Platinum Shadow - how does it work?

[ermen]

Hi all I was just wondering how this WP shadow work? I have another trip to SYD - SIN in Y in September. I have selected 51C but when I go to EF, I do not see any blocked / shadow seats beside me on the seat map? Is this shadow only available for maybe higher tiered WP or even CL? Or is this shadow just an urban myth?

 

[Mal]

I think "Platinum Shadow" only applies for domestic flights.

 

[nlagalle]

I think "Platinum Shadow" only applies for domestic flights.

I'm not sure.. on my flight to AKL soon I definately have a shadow as it has moved with me as I changed seats.

 

[Austman]

I've definitely been visited by the shadow. But it does seem to work in mysterious ways.

 

[Mal]

I've definitely been visited by the shadow.

I call the shadow "My invisible travel companion"...

In Economy when flying oveseas I often have a seat spare next to me ... but I've never considered that to be a shadow, but rather (eg single pax in A, me in C). Will have to do more testing when flying overseas in Y next.

And no, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me either at times.

 

[oz_mark]

As a gold, it has visited me. I have a feeling it may be implemented through a weighting in the ranking of seats when they work out who sees what.

 

[QF029]

I've had it on international. I think the flight loading is the key factor and QF are pretty good at putting bums on seats so I suspect it's fairly uncommon.

 

[munitalP]

I've had it on international. I think the flight loading is the key factor and QF are pretty good at putting bums on seats so I suspect it's fairly uncommon.

Yes - I would agree, uncommon

munitalP

 

[cove]

I like to think of that empty blocked seat next to me as the one for my imaginary friend.

 

[medhead]

The key question is what are the loads on the flight like. Generally, if it is pretty full the block will disappear. But the whole platinum shadow thing is hard to track.

 

[Alanslegal]

No WP shadow for me;

17/11 QF31 I'm in 50A and 50B/C are both available.

 

[serfty]

I certainly see it more on Domestic flights than I do internationally.

When I do see it internationally the flight are generally lightly loaded.

 

[samh004]

As a gold, it has visited me. I have a feeling it may be implemented through a weighting in the ranking of seats when they work out who sees what.

I have seen similar, when selecting seats for myself and my sister on a separate ticket we’ve had the problem where she’d have to select first, otherwise the seat next to me would be blocked.

 

[oz_mark]

I have seen similar, when selecting seats for myself and my sister on a separate ticket we’ve had the problem where she’d have to select first, otherwise the seat next to me would be blocked.

Yep, that's how I discovered it as well. Couldn't move someone next to me. I had to move next to them.

 

[munitalP]

I have 22 domestic and 4 international flights in MY BOOKINGS. Not one is showing a shadow.

I do however have the window on all first available rows, i.e. 3rd row in Y on all flights except tonights where I have 1st row of Y.

I also have 50A me and 50C Mrs. munitalP SYD/LAX and first row Y (744) A & C seats on return

No shadows though...

 

[richie9x]

My only experience as a platinum so far has been on domestic flights. But it is fairly consistent have spare seats next to me if there are spare seats on the flight. The way I tell I have a shadow is if the seat next to me is available in the seat selection on the Qantas website. Yet if you look at the seatmap on CheckMyTrip it shows the seat next to me as unavailable, while almost all the other seats show the same availability as Qantas.



I think there might be a exception for exit row seats as the above does not always apply. In that if I select an exit row the seat next to me shows available on CheckMyTrip. Although I have had empty seats next to me on exit rows but they seem to be rarer.

 

[oz_mark]

My only experience as a platinum so far has been on domestic flights. But it is fairly consistent have spare seats next to me if there are spare seats on the flight. The way I tell I have a shadow is if the seat next to me is available in the seat selection on the Qantas website. Yet if you look at the seatmap on CheckMyTrip it shows the seat next to me as unavailable, while almost all the other seats show the same availability as Qantas.

.

Indeed - you generally can't see your own shadow I've only seen it when trying to allocate someone else a seat next to me. Everywhere I went the seat next to me would disappear from their options!

 

[dfcatch]

I have 22 domestic and 4 international flights in MY BOOKINGS. Not one is showing a shadow.

I do however have the window on all first available rows, i.e. 3rd row in Y on all flights except tonights where I have 1st row of Y.

I also have 50A me and 50C Mrs. munitalP SYD/LAX and first row Y (744) A & C seats on return

No shadows though...

How do you go with avoiding new friends in the B seat?

 

[pshepvic]

The shadow worked for me on Friday night MEL-BNE. Almost guaranteed with 2 WPs on the same booking! But it did cause an issue with using my FF card as the BP - wouldn't scan and came up with a "multiple passenger" error so they had to print me a BP.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The shadow worked for me on Friday night MEL-BNE. Almost guaranteed with 2 WPs on the same booking! But it did cause an issue with using my FF card as the BP - wouldn't scan and came up with a "multiple passenger" error so they had to print me a BP.

How did you checkin originally - OLCI, Mobile or Podium & did your companion to the same or different way of checking in?