How to change your seat on an AA flight bought on Qantas.com (Advice)

[carlzp83]

I’m gold QF, I could load the seat maps for all the legs but they would never save the QF legs and it would just take me back to the start of selection in a never ending loop.

Thanks for reply, appreciate it your flights are sooner that mine. AA said to keep trying and the seat map might become available so it's a bit hard to know if it's status or timing. Would be interested in @jb81 status since their flight is later than mine.

 

[Hbbar]

Yes, but who wants to contact the QF call centre? I think the point was a way to find it from AA without having to be on hold for hours.

The better solution seems to be checkmytrip.com, wasn't aware of this service, very neat.

I'm only seeing QF references now across my bookings on checkmytrip, Is this service no loner available?

 

[serfty]

I'm only seeing QF references now across my bookings on checkmytrip, Is this service no loner available?

Sadly true.

See here:

CheckMyTrip Update - No more desktop access or ticket numbers

Just updated Check My Trip and cant login or register as says "invalid email"...any one else having issues ?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

You can call Qantas and ask for the American Airline Booking reference.

 

[Hbbar]

Thanks, how unfortunate.

 

[Dismounted]

I've been able to go through the BA website to get the Sabre booking reference. Just try to change your seat and it prompts you.

 

[serfty]

I've been able to go through the BA website to get the Sabre booking reference. Just try to change your seat and it prompts you.

Thanks for that, it shows the AA reference.

Also, it sends you over to AA.com site where you can select seating and pay in £ if applicable.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

You can call Qantas and ask for the American Airline Booking reference.

i had to do this the other day.

Interestingly I have one sector on a US domestic flight in coach (business class OWA) and it allowed me to select MCE for free. I have no status.

Dunno if it will stick, but there seems to be a benefit going though AA to do seating.

 

[obenihk]

I've been able to go through the BA website to get the Sabre booking reference. Just try to change your seat and it prompts you.

Thank you - that is such a useful tip!

 

[SYD]

i had to do this the other day.

Interestingly I have one sector on a US domestic flight in coach (business class OWA) and it allowed me to select MCE for free. I have no status.

Dunno if it will stick, but there seems to be a benefit going though AA to do seating.

I wonder if that’s because you’re on a “Business” ticket and that’s bestowed some additional benefits?

What baggage allowance?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I wonder if that’s because you’re on a “Business” ticket and that’s bestowed some additional benefits?

What baggage allowance?

Just says ‘2 pieces’ for every flight in the itinerary.

 

[MissJRB]

OMG I've been round and round with Qantas and AA over this for my sister in law since October last year. Its a freakin joke.

We leave this Friday for a round trip - returning in 2 weeks.

I booked flights back in October for her through the AA website as they were much cheaper than booking the same flights with Qantas.

SYD-LAX-MCO-LAX-SYD with the first three legs being AA and the 4th leg LAX-SYD on the A380 with Qantas.

I have been ringing them and chasing them since October about that seat map. They cannot access it, it's restricted. American Airlines can't access it, it's restricted. I've rang both of them countless times.

I just got off the phone with Qantas for about the 50th time (exaggeration, but I've called a lot!) since October and they've told me that the airport has control over the seat map and the only place I can do seat selection is the airport. I can't even do it T-80 out from the flight!

AA and Qantas are supposed to have a joint venture, I would have expected this to be relatively seamless.....

I've tried Royal Jordanian Airlines, the booking cannot be found
I've tried British Airways and I get through to choose your seat and then in redirects to the AA Manage my Booking so no go there.

I booked with Qantas (using points) the same AA flights and had no trouble getting the AA PNR and doing seat selection for the AA flights. And because I booked with Qantas I can do my seat selection so the seat map is "available".

Why on earth is it so hard for it to work the other way (purchasing through AA and getting a seat on Qantas)???

She's got a child in his early teens who has had to book as an adult so she's obviously worried they will be seated separately and she'd like to sit next to him. And given we are both travilling solo with 6 kids (3 kids each) we'd like to sit together as well.

I'm so cranky about all of it. I'm so glad it worked out for you though!!! That amazing!

 

[jrfsp]

OMG I've been round and round with Qantas and AA over this for my sister in law since October last year. Its a freakin joke.

We leave this Friday for a round trip - returning in 2 weeks.

I booked flights back in October for her through the AA website as they were much cheaper than booking the same flights with Qantas.

