International seat selection not available

[Joy6328]

Hi everyone

So I’ve seen this plenty of times on Qantas link flights but not international. I noticed last night that my chosen seats has been changed, and because we’re flying with 2 kids I want us all to sit together.

When I want to try and choose new seats - i get this. Should I be concerned? (They are reward business seats x 4)

Thanks!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

This means that the current advance seating available to you according to your status level (bronze, silver, gold, etc) has been exhausted.

Seats will still be available, just they are being held for passengers with higher status.

It happens with both domestic and international.

If you are now separated from your children I would call qantas and ask them to send a note to the seating department to reinstate a set of four seats in close proximity to each other.

 

[SYD]

This means that the current advance seating available to you according to your status level (bronze, silver, gold, etc) has been exhausted.

Seats will still be available, just they are being held for passengers with higher status.

It happens with both domestic and international.

If you are now separated from your children I would call qantas and ask them to send a note to the seating department to reinstate a set of four seats in close proximity to each other.

Not sure that there’s a huge difference in seat selection once in J. Emerald city on A380 being one notable exception.

As it stands, the flight isn’t that full so it would make sense to try and call QF. The seat map below is what I can see (Note: EF knows that I’m QF WP).

 

[Joy6328]

This means that the current advance seating available to you according to your status level (bronze, silver, gold, etc) has been exhausted.

Seats will still be available, just they are being held for passengers with higher status.

It happens with both domestic and international.

If you are now separated from your children I would call qantas and ask them to send a note to the seating department to reinstate a set of four seats in close proximity to each other.

Thank you! Yes I am lowly bronze but I was worried something more serious was going on with my booking: appreciate the insight!

Not sure that there’s a huge difference in seat selection once in J. Emerald city on A380 being one notable exception.

As it stands, the flight isn’t that full so it would make sense to try and call QF. The seat map below is what I can see (Note: EF knows that I’m QF WP).
View attachment 291638

Thank you! I will give them a call, really appreciate the screenshot

 

[SYD]

Thank you! Yes I am lowly bronze but I was worried something more serious was going on with my booking: appreciate the insight!

Thank you! I will give them a call, really appreciate the screenshot

Something you can try is do a dummy booking for the same flight but only 1x PAX. Click thru to seat selection to see what’s available. If it’s 3 or less, that’s the issue as per @MEL_Traveller comment.

I think there’s a thread somewhere discussing seat availability by cabin and status > T-80.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As a silver my seat selection on the 787 was limited to just four rows… the last seat in the main cabin (row 8) and then the three rows in the mini cabin (rows 10, 11, 12).

In the a333 it was limited to rows 6 and 7 only (last two rows).

Adding my partner’s FF number into our (joint) booking opened up another two rows on each of the above.

So row blocking is definitely a thing on other aircraft! The 737 only allows me row 3 as a silver.

 

[Joy6328]

As a silver my seat selection on the 787 was limited to just four rows… the last seat in the main cabin (row 8) and then the three rows in the mini cabin (rows 10, 11, 12).

In the a333 it was limited to rows 6 and 7 only (last two rows).

Adding my partner’s FF number into our (joint) booking opened up another two rows on each of the above.

So row blocking is definitely a thing on other aircraft! The 737 only allows me row 3 as a silver.

Interesting! When I booked I was able to choose seats straight away, I only noticed last night that they had all been changed so we were in all different areas / rows. Good to know

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Interesting! When I booked I was able to choose seats straight away, I only noticed last night that they had all been changed so we were in all different areas / rows. Good to know

If there are seats within the ‘bronze’ (or silver or whatever) allocation at the time of booking you are able to take those.

Later on, as those allocations become full, any changes will be limited to the seats in that pool, or if there are none left, you get the error message. Seats will be available in other status pools/allocations… they generally get released about 80 hours prior to departure, or again at check in.

 

[N0mad]

am i right in my understanding that they would never seat a child by themselves there would always be 1 adult with them?

so worse case would be 2 and 2 together?

 

[Ade]

am i right in my understanding that they would never seat a child by themselves there would always be 1 adult with them?

Yes and No ...

Yes, because it makes sense for the child to be seated next to an accompanying adult ...

No, because, from personal experience AKL-MEL in J, my preferred seat (1A) was given to a parent because the child was seated in 1C and the mum was in 1F. The check-in agent realised this and got this sorted for the mum & child and I was moved to 3C. Funnily, the child received my pre-ordered "Strict Indian Vegetarian Meal" and the child didn't know what to do with it I later spoke to the FA and they swapped our meals.

 

[Joy6328]

I called Qantas - my husband and daughter have been allocated seats next to each other. They were unable to allocate myself and my son at all and said it was because the Airport still had control of the flight? He apologised and said to just keep trying to allocate seats in the lead up to travel.

 

[Ade]

said it was because the Airport still had control of the flight?

From what I know (and I could be incorrect), the airport only takes control of the flight in the 24 hour period before the travel ... Given that your flight is in November, I'm not entirely sure that the airport has control on your flight .. seems wayyyyyy too early ...

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I called Qantas - my husband and daughter have been allocated seats next to each other. They were unable to allocate myself and my son at all and said it was because the Airport still had control of the flight? He apologised and said to just keep trying to allocate seats in the lead up to travel.

This is a case of the call centre agent not understanding how seat allocation works and the pool of seats which are allocated by status. In the absence of understanding they just make it up

 

[Kremmen]

Would you expect this situation to change at T-80 for a flight for which EF shows seats available?