Qantas can't allocate seats

[N860CR]

Has anyone had this happen before... I'm travelling to LA end of April and called today to try to allocate seats for myself and someone I'm travelling with. Was told as the flight is sold over 70% they can't access seatmaps and we'll just have to wait until checkin to request seats together. At the moment our preset frequent flyer allocations have us quite a long way apart.

Does this sound right? Or did I just score a lazy call centre girl?

 

[Dave Noble]

If you have no status with the airline, then sounds quite correct

Dave

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I'm sure they would if they could I would keep ringing every few days in case the situation changes but they obviously keep the remaining 30% of seating for airport use for situations such as yours were you booked separately but want to seat together.

Did you get the airline to link you when you spoke to reservations?

Are you joining in SYD or further afield?

 

[N860CR]

I'm QC Silver and the other half is QC bronze hence we already have our seats allocated based on preference. I've always been able to allocate seats on QF long haul flights as I'm sure everyother member here has done.

I'll have to keep tabs on it, I just thought it was a little strange given I've never had an issue with it before. They have "linked" them or whatever they do, however our profiles still indicate we're seated well apart. Routing is ROK-BNE-SYD-LAX-BNE-ROK.

 

[thewinchester]

I'm QC Silver and the other half is QC bronze hence we already have our seats allocated based on preference. I've always been able to allocate seats on QF long haul flights as I'm sure everyother member here has done.

I'll have to keep tabs on it, I just thought it was a little strange given I've never had an issue with it before. They have "linked" them or whatever they do, however our profiles still indicate we're seated well apart. Routing is ROK-BNE-SYD-LAX-BNE-ROK.

I'm gathering that you're bookings wern't linked? I've always found that if I have a friend who's travelling with me I have no problems getting my usual seat allocation and them joining me right next door.

 

[Traveller F]

G`Day,

This happened to my recently on a flight from BKK to MEL via SYD. Both my wife and myself are WP´s both in our own right, the booking (in F and J) was linked and made months in advance. When checking-in in BKK we were given our requested seats to SYD but on the sector SYD to MEL we could not be seated further apart, my wife seated forward right hand and I was rear left hand side. The check-in staff said that Qantas had allocated all seats and she could do nothing about it as all the seats SYD MEL had been taken in J. Pointing out that we were travelling together, both F passengers, WP´s and our bookings were made months ago, this could not be right and was this the way you treat your premium passengers to which she replied (with a shrug of the shoulders) that the way it is and I should see the staff in the F lounge!

Its not the end of the world not to sit together on the short flight SYD to MEL, but the principle of the matter got to me. So in the lounge I again tried with the front desk to change the seating so we could sit together, still loads of silly excuses, that all passengers in J had checked-in, etc etc, pointing out that the seq on our boarding pass was 7 & 8 could he explain that ? to which he did not reply. Long and short of it I gave him the boarding passes (SYD/MEL) saying that I would not except them and I will take the matter up with a senior manager in Sydney!. With-in 5 minutes (hadn’t even had time to get myself and the wife’s drink) he presented us with new boarding pass’s seats 2 J & K !!!!. Moral of the story: Be persistent.

Kind regards, Traveller F

 

[Mwenenzi]

. So in the lounge I again tried with the front desk to change the seating so we could sit together, still loads of silly excuses, that all passengers in J had checked-in, etc etc,

Many many people get annoyed if allocated seats are moved prior to check in. Other people phone for a seat allocation and expect it to hold or expect an auto allocation to hold

 

[taswegian77]

seat pre allocation is interesting, the airline has all rights in the matter even if you have been allocatged a seat. IMO I feel that there is not much recourse in the matter as they hold all the aces, but it appears poor form to do such a thing IMO.

Funnily enough i checked in today in AKL to SYD and because I was waitlisted in J for SYD-SIN they said my seat allocations I was given two weeks ago were lost. Let's say I was starting to worry but the great check in guy got my originals seats backs which made me happy. now i am about to have a massage in F lounge in SYD after having a lovely brunch.