Is there anything more I can do ??

[Bindibuys]

I have very unhappy hubby, and need to know if I have done all I can.....

We have Z booking (premium econ - Qantas Classic booking) from Sydney to Lax on QF 11 25th October.

I had picked window seats 38 J&K on the A380. (32 seats in section - 7 window seats)

Found out yesterday they have changed plane to A380 V2 (35 seats in section - 10 window seats)

So even with more window seats available, they have placed us in 25 F & E.

I called customer care, and they said that they could not move anyone else to allow us to have window seats.

I have gone to expertflyer and asked to be notified when 24 AB or 24JK become available, as at present they are blocked off.
Have checked QF 107, but the Z booking is already taken from the bucket list.

I tried to explain to hubby that we are the bottom of the food chain when it comes to our booking (he is a private investigator, and not used to being told HE is the low life - he deals with low lives every day) plus not having any status (too many flights on industry or discount tickets).

So - is there anything more I can do ?
Rule of thumb, when does Qantas open up the blocked seats, and what are my chances of getting those seats??

 

[Princess Fiona]

It varies but in general at T-80 hours from departure time you may find a brief period of time when more seats are available. Logging on at this time and also having the EF alerts set up as you have done will give you the best chances of the J/K seats.

 

[Newk]

what a bugger.
Try what has been suggested above.
Or if you have a fare that is upgradeable and you have enough points (unlikely with what you have said) apply for the upgrade to business lottery.
Otherwise take a deep breath and enjoy your experience. . Look at it this way: Personally I prefer to avoid the window seats

 

[N860CR]

Once loads hit a certain number (in the 75% region) Qantas stop preallocation for most passengers.

Try again at T-80, T-24 (online checkin) and if all else fails, at the checkin counter (although these days that doesn't guarantee anything, especially on a flight with moderate loads)

 

[cove]

I looked for a J Classic but there were none.

 

[Bindibuys]

Thanks for the replies, I believe a Classic Award is not upgradeable, and daughter is batting eye lids for our points to pay for her flight to Scotland next January for a semester in Scotland anyway.
Lets hope I dont have to go thru this again for the return leg.

 

[stomplad]

1/ I agree with others keep on checking seat availability can change.
2/ No harm in calling again, you might get a more helpful person. Be polite but insistant
3/ Check in early and ask, there is lots of changing around at that time.
4/ Hope - You never know u might end up with a free seat in middle.

 

[simongr]

Thanks for the replies, I believe a Classic Award is not upgradeable, and daughter is batting eye lids for our points to pay for her flight to Scotland next January for a semester in Scotland anyway.
Lets hope I dont have to go thru this again for the return leg.

Despite what I have said about funding boygr's "gap year" [in 15 years] in J - you have an easy choice - get her to get a job (if she hasn't already got one) and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

An off beat alternative might be to put your husband's skills in investigation towards the head of revenue management at QF and finding a reason to get upgraded

 

[cove]

Bindibuys you can easily cancel a Classic flight if you see a better one. It should just cost 5000 points so do keep looking and watching and yes do call closer to your flight date.

 

[Bindibuys]

Despite what I have said about funding boygr's "gap year" [in 15 years] in J - you have an easy choice - get her to get a job (if she hasn't already got one) and enjoy the fruits of your labour.

An off beat alternative might be to put your husband's skills in investigation towards the head of revenue management at QF and finding a reason to get upgraded

Daughter is 21 and has already done the gap year thing (went around the world on her own dime) this is for her 3rd year at Uni. She is well on the way to Honours, so I dont begrudge her the points, anything to help her pay her way.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I called customer care, and they said that they could not move anyone else to allow us to have window seats.

I have gone to expertflyer and asked to be notified when 24 AB or 24JK become available, as at present they are blocked off. Have checked QF 107, but the Z booking is already taken from the bucket list.

So - is there anything more I can do?

Rule of thumb, when does Qantas open up the blocked seats, and what are my chances of getting those seats??

As well as Expert Flyer seat alerts you have set you could also set flight alerts for the other flights should "Z" or "U" class seats come up in the meantime.

There may also be other pax booked in PE on that flight who have upgrade requests in for J so there's always a possibility that anytime from 7 days prior to departure this requests may be actioned so that would be a good time to keep checking the seat map for that flight.

 

[Simo]

Try at T80 and also 24 hours before and if all else fails when you get to the airport make sure you are early and just say that one of you are a nervous flyer and would feel a lot more comfotable if we could have a window and also gets nervous in confined spaces. Mum has that issue and VA always look after her. QF hit and miss.