Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

[pshepvic]

re: Domestic & International Routes Seat Selection now includes exit rows

It doesn't look like any Silvers have commented yet.

On my upcoming domestic 738 trips my options remain unchanged - row 17 is as far forward as I can go, so no exit rows are available. I'm not sure if on the 763s and 332s I would get exit row because the limit of available seats includes exit rows anyway, because I don't have any upcoming flights in Y on these types.

On my upcoming international 333 flights I was already allocated row 24. Exit rows are still payable.
I notice that for the non-frequent flyers that I'll be travelling with the $20 seat selection allows them to get as far as row 29.

Also, has anyone else noticed that the Qantas seat maps now have a baby symbol on the bassinet seat positions? Interesting...

I think this confirms my theory. I checked the T&Cs and it says that pax in Exit Rows cannot use OLCI and must check in at a service desk. For domestic airports with NGCI, everyone must use the kiosks to check in, except for Gold and above. Therefore I'm predicting that exits are only for gold and above as well on all Dom
Aircraft. I guess in exceptional circumstances they might have to allocate an exit to someone else (completely full flight & not enough SG/WP/CL pax on board) but it's probably pretty rare. This definitely makes it easier to manage exit rows with NGCI.

 

[V1213]

re: Domestic & International Routes Seat Selection now includes exit rows

I think this confirms my theory. I checked the T&Cs and it says that pax in Exit Rows cannot use OLCI and must check in at a service desk. For domestic airports with NGCI, everyone must use the kiosks to check in, except for Gold and above.

Could exit row seating not work like the dangerous goods declaration currently does for online seat selection and NGCI?
Use of NGCI signifies agreement of the relevant rules regarding dangerous goods and requires passengers to make their declaration in advance, when selecting seats. Could accepting the seat, with the warnings made at the time of selection, suffice, bearing in mind that, if there is a problem, the crew have the right to move passengers from the exit rows if they are unfit to sit there?

 

[straitman]

re: Domestic & International Routes Seat Selection now includes exit rows

I have just done some seat allocations for a NB friend and had some interesting results. The flights are for tomorrow and Saturday (all within T-80)

1. 30/03/11 737-800. Best available 11C or D. Picked 16A.
2. 30/03/11 717 Qantaslink so no seat selection.
3. 02/04/11 737-800. Best seat available 6E. Picked 14A (exit at no cost)
4. 02/04/11 737-400. Best seat available 16C or D. Picked 17A.

This shows that within the T-80 window that exits may be available to a NB which I find quite interesting.

 

[Must...Fly!]

re: Domestic & International Routes Seat Selection now includes exit rows

hmm, interesting. Definitely opportunity for T-80 seating for NBs in the exit rows then.
Hopefully i can snag some!

 

[casanovawa]

re: Domestic & International Routes Seat Selection now includes exit rows

Ok, good to know us NBs aren't being frozen out entirely on the QF exit rows, as much as this might break the hearts of the SGs and WPs amongst us...

I just went in and tried to select seats for my RTW itin, the QF747 to BA wouldn't let cough for some reason, for AA flights i could select for free (even an exit row from RIO to MIA, hopefully this wouldn't attract fee when i rocked up to counter), BA wouldn't let me choose any seats, IB would let me get to row 3 on short flight and i think an exit row on another short flight, longer IB flight to JNB no access to exit rows, just down the back, but coughpiest of all, on the QF 747 from JNB to Syd it wouldn't let me NOT pick a seat so it was basically forcing me to spend $20, clicking Next brings up message must choose seat, cancelling out removes all previous chosen seats...

Think this is grounds for me to call up QF and ask for seats allocated over the phone on all flights free of charge...

 

[Blackadder]

re: Domestic & International Routes Seat Selection now includes exit rows

Why?? it is now the QF policy to charge NB/non-status FF with a $20 selection fee, can't see you getting it waived on the basis of what other OW members do.

 

[blackcat20]

re: Domestic & International Routes Seat Selection now includes exit rows

hmm, interesting. Definitely opportunity for T-80 seating for NBs in the exit rows then.
Hopefully i can snag some!

Even earlier than that! my flight is 5 months away and I was able to request the exit row (international).

 

[Craigie]

re: Domestic & International Routes Seat Selection now includes exit rows

Even earlier than that! my flight is 5 months away and I was able to request the exit row (international).

I'm pretty sure Must..Fly was just talking domestic flights which for NB's and PS's, looks like you need to be within T-80 window to be able to request them

 

[pshepvic]

re: Domestic & International Routes Seat Selection now includes exit rows

Could exit row seating not work like the dangerous goods declaration currently does for online seat selection and NGCI?
Use of NGCI signifies agreement of the relevant rules regarding dangerous goods and requires passengers to make their declaration in advance, when selecting seats. Could accepting the seat, with the warnings made at the time of selection, suffice, bearing in mind that, if there is a problem, the crew have the right to move passengers from the exit rows if they are unfit to sit there?

