Good Y seat vs PE

[NY154]

On the A380, trying to decide if a seat like 80K would be OK, or if it would be worth going up to PE? And would a non refurb vs refurb make any difference to the choice?

Wondering if the best choice is to grab a decent Y seat, then bid for an upgrade? No huge loss if it's unsuccessful then?

Will most likely be QF8 (could be 7 though) and middle to end of September

 

[jpp42]

What is your definition of "OK" ? What kind of criteria would make something "worth it" to you? Are you particularly tall or perhaps a bit hefty? For taller people, exit row seats may be ideal but for those on the "big" size in other ways, having an adjacent free seat (or PE seat) may be more important. Or you may like the exit row seats since you can get out of them without bothering a neighbor (and they can get out without bothering you). No seat is perfect for anyone, you need to think about your specific needs. Personally I would avoid seats like 79C or 79H, for example, because they are likely to be bumped by people going to the lavs, or hit by drink carts by inattentive flight attendants, even though Qantas deems this a seat worth paying extra for.

Refurb vs non-refurb isn't really an issue since you're flying in September when you can assume almost all flights will be refurb'd. The refurbish doesn't affect the rear section of the main deck economy cabin, but it does mean the installation of newer PE seats, which have received mixed reviews. Though I don't think the differences (at least on the A380) are enough to avoid choosing PE if you would have chosen it on the non-refurb.

If you are flying QF8, you should note that there are always lots of free economy seats due to the payload limitations of that flight. If you have gold or platinum status, you may be able to get a "comfort row" where the whole row is blocked out for you. This is much more worth it to me compared to an exit row seat with an immovable armest. This only applies specifically to QF8 and not QF7 or other A380 flights.

My strategy recently on flying to the US has been to choose PE for QF7 and economy for QF8. For QF8, a comfort row or at least a spare seat beside me, is quite likely, but not guaranteed.

 

[NY154]

What is your definition of "OK" ? What kind of criteria would make something "worth it" to you? Are you particularly tall or perhaps a bit hefty? For taller people, exit row seats may be ideal but for those on the "big" size in other

Refurb vs non-refurb isn't really an issue since you're flying in September when you can assume almost all flights will be refurb'd. The refurbish doesn't affect the rear section of the main deck economy cabin, but it does mean the installation of newer PE seats, which have received mixed reviews. Though I don't think the differences (at least on the A380) are enough to avoid choosing PE if you would have chosen it on the non-refurb.

If you are flying QF8, you should note that there are always lots of free economy seats due to the payload limitations of that flight. If you have gold or platinum status, you may be able to get a "comfort row" where the whole row is blocked out for you. This is much more worth it to me compared to an exit row seat with an immovable armest. This only applies specifically to QF8 and not QF7 or other A380 flights.

My strategy recently on flying to the US has been to choose PE for QF7 and economy for QF8. For QF8, a comfort row or at least a spare seat beside me, is quite likely, but not guaranteed.

Thanks. I'm tall (182 I think) but slim. Do you think bidding on an upgrade on qf8 would likely be unsuccessful if it's a weight restricted flight?

And the refurbed PE have an extra 10% width, which is pretty significant, though that might be down to a installing wider armrests?

I'm silver status, I've considered chancing it and hoping for a comfort row but I don't know if I'd be willing to risk not getting it. I assume if I paid for an exit row in Y, that wouldn't be refunded if I switched to a comfort row?

 

[jpp42]

Thanks. I'm tall (182 I think) but slim. Do you think bidding on an upgrade on qf8 would likely be unsuccessful if it's a weight restricted flight?

This is really hard to know as it depends on loads on the day. Since mid Sept is after the US summer holiday period, and assuming you're travelling before AU school holidays start, I suspect this will be a lower demand period and you'd have higher chances, but again being Silver does reduce the possibility of success. Personally since I'm happy with economy on QF8 given the number of empty seats, I don't try for upgrades on this flight, and if many others are like me, the demand might be reduced. But that's totally anecdotal.

