Platinum shadow seat

[Rayesfeg]

Otherwise, on a 3x seat config. Take the aisle and let you and your window buddy enjoy “Premium Economy” Lite.

I took a trans-Tasman flight this weekend and was a lucky "Premium Economy Lite" recipient thanks to the, I assume, Platinum level traveller in the window seat.
An almost full flight and the seat between me and the window seat traveller was free.

The flight attendant introduced herself to him and mentioned that if there is anything he needs, she is there to help. Awkward eye contact was made with me (Bronze level) when she was done.

 

[New to this]

My experience (P1) is that the shadow will hold for as long as possible.

Weirdly though, 4B gets filled before 5B and (quite often) even before middle seats further back.

I suspect (as has been discussed earlier in the thread) this is because a high status flyer gets on last-minute, and the priority is to seat them near the front.

I had one experience where a WP flyer was in 4B, next to me, and he was complaining about ‘Platinums getting shoved in a middle seat’. The plane was much emptier down the back so not sure if there was a mix up either by him, or the person who put him there.

 

[RichardMEL]

No, it's somewhat different. It's a semi-hard block (if they fill the seat they have to refund you, so would only be done if they really need to - whereas a P1 shadow can be taken at the drop of a hat).

The neighbour free seat is printed on your boarding pass and would be enough to swat off any attempt by pax to fill it, and if FA tried to fill it they would have to raise paperwork to issue you a refund - so again, much more likely to take a P1 shadow that isn't an entitlement.

The end result is the same - but then so is the middle seat trick by no status pax.

Yes but my point was that it is the same technology being used. You pay and get the hard block or with WP+ get the soft block that can and does disappear depending on loading. Either way it is the same underlying product being used.

 

[justinbrett]

Yes but my point was that it is the same technology being used. You pay and get the hard block or with WP+ get the soft block that can and does disappear depending on loading. Either way it is the same underlying product being used.

I think it was your term "product" that threw me as that to me suggests the entire package, not just the technology.

@TheInsider can probably explain more but I think the underlying functions in Amadeus are probably quite different.

However I recently did get my soft block converted into a hard block at HNL - when checking in I asked if the seat next to me was still free, they said "yes it is, but I'll put a hard block on it to keep it that way for you".

 

[TheInsider]

I think it was your term "product" that threw me as that to me suggests the entire package, not just the technology.

@TheInsider can probably explain more but I think the underlying functions in Amadeus are probably quite different.

However I recently did get my soft block converted into a hard block at HNL - when checking in I asked if the seat next to me was still free, they said "yes it is, but I'll put a hard block on it to keep it that way for you".

Two different 'products' with the neighbour free seat and the soft block for high tier frequent flyers.

Neighbour free seat ultimately blocks off a seat in Altea - CM using a 'H' block (which is the check-in system), but the system that purchases the product is unrelated to Amadeus - It's plusgrade.

For the soft block or 'shadow' the system will always default to the highest tier to give them more 'comfort' based on an algorithm and PCV (process customer value - which is an Amadeus product but also enhanced with QF input) but if another high tier frequent flyer wants to take that seat (that was meant to be a shadow), then they are more than entitled to do that too, whereas a bronze or non-frequent flyer would even be able to see the seat vacant.

Let's say the flight is about 60% full and no one selected their seats prior to check-in, and everyone was a single traveller, theoretically, everyone would have an aisle or a window, with the middle seat being a 'shadow' (the system would not automatically anyone a middle). This is ultimately how the system is designed.
Now let's say 50% of people started adding in their frequent flyer numbers and had their seats preferences added in (all are bronze), now half the aircraft would have a theoretical seat block, where a non-frequent flyer now wouldn't be able to select their seat, even if the frequent flyer members haven't checked-in.
If the aircraft has no high tier travellers on the flight, then the lower tier would automatically now be able to get front row seats.

This is where the -80 comes into play, before the -80, the seat map is bound by set rules and is static, whereas inside the -80, it's set by the check-in system rules and is now flexible and dynamic and continually changing, based on people booking, changing flight, changing seats etc etc.

 

[RichardMEL]

Thanks @TheInsider - I thought plushrafe was also doing the soft blocks. I am edumacated

 

[SeatBackForward]

Two different 'products' with the neighbour free seat and the soft block for high tier frequent flyers.

Neighbour free seat ultimately blocks off a seat in Altea - CM using a 'H' block (which is the check-in system), but the system that purchases the product is unrelated to Amadeus - It's plusgrade.

For the soft block or 'shadow' the system will always default to the highest tier to give them more 'comfort' based on an algorithm and PCV (process customer value - which is an Amadeus product but also enhanced with QF input) but if another high tier frequent flyer wants to take that seat (that was meant to be a shadow), then they are more than entitled to do that too, whereas a bronze or non-frequent flyer would even be able to see the seat vacant.

Let's say the flight is about 60% full and no one selected their seats prior to check-in, and everyone was a single traveller, theoretically, everyone would have an aisle or a window, with the middle seat being a 'shadow' (the system would not automatically anyone a middle). This is ultimately how the system is designed.
Now let's say 50% of people started adding in their frequent flyer numbers and had their seats preferences added in (all are bronze), now half the aircraft would have a theoretical seat block, where a non-frequent flyer now wouldn't be able to select their seat, even if the frequent flyer members haven't checked-in.
If the aircraft has no high tier travellers on the flight, then the lower tier would automatically now be able to get front row seats.

This is where the -80 comes into play, before the -80, the seat map is bound by set rules and is static, whereas inside the -80, it's set by the check-in system rules and is now flexible and dynamic and continually changing, based on people booking, changing flight, changing seats etc etc.

