Qantas "Comfort Row" DFW

[Darryl_Sydney]

Flying on QF7 to DFW this weekend. When announced in 2016, the Syd-DFW flight was the only one where you could purchase a comfort seat/row for $250 (usually light loads).

The load is very light with 80 empty seats in Economy.

Company policy is to purchase extra legroom seats for flights over 5 hours (US company with almost exclusively East Coast/West Coast travel), no class upgrades and it isn't worth 62,500 points for the PE upgrade.

I have purchased the extra legroom seat (exit row) but my experience is that usually comes with reduced shoulder room, as your neighbour is usually a big person or they wouldn't have paid for the extra legroom them self.

wonder if anyone has experience;
1) are Qantas still selling 'comfort seats' at $250 on this leg at check-in?
2) what is the likelyhood they would let me put the $180 I have paid for extra-legroom towards a comfort row instead?

It's a long haul in the middle seat with someone either side, if they are both sizeable individuals, even if it is an exit row.

 

[mannej]

Just curious as to how you can confirm the number of empty seats in Y without using the seatmap in your booking?

 

[milehighclub]

Comfort rows are usually sold on the QF8 when the loads are over a certain figure. I have never seen it offered on QF7.

 

[Darryl_Sydney]

Just curious as to how you can confirm the number of empty seats in Y without using the seatmap in your booking?

~inside information ~

 

[Darryl_Sydney]

Comfort rows are usually sold on the QF8 when the loads are over a certain figure. I have never seen it offered on QF7.

That's even more curious - since QF8 would be check-in staff in US, and I would have thought it would be something led from Aus, rather than the other way around.

Unfortunately I am returning on QF74 from SFO, which is at almost 100% capacity, no extra legroom seats available, little prospect of an upgrade, and no comfort row.

 

[Mattg]

That's even more curious - since QF8 would be check-in staff in US, and I would have thought it would be something led from Aus, rather than the other way around.

Unfortunately I am returning on QF74 from SFO, which is at almost 100% capacity, no extra legroom seats available, little prospect of an upgrade, and no comfort row.

QF8 is subject to greater payload restrictions than QF7 due to the longer flight time, and therefore has (as a rule) more seats left unsold. The comfort rows are a way for QF to monetize those empty seats but I believe QF8 is the only flight that always leaves with empty seats. (Possibly also QF9/10 but I haven't heard of comfort rows being offered on those flights.)

 

[Darryl_Sydney]

QF8 is subject to greater payload restrictions than QF7 due to the longer flight time, and therefore has (as a rule) more seats left unsold. The comfort rows are a way for QF to monetize those empty seats but I believe QF8 is the only flight that always leaves with empty seats. (Possibly also QF9/10 but I haven't heard of comfort rows being offered on those flights.)

Makes sense.

I will ask at check-in on Saturday, but hoping to have some answers before hand, it just means I need to be at the airport early for Check-in, rather than doing it online and cutting the lounge time. If Comfort Row is saleable on QF7, it is the best kept secret in the air.

I'll be sure to update the forum.

 

[milehighclub]

I will ask at check-in on Saturday, but hoping to have some answers before hand,

It won't be offered. QF8 is the only flight I am currently aware of that offers this. And the load isn't as light as you may have been originally told.

 

[fifo]

Forgive my ignorance, whats a comfort row?

 

[milehighclub]

Forgive my ignorance, whats a comfort row?

A comfort row is sold for $250 and you are guaranteed the whole row to yourself, or if travelling as a couple, a seat between you blocked.

 

[fifo]

Cheers, thats a pretty good deal if the flight is close to capacity, if its empty its bs

 

[Darryl_Sydney]

Updating this for those that might find it later.

The J class load is now down to 40 empty seats. Turned up to Check-In to a sea of green jackets of the whole Rugby-7s team.

I asked about comfort seats/rows and the check in Staff had never heard of it.

Guessing that with a flight full of rugby players, my ‘extra legroom’ seat is almost certainly going to be a ‘reduced shoulder room’ seat.

But there it is, definely not available on QF7, anything that says it is, is out of date.

Now to see how many days it takes for my luggage to catch up to me in Bos.

 

[Stevo.1702]

To answer one part of the original question. I have been able to use the $180 value for an extra legroom economy seat towards purchasing a comfort row. That was QF8 Dallas to Sydney.

 

[Darryl_Sydney]

To answer one part of the original question. I have been able to use the $180 value for an extra legroom economy seat towards purchasing a comfort row. That was QF8 Dallas to Sydney.

Unfortunately flying home on an at capacity flight firm SFO.

 

[diningdecadence]

Bumping as have an upcoming QF8 flight.

Any recent anecdotes? Only offered at check in?

 

[milehighclub]

Same rules still apply. Depending on the load, they will offer it at check-in or if you connect from somewhere, at the gate. Under a certain load, it isn't sold, because most passenger end up with a spare seat anyway.

 

[patrickk]

It won't be offered. QF8 is the only flight I am currently aware of that offers this. And the load isn't as light as you may have been originally told.

These get offered in the lounge certainly if you checked in elsewhere in the US

 

[Melburnian1]

An even better strategy is to study aircraft load factors by airline, not travel at peak times and bingo - for free, one often obtains a row of four seats in Y with armrests that fully retract into the seat.

I've used this modus operandi on a number of airlines and it often works. Choose second tier airlines that don't advertise.

 

[SeatBackForward]

So how do QF ensure you get that Empty row? No doubt another passenger who might be next to a beefy individual, would eye out the empty seats and assume they could move into that seat.

 

[Jo145]

Flying to Paris 5 years ago was on a 3.10am EK flight from MEL in Y (very cheap Y booked through the QF website). I went up to the EK lounge and asked if I could use my QF membership to enter. Turned away because I was flying Y but the really nice gentleman there gave me a middle row to myself MEL-KL for free. Bliss!! Laid down as soon as the seat belt sign went off and slept almost all the way. Would gladly pay $250 for this, but how to do you stop other passengers from leaping into your row after take-off if you don't want to sleep straight away?