Hey Qantas, why is it that ....?

[MEL_Traveller]

Having had this happen to me in the past I now save the last seat selection page in MMB as a pdf and have it with me when I check in hence proof of allocation. Like you I am not happy when my carefully preselected seats get changed.

Given the airlines state that 'seating may be changed for operational reasons' I do not like your chances in getting this taken seriously. But nothing ventured… and airlines will think they can do as they wish. Perhaps it is time that airlines start to take pax preferences a bit more seriously: look at the mess United has created by treating us with utter disdain.

Seat preferences are fine, but 'gaming the system' is a perhaps a different matter. Couples selecting A+C hoping to discourage someone sitting in B and therefore getting three seats to themselves while families are split up is not fair.

Airlines have to sit parents and young children together. Airlines have to allocate seats for adults and infants with enough oxygen masks per row. Accommodating 'I want a spare seat in the middle' is not always workable.

 

[oz_mark]

I don't use OLCI. I checked wifes booking today T-3 hours before flight and she was still in 6C.

The thing that gets me is the checkin agent talking to supervisor on phone and saying there's no record of my wife ever having 6C. Lies but they obviously think they are talking to someone who doesn't know.

Did you check the booking, or did you go into the seat selection screen?

I have had different things between the two screens before.

 

[katiebell]

Seat preferences are fine, but 'gaming the system' is a perhaps a different matter. Couples selecting A+C hoping to discourage someone sitting in B and therefore getting three seats to themselves while families are split up is not fair.

Airlines have to sit parents and young children together. Airlines have to allocate seats for adults and infants with enough oxygen masks per row. Accommodating 'I want a spare seat in the middle' is not always workable.

I think the real problem is that airlines are trying to gouge money out of seat selection for those without status and offer free seat selection as a benefit of FF status. There are many reports of pax paying large amounts to preselect seats, any seats, even when travelling in premium cabins and of parents and children being seated apart, including long haul flights.

With modern computers it would simple for airlines to (invisibly) preallocate seats to those on the same PNR or with linked bookings. Those who want to preselect particular seats could do so and the computer could then still ensure that multiple pax bookings still had seats together. This would remove a lot of angst at check in. Thise who lbook multiple pax at the last minute could not expect to sit together if they are even able to get on a flight.

Re selecting window & aisle or two aisle seats: there is one thing certain if a couple select window (or aisle) and middle seats then the aisle (or window) seat will be taken even if the flight is not full as middle seats are the last to fill.

If anyone really wants a spare seat next to them then they need to buy a comfort seat. If not it is down to luck and load factor

 

[straitman]

Seat preferences are fine, but 'gaming the system' is a perhaps a different matter. Couples selecting A+C hoping to discourage someone sitting in B and therefore getting three seats to themselves while families are split up is not fair.

Really?

I often use the A, C combination. If someone arrives in the middle seat we keep the A, C combination unless there is a valid reason not to do so. Kids, infants etc are a valid reason but for single person then why shouldn't we have the seats we wanted and picked. I have done this short haul and medium haul. Never long haul as we don't do long haul in whY.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Really?

I often use the A, C combination. If someone arrives in the middle seat we keep the A, C combination unless there is a valid reason not to do so. Kids, infants etc are a valid reason but for single person then why shouldn't we have the seats we wanted and picked. I have done this short haul and medium haul. Never long haul as we don't do long haul in whY.

Sure, that's good for you - that's your seating preference. But plenty of couples don't, and are doing it to game the system. Then they either then talk over the person in the middle (punishment), or want to move so the couple can sit together (offering the aisle or window up). Neither of those options are fair to the middle seater

 

[JohnK]

Did you check the booking, or did you go into the seat selection screen?

I have had different things between the two screens before.

I understand there are differences between allocated seats and what is available after OLCI has opened up. The seats maps no longer align.

But I had 6C pre-allocated for wife and when I went into her booking and clicked on seat map 6C was still pre-allocated.