I agree they could do it this way, but the T&C's still specifically state:

12. Passengers will still be required to check-in before their flight departure. Check-in for passengers seated in Exit Row Seats is only available at airport check-in counters.

I could still see some issues though if people do the declaration you describe without the "human" check - it's much more uncomfortable for staff to have to move someone out of a seat once they are there, and slows down boarding if they decide they need to change seats around at the gate.

The easier option is to restrict Exits to SG and above (as they have done) and then only allocate them to anyone else if absolutely necessary (which I guess will happen at T-80 if they haven't all gone - which I think for the most part they will all go, particularly on the peak flights).

 

[casanovawa]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

I think i should be able to call up and get some seats assigned because they rather stupidly on a multi-sector ticket don't allow you the option of not choosing to allocate a seat for a particular leg... They laud the opportunity to give you the choice to purchase a seat and then give you no choice at all... Maybe they could fix up the lack of functionality of their site...

But anyway, i don't mind if I don't get the Qantas seats, if i wanted thembadly enough i could pay for them on the site, but i do want the other OW airlines seats that aren't trying to make me pay up...

 

[SFSC]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

It doesn't look like any Silvers have commented yet.

Just went in and selected exit row seats on a domestic 767 flight in May for Mrs SFSC and myself (both PS). The seats show as 43J^ and 43K^ and on mouse over show "exit row request" and our names.

Now to see if we have to interact with a staff person when we attempt to NGCI.

 

[bertflyer]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

Quick question, I usually grab row 4 on the 738s (and have never sat in the exit row seats) on the PER-ADL flights but I have a choice of just about any row 4 seat or any of the exit row seats for my flight on Sunday. Which is better? Row 4 or exit row? Or is that a very personal thing?:?:

 

[markis10]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

Quick question, I usually grab row 4 on the 738s (and have never sat in the exit row seats) on the PER-ADL flights but I have a choice of just about any row 4 seat or any of the exit row seats for my flight on Sunday. Which is better? Row 4 or exit row? Or is that a very personal thing?:?:

I would say row 4, faster food, and you can get your carry on placed under the seat in front of you, and you get off quicker!

 

[casanovawa]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

Per-Adelaide is only 2.5 hours or so isn't it, different to 4 hours or longer flight... So extra leg room may not compare to faster food and faster off, depends how tall you are if you ever feel uncomfortable... You will know that best...

 

[markis10]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

Per-Adelaide is only 2.5 hours or so isn't it, different to 4 hours or longer flight... So extra leg room may not compare to faster food and faster off, depends how tall you are if you ever feel uncomfortable... You will know that best...

I am almost 6ft and dont really notice the legroom difference, in row 4 is pretty much J legroom anyway. The other benefit is you often get offered a paper, which is handy for non electronic device times.

 

[TonyHancock]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

non electronic device times.

My worst nightmare! :shock:

I'd go for row 4 for all of the reasons markis10 has suggested.

 

[bertflyer]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

Thanks all, row 4 it is.
cheers
Bert

 

[pshepvic]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

Just went in and selected exit row seats on a domestic 767 flight in May for Mrs SFSC and myself (both PS). The seats show as 43J^ and 43K^ and on mouse over show "exit row request" and our names.

Now to see if we have to interact with a staff person when we attempt to NGCI.

Interesting - my theory is disproved! I wonder if this is also the case for 737's ... the exit rows on a 737 are further forward than a PS pax would normally be able to select, so I'm curious if it's only on a 767 where the exit is further back.

 

[SFSC]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

Interesting - my theory is disproved! I wonder if this is also the case for 737's ... the exit rows on a 737 are further forward than a PS pax would normally be able to select, so I'm curious if it's only on a 767 where the exit is further back.

We have a 737 flight in July and at this time all up to row 17 are unavailable to us. I usually have another look at T-80 and quite often can move forward to row 4 at that time.

I'll be checking our 767 flight at T-80 for a "better" exit row or in case of an equipment change. Last January we had a change from a 767 to a 737 on a QF435 SYD-MEL so selected 4C and 4A in the hope that no-one would select 4B. However, possibly because of the equipment change, the flight was chokkers and 4B was occupied. We did a lot better with 4C & 4D our return flight because the flight was not full and the folks in 4A and 4F probably had enough status to have the B and E seats shadowed out.

 

[pshepvic]

re: Domestic & International Seat Selection now has exit rows

We have a 737 flight in July and at this time all up to row 17 are unavailable to us. I usually have another look at T-80 and quite often can move forward to row 4 at that time.

So I guess that gives us the answer around Silver frequent flyers:
- 767: exits available where row 43 is an exit as it is within the silver seating zone - note that QF only have 7 of these 763 aircraft in this configuration - the rest rows 34/35 are the exit, which are not in the silver seating zone
- 737: exits not available (as it is in the gold seating zone)
- T-80: free for all as per usual with whatever seating is not already allocated!