Individual seat selection isn't available for this flight - QF J International

[QF029]

I'm coming up to T-80 in a few hours for a QF J international flight on a 787 as part of a One World Award itinerary. Previously I was able to select a (not great) seat and have a reminder set to pick a better one.

When I try to choose my seat I get the message "Individual seat selection isn't available for this flight". I get the choice of Aisle or Window and it's the same with a flight from LHR-SYD in a few weeks. I'm NB but I don't think that should stop me selecting in J?

Any thoughts or suggestions?

 

[sudoer]

Does the seat map for either flight show up on ExpertFlyer?

With the flight in a few weeks, this is expected behaviour when all NB-accessible seats are occupied or blocked for other reasons (shadows)

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm coming up to T-80 in a few hours for a QF J international flight on a 787 as part of a One World Award itinerary. Previously I was able to select a (not great) seat and have a reminder set to pick a better one.

When I try to choose my seat I get the message "Individual seat selection isn't available for this flight". I get the choice of Aisle or Window and it's the same with a flight from LHR-SYD in a few weeks. I'm NB but I don't think that should stop me selecting in J?

Any thoughts or suggestions?

as sudoer says it means the allocation for your status has been reached and there are none for you to select in advance. At T-80 remaining seats should open up. As an example for 737s only row 3 is available for advance selection by bronze and silver… if those seats are gone you’ll get that message. At T-80 you can go back in and select anything remaining from rows 1 and 2. Same for the a380 and 787.

 

[Quickstatus]

T-80

Wait for T80. When that happens see what’s remaining. Note as a NB you will be picking through the crumbs.

 

[QF029]

Thanks for the feedback. We're past T-80 and no change. EF showing J2 still available.

 

[Quickstatus]

No crumbs left

 

[sudoer]

Thanks for the feedback. We're past T-80 and no change. EF showing J2 still available.

View attachment 279157

I wouldn't expect 4F to be available for selection by an NB, so from that screenshot I'm not surprised you're getting the window/aisle prompt on the QF website. I am surprised that EF is showing 4F as selectable though, in EF settings do you have another QF/OW membership number entered for QF seat maps?

Btw T-80 isn't an exact science, I've seen it open as early as T-104 and as late as T-72. But once it does open, I'd expect rows 1/2 to open up for selection.

 

[QF029]

ExpertFlyer definitely has my QF NB membership number. I didn't realise that T-80 was a little flexible - I'll keep checking back.

The good news is by end of July I'll be WP so hopefully avoid this problem for the next couple of years.

 

[sudoer]

ExpertFlyer definitely has my QF NB membership number. I didn't realise that T-80 was a little flexible - I'll keep checking back.

Set yourself EF alerts if you haven't already. They are pretty reliable.

The good news is by end of July I'll be WP so hopefully avoid this problem for the next couple of years.

WP is pretty good for J selection, but if you fly Y, seat alerts are still a necessary evil for bulkhead seats!

 

[FishFood]

I'm currently having this shown "Individual seat selection isn't available" for a domestic flight PER - MEL.

Is this likely to become available 80 hours before departure?

 

[smckay]

Gold here and same issue on QF1 last week. Our flight was full, so perhaps this is the same for you?

 

[bambyssl]

I'm flying from Melbourne to Dublin, Dublin to Melbourne on 31 May and back on 17 June. It says "individual seat selection not available" for every single flight, and there's no seat map/nothing. As I'm a frequent flyer member, it says that I get complimentary seat selection but what's the point if I keep getting a message saying "individual seat selection not available"?

 

[Quickstatus]

it says that I get complimentary seat selection

its says As a Qantas Frequent Flyer, enjoy complimentary standard seat selection when you book on any Qantas operated domestic or international flight departing Australia.*

See here for full conditions
Also did you book via Qantas directly or via a Travel agent?

 

[Danger]

Welcome to AFF, bambyssl (and thanks for using the search function, rather than starting a new thread on an existing topic which seems to be largely the norm).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I'm flying from Melbourne to Dublin, Dublin to Melbourne on 31 May and back on 17 June. It says "individual seat selection not available" for every single flight, and there's no seat map/nothing. As I'm a frequent flyer member, it says that I get complimentary seat selection but what's the point if I keep getting a message saying "individual seat selection not available"?

This likely means that seats *you are eligible* to select have been exhausted, for now.

Qantas cordons off zones of seats for pre-selection according to frequent flyer status. The higher the status, the more seats available prior for pre-selection.

At around 80 hours prior to departure all unallocated seats are thrown open, regardless of your frequent flyer status. If you can’t reserve a seat beforehand, 80 hours (and it’s usually 80 hours on the dot) if the time to jump in and select seats.

This also means you can select some of the best seats usually reserved for platinum members… like bulkheads and ‘up front’ seats.

The message you currently have dosent mean the flight is oversold or anything.

 

[Seat0B]

@bambyssl - just set a reminder in your calendar for 80 hrs before departure and go back in then to see if more seats have become available for selection. It's good to do that punctually, because many people know about this opportunity, and are waiting to pounce. So be sure you have done your research and know what seat you want to take (if it's still free) when the seat selection opens up.

As mentioned by @MEL_Traveller, unless you have higher frequent flyer status (eg Platinum or Platinum One) you will not have advance access to every seat in the Business Class Cabin this far out. However, once the higher status flyers have had a fair time to select, Qantas does open up all the seats that are still available, so go for it at that time (80 hours out).

And welcome to posting on AFF.

 

[bambyssl]

@bambyssl - just set a reminder in your calendar for 80 hrs before departure and go back in then to see if more seats have become available for selection. It's good to do that punctually, because many people know about this opportunity, and are waiting to pounce. So be sure you have done your research and know what seat you want to take (if it's still free) when the seat selection opens up.

As mentioned by @MEL_Traveller, unless you have higher frequent flyer status (eg Platinum or Platinum One) you will not have advance access to every seat in the Business Class Cabin this far out. However, once the higher status flyers have had a fair time to select, Qantas does open up all the seats that are still available, so go for it at that time (80 hours out).

And welcome to posting on AFF.

So it is now LESS than 80 hours before departure now and I can’t still book seats. Forget about booking seats, it doesn’t even lodge seat preferences. This is my first time flying Qantas and every international flight I’ve ever booked on prior to this I have always been able to book seats. Extremely disappointed with Qantas. Called them up and they said I have to go early to the airport. I’m just trying to book an economy seat!

 

[bambyssl]

its says As a Qantas Frequent Flyer, enjoy complimentary standard seat selection when you book on any Qantas operated domestic or international flight departing Australia.*

See here for full conditions
Also did you book via Qantas directly or via a Travel agent?

I booked the flight directly on the Qantas website. It’s an Emirates flight however. It is now less than 8 hours before departure and still no seats or seat preferences available to book. Contact centre said to go early to the airport instead. Seems beyond ridiculous.

 

[downgraded]

I booked the flight directly on the Qantas website. It’s an Emirates flight however. It is now less than 8 hours before departure and still no seats or seat preferences available to book. Contact centre said to go early to the airport instead. Seems beyond ridiculous.

You'd need to use the EK website to select your seat.

 

[sudoer]

It’s an Emirates flight

This changes things. Have you tried managing the booking on the Emirates site?