JQ Check-in Seat Allocation

[eastwest101]

The mobile site is the way to go until they update it and shut that option down. I was told that even if you go to the service desk at the airport and ask for your seat to be moved then you will be charged but I haven't tried it out. I've also not tried out the QP check-in option to see if they can allocate a seat.

T2 JQ check-in at SYD was an absolute zoo on Sat morning so could barely get in the front doors, so I couldn't even get near a JQ check-in counter to test this out. From what I could tell with the computer kiosks - once you have done online check-in, you are locked out of any further seat selection options at the kiosk. As it turns out the JQ flight was reasonably full from front to back so no real useful info from me - although the JQ automatic seat allocation system may still seem to remember my original QF aisle seat preference.

I didn't walk over to T3 and try the Qantas Club so will have to see if others have any luck with this - I expect it will vary between different airports...

 

[gizzard]

once you have done online check-in, you are locked out of any further seat selection options at the kiosk......

I think that the prevention of seat selection at kiosks has been that way for a while.

...although the JQ automatic seat allocation system may still seem to remember my original QF aisle seat preference.

Pure coincidence, I would think. I'm almost certain there's no link between QF preferences and JQ.

... I didn't walk over to T3 and try the Qantas Club so will have to see if others have any luck with this - I expect it will vary between different airports...

SYD QP have no access to JQs systems. They cannot help with check-in or seat allocation.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

As it turns out the JQ flight was reasonably full from front to back so no real useful info from me - although the JQ automatic seat allocation system may still seem to remember my original QF aisle seat preference.

The JQ system cannot access seat requests from another airline's system so any similarity between the JQ seat you end up with and your seat preference in your QF profile is purely coincidental.

You may as well say the VA system recognises your QF seat preference.

 

[jmphoto]

Does anyone have experience with seat allocation recently with JQ international legs?

I've currently got 30G & 30J on JQ8 selected ($7 seats)

Based on this thread I'm likely to get someone seated in the middle. So options - select an aisle and window towards the back of the plane, or stump for the up-front seats.

Does anybody know if the upfront seats get randomly allocated at check-in? Obviously if the plane is full, then people will be in them, but do they attempt to keep the integrity of the system? I'd be happy to pay the extra $36 if it gets me a bit more elbow room, but I'd be disappointed if then the middle seat gets allocated early because it's at the front of the plane.

I know people have frustrations with the $ for seats system - but this was one of those MEL-SIN-SGN rtn deals that was too cheap to knock back. If I've got to spend a few dollars to get a decent seat it's OK, I'm still many hundreds ahead.

 

[eastwest101]

Does anyone have experience with seat allocation recently with JQ international legs?

I've currently got 30G & 30J on JQ8 selected ($7 seats)

Based on this thread I'm likely to get someone seated in the middle. So options - select an aisle and window towards the back of the plane, or stump for the up-front seats.

Does anybody know if the upfront seats get randomly allocated at check-in? Obviously if the plane is full, then people will be in them, but do they attempt to keep the integrity of the system? I'd be happy to pay the extra $36 if it gets me a bit more elbow room, but I'd be disappointed if then the middle seat gets allocated early because it's at the front of the plane.

I know people have frustrations with the $ for seats system - but this was one of those MEL-SIN-SGN rtn deals that was too cheap to knock back. If I've got to spend a few dollars to get a decent seat it's OK, I'm still many hundreds ahead.

I can't speak for international, but my experience with domestic A320 JQ flights is that people who don't pay for seat selection get randomly allocated seats from the centre of the aircraft outwards before airport check-in opens, so empty seats are possibly more likely at the rear and the front of the aircraft (if the flight isn't full of course). This may be a deliberate weight and balance policy of distributing unallocated pax towards the centre of the aircraft on domestic JQ A320 services. Once airport checkin opens then I guess seat allocations can change from there depending on how full/empty the aircraft is and whether JQ check-in staff are allowed any flexibility to redistribute pax when its under airport control.

For other people following this thread and flying JQ domestic - yes - the mobile site still allows free seat selection (except for exit rows and extra legroom seats at the front of A320/A321 services) but the full web site tries to extract money out of you for seat selection.

 

[medhead]

Does anyone have experience with seat allocation recently with JQ international legs?

I've currently got 30G & 30J on JQ8 selected ($7 seats)

Based on this thread I'm likely to get someone seated in the middle. So options - select an aisle and window towards the back of the plane, or stump for the up-front seats.

Does anybody know if the upfront seats get randomly allocated at check-in? Obviously if the plane is full, then people will be in them, but do they attempt to keep the integrity of the system? I'd be happy to pay the extra $36 if it gets me a bit more elbow room, but I'd be disappointed if then the middle seat gets allocated early because it's at the front of the plane.

