OLCI - What's the point? Shocking seat selection

[JohnK]

But as noted preferred seating is not a benefit of bronze. It seems pretyy obvious to me that it was an aircraft full of people with the same or better status and 2 people travelling, leaving a limited choice in row 29. Also note that the OP has said there were other single seats available further forward. So individually they could have had a better seat, but choose to sit together.

I did not say preferred seating was a benefit of Bronze status. I thought I was referring to "seating preferences" which is not quite the same.

As a Bronze you are still entitled to put in a seating preference on your QFF profile. As far as I am aware Altea determines a customer value to Qantas based on a various criteria so it is quite possible that a Bronze will get a better seat over another Bronze member or non-member if they are perceived to be of more customer value to Qantas.

Remember that everyone gets a theoretical seat on all flights prior to OLCI opening up.

 

[anat0l]

[chime in]

Just selected seats for a number of my flights (international Y ones) - had no trouble seeing a whole bunch around the plane, and getting front row(s) (including bulkhead).

I even managed to select a seat on a CX flight which is in my booking from QF, and again a very wide seat selection (although funny enough the entire middle section of Y was blocked out for my selection - but plenty of front row seats).

Whether it is good to actually sit in a 333 / 332 bulkhead will be a whole different thing.

This is a WP, flights are in May, travelling on Red e-Deal (not cheapest bucket) / Super Savers.

[/chime in]

 

[JohnK]

Whether it is good to actually sit in a 333 / 332 bulkhead will be a whole different thing.

I find 23B and 23J very good on a QF A333. Don't know about 332's.

This is a WP, flights are in May, travelling on Red e-Deal (not cheapest bucket) / Super Savers.

Not quite the same as OLCI though and we are also Platinum so have a bit of an advantage over Bronze or non-members.

I have recently booked 4 QF long haul flights on very cheap sale fares and I was pre-allocated bulkhead aisle on the single 747 flight and the second row aisle on the 3 A380 flights. I have managed to pre-allocate the next best thing to an exit row on all A380 flights.

 

[tuapekastar]

[chime in]

Just selected seats for a number of my flights (international Y ones) - had no trouble seeing a whole bunch around the plane, and getting front row(s) (including bulkhead).

I even managed to select a seat on a CX flight which is in my booking from QF, and again a very wide seat selection (although funny enough the entire middle section of Y was blocked out for my selection - but plenty of front row seats).

Whether it is good to actually sit in a 333 / 332 bulkhead will be a whole different thing.

This is a WP, flights are in May, travelling on Red e-Deal (not cheapest bucket) / Super Savers.

[/chime in]

Small beer here, but I booked MEL-AKL for a friend and self a few weeks ago for late March on a 738:

I am QPPS and he is QPNB
I was making the booking
His surname is one letter ahead of mine in the alphabet
His FF number is lower than mine
We both have aisle as a preference in our profiles

We were both allocated exit row (13), but with him in the aisle and me (higher status) in the middle.

Naturally I swapped the seats (), though I did ask him whether he he was happy with exit middle, or preferred non-exit aisle.

Given all the above, it's not clear to me why he was allocated aisle and I wasn't. Anyway, exit row allocation was a good thing.

 

[medhead]

I did not say preferred seating was a benefit of Bronze status. I thought I was referring to "seating preferences" which is not quite the same.

As a Bronze you are still entitled to put in a seating preference on your QFF profile. As far as I am aware Altea determines a customer value to Qantas based on a various criteria so it is quite possible that a Bronze will get a better seat over another Bronze member or non-member if they are perceived to be of more customer value to Qantas.

Remember that everyone gets a theoretical seat on all flights prior to OLCI opening up.

I gotta say to me perferred seating and seating preference is the same thing. I can't really see the difference. But a clearly stated benefit of > NB is preferred seating.

The point of my comment was not directed at altea assigning value to various NBs, it was more directed at the situation of an NB trumping a non-FF. NOt having the benefit of preferred seating suggests to me that an NB can't trump out a non-FF. This doesn't impact on the business of altea assigning theoretical seats.

 

[JohnK]

I gotta say to me perferred seating and seating preference is the same thing. I can't really see the difference. But a clearly stated benefit of > NB is preferred seating.

There is a difference. Bronze can include a seating preference in their QFF profile. Whether they get their preferred seating or not is a different matter.

The point of my comment was not directed at altea assigning value to various NBs, it was more directed at the situation of an NB trumping a non-FF. NOt having the benefit of preferred seating suggests to me that an NB can't trump out a non-FF. This doesn't impact on the business of altea assigning theoretical seats.

We do not know how Altea treats Bronze and non-members and would be a very difficult one to test due to the fact that once you have look at your pre-allocated theoretical seat you have basically checked-in online and no longer have a theoretical seat but an allocated seat on the flight.

I would rather be a Bronze member and be able to provide a seating preference online rather than a non-member.

 

[simongr]

Flying SYD-ADL on 783 tomorrow I have the option of every seat apart from:

4AC
4DEF
5A

Now this gets me thinking. All seats are preallocated at T-24:01 by HAL9000 BUT you might be allocated a seat but if someone else in the same fare/status group OLCI's before you then you get one of the other seats in your preallocation section.

