Booking a spare Classic Reward seat - is it possible

[p--and--t]

I cant see anywhere where this has been broached before, hence a new thread.

My partner and I travelling together have booked QFF CRi flights on a single PNR using two partner airlines (not QF metal).

We are wondering, can we book a third CR seat to leave between us so we can stretch out have more comfort, and how we would go about it?

We have been thinking, if we used one of our names the airline could possibly delete the booking as an error.

If we used a false name to book a third seat “for a cousin” then the seat might be reallocated when the “cousin” doesn't check in and cant provide APIS details.

 

[sudoer]

If it were Qantas metal, you might have been able to add an EXST to the booking. That agency connect page mentions:

If travel includes any codeshare or interline flights, please contact the operating airline for further information.

So, given it's not Qantas metal, it would help if you can share which airlines you are flying on.

If we used a false name to book a third seat “for a cousin” then the seat might be reallocated when the “cousin” doesn't check in and cant provide APIS details.

This seems like a bad idea.

 

[sudoer]

I expect booking an EXST is possible on practically all oneworld airlines by the way, your big hurdle will be getting Qantas (your travel agent in this scenario) to add the seat to the booking.

JAL

It is also possible to purchase an extra seat for personal comfort. If you would like to inquire about the possibility and cost of an extra seat, please contact the local JAL office.

Cathay

Extra seat for personal comfort or medical reason: The additional charge for a 2nd seat requested by a passenger must not be less than the applicable fare paid by the passenger for the 1st seat.

British Airways

You can buy an extra ticket to keep the seat next to you free, for reasons like requiring additional personal space or to secure a fragile or precious item, such as a musical instrument or painting.Please contact us or your travel agent to make a booking for an extra seat as this type of booking cannot be made online.

American Airlines

A customer may elect to purchase an additional seat for privacy and comfort. The customer must present the boarding pass for the extra seat(s) to the gate agent upon boarding.

The AA link goes into detail about how to add the seat, but given they are essentially adding a fake passenger to reserve the seat, I do wonder if this is possible once you have an existing booking. Given partner airline classic awards are involved, I personally wouldn't attempt this unless you can get through to the HBA call centre, or alternatively, use the escalations email to make the request: [email protected]

 

[p--and--t]

So, given it's not Qantas metal, it would help if you can share which airlines you are flying on.

Thanks @sudoer

The outgoing two sectors are with China Airlines and the return two sectors are with Fiji Airlines

We are both Bronze so Hobart will not be an option

 

[offshore171]

I expect booking an EXST is possible on practically all oneworld airlines by the way, your big hurdle will be getting Qantas (your travel agent in this scenario) to add the seat to the booking.

Out of interest, do you have to be a so-called "passenger of size" for this? ie: need a doctors certificate or anything? Or is this open to anyone?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It would need to have been done at the time of booking I think.

You can’t merge the seats, and having the spare seat ‘linked’ without a name (EXST) might not achieve the result you want.

Post automatically merged: Jan 29, 2024

Out of interest, do you have to be a so-called "passenger of size" for this? ie: need a doctors certificate or anything? Or is this open to anyone?

Nope. No requirements. Just ring and ask for an extra seat.

 

[sudoer]

Fiji Airlines

If you can't get it done now, try MMB 72 hours prior to departure as you might be able to book 'My Bubble Seat'

Edit: maybe not, FAQs say you need a Fiji Airways issued ticket number...

China Airlines

Had a 10 second Google and couldn't find anything unfortunately - you may want to call CI directly and ask. I wouldn't mention it's an award seat unless they ask, but you can say you booked through a travel agent and confirm whether the TA needs to make the change for you.

It would need to have been done at the time of booking I think.

Yeah, that's the part I'm not sure about...

 

[MelbFlyer]

We are both Bronze so Hobart will not be an option

I recently had a OWA booking and tried to add / change flights within the booking (only way to for OWA bookings unfortunately).

I probably called up 100+ times (as most of the time agents couldn't see any award seats that were showing online which I wanted to change / add - so I HUACA multiple times until I got an affirmative answer), I then tried 13 12 11 and got through to Hobart a few times.

Presumably as a serial repeat caller with a OWA itinerary, their system may have triaged me to Hobart.

 

[Quickstatus]

Dont use a name for the EXST seat - because :

1) That person will be deemed a no show as they didnt check in, the flight cancelled and the seat allocated to someone else.
2) A seat sold to a "person" has to pay the various taxes/passenger fees

An EXST seat which is what is known in the industry do not have taxes and passenger fees attached but usually does come with luggage allowance
No reason required to be sold an EXST, though they may ask you for a reason because often EXST are purchased for medical reasons, even though yours is not for that reason.

The partner airline should be able to issue an EXST - either through a TA or by calling the airline. I wish airlines install EXST purchase functionality on their websites - lots of people would buy

The trap though is to make sure the EXST is in the same row as you. Its of no use if you are allocated a row of 2 with the EXST across the aisle. Ive had an EXST moved to another row once which was a total PITA. Also, an EXST is sometimes liable to be taken back if the airline thinks you don't need it and they need to solve an overbooking issue - happened to us as well.

