Platinum shadow seat

[RichardMEL]

It doesn't have to be but believe it or not I spoke to him and it wasn't his selection. And we're not talking row 4 on a 737 but a random forward row on an A380.
I don't see it as a conspiracy to spite a couple of WPs but as something where QF didn't carry through a principle/perk it nominally offers and could have maintained had the processes and staff adequately continued what the IT system had correctly initially supported (in zoned seating allocations and shadows).

ah ok. I misunderstood the situation.

I would agree in principle that it makes no sense to remove blocks if <seats remaining open> > <number of pax> as a general rule - this would ensure those with blocks still keep them, while some poor pax get shoved down the back in middles.

Of course the blocks (or "shadows") have never been promised as a defined benefit which is a difficult one.

en result? Good ol' Consistently Inconsistent(tm)

 

[SYD]

There was an article in the SMH / Age the other day about couples taking window / aisle on 3 seat rows to roll the dice on a “row to themselves”. Even as 2x WPs travelling together this seems to fail more often than not.

On short hops, SYD+1 and I just go for adjacent aisle seats. Ironically, we sometimes get both the middle seats left vacant.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I don’t recall WPs ever having this a benefit…if you check EF usually just CL and P1s so a risky strategy if only a WP

 

[mrsterryn]

I don’t recall WPs ever having this a benefit…if you check EF usually just CL and P1s so a risky strategy if only a WP

I have been a platinum for a few years now. Prior to covid I would usually have a shadow that moved with me when I travelled economy (international).

 

[TheInsider]

I don’t recall WPs ever having this a benefit…if you check EF usually just CL and P1s so a risky strategy if only a WP

It's not a benefit of WP's. It's a benefit for any frequent flyer nearly.
If the flight had one Bronze member and the rest non frequent flyers and it was nearly full, the bronze member would get the spare seat next to them.
With flights about 75% full and assuming everyone is a single traveller and no one assigned their seats, everyone would have the middle seat spare. That's just how the seating logic is set up.

 

[justinbrett]

I don’t recall WPs ever having this a benefit…if you check EF usually just CL and P1s so a risky strategy if only a WP

WP shadows are definitely a thing, many posts on AFF about it.

I have been a platinum for a few years now. Prior to covid I would usually have a shadow that moved with me when I travelled domestically (international).

I had one last year (2022), HNL-SYD.

 

[mrsterryn]

WP shadows are definitely a thing, many posts on AFF about it.



I had one last year (2022), HNL-SYD.

Darn I didn't get one of my Syd to HNL or return lol

 

[Franky]

I don’t recall WPs ever having this a benefit…if you check EF usually just CL and P1s so a risky strategy if only a WP

My wife has been WP for years, and pre CV19 invariably had a shadow on her many flights…

 

[justinbrett]

Darn I didn't get one of my Syd to HNL or return lol

I think I've had 100% success rate in shadows to/from HNL.

Just before covid in Jan 2020, I had the only vacant seat on the plane next to me free flying SYD-HNL.

Probably doesn't hurt flying solo on a couples route.

 

[mrsterryn]

I think I've had 100% success rate in shadows to/from HNL.

Just before covid in Jan 2020, I had the only vacant seat on the plane next to me free flying SYD-HNL.

Probably doesn't hurt flying solo on a couples route.

Yep just me , I abandoned my husband for a few days
I actually had a fat seat and a shadow on the flight from LAX to Melbourne that landed 14th of March
That plane was chokkas . It was a nice three seat row

 

[logicallysynced]

Sorry to unearth this conversation, but I was wondering for people who had experienced shadow seating with partners/+1, do you put yourself (the WP) adjacent to the empty seat to try and trigger it?

For example as I’m the WP, if I put myself window and my partner (Bronze) in the middle, would there be zero chance of shadow on the aisle seat?

Obviously I understand the shadow benefit is finicky and not guaranteed at best so it’s more out of curiosity.

 

[sudoer]

For example as I’m the WP, if I put myself window and my partner (Bronze) in the middle, would there be zero chance of shadow on the aisle seat?

Yes, that's my understanding. You should select the middle seat for best chance of a shadow (which of you actually sits there on the flight doesn't matter)

 

[downgraded]

Yes, that's my understanding. You should select the middle seat for best chance of a shadow (which of you actually sits there on the flight doesn't matter)

WP in both A and C and they still put someone in B. It's a fallacy I think. Agree B may be better than A or C but don't have any expectations.

 

[elanshin]

Sorry to unearth this conversation, but I was wondering for people who had experienced shadow seating with partners/+1, do you put yourself (the WP) adjacent to the empty seat to try and trigger it?

For example as I’m the WP, if I put myself window and my partner (Bronze) in the middle, would there be zero chance of shadow on the aisle seat?

Obviously I understand the shadow benefit is finicky and not guaranteed at best so it’s more out of curiosity.

If you put yourself WP in window (A) and NB partner in (B) C is completely open.

If you did A and C, B is blocked until later. If you put your partner in A and yourself in B, C is open.

I tested this with EF, booking engine and moving ourselves around in a row recently and seeing what shows up on both.

 

[logicallysynced]

If you put yourself WP in window (A) and NB partner in (B) C is completely open.

If you did A and C, B is blocked until later. If you put your partner in A and yourself in B, C is open.

I tested this with EF, booking engine and moving ourselves around in a row recently and seeing what shows up on both.

Just tried putting us A and C, and B didn’t block on EF. Guess not every route has it by default I suppose, but the flight (QF2) is in May so still a ways out.

 

[justinbrett]

Just tried putting us A and C, and B didn’t block on EF. Guess not every route has it by default I suppose, but the flight (QF2) is in May so still a ways out.

It won't block on EF if you have your FF in the system.

 

[logicallysynced]

It won't block on EF if you have your FF in the system.

Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately it still didn’t block even when removing or changing the FF in EF. Oh well!

 

[elanshin]

Thanks for the tip! Unfortunately it still didn’t block even when removing or changing the FF in EF. Oh well!

QF2 is likely different to most other 3 seat configurations. Tends to be fairly high load i suspect and QF knows this.

 

[elanshin]

Hmm i was mildly curious what happens an a330 and 2-4-2 configuration.

I just moved around at t-80.

Im aware of course that at the airport check in they can override any of this.

 

[jukebox333]

Yes, that's my understanding. You should select the middle seat for best chance of a shadow (which of you actually sits there on the flight doesn't matter)

Until the CSM comes along, ignores you and greets your Bronze tier teenage son by name, and takes his meal selection ahead of the service, leaving you with a supply/demand lottery to determine if you'll get your choice...

Ask me how I know!