Booking seating for travel companions on Qantas

[MikeG]

I have a work trip taking me to WA, and I've booked flights for my wife on the same flights separately.

I called Qantas to link the PNRs so I could organise seating together. But when I go into select seats it doesn't show my wife on my PNR, and when I go to her PNR, she only has the Red FF status seating availability (I'm Gold).

I called Qantas again to see if I could allocate her seating manually, and was told it is not possible and that I should book my seating at the back with the rest of the non-elite status holders (I paraphrase

Is this right, or was I talking to someone who didn't know what they were doing? Is there a way I can organise my wife's seating near me, up-front?

M

 

[defurax]

That's correct. Some would say it's a benefit

 

[dylarr]

Actually it can be done. I regularly use Hobart, Auckland and sometimes even Suva to seat non-status pax on seperate bookings next to me in the Platinum seating area. I think they have to use a tool/process called Super Seating (or something similar?) to do it.

Can be very hit and miss with the Suva and Cape Town agents, you'll most likely need to HUACA until you get somebody who knows how to do it.

As you've already discovered, "linking" a booking does not extend seating privileges to the other bookings. You still need the call have the seats assigned.

 

[MikeG]

On call 3 for the day trying to get this done.

Call 1: Suva, the friendly guy was using Super Seating, but could not unblock the seats
Call 2: Manila, an argumentative woman took twice as long as the previous call due to over-the-top security checks and rudeness, I hung up on her

... I think this is going to be a long day.

 

[AIRwin]

Last resort T-80

 

[Daver6]

I've never had an issue with getting a lower status pax on a separate booking a seat next to me when calling up.

 

[MikeG]

Let's just check if we're comparing apples with apples. I'm talking about a complicated itinerary of domestic flights. Perhaps the international side of things operates differently.

 

[encryptededdy]

I've only ever had Hobart successfully do this for me. Everyone else either says it's not possible (not true!), or tries and fails.

 

[MikeG]

Would I have more luck if I select International in the phone menus instead of domestic?