aside for me at check-in on two occasions. Once it was offered without asking the second time I requested it.

I've also had a row of 4 done for me on a BA flight as a oneWORLD emerald. (Some time ago, KUL - SYD). Inexperienced at the time, I had to work hard to keep it; difficult to defend both ends.

 

[NM]

What's the connection with the Citibank Rewards Program

I have moved this thread to Qantas FF forum.

 

[Andy]

Sorry for positing it in the wrong place.

Thanks NM for moving it

 

[TonyB]

I remember years ago when flying overseas there used to be a mad rush as soon as the seat belt light was turned off as people raced for the empty rows. Worked for me once and I managed to spend the next 8 hours sleeping across 4 seats. I think if I tried it now I would slip a disc as soon as I jumped from my designated seat Oh, to be young and fit again

 

[JohnK]

This year as a QF WP, I have had a row of three seats set aside for me at check-in on two occasions. Once it was offered without asking the second time I requested it.

Interesting! You had a pre-assigned seat? Were those seats they blocked vacant or did QF offer to make them vacant thereby displacing passenger with good seat down the back?

I guess this does not happen regularly simply because of the load factors on some routes.

I know I will get flamed but people that try to hog a whole row of 4 are as selfish as recliners. On a flight BNE-SIN earlier this year I was lucky enough to be seated next to a couple with a very hyperactive daughter. Even before take-off I could see that this would not be a pleasant experience for me so I looked a few rows back and a lady was seated on her own in the D aisle. I asked if I could sit in the row and we ended up having 2 seats each.

 

[Mal]

Oops, you'll hate me then

Last red eye from Perth I took, I asked at lounge for a free seat between me and the next pax. It was granted and I hopped onboard.

When onboard, I noticed the row infront of me had no pax. So as soon as the seat belt sign went off, I hopped forward a row and slept across the three seats (also giving the guy nextish to me three seats).

No-one challenged my seat selection. The plane was pretty empty, so I didn't feel bad.

Should I have?

 

[simongr]

I dont know how you could protect a set of four seats that had been blocked out as I assume people would move around and most people would look at someone who 4 seats to themselves as some sort of parasite scum - given the fact that I find many people who travel for vacations who dont have any status regard status people as the lowest of the low. Someone actually shouted something out as the emerald/sapphire/j/f pax boarded a flight mrssimongr and I were on.

I felt like turning around and saying "frack you - I spend hundreds of hours a year on planes and I get a break from the airlines as a reward for the cough food, delays (mind you I have been lucky with few delays this year), recliners, stinkers and other travails I go through - whereas you booked the cheapest flight you could, will drink as many free beers as you can as if you're scoring points against the airline" - I was tired and stressed about my 30 hours of flying after I landed from the next 10 hours so I refrained from saying anything...

Yes I know this means I am a snob and view myself as better than the proles that travel once a year but its like anything - I go to my local chinese restaurant a lot so I get a good table (seats for 5 even there are just 2/3 of us), they do home delivery free even if we only spend $10 - so cut me a break...

 

[meloz]

On my flight back from Mumbai-QF124, I was surprised to see 3 rows of centre seats (DEFG) were blocked for 1 female passenger each. These 3 females were travelling together and had managed to get the 3 adjoining seats blocked so that they could sleep comfortably fully streached out. so that is 12 seats between 3 Pax.

while all the other passengers (oldies and parents with infants) were squeezed in other seats.

Looks like the travelling party knew some top guns in QF.

My money would have them being on staff travel.

Meloz

 

[maninblack]

Qantas will often do this for their elite flyers and other CIP's. It will only happen when loadings permit and no seat is gauranteed.

This year as a QF WP, I have had a row of three seats set aside for me at check-in on two occasions. Once it was offered without asking the second time I requested it.

I've also had a row of 4 done for me on a BA flight as a oneWORLD emerald. (Some time ago, KUL - SYD). Inexperienced at the time, I had to work hard to keep it; difficult to defend both ends.

Did they give you 4 seats on the boarding pass, surely not? I know if I was crammed into a row of four behind you I would of moved in on your territory quicksmart...what would you say, "no you can't take one, I have four"

 

[serfty]

My money would have them being on staff travel.

Meloz

I suppose one must ask andy how he knew the seats had been blocked off. Maybe the FA's came down and ran interference

 

[serfty]

Interesting! You had a pre-assigned seat? Were those seats they blocked vacant or did QF offer to make them vacant thereby displacing passenger with good seat down the back? ...

First case I had 35H on a 3 Class 744 and I went back and asked after my QF10late was nearly 2 hours behind time. I was informed that two pax in 35J/K had jumped to an earlier flight leaving the row of 3 to me and she 'blocked' them for me (this in the Flagship Lounge at LAX).