So two WP flying in K - one gets preall'd 5C and the other 6C. WP2 OLCI's and snags WP1's 5C whereas WP1 waits to check in at the airport and STILL gets a seat in his allocation zone - 6C.

My rationale for this is that my flight is showing J3 Y7 H8 meaning at MOST they will only sell 8 more seats on this flight in whY (everything else is 0 or C). However I have access to 20+ seats on the first screen of seat selection and I assume many more back closer to the end of the bus.

 

[JohnK]

This is not an easy one to answer and is probably best answered by someone with solid knowledge of Altea.

I have used OLCI very early (seq #1, #2, #3 etc) and I see many seats in front of me pre-allocated while all the seats behind me (expect exit row) available. I have also checked back later at regular intervals (sometimes 6 or 7 times a night) and have witnessed new seats showing allocated and some have now become available. I move seats and continue checking for a better seat.

I have also used OLCI quite late (seq #27, #33 etc) and I can see many seats in front me pre-allocated but some good seats in front of me available.

I still believe my theory that with Altea you cannot trump a theoretical pre-allocated seat of someone with the same or higher status although you can trump a theoretical pre-allocated seat of someone with a lower status if they have not already checked in for the flight. What happens to their theoretical pre-allocated seat is anyone 's guess. Does Altea send them to the back of the queue? Does it re-shuffle theoretical seats? What happens if you then move back out of that seat and go forward to your old seat?

So many questions but no firm answers.

 

[straitman]

serfty and I plus partners are travelling BNE-MEL this afternoon on QF625. Our initial allocations were Row 6 (either side of the aisle) with rows 4 & 5 showing as quite full.

By continually checking we managed to move to Row 4 and Row 5. So to just reinforce that it is a moving target.

 

[kamchatsky]

serfty and I plus partners are travelling BNE-MEL this afternoon on QF625. Our initial allocations were Row 6 (either side of the aisle) with rows 4 & 5 showing as quite full.

By continually checking we managed to move to Row 4 and Row 5. So to just reinforce that it is a moving target.

Would this be only apply to QF S/G/P? Given that as QF NB I could not get seats further front than what I was originally assigned even with multiple OLCIs and QuickChecks.

 

[simongr]

I think that they hold certain sections for certain status pax. I was flying ADL-SYD with a couple of my guys and I upgraded to J from around 6C. I enquired at the QP to see if he could move from 75Z and was told that they would be holding that seat for SG and above...

 

[JohnK]

Would this be only apply to QF S/G/P?

I think it would mainly apply to higher status frequent flyers as they have pick of the board.

Given that as QF NB I could not get seats further front than what I was originally assigned even with multiple OLCIs and QuickChecks.

Hard to answer what may have happened on that one flight. It may have been stacked with high status frequent flyers and only left a few rows down the back for Bronze or mon-members. You said your pre-allocated seats were much better for other flight.

I have been monitoring my situation for the last 20 months commuting and I can certainly say that more than not I am sitting in the first row of WHY after been given pre-allocated seats further back in the WHY cabin. Just keep checking OLCI and you never know what seats may become available.

 

[AnonymousCoward]

There is a difference. Bronze can include a seating preference in their QFF profile.

You sure about that? I thought it was a Silver+ or QP benefit.

 

[Must...Fly!]

You sure about that? I thought it was a Silver+ or QP benefit.

You most certainly can

Lifetime bronze member.

hahahahaha...

 

[JohnK]

You sure about that? I thought it was a Silver+ or QP benefit.

I was under the impression that all QFF members can put in some sort of seating preference in their QFF profile.

I have not been Bronze since 2003 so I cannot confirm. Maybe a Bronze member will post and let us know it is possible to include a seating preference on their QFF profile.

 

[opusman]

I was under the impression that all QFF members can put in some sort of seating preference in their QFF profile.

My memory is that seating preference was one of the benefits of QP membership, hence I don't think it's available to non-QP bronze.

 

[Blackadder]

I was under the impression that all QFF members can put in some sort of seating preference in their QFF profile.

I have not been Bronze since 2003 so I cannot confirm. Maybe a Bronze member will post and let us know it is possible to include a seating preference on their QFF profile.

Correct any level of QF FF can request a seating preference in most cases these will be granted (assuming not exit rows), obviously the higher up the FF food chain you go, the more chance you have of your seat request being granted.

 

[serfty]

I have not tested this recently, but in years gone by, ISTR once one had a status whereby said preferences could be entered, if one subsequently experienced the varied fortune to be downgraded to NB; those preference still stand.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Even if you have no status eg not even a ff member can you not, when doing a booking on the QF website specifiy what seat request you would like?

Mind you it is just that a request. Too many people arrive at the airport then if given a middle seat complain "but I requested an aisle seat when I booked" or "but it's in my (FFBR) profile".

With the introducation of free membership via the Woollies ERC it will be more common for a greater number of Aussies to have FFBR so the lesser the likelihood of your request becoming a reality.

OLCI would be your best bet.

 

[medhead]

I tested the family's NB accounts and they are able to enter a preference.

I thought i read on the qantas website that NB don't get seating preference but can't find it again, the closest is that ruby + get preferred seating for oneworld.