I just want to add - posts like the above are the reason why AFF is probably the only website I've consistently used for almost 20yrs!

 

[elanshin]

I have an upcoming flight (just hit t-80).
I'm travelling with a companion booked on a separate booking but I did ask AKL call centre to link our bookings together.

I've got a shadow on EF which he can select. But I put his seat nearby but in the centre and suddenly he also has a shadow on EF. I find that quite interesting.

Prior to T-80 he had regular NB seat selection options and couldn't see anything up front.

 

[elanshin]

I have an upcoming flight (just hit t-80).
I'm travelling with a companion booked on a separate booking but I did ask AKL call centre to link our bookings together.

I've got a shadow on EF which he can select. But I put his seat nearby but in the centre and suddenly he also has a shadow on EF. I find that quite interesting.

Prior to T-80 he had regular NB seat selection options and couldn't see anything up front.

Even more interesting, I can't select his blocked seat.

 

[SYD]

Does anyone know how “neighbour free” seats appear on EF? Occupied or blocked?

We’re flying tomorrow in two adjacent aisle seats and suddenly went from blocked middle seats and someone else in each window, to what looks like someone has parked their bum in one of the middle seats - in an otherwise not very full full flight, plus some free Row 4 seats.

Pondering if the person on the window has taken the bait and purchased a neighbour free seat and thus showing as occupied?

 

[SeatBackForward]

Does anyone know how “neighbour free” seats appear on EF? Occupied or blocked?

This is my EF Seat Map (my seat circled) for a flight that I'm now into the T-80 period:

 

[SYD]

This is my EF Seat Map (my seat circled) for a flight that I'm now into the T-80 period:

View attachment 413627

and I assume you’ve opted for “neighbour free” or is that just a regular shadow?

Either way, looks like there’s a physical bum soon to be in a middle seat on our flight.

 

[justinbrett]

Does anyone know how “neighbour free” seats appear on EF? Occupied or blocked?

We’re flying tomorrow in two adjacent aisle seats and suddenly went from blocked middle seats and someone else in each window, to what looks like someone has parked their bum in one of the middle seats - in an otherwise not very full full flight, plus some free Row 4 seats.

Pondering if the person on the window has taken the bait and purchased a neighbour free seat and thus showing as occupied?

I think blocked.

I’ve been in your situation a few times and it’s been a person. Possibly the original pax upgraded, cancelled or moved seats and a couple moved in.

 

[SYD]

I think blocked.

I’ve been in your situation a few times and it’s been a person. Possibly the original pax upgraded, cancelled or moved seats and a couple moved in.

Pretty sure it’s just one person has parked themselves in a middle seat - overriding would could have been a WP shadow - so possibly WP also? Which is even weirder…. There are still plenty of window and aisle seats free and row 4 seats…

 

[SeatBackForward]

and I assume you’ve opted for “neighbour free” or is that just a regular shadow?

I've never paid for neighbour free. This would be the infamous Platinum Shadow. But I've had instances where it's been blocked even as I sat in my seat, then had someone end up seated next to me. Admittedly they were a Chairmans Lounge member (I snuck a glance at their BP they left on the tray), so Qantas might have "unblocked" the seat for them as part of their privileges.


It's now at T-48 and the ExpertFlyer seatmap hasn't changed in the shown section, but the plane is filling out further back in economy, and some of the blocked business seats are open now also. Hoping to snag an upgrade request!

 

[SeatBackForward]

Pretty sure it’s just one person has parked themselves in a middle seat - overriding would could have been a WP shadow - so possibly WP also? Which is even weirder…. There are still plenty of window and aisle seats free and row 4 seats…

Some people might take a strategy of taking up a middle seat, hoping only one person selects a seat either side, so that when it all pans out they'll move to have a vacant seat in between them. Pretty bold move in my opinion, as in all likelihood the plane will fill out and this person will end up in the middle.

I highly doubt QF would block a window or an aisle seat for a WP in this scenario.

 

[jpp42]

Some people might take a strategy of taking up a middle seat, hoping only one person selects a seat either side, so that when it all pans out they'll move to have a vacant seat in between them. Pretty bold move in my opinion, as in all likelihood the plane will fill out and this person will end up in the middle.

That's a bit silly though. Much better strategy (if you don't have EF to find a blocked middle to sit next to), is to find a row near the back with the window/aisle already taken, thus leaving a middle seat singleton. These are likely to be the last taken up in almost any scenario.

 

[SYD]

Some people might take a strategy of taking up a middle seat, hoping only one person selects a seat either side, so that when it all pans out they'll move to have a vacant seat in between them. Pretty bold move in my opinion, as in all likelihood the plane will fill out and this person will end up in the middle.

I highly doubt QF would block a window or an aisle seat for a WP in this scenario.

Except, in this case they’ve parked themselves between two allocated (aisle and window) seats!

But it seems to have work. The person in the window seat has been spirited away now….

 

[CaptJCool]

My understanding that as the seats fill up, they must first balance the loadings
Eg dont want everyone on the right hand side of the aisle and left left empty
Nor everyone at the back “in the naughty seats” and the middle left empty
And that middle seats are the last to be filled then filled from back to front so row 4 remains “last to fill middle seats” unless a row 4er is with +1/2

 

[elanshin]

My understanding that as the seats fill up, they must first balance the loadings
Eg dont want everyone on the right hand side of the aisle and left left empty
Nor everyone at the back “in the naughty seats” and the middle left empty
And that middle seats are the last to be filled then filled from back to front so row 4 remains “last to fill middle seats” unless a row 4er is with +1/2

Row 4 often has people when 5/6 doesn't.

The seasoned road warriors with status knows that if your choice because you moved last minute is only middle then row 4 is better on average.