International Seat Selection

[serfty]

OK what do people think of this: I’m in 25D with a shadow and seems someone has purposefully chosen the other middle seat? Flight is in about 6 hours. Are they angling to try nab all 3 with me in the aisle?

Too late now of course, but what I would do, armed with the ExpertFlyer information, assuming the seat remains blocked, is board ASAP then sit in 25E.

 

[NZ_Flyer]

Too late now of course, but what I would do, armed with the ExpertFlyer information, assuming the seat remains blocked, is board ASAP then sit in 25E.

Haha yes I did think that would be my plan. My upgrade cleared just before boarding so I had a nice sleep instead

 

[justinbrett]

T-22 now and it’s down to Y7, only three blocked seats (one just disappeared) but I still have mine. I haven’t checked in yet (prefer to do it at the airport) so not sure if that helps or hinders my chance at keeping the blocked seat.

i guess even if it doesn’t get allocated it doesn’t stop someone in a middle seat helping themselves to it.

 

[justinbrett]

T-6. EF showing Y8 and there’s 8 open seats on the seat map, 3 blocked (including the seat next to mine). Looking good - I assume that means they will not sell the 3 blocked seats but I guess there still could be staff travel standby etc.

Interestingly on the Qantas map I can select all 8 seats, plus mine and another shadow. I assume that means either the third shadow is P1 or the one I can select is SG. (Ie to take someone’s shadow do you have to be the same rank or higher?).

Got the upgrade denied text at T-10. Wasn’t surprised.

Update- at T-4 it was still Y8, seat map had 5 free seats and 3 blocked. I could select all through the Qantas app except one of the shadows.

 

[justinbrett]

FLounge told me the flight is full and I won’t have a spare seat. EF showing Y7 and 5 feee seats (2 of which blocked). I’m assuming they’ve gone to standby / staff travel. You win some, you lose some.

 

[Daver6]

FLounge told me the flight is full and I won’t have a spare seat. EF showing Y7 and 5 feee seats (2 of which blocked). I’m assuming they’ve gone to standby / staff travel. You win some, you lose some.

Maybe they're prepared to boot someone off a saver fare if someone else is willing to pay flexi Y?

 

[clifford]

As it stands now (T-68) the seat next to me is blocked. There are a total of four blocked seats on the flight with at least Y9 seats still available. I’m thinking unless that number goes to Y3 or less I’ll have a spare seat.

Well, that may not be the case, as airlines will continue to sell seats even the flight might notionally be full, in the expectation (hope?) that there will be a number of no-shows, upgrades, etc. You might or might not be lucky, though.

 

[justinbrett]

T-1 (and a bit). Check in closed. EF still showing Y7, EF map showing 5 blocked and one free, but QF seat map only showing 2 free - mine and another (the same as the one showing as free on EF).

I’m not holding my breath, but it would be nice if nobody moves there.

 

[justinbrett]

“Cabin crew the final door is now closed”

 

[BriarFlyer]

I love a happy ending.

 

[therudies86]

I have an interesting issue with seat selection for travel to US next week:

1. On my "Manage My Booking" summary page it lists the seats I pre-selected weeks ago.
2. However, when I select the "Change Seats" link, for two of the flights (BNE-LAX, LAX-BNE) it says "Seat Selection is Current Unavailable" - the third flight (LAX-JFK) still shows the correct seat map/selection.
3. When I look at EF it shows the seats I previously selected as taken.

Hopefully a glitch, but I'd be might pi*&^*&^d off if I don't get the seats I selected. Better yet, I hope I get the upgrades I bid for.

 

[justinbrett]

I have an interesting issue with seat selection for travel to US next week:

1. On my "Manage My Booking" summary page it lists the seats I pre-selected weeks ago.
2. However, when I select the "Change Seats" link, for two of the flights (BNE-LAX, LAX-BNE) it says "Seat Selection is Current Unavailable" - the third flight (LAX-JFK) still shows the correct seat map/selection.
3. When I look at EF it shows the seats I previously selected as taken.

Hopefully a glitch, but I'd be might pi*&^*&^d off if I don't get the seats I selected. Better yet, I hope I get the upgrades I bid for.

When a certain percentage of the seats are allocated in a given class, it will stop showing the seat map until check in opens.