I'm silver status, I've considered chancing it and hoping for a comfort row but I don't know if I'd be willing to risk not getting it. I assume if I paid for an exit row in Y, that wouldn't be refunded if I switched to a comfort row?

I think you can also pay for a comfort row at a certain point (like T-80) but not sure the details, and it has to be done via the call centre or check-in desk as the online systems don't support this. Perhaps someone else can comment on here. But since you're tall and slim, maybe your original suggestion of exit row seat is the best.

 

[NY154]

This is really hard to know as it depends on loads on the day. Since mid Sept is after the US summer holiday period, and assuming you're travelling before AU school holidays start, I suspect this will be a lower demand period and you'd have higher chances, but again being Silver does reduce the possibility of success. Personally since I'm happy with economy on QF8 given the number of empty seats, I don't try for upgrades on this flight, and if many others are like me, the demand might be reduced. But that's totally anecdotal.



I think you can also pay for a comfort row at a certain point (like T-80) but not sure the details, and it has to be done via the call centre or check-in desk as the online systems don't support this. Perhaps someone else can comment on here. But since you're tall and slim, maybe your original suggestion of exit row seat is the best.

Sorry if this is a completely idiotic question, but can people switch to a spare row in flight, if one is available? Or is it enforced, since there is generally a fee for having a row?

 

[Lynda2475]

Sorry if this is a completely idiotic question, but can people switch to a spare row in flight, if one is available? Or is it enforced, since there is generally a fee for having a row?

Everytime Ive flow Y on QF8, as soon as seat belt light goes off there is a mad dash for any empty rows at back of Y (usually the centre 4). As ive always had he first exit row, ive never bothered to try and grab one.

 

[NY154]

Everytime Ive flow Y on QF8, as soon as seat belt light goes off there is a mad dash for any empty rows at back of Y (usually the centre 4). As ive always had he first exit row, ive never bothered to try and grab one.

I can imagine it'd get annoying having to fend people off who try to snag part of the comfort row you paid for before boarding!

 

[jpp42]

I can imagine it'd get annoying having to fend people off who try to snag part of the comfort row you paid for before boarding!

Last time I had a comfort row on QF8, it was a 3-seat section along the side, and I sat in the aisle seat for a while at the start of the flight to fend off exactly that! (Although mine was complimentary as a WP, I didn't pay for this). There is a notation on the boarding pass about the comfort row, however, so you could show it to the flight attendant and have the interloper(s) kicked out if needed.

 

[NY154]

Last time I had a comfort row on QF8, it was a 3-seat section along the side, and I sat in the aisle seat for a while at the start of the flight to fend off exactly that! (Although mine was complimentary as a WP, I didn't pay for this). There is a notation on the boarding pass about the comfort row, however, so you could show it to the flight attendant and have the interloper(s) kicked out if needed.

Ah OK, are comfort rows only given on the side seats? Not the middle 4?

 

[jpp42]

Ah OK, are comfort rows only given on the side seats? Not the middle 4?

No, they are also available in the middle four too, it's just only the side was available when I asked at the lounge. (At DFW, there is a specific Qantas-contracted lounge attendant to handle seating and other Qantas issues in the AA Flagship Lounge, ahead of QF8).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

On the A380, trying to decide if a seat like 80K would be OK, or if it would be worth going up to PE? And would a non refurb vs refurb make any difference to the choice?

Wondering if the best choice is to grab a decent Y seat, then bid for an upgrade? No huge loss if it's unsuccessful then?

Will most likely be QF8 (could be 7 though) and middle to end of September

PE seats are much wider - both the seat pan and the additional armrest width. The major issue with economy is seat width... and fighting for an armrest for 16 hours.

But PE seats also have their downsides... anything but the front row and you are pretty much locked in when the person in front reclines. No way to get out from the window for example without the person in the aisle having to get out of their seat. The bulkheads are the way to go in PE.

If your upgrade bid to PE is free - fine, but you could also get stuck in the middle of two other people in a 2-4-2. That's no fun at all.