I know people have frustrations with the $ for seats system - but this was one of those MEL-SIN-SGN rtn deals that was too cheap to knock back. If I've got to spend a few dollars to get a decent seat it's OK, I'm still many hundreds ahead.

Was recently on JQ7 to SIN, in upfront seating, 10G. It was all a bit of a mess with an obvious group travelling together. At one stage someone loudly asked "did anyone actually pay for these seats". Another couple in the group said something like yes of course! The conversation then stopped. I don't recall the plane being completely full.

 

[eastwest101]

Was recently on JQ7 to SIN, in upfront seating, 10G. It was all a bit of a mess with an obvious group travelling together. At one stage someone loudly asked "did anyone actually pay for these seats". Another couple in the group said something like yes of course! The conversation then stopped. I don't recall the plane being completely full.

I think that sort of highlights the inherent tension between the business model of trying to extract as much ancillary revenue/fees out of pax as possible vs the eventual loading and weight and balance requirements of the operating aircraft, if the two are incompatible, then physics (weight and balance) will always win over the accountants.

In your last post Medhead are you saying that the obvious group got "split up" or randomly distributed?

 

[Awesom Andy]

Not too sure on JQi, but on 3K, the empty up front seats are allocated last. However, once in the air, anyone is free to move into the unoccupied seats.

 

[jmphoto]

Thanks guys,

I'll keep an eye on the seatmap and might move north to the upfront seats. Currently there are only a handful taken.

 

[Limewood]

Been looking for 2xJ one way award seats to USA mainland past month found zilch on QFF so did the unthinkable booked for Aug. BNE/HNL in JQ J (PE) (then make own way to SEA), return is via DFW on QF all confirmed, however the booking No. supplied by QFF for JQ will not register as I'd like bulkhead seats if available, any idea why? to far out?

 

[eastwest101]

Just an update on this situation - did online mobile checkin this morning for a domestic JQ flight - free seat selection has been dis-abled on the mobile site as well - so that is the last loop hole that JQ have closed in the last month or two. As said up thread - this could be a massive PITA for groups travelling together and for bookings made through corporate travel agents.

Having said that - I was auto allocated 9D (and yes you don't find out your seat number until the boarding pass is SMS to you) this time ,so will see how that pans out, better than the 26E that I succesfully avoided last time!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Does anyone have experience with seat allocation recently with JQ international legs? I've currently got 30G & 30J on JQ8 selected ($7 seats)

Based on this thread I'm likely to get someone seated in the middle. So options - select an aisle and window towards the back of the plane, or stump for the up-front seats.

Does anybody know if the upfront seats get randomly allocated at check-in? Obviously if the plane is full, then people will be in them, but do they attempt to keep the integrity of the system? I'd be happy to pay the extra $36 if it gets me a bit more elbow room, but I'd be disappointed if then the middle seat gets allocated early because it's at the front of the plane.

I know people have frustrations with the $ for seats system - but this was one of those MEL-SIN-SGN rtn deals that was too cheap to knock back. If I've got to spend a few dollars to get a decent seat it's OK, I'm still many hundreds ahead.

Just got back today from BKK. We got a good price for Star Class then paid the $200.00(?) extra for the plus bundle for the MEL/BKK which we initially booked for April but moved to October (zero extra payment for online change). Seat allocation was free as Star Class which was full although they had curtained off 3GJ for crew rest. Always expect J to be full and there to be infants and/or children in J.

The homeward leg BKK/xMEL/BNE was in whY with a bundle but what appealed was the flights were JQ30 connecting to JQ5 which would mean a transit airside in MEL and therefore an opportunity for another F Lounge visit with customs on arrival in BNE. Incidentally 3GJ not blocked on BKK/MEL sector.

Last overnight flight we did on JQi was DPS/BNE with a shadow in the middle however BKK/MEL was just about chockers so no spare seat in the middle this time which really impacts your ability to get comfortable ie you can't. We had G & J with a random guy in H but next time I would shelve my window seat preference and opt for D&F as no need to wake up seat map to get out or for them to wake you.

If you get a random in E you can give them D or F - either way as a couple you can both get up and walk around the cabin and stretch you leg to avoid your ankles swelling. There just isn't the leg room to be able to stretch your legs under the seat in front of you like whY in an EK A380. Even a Q400 is much more generous with legroom than a 787!

Was recently on JQ7 to SIN, in upfront seating, 10G. It was all a bit of a mess with an obvious group travelling together. At one stage someone loudly asked "did anyone actually pay for these seats". Another couple in the group said something like yes of course! The conversation then stopped. I don't recall the plane being completely full.

Do you think the majority of people knew that person was asking about paid seat allocation vs paying for the actual air ticket? IMHO I don't think there would be any shortage of people willing to pay for upfront seating as people like the ability to choose forward seating.

 

[N860CR]

What a lovely way to travel...