Flying Qantas to the U.S - question

[Brooke01]

Hi all,

Have lurked on this forum for ages, but finally decided to join today. Hoping someone can help with the following -

My husband and I are booked to go to the U.S with Qantas in July.

I had to book my flight seperate to his as I was using Frequent Flyer points, and we were paying for his flight. At the time, his fare was over $3200, so we waited for it to come down and just booked my ticket. A few months later, we got his fare for $1800 - and were very pleased.

Anyway, so now we have two seperate bookings. My booking says "Economy X" - which I assume means I purchased the flight on points ?

What are the chances that we will be able to sit next to eachother ? It is not a huge deal if we don't, but I would like to if we can. I imagine because I purchased my flight on points, and his was a "sale" fare, that we may not have a lot of choice when it comes to being able to check in online 24hrs before the flight ?

Our flight out is also now an A380 - so I am pretty excited about that.

Any advice or tips would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance.

Brooke

 

[Mwenenzi]

Look on Qantas web site (manage my booking) and www.checkmytrip.com to see if you have seats allocated. Then phone Qantas and ask to be seated together

 

[Cyclogenesis]

Do either you or your Husband have any status with Qantas (ie Silver, Gold or Platinum FF card)? If so you should be able to call them up and pre-select seats.

If not call up and ask to have your bookings linked.

 

[BlueAU]

If not call up and ask to have your bookings linked.

Yep I always do this when travelling with friends that (I want to sit with hehe) ... always means if there is a shuffle due to pax with higher status, we still get seated together as best as they can.

Qantas should be willing to help you, if you get someone who won't, ring back. I often have to do that if I get a young person. The older people tend to help me much more

 

[ozbeachbabe]

As mentioned already firstly link your bookings then secondly ask QF to allocate you seats together.

The reason it's important to link the booking first is your "X" class FF redemption booking would only display seating towards the rear of the aircraft whereas your husbands' booking would display a wider range of seats because it has a higher 'value' than the redemption.

After your bookings are linked both of you get access to the seat allocation map your husband is eligible for.

Don't forget to arrange your US Visa closer to the time and if you get a chance use the search facility on this website for tips on what to do in the cities you will be travelling to.

Cheers

Oz

 

[Brooke01]

**UPDATE**

Thanks everyone so much for your help !

I just called Qantas and got the nicest lady - she linked our tickets up, and pre allocated our seats.

Happy with the way over seats - on the A380 - Row 55, D & E - we wanted the aisle and the next seat in the block of 4.

Way back - Row 64, F & G. Still in the block of 4 that we wanted - but alittle far back down the plane for my liking. Our return flight is still on a 747 - hopefully it will be a A380 by the time we come back, and then Row 64 is more towards the middle of the plane.

Do you think Row 64 on the 747 will be alittle more bumpy than further up the plane ? I have always heard that towards the back of the plane you feel much more movement and turbulance - hopefully I am wrong !

Thanks again everyone - really appreciate the replies.

Cheers,

Brooke

 

[Wakefield]

Its never worked for me.I hold Gold with Qantas and travelled to the Uk with my wife last Oct.My travel was on on points and my wife paid for her fare.Despite a number of calls to QF to link both of us for seating (I was able to select my seat online) which I was assured they had done, each time we checked in they had to go through the performance of moving us around so that we could be seated together. You have got to wonderwhy it would so hard to do.

 

[Maca44]

Do you think Row 64 on the 747 will be alittle more bumpy than further up the plane ? I have always heard that towards the back of the plane you feel much more movement and turbulance - hopefully I am wrong !

I have travelled row 70 on two occasions over the past 5 years, and I don't believe I experienced turbulance that other pax would not have felt in the Y cabin.

 

[straitman]

I have travelled row 70 on two occasions over the past 5 years, and I don't believe I experienced turbulance that other pax would not have felt in the Y cabin.

It is a known aerodynamic characteristic of the 747 that the tail wobbles* around.

* I can't think of the right word right now.

 

[Maca44]

It is a known aerodynamic characteristic of the 747 that the tail wobbles* around.

* I can't think of the right word right now.

Probably called 'tail wobbalization" but I was only saying I could not feel any difference with turbulance.

 

[straitman]

Probably called 'tail wobbalization" but I was only saying I could not feel any difference with turbulance.

The couple of times I have sat right down the back I have not felt it either. It is a form of Dutch Roll. I will try and remember to ask one of my 747 buddies about it.

 

[Pooch]

Slightly different question - travelling QF biz, syd-ord with transfer to AA codeshare flt at sfo - does this give me access to either lounge/s at sfo? (still only silver QF )

 

[notzac]

Slightly different question - travelling QF biz, syd-ord with transfer to AA codeshare flt at sfo - does this give me access to either lounge/s at sfo? (still only silver QF )

It looks like the answer is no, I'm afraid - it doesn't appear that there's any provision for inbound OW J pax to access the lounge, and AA don't allow access based on class of service for domestic itineraries.

Full rules here: Admirals Club ( R ) Lounge Access

You could consider buying a day pass?

 

[Mal]

It looks like the answer is no, I'm afraid - it doesn't appear that there's any provision for inbound OW J pax to access the lounge, and AA don't allow access based on class of service for domestic itineraries.

I'd be arguing this ow lounge access rule:

Customers flying in Economy class on the domestic or intra-European segment to connect to or from a oneworld longhaul First or Business Class flight can also use the lounge applicable to the class in which they are travelling the longhaul segment.

 

[notzac]

Nice call Mal - is that from the oneworld website?

 

[Mal]

Nice call Mal - is that from the oneworld website?

Yeah - oneworld - Lounge Access

 

[Pooch]

Brilliant - many thanks. As the AA leg is also biz, i should be fine based on this. Thanks again or the advice ...

 

[tuppaware]

The couple of times I have sat right down the back I have not felt it either. It is a form of Dutch Roll. I will try and remember to ask one of my 747 buddies about it.

Its one of the furtherest point aft centre of gravity, and closest to the control services of the tail which constantly move in-flight - this is called trim and uses small adjustments to keep the plane level. As the plane travels around its centre of gravity any change causes the most change at the tail, add a tail wind and your walking like crab to keep yourself standing up.

I havent been in the back of a 747, but on a flight to lhr on A380 I was in the back second desk and It was very bumpy!

http://www.free-online-private-pilot-ground-school.com/images/empennage.gif

 

[oz_mark]

I have travelled row 70 on two occasions over the past 5 years, and I don't believe I experienced turbulance that other pax would not have felt in the Y cabin.

Trans-pac seems to be just a generally bumpy route. Maybe they should put shock absorbers in the seat legs

 

[straitman]

Its one of the furtherest point aft centre of gravity, and closest to the control services of the tail which constantly move in-flight - this is called trim and uses small adjustments to keep the plane level. As the plane travels around its centre of gravity any change causes the most change at the tail, add a tail wind and your walking like crab to keep yourself standing up.

Basically correct though I am not sure what the tail wind and walking like a crab has to do with any of this.

It is interesting that Boeing has eliminated the issue with the B777.