 

[therudies86]

Thanks @justinbrett
Yes agree normally, however, over the last week the seat availability function has fluctuated and has been inconsistent between iPhone app and website.
I am so pleased about the folks here who put me onto EF, so I have an alternate "source of truth" to check against. I'll be watching carefully at T-80 to see what happens.

 

[jpp42]

Hopefully a glitch, but I'd be might pi*&^*&^d off if I don't get the seats I selected. Better yet, I hope I get the upgrades I bid for.

I don't think you should be pissed off if you don't get your selected seats. Qantas has shown (as mentioned several times already in this thread), that they will move people around , sometimes regardless of status, as they feel fit. Gate agents have wide leeway to do this at last minute in order to seat families, etc. So I think it's worth going in with the approach that it's a seat request, which will be fulfilled most of the time, but not always. Better to have low expectations and have them exceeded than the alternative, right?

 

[therudies86]

@jpp42 you're correct - frustrated more than pissed off. I am travelling with a 20 yo who has anxiety challenges, so seat selection (and possible upgrade) makes a huge difference for them.

 

[therudies86]

I had cause to call the Qantas Call Centre yesterday about another booking - so I asked if I could be placed in front row (20) PE. The operator tried it and it stuck - happy days. Even happier days when my request for points upgrade came through (approx T-60) for two seats PE to J. Thank you Qantas

 

[JohnK]

Remember those on cheap fares with no status who won't pay to select a seat (or in a group booking) may wind up in that non blocked seat.

I agree to just take the seat you want and whatever happens, happens.. out of your control really.

I made a separate booking for wife and daughter to Thailand as their outbound flights are a week earlier than mine but we are returning on the same flights.

In the past Qantas would link bookings and seat my wife and daughter near me. Called last night and consultant wouldn't budge.

Qantas wants $40 per person to preselect seats so I can see why people don't want to pay this rort. I'll keep calling hoping some consultant allocates seats.

 

[dylarr]

In the past Qantas would link bookings and seat my wife and daughter near me. Called last night and consultant wouldn't budge.

They can't actually merge two reservations so that you can seat select from the same booking per se. What they've likely done for you in the past where it has been "linked" is add a "TCP" (total complete party) entry to the OSI details on your reservations. This lets the airline know that other passengers are travelling with you but are booked separately.

If you've encountered an agent who refuses to "link" your bookings, try calling back and use the the phrasing "I'm travelling with other family who are booked on a seperate reservation. Can you please update both reservations with a TCP notification."

However, even with TCP, your seating benefits from your status don't apply to the passengers without status on seperate bookings. It only applies to passengers on your booking. For the other booking, flights booked in classes E, N, O or Q are paid seat selection unless at least one of the passengers is Silver or above. If agents have waived this fee in the past then that is not policy but rather an exception (unless the seat selection was free anyway) so you might have to do the trusty HUACA trick until you get an agent who can help.

 

[JohnK]

However, even with TCP, your seating benefits from your status don't apply to the passengers without status on seperate bookings. It only applies to passengers on your booking. For the other booking, flights booked in classes E, N, O or Q are paid seat selection unless at least one of the passengers is Silver or above. If agents have waived this fee in the past then that is not policy but rather an exception (unless the seat selection was free anyway) so you might have to do the trusty HUACA trick until you get an agent who can help.

Thanks for that information.

Some agents are great and try to help where they can.

I called to enquire if BPAY payment had been received and she actually created a booking for wife and daughter for SYD-BNE to reserve the seats at today's rates and when BPAY payment is processed they can transfer those seats to their full booking.

That's what I call going out of the way to help but I'm sure Joyce wouldn't be happy.

Regarding seats I'll keep calling trying to get them seated near me and if tgat doesn't work I'll try again when online checkin opens. We don't really need to sit together but if wife wants to go to bathroom someone needs to be with the 3 year old daughter.

 

[dylarr]

Regarding seats I'll keep calling trying to get them seated near me

Regardless of the outcome definitely do the TCP as well. If done correctly by the agent it will make check in easier as you’ll be able to check in all at once if using OLCI or at the kiosks. Also helps when there are irrops etc.

I’ve also seen instances where it has given shadows for the other passengers but not all the time so I don’t know if this is still the case.