Chance of actually retaining requested seats?

[Brettmcg]

Hi All,

I have a question regarding Seat Allocation/Seat Request on QF international flights. I have now managed to pick and confirm my ideal seats:

Perth - Singapore QF071 (A330-300)
Flight 1: Perth - Singapore: 23A

Singapore - Frankfurt QF005 (747-400)
Flight 1: Singapore - Frankfurt: 26A

Frankfurt - Singapore QF006 (747-400)
Flight 1: Frankfurt - Singapore: 26C

Singapore - Perth QF072 (A330-300)
Flight 1: Singapore - Perth: 23K

What are my chances of actually retaining these seats when I collect my Boarding Passes? What are your experiences?

Cheers,

Brett

 

[Evan]

Generally very good, once you have a pre-selected seat you usualy don't loose it, only time is if they need bassinet's for bablies in the front row, and the twice thats happened to me i have had a row of 4 to myself and an upgrade up the front.
So generally speaking you should be fine. Atleast from my experience (20+ international flights in last 12 months)
E

 

[NM]

What are my chances of actually retaining these seats when I collect my Boarding Passes? What are your experiences?

Very high. Although you do hear about stories of people having seat assignments, these are rare. In fact, I would suggest such changes are probably in the order of less than 1 in 1000 assignments. I have only ever had it happen under two circumstances - when receiving an operational upgrade or when moved to a better seat.

Now, since saying this we can now standby for the many replies of "it happened to me once" or "I know this person whose friend was moved from 23A to 98F" etc.

 

[NYCguy]

Now, since saying this we can now standby for the many replies of "it happened to me once" or "I know this person whose friend was moved from 23A to 98F" etc.

Funny you should mention that... ... Recently on airlinequality.com a QF customer commented that (and I'm paraphrasing here) even if you select your first-class seats months in advance, if a WP wants that seat when they check in, they get it.

A little harsh, perhaps, but I couldn't help wondering why QF doesn't do online seat selection at time of purchase, like many of it's peers. You can still block off "premium" spots for elite FFs, so I'm a bit mystified as to why they don't permit it, as opposed to the tedious task of calling (or having someone call for you) to put dibs on your fave spots. Seems a little 20th-century to me...

 

[Mal]

I'm a bit mystified as to why they don't permit it, as opposed to the tedious task of calling (or having someone call for you) to put dibs on your fave spots. Seems a little 20th-century to me...

Book through some online travel agents, and they allow you to select your Qantas International seat as part of booking.

I presume Qantas have better things (according to them - not to me ) to spend their web development resources on. Just think of all the new features Qantas has introduced in the last year or so...

 

[Brettmcg]

even if you select your first-class seats months in advance, if a WP wants that seat when they check in, they get it.

I thought the old "I'm a VIF give me seat" trick might be one of the determining factors. I guess I'm lucky considering that my seats are in the region blocked off to Joe Bloggs (the benefits of a brand spanking new QC Membership I guess?!).

What prompted me to ask this question was a comment made by the telephone operator who made the changes for me - "now they are confirmed, but not guaranteed however, they are more than likely to remain yours".

On my booking and at checkmytrip.com they appear as CONFIRMED SEAT REQUESTS rather than allocations. Is this just a matter of semantics or is there an important difference between REQUEST/PREFERENCE and ALLOCATION? On the seat-map they are definitely assigned to me.

If there's one thing I know in commercial airtravel it's that nothing is confirmed until you're sitting in it and it's moving, and even then you'd be lucky!

 

[Mal]

There is no such thing as a confirmed seat. Qantas and other airlines make it pretty clear in their T&C's that any seating allocation is more of a preference only and may not be retained - even after you've been sitting there for a few minutes!

However, like this thread has discussed, once you do have an allocated seat you are pretty likely to retain it.

 

[Brettmcg]

However, like this thread has discussed, once you do have an allocated seat you are pretty likely to retain it.

They could always push me further forward into the next cabin.
I'd probably consider giving it up without a fight - reluctantly!

 

[mm472]

So i am on a international QF flight next week,
Can i request my seats now ?

Or only some people that can do that ?

MM

 

[Brettmcg]

So i am on a international QF flight next week,
Can i request my seats now ?

Or only some people that can do that ?

MM

What are the flight numbers and dates? Are you a QFF member with status or a QC Member? At this late stage options for allocations are likely to be scarce, but you can only try?

 

[Commuter]

I've been very lucky and have not lost any of my requested seats yet, except when I got upgraded.

 

[Hvr]

Well always good to book early and check such things. On my trip MEL-NRT (A330-300) I have been allocated 23B and on the return was allocated 24B but a quick phone call to Qantas got it changed to 23J because 23B was already allocated.

Of course I'll be praying to the upgrade gods for a more forward seat on the return journey. Being SG by then can only assist as will being on line at midnight to submit my request.

Always nice to speak to professional staff who listen and are happy to assist.

 

[serfty]

So i am on a international QF flight next week,
Can i request my seats now ?

Or only some people that can do that ?

MM

Firstly, check any seat you may have been pre-allocated on www.checkmytrip.com.

If you have no seat preallocation or prefer a different seat, then call Qantas and request a (new) preallocation.

 

[NM]

Funny you should mention that... ... Recently on airlinequality.com a QF customer commented that (and I'm paraphrasing here) even if you select your first-class seats months in advance, if a WP wants that seat when they check in, they get it.

That may be some person's perception, but it is not reality. I can tell you that as a WP I have never been able to force a non-status person to be moved so I could have the seat I want. Just does not happen under any normal circumstances.

 

[Dave Noble]

That may be some person's perception, but it is not reality. I can tell you that as a WP I have never been able to force a non-status person to be moved so I could have the seat I want. Just does not happen under any normal circumstances.

It has happened for me a couple of times when on a full first class ticket

Dave

 

[simongr]

Are you sure you were booted by a WP rather than CL or VIP?

 

[Dave Noble]

Are you sure you were booted by a WP rather than CL or VIP?

No, I wanted a window seat and they booted someone out for me

Dave

 

[simongr]

:shock:

Well that is just mean

 

[Dave Noble]

:shock:

Well that is just mean

meh... the other person shouldnt have taken 1K if I was going to want it

Dave

 

[Optics]

Very high. Although you do hear about stories of people having seat assignments, these are rare. In fact, I would suggest such changes are probably in the order of less than 1 in 1000 assignments. I have only ever had it happen under two circumstances - when receiving an operational upgrade or when moved to a better seat.

Now, since saying this we can now standby for the many replies of "it happened to me once" or "I know this person whose friend was moved from 23A to 98F" etc.

Ok, since it is expected, I will give the anticipated exception to the general answers. I am WP and always request seat 16A in J. It is always confirmed to me when I request it, and is shown as allocated when I check on checkmytrip etc. However, on at least 3 occasions I have received my boarding pass for a different seat.

I have discussed this with the check-in staff, and with the WP phone support. They confirm that if the a/c that is going to fly the route is changed, all allocated seating is ditched, and the process is started again (but note previous requests for allocation are not reinstated). I even discussed it with a friendly FA after it ocurred to me one time, and she confirmed it happens often, and implored me to contact QF to complain, as she just gets fobbed off when she has mentioned it to them.

I have now taken to monitoring my seat allocation during the week prior to flying, and have seen my allocation changed. Because I have noticed it, I have managed to be first in again to reclaim seat 16A.

Maybe I am jst unlucky, but it happens to me too often :evil: .