You can move once the seat belt sign goes off. Sometimes the crew will also permit this before departure. But as I mentioned in another thread, on my QF7 the crew went through the cabin taking away the 'beds' from all those that had managed to score them by sitting other passengers in the rows. Everyone had a spare seat in the middle, but no one had beds.

$250 for a confirmed block of four, if available at chicken, is the bargain of the century!

 

[NY154]

PE seats are much wider - both the seat pan and the additional armrest width. The major issue with economy is seat width... and fighting for an armrest for 16 hours.

But PE seats also have their downsides... anything but the front row and you are pretty much locked in when the person in front reclines. No way to get out from the window for example without the person in the aisle having to get out of their seat. The bulkheads are the way to go in PE.

If your upgrade bid to PE is free - fine, but you could also get stuck in the middle of two other people in a 2-4-2. That's no fun at all.

You can move once the seat belt sign goes off. Sometimes the crew will also permit this before departure. But as I mentioned in another thread, on my QF7 the crew went through the cabin taking away the 'beds' from all those that had managed to score them by sitting other passengers in the rows. Everyone had a spare seat in the middle, but no one had beds.

$250 for a confirmed block of four, if available at chicken, is the bargain of the century!

Yep that's the dilemma I'm wrestling with. Comfort row of the 4 seats sounds great but only if you get it, there's no guarantee. I really wanted to be downstairs because I love the huge and straight side walls of the 380. The upstairs cabin looks quite cramped especially for a tall person, but I'm starting to sway towards just booking PE, I can get it on a reward seat

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yep that's the dilemma I'm wrestling with. Comfort row of the 4 seats sounds great but only if you get it, there's no guarantee. I really wanted to be downstairs because I love the huge and straight side walls of the 380. The upstairs cabin looks quite cramped especially for a tall person, but I'm starting to sway towards just booking PE, I can get it on a reward seat

If yuo can get it on a reward seat AND secure a bulkhead, I'd jump at it. Upstairs is perfectly fine for us tall folk.

With the bulkhead PE you can put your full-sized ralla-board on the floor in front of you when you want to sleep - this creates a fully horizontal, and long, legrest. Makes sleeping a breeze.

 

[milehighclub]

Depending on what time you arrive at DFW, they sell comfort rows from when QF opens check in and it's easy to leave the secure area, go to the counter and back through security. Comfort rows are always available because of the restriction in economy except when the loads are light enough they don't bother. I've almost always seen them still being sold just before boarding.

With the bulkhead PE you can put your full-sized ralla-board on the floor in front of you when you want to sleep - this creates a fully horizontal, and long, legrest. Makes sleeping a breeze.

Bags cannot be left in the bulkhead so the crew, if they see it, they will ask for it to put it up.

 

[NY154]

Bags cannot be left in the bulkhead so the crew, if they see it, they will ask for it to put it up.

What about the inflatable foot rests? When I went JAL, they didn't complain about it on the way over, but on the flight back they told me I couldn't have it

 

[milehighclub]

Currently no.

 

[dylarr]

Technically an inflatable footrest would be prohibited in any seat on a Qantas flight, not just the bulkheads:

Carry-on baggage | Qantas AU

Baggage allowances for domestic and international flights to ensure your carry-on bag complies with Qantas requirements.

www.qantas.com

 

[NY154]

Oh ok, I can't remember the name of what I had but it had a website that you could search for the airline to see if it is permitted to use, and it said JAL approved it (and I think Qantas too). Why would they be prohibited?

 

[dylarr]

From the link above, under the "Prohibited inflight travel accessories" section:

When in use, these devices have the potential to impede access to seats and aisles, damage aircraft seats and fixtures, and block access to emergency equipment.

Examples of prohibited inflight accessories include, but are not limited to, inflatable cubes, ‘bed boxes’, and ‘leg hammocks’. This list is not exhaustive, and the decision to permit use of any other device rests with the cabin crew.

Of course, it won't be an issue for you unless the crew mention anything which they may not even do...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Bags cannot be left in the bulkhead so the crew, if they see it, they will ask for it to put it up.

hmmm... that's confusing. I learned the 'trick' from QF crew sitting opposite at a exit one day while we were chatting prior to takeoff.