The second was different; I was on QF25 MEL-AKL-LAX with 20C on a 743 organised but somehow it had been guzumped; the F checkin agent at Melbourne offered to move that PAX or give me 61H/J/K; I took the three. I was not happy my preallocation had failed, however by the time I arrived at LAX my mood had improved immensely.

 

[JohnK]

Oops, you'll hate me then

Last red eye from Perth I took, I asked at lounge for a free seat between me and the next pax. It was granted and I hopped onboard.

No. I think there is a difference between been granted 1 or 2 blocked seats because you are a high status FF and hogging all 4 seats by lying across them.

Staff don't count as high status FFers. They should not be travelling in luxury on free tickets. Passengers come first then staff, including the choice of meals.

 

[serfty]

Did they give you 4 seats on the boarding pass, surely not? I know if I was crammed into a row of four behind you I would of moved in on your territory quicksmart...what would you say, "no you can't take one, I have four"

NO, you only get one seat on the BP. The CSM may know, but I doubt it.

I learnt from my KUL-SYD trip as I did have to get the BA pursure down who had an aura the whole thing was beneath him; but he did fix it. Long time ago.

But I did learn. For example, on a flight to SIN last year from SYD, I had 35H allocated with no seat blocking. During boarding I saw that 35D/E/F/G were empty so I sat in 35G for takeoff (I just did it, did not ask anyone). As SOON as the seat belt sign went off I distributed parts of my carryon in front of each of the four seats; lifted the armrests up and lay down along them; thereby Staking a Claim.

No, these day I go for the three and my BP has the aisle seat on it; far easier to defend. It does help that I can get some reasonable sleep in a row of three.

 

[Andy]

I suppose one must ask andy how he knew the seats had been blocked off. Maybe the FA's came down and ran interference

I know for sure that those seats were blocked, because when I arrived at my J seat I just kept my handbag for a min on the vacant G seat to remove something and this female thought that I was invading her seat and instantly sprung up to ask me if was allocated the G seat as it was already blocked by her.

I dont think they were QF staff as well because they looked like tourists visiting AUS for the first time.

On the contary I am silver member and at the time of check-in when I requested a D seat with a vacant E seat next to me, I was told that there were no such seats available.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

When travelling alone I often get given blocked seats.

Last weekend's flights with serfty were the first QF ones in ages with seats 3 across all filled (despite being told at checkin they'd blocked the middle seat for us ).

On SQ, an empty seat next to me doesn't happen anywhere near as often (flights usually too full), but generally if there is one it will be by me.

Very rare to get empty seat on NZ (except on some puddlejumper flights) - domestic flights they put all the elites (more than half the pax on some flights) in the front rows. However, looking at the loads on my next 2 flights I think very good chance of getting a row of 3 to myself.

LH/OS etc usually block seat next to me even if flight is full.

I have on several occassions (on QF, NZ and others) had CSD (or equivalent) move me onboard to an empty row they had saved on otherwise full flight. These are not requested but appreciated nonetheless.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Oops, you'll hate me then

Last red eye from Perth I took, I asked at lounge for a free seat between me and the next pax. It was granted and I hopped onboard.

When onboard, I noticed the row infront of me had no pax. So as soon as the seat belt sign went off, I hopped forward a row and slept across the three seats (also giving the guy nextish to me three seats).

No-one challenged my seat selection. The plane was pretty empty, so I didn't feel bad.

Should I have?

Not in my view. I normally ask a member of cabin crew if I want to move, as a courtesy.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

I suppose one must ask andy how he knew the seats had been blocked off. Maybe the FA's came down and ran interference

Funny you should say that, but I have had exactly that happen before. Offered (did not ask) an empty row by CSD. Before I could grab my stuff and make my way to the empty row down the back, someone seated near to that row decided to nab them and the CSD did politely ask them to return to their allocated seat.

 

[Shano]

I flew MEL-BNE with Mrs Shano and Mini-Shano (6 months old) this last weekend - me on a paid flight and the others on a reward flight. Used OLCI the morning of the flight and allocated us seats 11D and 11F. Then rang Qantas to see if they could block 11E for us as flight still appeared to have reasonable availability. Was told that they could not do that and would need to ask at bag drop. They did say though that they would attach a note to our booking with the request.

Anyway, at bag drop was told that they have blocked 11E, but seat may get released as flight now fully sold. Board plane and find only three empty seats on entire flight, thankfully one of this was 11E so the three of us had a bit more room.

So.... based on this it appears that a blocking request can only be made at check-in - is this correct??

We are returning to MEL tomorrow night so will try again to get an early block on a middle seat and see if I have the same success