Domestic seat selection now up and running

[ejb]

Hi dwwarlow, and welcome to AFF!

That is a very impressive record.

ejb

 

[anat0l]

Whoo hoo first post, hi all
I have managed to select 1A, 1C, 1D, 1F and the same in row 2 ( not all at the same time of course)

Welcome dwwarlow to AFF.

What QFF status are you? I assume you are flying on a full fare Business ticket; mind if I ask what aircraft type and sector?

 

[medhead]

I think the best part I read in that release...



As I more often than not book my trips via a TA, it'll be nice to get an exit row requested on the transcon runs.

That exit row thing is very bad news I'm on a 100% strike rate of being offered an exit row using OLCI on my thursday qf 785 for the last 5 weeks. Might get bumped by TA booked people now.

 

[moa999]

Is this now OLCI open at T-80hrs.
or just that the seat availability changes away from the predetermined rules?

(eg. from post here and FT)
767
CL no blocks
WP not first 2 rows
SG not first 10 rows
etc)

 

[Hvr]

I finished a bit early today and was offered a transfer to an earlier flight (SYD-CBR) at OLCI when i went to print off my BP. Got the exit row aisle ticket which was good and the QP front desk lady happily printed the BP for me.

 

[Warks]

I'm not sure I understand this thread. What's the difference between this and what we've been able to do with OLCI for ages?
Sorry for being thick. I know as a PS I still can't get in earlier than 24 hours (more like 23:57 actually).

 

[ejb]

I'm not sure I understand this thread. What's the difference between this and what we've been able to do with OLCI for ages?
Sorry for being thick. I know as a PS I still can't get in earlier than 24 hours (more like 23:57 actually).

Everyone can now pre select seats on booking.

OLCI is still at -24 and selecting seats does not negate checking in either through OLCI/SSCI/QPCI or standard check in.

ejb

 

[serfty]

I'm not sure I understand this thread. What's the difference between this and what we've been able to do with OLCI for ages?
Sorry for being thick. I know as a PS I still can't get in earlier than 24 hours (more like 23:57 actually).

... and it may be interesting to see what happens 3⅓ days before the flight.

 

[moa999]

will find out later tonight/ tomorrow when I look at my Monday morning flight.
Already have a seat selected at T-90 (notably one of only two seats that appear selected)

 

[straitman]

I missed the 80 hr window for my Sunday flight but at about 9pm tonight, 57 hrs prior, I was able to select seats in Row 4 & 5 on a 738.

 

[JohnK]

You didn't expect any better from an "enhancement" to the flying experience, did you.

Allowing seat selection is going to ruin the WP benefits as I would say WP's fly at short notice more than anyone else.

For a minute there I thought this was going to be a good "enhancement" but as usual it looks like a shamozzle. You would have expected a little better IT testing before releasing for general use.

I am the one that has been saying that Platinum benefits are eroding quicker than us having time to discuss the actual benefits.

I'm not sure I understand this thread. What's the difference between this and what we've been able to do with OLCI for ages?
Sorry for being thick. I know as a PS I still can't get in earlier than 24 hours (more like 23:57 actually).

It effectively means that OLCI (not actual online check in but seat selection) is now a free-for-all at T-80 hours.

If anyone is a Platinum or Gold and does not check seat selection at T-80 hours then be prepared to spend the flight in a middle seat or down the back of the cabin as Silver or above (+ friends) who check early will grab the forward rows in the cabin. Well done again Qantas.

Do people still think this is an improvement?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Everyone can now pre select seats on booking.

"Everyone" meaning status PAX of course!

JohnK - Before this, wasnt it a feature of OLCI that you could pinch any seat of anyone below your status if they had not checked in?

I'm unsure how this will be any different? Might mean a little bit as non-status pax fly with WPs/SGs, but won't the seat allocation done before OLCI opens be the same as always, so if you have not pre allocated a seat in the forward rows you will still get it anyway?

 

[JohnK]

JohnK - Before this, wasnt it a feature of OLCI that you could pinch any seat of anyone below your status if they had not checked in?