 

[cmon0005]

Sure, that's good for you - that's your seating preference. But plenty of couples don't, and are doing it to game the system. Then they either then talk over the person in the middle (punishment), or want to move so the couple can sit together (offering the aisle or window up). Neither of those options are fair to the middle seater

Sorry but choosing a seat you and your partner /family member like as separate individuals is not 'gaming the system'.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sorry but choosing a seat you and your partner /family member like as separate individuals is not 'gaming the system'.

Agree if that is your actual seating preference, and you're happy for someone to sit in the middle.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Agree if that is your actual seating preference, and you're happy for someone to sit in the middle.

How is offering the middle seat customer either the aisle or the window a disadvantage to them?

I do a/c regularly and depending if I do or don't want to talk to travel companion I'll offer a swap to the middle man... Mostly I leave it as is.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How is offering the middle seat customer either the aisle or the window a disadvantage to them?

They spend the day thinking they have to fly 24 hours to London stuck in a middle seat.

 

[JohnK]

They spend the day thinking they have to fly 24 hours to London stuck in a middle seat.

But that shouldn't be a concern for the person in the middle seat. They have a middle seat because they chose not to pay for sest selection or left seat selection late. That shouldn't be the concern of those choosing A/C.

My preference is 2 aisles if possible (such as QF 747 bassinet in row 43) or aisle and middle seat while we have bassinet. Once I start paying for daughter then I'll book 3 seats together and not have to worry about anyone or if 2-4-2 I can book 2 aisles and window.

 

[straitman]

Sure, that's good for you - that's your seating preference. But plenty of couples don't, and are doing it to game the system. Then they either then talk over the person in the middle (punishment), or want to move so the couple can sit together (offering the aisle or window up). Neither of those options are fair to the middle seater

How is it then fair for an individual to deliberately pick a middle seat for themselves?

Sorry but choosing a seat you and your partner /family member like as separate individuals is not 'gaming the system'.

Agree.

How is offering the middle seat customer either the aisle or the window a disadvantage to them?

I do a/c regularly and depending if I do or don't want to talk to travel companion I'll offer a swap to the middle man... Mostly I leave it as is.

They spend the day thinking they have to fly 24 hours to London stuck in a middle seat.

So the person who is organised, has the knowledge or who has actually bothered to be get a seat allocated should spend days or weeks thinking they have to fly in a middle seat? How is this fair?

I really think your perspective on this is totally wrong.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

How is it then fair for an individual to deliberately pick a middle seat for themselves?

Agree.



So the person who is organised, has the knowledge or who has actually bothered to be get a seat allocated should spend days or weeks thinking they have to fly in a middle seat? How is this fair?

I really think your perspective on this is totally wrong.

As I said, I'm 50/50 on it. I can see both sides. I had friends who tried the A+C (on my advice).

At checkin they were seated A+B, they questioned it and the check in staff directly said 'well it's hardly fair is it?'

 

[whatmeworry]

Didn't some guy get kicked off a flight because two friends got A and C and that bothered the guy in B.

Booking C and D is better IMO.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

They spend the day thinking they have to fly 24 hours to London stuck in a middle seat.

Haha this response....

I have no sympathy for this middle seat person.

 

[michaele]

If you don't choose a seat you can't really turn around and complain that the auto selected one wasn't what you wanted..?

On the flip side, if I select a seat that is available there is a fair expectation that (within reason) I'll have that seat.

I have selected 43HK on 15/16 when traveling with a friend or partner and the one time the plane was full we offered to swap with the person in the middle seat for the aisle - which they were very thankful for. I am yet to meet anyone who specifically prefers the middle seat - or at least Qantas hasn't made it an option in seating preferences

 

[JessicaTam]

When travelling with friends I will always select A and C. I like the aisle seat and the vast majority of my friends like the window. If someone ends up in B then so be it. Why should my friend or I not be able to sit in our preferred seats if they are available to be selected.

 

[oz_mark]

When travelling with friends I will always select A and C. I like the aisle seat and the vast majority of my friends like the window. If someone ends up in B then so be it. Why should my friend or I not be able to sit in our preferred seats if they are available to be selected.

It's fine, Just don't talk across me

 

[JessicaTam]

It's fine, Just don't talk across me

Don't worry - we won't.

 

[downgraded]

Well just pass the surplus wines back and forth.