 

[p--and--t]

Thank-you for help, information and suggestions.

Glad go know at least Fiji airlines recognises a similar concept as the comfort seat. (Bubble)

I am leaning towards using the email address that @sudoer suggested as I’m pretty sure the experience with o/s call centres will be horrendous with this out of the ordinary request and I don't want someone making fatal changes to a confirmed itinerary that is in place.

 

[Quickstatus]

but given they are essentially adding a fake passenger to reserve the seat

They don't add a fake passenger in the system according to my TA when we booked an EXST. Apparently it is similar to just blocking out the seat, but you present the EXST boarding pass to the gate to indicate you are entitled to that seat. Possibly, adding a 'fake' passenger causes several issues such as actual persons on board, weight etc, passenger taxes....

 

[p--and--t]

The trap though is to make sure the EXST is in the same row as you. Its of no use if you are allocated a row of 2 with the EXST across the aisle. Ive had an EXST moved to another row once which was a total PITA.

Absolute PITA.

Another circumstance to be wary of; will look out for.

Edit: just checked all aircraft currently rostered are 3/3/3 so hopefully not an issue

 

[Quickstatus]

Another curcumstance to be wary of

Problematic in the CI/FJ A330 (row of 2,4,2) and the 777 (row of 3,4,3)
You ideally only want the EXST to be in a row of 3 and not in the row of 2 or 4.
The A350 is perfect for both CI/FJ EXST as its a 3,3,3

IMO always try to get the EXST seat selection as a middle seat

 

[p--and--t]

First response- guess i’ll see if anyone does respond or my email just gets deleted.


Automatic reply: PNR xx_xx_

Thank you for contacting Qantas.


This inbox is dedicated to customers who hold a Classic Flight Reward booking on a partner airline flight, which has been cancelled or had a schedule change.
Please ensure your query includes your Booking Reference. Queries will be prioritised by the date of travel.
Enquiries on other issues that are sent to this inbox will not be actioned or forwarded on.
Please refer to https://www.qantas.com/au/en/support/contact-us.html for the best way to contact us for other enquiries.

Contact us | Qantas

Find out how to contact us to change your booking, call your local Qantas Office, contact us in Australia on 13 13 13, search our FAQs, provide feedback and more.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Dont use a name for the EXST seat - because :

1) That person will be deemed a no show as they didnt check in, the flight cancelled and the seat allocated to someone else.
2) A seat sold to a "person" has to pay the various taxes/passenger fees

An EXST seat which is what is known in the industry do not have taxes and passenger fees attached but usually does come with luggage allowance
No reason required to be sold an EXST, though they may ask you for a reason because often EXST are purchased for medical reasons, even though yours is not for that reason.

The partner airline should be able to issue an EXST - either through a TA or by calling the airline. I wish airlines install EXST purchase functionality on their websites - lots of people would buy

The trap though is to make sure the EXST is in the same row as you. It’s of no use if you are allocated a row of 2 with the EXST across the aisle. Ive had an EXST moved to another row once which was a total PITA. Also, an EXST is sometimes liable to be taken back if the airline thinks you don't need it and they need to solve an overbooking issue - happened to us as well.

At least on Qantas the EXST is considered ‘one’ with the primary booking. The EXST cannot be cancelled without cancelling the primary. Or so I was told.

I did get called before a Christmas flight which was absolutely packed, to ask if I’d be willing to give it up. But they had no issues with me saying ‘no’.

 

[Quickstatus]

EXST is considered ‘one’ with the primary booking

That is preferred
In my case, the EXST that was taken back to solve an overbooking issue was on AC.

 

[Ade]

In my case, the EXST that was taken back to solve an overbooking issue was on AC.

In this case ;

1. Do you get the base fare that has been paid for the EXST?
2. What happens to the extra SC and points that comes with the EXST?

 

[Quickstatus]

In this case ;

EXST seat = fare without passenger charges and taxes.
Comes with luggage allowance (edited due to info from @MEL_Traveller )
Does not come with catering
Comes with FF points and SC if QF

At least on Qantas the EXST is considered ‘one’ with the primary booking

We discussed this exact point back in Jul 2022 Deja Vu?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

EXST seat = fare without passenger charges and taxes.
Comes with luggage allowance
Does not come with catering
Comes with FF points and SC if QF


We discussed this exact point back in Jul 2022 Deja Vu?

For qantas services there is no baggage allowance attached to the extra seat: Help and Support | Qantas

That’s actually quite common across airlines (to not include additional baggage).

A separate seat can be booked for bulky cabin baggage, for example musical instruments. But a different code applies.

 

[Quickstatus]

A separate seat can be booked for bulky cabin baggage, for example musical instruments. But a different code applies.

Thanks, must have changed since I booked EXST seats. luggage was included when I booked an EXST on AC and SQ.

The Cabin Bulky Goods musical instrument is booked using CBBG code.

I believe there is a single PNR for the seat + extra seat, and there is a single boarding pass for the 3 seats - but has the addition of EXST.