As far as I am aware it was not possible for a Gold or Silver or lower status to get into the defined Platinum/CL Zone using OLCI. I have used OLCI many many times in the past and could clearly see the various zones allocated from a certain row back.

Obviously as you got closer to flight time and people on connecting flights or checking in at the airport would/could grab available seats further forward than their original allocated or theoretical seat.

I'm unsure how this will be any different? Might mean a little bit as non-status pax fly with WPs/SGs, but won't the seat allocation done before OLCI opens be the same as always, so if you have not pre allocated a seat in the forward rows you will still get it anyway?

How will you get a pre-allocated seat in the forward rows if Gold and Silver have already pre-allocated a seats there at T-80 hours?

I believe this is a backward step. Does anyone really think it is an improvement to have a Gold or Silver being able to allocate 4C or 4D at T-80 hours while a Platinum who has booked late sitting in 29C? Very sad indeed....

 

[serfty]

... How will you get a pre-allocated seat in the forward rows if Gold and Silver have already pre-allocated a seats there at T-80 hours?

I believe this is a backward step. Does anyone really think it is an improvement to have a Gold or Silver being able to allocate 4C or 4D at T-80 hours while a Platinum who has booked late sitting in 29C? Very sad indeed....

Read and understand the FAQ's.

They indicate the T-80 has been in place for over a year. It's only this early selection that's new.

For those who do not use Advance Seat Selection, profile preferences will still take effect in the same manner as usual within the departure control system window (-80 hours before flight departure).

Hence you should be now able to access available seating in the the "CL" zone 3⅓ days before your flight.

 

[ejb]

...
I believe this is a backward step. Does anyone really think it is an improvement to have a Gold or Silver being able to allocate 4C or 4D at T-80 hours while a Platinum who has booked late sitting in 29C? Very sad indeed....

I agree John,

As a WP who oftens books at the last minute (ie within 48 hours) I do not like how this system is appearing to work.

Selecting seats on Dom flights is not something that should be allowed IMHO.

ejb

 

[straitman]

The T-80 seems like a strange figure to use.

I think I will just sit and watch how it all pans out for me over the next few weeks.

 

[JohnK]

Read and understand the FAQ's.

They indicate the T-80 has been in place for over a year. It's only this early selection that's new.

That may well have been the case with theoretical seats but we did not get to the seat map until OLCI at T-24 unless connecting from an overseas flight. And please remember that OLCI preserved so called "zones" whilst advance seat selection appears to be igoring "zones" at T-80.

Hence you should be now able to access available seating in the the "CL" zone 3⅓ days before your flight.

Not if Gold or Silver happen to get there first.

Advance seat selection appears to fail on a number of levels least of which is giving the occasional traveller an equal opportunity at the best seats. Oh and if a Gold or Silver ends up in a forward seat at T-80 hours it is highly unlikely they will be giving up their seat as is happening now with CL's and Platinum's pre-allocated theoretical seats and playing musical flights, ODU's and op-ups in the hours leading up to the flight....

 

[serfty]

...

Not if Gold or Silver happen to get there first. ...

I don't think you understand ... they can't "get there first" as with "Theoretical Seating" their allocation would be somewhere aft; whether they preselect or not.

e.g. A SG preselects a seat on booking and picks a seat on row 30 (763), can't go further forward into the WP and CL 'zones'. At T-80 they come back to have a look and see maybe they can get to row 27, same as was the case prior to thi.

This may be a pain for late bookers, but that has generally been the case anyway.

Finally, it's certainly more beneficial for high state QFFers than the aborted implementation last year.

 

[bossreggie]

Well I just checked my booking. MEL - SYD 5/3 J. (738)
I am only SG but was able to select 1C.

HOWEVER. At the final confirmation page it did advise

"Note:The requested seats cannot be guaranteed"

Will be interesting to see if I am pushed into row 2 or 3 closer to the date.

 

[moa999]

And at T-80 some magic happened.
will post screens tomorrow