Do Qantas block seats on request?

[poppet]

Hi, just a quick question today. We're on QF93 next Sunday (10/10), in discount economy on a non-upgradeable fare. I've been into expertflyer and seen that the flight is virtually full in business and premium economy so fairly sure we won't get a phone call to see if we want to use our points to upgrade like we did this time last year.

There are still quite a few seats free in the economy cabin. DH likes the window seat, and I like the aisle so I have selected us in an A and C seat in the economy cabin. We both have QF Gold Status. I am wondering if it's worth calling and asking if they can block the middle seat between us. Has anyone successfully done this or will I just get a big fat No?

Worst case, we could keep the seats as is and if a random person is allocated to the middle seat between us we would give them the aisle and keep the window & middle.

Also, when NB people book onto a flight do they get a seat allocated, or is the seat allocation left until T-24? I am trying to work out if economy is really only half full or whether there are ticketholders out there that just haven't been allocated seats left.

Thanks!

 

[drewbles]

Qantas staff are no longer able to block seats. They can assign you a seat at check-in where an empty seat may be next to you, but it's still open to be chosen.

This is thanks to Altea. The system does not allow the airport staff to perform such requests.

Allocation of seats on Domestic segments is only open to PS/SG/WP/CL and equivalent OW levels. International checkin is available online for elites, but NB's can call for an allocation (providing the flight has not reached the 70% allocation state, at which point QF will not allow NB's to select seats via a phone or travel agent.

NB's can of course select a seat via OLCI at T-24, but las time I did this for my parents, they were offered the back 4 rows of a 763 (PER-MEL) so the options are very limited unfortunately.

 

[Sprucegoose]

they can talk to seating and a note made in the system. Two SG's - as good as one WP??

Check again at check-in and when you get to the lounge.

what seats do you have at present?

 

[poppet]

Thanks for the info. We're in 53A and 53C (which I swapped from 52J,52K) so I'm guessing we will end up with a random next to us given we are so far forward in the cabin

I might try giving them a call tomorrow to see if they will block it, otherwise I might request to be put in 53A & 53B ... unless someone thinks that 52J & 52K are better seats - these are now showing as blocked since I moved out of them.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Thanks for the info. We're in 53A and 53C (which I swapped from 52J,52K) so I'm guessing we will end up with a random next to us given we are so far forward in the cabin

I might try giving them a call tomorrow to see if they will block it, otherwise I might request to be put in 53A & 53B ... unless someone thinks that 52J & 52K are better seats - these are now showing as blocked since I moved out of them.

I would hold your plan, keep what you have.

the spare seat makes all the difference and the front Y is the quite part of the aircraft.

If you move to 53B it will be easier for someone to come into 53C I believe.

let us know how you get on.

SPRUCE

 

[Flashback]

I would hold your plan, keep what you have.

the spare seat makes all the difference and the front Y is the quite part of the aircraft.

If you move to 53B it will be easier for someone to come into 53C I believe.

let us know how you get on.

SPRUCE

That's what I'd suggest too. Worst case if someone is in the B you can always ask if they'd like the aisle (or window) seat, would probably make their day....

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Qantas staff are no longer able to block seats. They can assign you a seat at check-in where an empty seat may be next to you, but it's still open to be chosen.

This is thanks to Altea. The system does not allow the airport staff to perform such requests.

Allocation of seats on Domestic segments is only open to PS/SG/WP/CL and equivalent OW levels. International checkin is available online for elites, but NB's can call for an allocation (providing the flight has not reached the 70% allocation state, at which point QF will not allow NB's to select seats via a phone or travel agent.

NB's can of course select a seat via OLCI at T-24, but las time I did this for my parents, they were offered the back 4 rows of a 763 (PER-MEL) so the options are very limited unfortunately.

Altea definitely allows staff to do this as long as their sign on allows them to. Different staff have more access to certain functionality eg blocking seats. You may have got a checkin person who, themselves cannot perform this function but others definitely can.

Although if more people allocate seats A & C eg on a 737 if B is blocked out it means more pax eg NB's or no status are going to end up with a middle seat whereas if the couple had seats A & B or B & C the NB could get the aisle or the window seat.

If you help one lot of people out re seat blocking it can sometimes disadvantage others.

 

[drewbles]

Altea definitely allows staff to do this as long as their sign on allows them to. Different staff have more access to certain functionality eg blocking seats. You may have got a checkin person who, themselves cannot perform this function but others definitely can.

Although if more people allocate seats A & C eg on a 737 if B is blocked out it means more pax eg NB's or no status are going to end up with a middle seat whereas if the couple had seats A & B or B & C the NB could get the aisle or the window seat.

If you help one lot of people out re seat blocking it can sometimes disadvantage others.

Interesting. Every person i've ever spoken to at the airport has said 'We cannot do it in the new system'. This has been from every check in desk and even the J and regular QP's.

In the old days they used to phone through a request to someone (where they were I have no idea, presumably at the airport) but now they've just said 'it's impossible'. One of them said no one there could.

Probably the pax facing staff that are not aware that it can be done, as you say, with sufficient access.

 

[tuapekastar]

Myself and the SO did the A and C seat thing on both legs of a MEL-AKL-MEL last December (she likes window, I like aisle). Outbound there was someone in B and we just sucked it up.

On the return, the checkin chap, without us asking, or any other prompting, advised us that B had been blocked for us. I suppose it could have just been due to lightish loading (can't recall how full the flight was) but I can/could do naught but take him at his word.

poppet, Good luck with the block; if there is someone in B I wouldn't absolutely count on them being willing to swap - they may even prefer the middle :shock: (weird, I know, but I believe there are people out there that actually do).

 

[poppet]

Thanks for all the advice. I think Sprucegoose is right in that we have more chance of getting the 3 seats between 2 of us by keeping A & C, as they will hopefully fill all the window and aisle seats before the middles. If someone does get allocated to B we will offer them the aisle and hopefully make their day

Either way, I will report back after our trip as to how we went - we have seats 51J&K on the return leg, which I believe are bulkhead seats, so should have a little more room.

You guys are always a wealth of information. Thank you.

 

[poppet]

For anyone who is still following this thread, here's another update. I spoke with the QF FF desk and was told they are not able to block seats. However if someone is allocated to that seat between now and departure we can ask at the Qantas Club to see if they can be moved. She was not overly helpful, which is what I expected, but for some reason I thought I might be lucky.

Interestingly expert flyer is now showing 53B as blocked, but seat selection on Qantas website is showing it as available/open. Time will tell.

On the same flight I noticed that 51 H,J,K are 'blocked' on expertflyer and I asked if we could be moved to 51 J&K (so we have the bulkhead and slightly more room) and was told that we couldn't.

By the way, having had the 5 day free trial I'm loving this expertflyer program so have signed up for a paid membership now

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The only thing that can sometimes happen is say for example on a 737 you checked in & got 4EF, first row of economy & the system (theoretical seating) had earmarked 4D for a WP still yet to check in, if QF were to change the couple to 4D&F & whether or not 4E was subsequently blocked there is now one less aisle seat for the WP & they may be in danger of getting a middle seat.

That's why I would always suggest that PS & above allocate their seats at minus 80 hours if possible.

I think there are too many variables that can upset theoretical seating eg a couple WP & partner are earmarked for 4D&E & another WP for 4F. 4F shares a cab with a NB colleague on the same flight & when then checkin together it automatically links them & gives them seats 4E&F.

End result is when the couple check in after them they might get 4D & 7E

So where possible pre-allocate & don't leave it to chance!