Platinums and exit rows - what's the deal now?

[Febs]

Hi guys,

I've haven't been on a plane since Feb shock so the new seating developments are something I'm only experiencing now. Wanted to get an understanding of the situation for Platinums and exit rows, now that paid exit row seating is in.

Basically, before the paid exit row seating came in, I reserved 2 x exit row seats on a flight to Shanghai tomorrow. They've been showing up in my booking (on the QF website) ever since. Just then I checked-in online, and was allocated two non-exit row seats. My booking still shows the exit row seats as having been allocated (I've printed this in case it changes).

I rang QFF and they said I'd have to try my luck at the airport tomorrow. Providing the seats haven't yet been allocated (they haven't), and provided we get there before anyone else requests them tomorrow, how likely are they to honour the previous pre-allocation (or "request") without us paying for them? Will they still allow WP's to sit in exit row seats without paying the extra, or is that WP benefit definitely gone now?

Just curious about what to expect. Thanks!

Edit: Last time a similar thing happened LAX-SYD (lost my exit row) I was given an op-up! Don't think that's too likely this time though...showing D0/C0/J0.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Seems to me like been a QF Plat isn't what it used to be like some years ago. Off topic, but maybe Jetstar will also start there own FF points/club program in the near future too?
If a QF Plat can't get into the OOL Lounge when flying on Jetstar, who knows where they (QF and Jet*) are headed?

 

[dede]

Funny! I was just thinking the same thing. I was allocated an exit row coming back from Brisbane to MEL last week. I'm travelling to LHR in November and will become WP during the trip (unless I get 50SC in the meantime, tempting!).

What are the experiences of other travellers with exit rows? Are they being mostly allocated or sold?

 

[Febs]

Seems this benefit is over.

At check-in, I was told there were two exit row seats, on opposite sides of the plane, that we could have for $80ea. Err..no thanks. If I was going to lose the exit row seats I had requested in (and that were showing in my profile since) Nov08, they should have informed me. Anyway, they ended up agreeing to give us the exit row seats for free, provided no-one else ponied up the $80 for them beforehand. Of course, they did, so no exit rows for us. Wasn't a big deal...it was a pretty new A330 and our regular economy seats were actually quite comfortable.

The JFK-LAX-SYD trip home on QF10Late might be a different story though. Still got an exit row showing in my booking...

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[serfty]

...
What are the experiences of other travellers with exit rows? Are they being mostly allocated or sold?

Dunno!

As a WP, this year I have only travelled once in a my preallocated exit row seat on a long haul flight - that was back in February (HKG-BNE).

Every other time I have been upgraded out of that exit seat, 3 via points (NRT-SYD, SYD-LAX & LAX-MEL) and 3 operational (MEL-HKG [PE], AKL-LAX [J], MEL-SIN [PE]).

 

[samh004]

Regarding the OP, I would have thought you'd get them back, but can only speak from one experience a couple months ago when I was given exit row and I'm just a lowly NB QP.

Off topic, but maybe Jetstar will also start there own FF points/club program in the near future too?
If a QF Plat can't get into the OOL Lounge when flying on Jetstar, who knows where they (QF and Jet*) are headed?

When they announced their plans to convert the NZ QP's into JQ Lounges, they said WP's would be given access, thus I would expect the OOL Lounge will be the same, just as soon as they sort out everything in NZ.

I can't imagine JQ would start their own program, after all you can already earn with Jetflex and Starclass fares.

 

[JohnK]

Seems this benefit is over.

Yes extremely disappointing.

The JFK-LAX-SYD trip home on QF10Late might be a different story though. Still got an exit row showing in my booking....

Do not use OLCI for this flight.

I had pre-allocated 2 exit rows back in March for a September HKG-PER flight and I had no problems getting the boarding passes from BA check-in at ATH the day before the flight....