SYD-LAX-MCO-LAX-SYD with the first three legs being AA and the 4th leg LAX-SYD on the A380 with Qantas.

I have been ringing them and chasing them since October about that seat map. They cannot access it, it's restricted. American Airlines can't access it, it's restricted. I've rang both of them countless times.

I just got off the phone with Qantas for about the 50th time (exaggeration, but I've called a lot!) since October and they've told me that the airport has control over the seat map and the only place I can do seat selection is the airport. I can't even do it T-80 out from the flight!

AA and Qantas are supposed to have a joint venture, I would have expected this to be relatively seamless.....

I've tried Royal Jordanian Airlines, the booking cannot be found
I've tried British Airways and I get through to choose your seat and then in redirects to the AA Manage my Booking so no go there.

I booked with Qantas (using points) the same AA flights and had no trouble getting the AA PNR and doing seat selection for the AA flights. And because I booked with Qantas I can do my seat selection so the seat map is "available".

Why on earth is it so hard for it to work the other way (purchasing through AA and getting a seat on Qantas)???

She's got a child in his early teens who has had to book as an adult so she's obviously worried they will be seated separately and she'd like to sit next to him. And given we are both travilling solo with 6 kids (3 kids each) we'd like to sit together as well.

I'm so cranky about all of it. I'm so glad it worked out for you though!!! That amazing!

Contact AA on twitter, they will be able to select your seat. This is a known issue (and solution)

 

[carlzp83]

Contact AA on twitter, they will be able to select your seat. This is a known issue (and solution)

Oh Miss JRB thats very frustrating. I am not flying til August, but have the same issue. Flying with parents so we'd like to all sit together.
@jrfsp I've contacted AA via their website chat a few times and keep getting the same response that Qantas haven't made the seat plan available. Do you think twitter would have a different response? (I don't have a twitter account). Thanks

 

[jrfsp]

Oh Miss JRB thats very frustrating. I am not flying til August, but have the same issue. Flying with parents so we'd like to all sit together.
@jrfsp I've contacted AA via their website chat a few times and keep getting the same response that Qantas haven't made the seat plan available. Do you think twitter would have a different response? (I don't have a twitter account). Thanks

Yes their twitter team is a lot more competent. They were able to secure me seats in the same scenario and lots of other people as reported here.

 

[carlzp83]

Yes their twitter team is a lot more competent. They were able to secure me seats in the same scenario and lots of other people as reported here.

ok maybe i should create a twitter account and give it a go. Thank you for your reply!

 

[MissJRB]

Yes their twitter team is a lot more competent. They were able to secure me seats in the same scenario and lots of other people as reported here.

Their twitter team as just come back to me and said they can't help and can't assign the seats either and that I need to contact Qantas

 

[jrfsp]

Their twitter team as just come back to me and said they can't help and can't assign the seats either and that I need to contact Qantas

Maybe try again in a week or so with a different person, you gave them your AA record locator, not the qantas booking number?

 

[Quickstatus]

I booked flights back in October for her through the AA website as they were much cheaper than booking the same flights with Qantas.

QF does not have a say in seat selection on any AA flights, because these are not QF operated flights

On the QF A380 return flight originating in the US, complimentary seat selection is available if:
1)You are a Silver or higher frequent flyer
OR
2)You are travelling on a fare that is Economy saver or higher, premium Econ, Business, First.
AND
3) You needed to purchase the fare from Qantas directly

If Bronze FF you are only able to get comp seat selection if the QF operated flights originates in Australia.
See here for QF seat selection rules

 

[Blackadder]

Yes their twitter team is a lot more competent. They were able to secure me seats in the same scenario and lots of other people as reported here.

Just to second that, I had a internal AA flight booked through the QF website and the AA Twitter team were very prompt in giving me my AA book reference, and did the seat selection on the spot for me.
Edit: see if AA can provide your QANTAS booking record locator.

 

[Katie]

I've been able to go through the BA website to get the Sabre booking reference. Just try to change your seat and it prompts you.

I don't know if I'm doing something wrong, but I've just tried this and cannot get the Sabre reference to show for the AA flights. (QF booking, trans pac flights on QF, internal US flights on AA)

Perhaps because my booking is through my corporate TA?

I don't deal directly with the TA, otherwise I would have already asked them for AA/Sabre PNR.