Qantas Exit Row Checkin not working as promised

[samh004]

say: "sign into 'boarding', enter my flight number, press F9 to display the pax names on said list, select my name at which time the exit row questions will appear & when the select 'yes', your boarding pass will print out & you will be deleted from the list & hey presto no more dreaded beep!

I shall, can I do this at the gate too? Or only at the gate?

 

[SamR]

...however if you go up to a staff member for a reprint they will be signed into the 'Customer' application which reprints the boarding pass however the exit row pop up questions do not appear & this still leaves you on the ineligible to board list, hence the dreaded beep

Aaahhhh. *pennies dropping*. That makes complete sense.

I totally jinxed myself by saying I'd had no problems since the first time. I wrote that post from the QP this morning, just before I boarded a flight where I was in an exit row. Of course, I'd been eyeballed and given a BP, and got the beep at the gate.

If what you say is correct (and I'm sure it is) then I've been mostly getting CSAs who know what they need to do to get exit row pax off the list, but occasionally get ones who don't. I have another exit row flight tomorrow. I wonder how that one will go.

Oh yeah, I can just imagine how much a CSA would love it if I told them how to do their job!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Nice!

Anywayz, a direct quote from the Seat Selection Confirmation page, on the QF website (manage your booking, end of the seat selection process) -

I think the website needs updating re the bit about exit rows only being only available at the airport as I think there's enough AFFers on this thread who have disproved that theory!

I shall, can I do this at the gate too? Or only at the gate?

Sam, if you've got an exit seat & you've checked in via OLCI/Mobile/Podium just leave seeing someone until you get to the boarding gate & see the gate agent prior to giving your Qcard to the F/A at the gate. They tend to be more senior staff so will know what to do ie if you are still on 'the list' they will take you off it. I wouldn't bother asking anyone else eg QP staff or checkin people in case you get someone that's unaware they have to do anything else other than reprint your BP.

Aaahhhh. *pennies dropping*. That makes complete sense.

I totally jinxed myself by saying I'd had no problems since the first time. I wrote that post from the QP this morning, just before I boarded a flight where I was in an exit row. Of course, I'd been eyeballed and given a BP, and got the beep at the gate.

If what you say is correct (and I'm sure it is) then I've been mostly getting CSAs who know what they need to do to get exit row pax off the list, but occasionally get ones who don't. I have another exit row flight tomorrow. I wonder how that one will go.

Oh yeah, I can just imagine how much a CSA would love it if I told them how to do their job!

This is very tempting!! Imagine the look on their face!

If you're skating on thin ice you may as well dance!

 

[SamR]

If you're skating on thin ice you may as well dance!

BAHAHAHAHAHA!! Love that. I shall be using it.

Sam, if you've got an exit seat & you've checked in via OLCI/Mobile/Podium just leave seeing someone until you get to the boarding gate & see the gate agent prior to giving your Qcard to the F/A at the gate. They tend to be more senior staff so will know what to do ie if you are still on 'the list' they will take you off it. I wouldn't bother asking anyone else eg QP staff or checkin people...

Yes. This. I can see the pattern now, after my exit row flight today. The eyeballing is indeed best done at the gate. The flight was boarding today when I went to the gate agent - not only did she ask me The Questions and properly clear me from The List, but she also boarded me herself. Good to know!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

BAHAHAHAHAHA!! Love that. I shall be using it.

Yes. This. I can see the pattern now, after my exit row flight today. The eyeballing is indeed best done at the gate. The flight was boarding today when I went to the gate agent - not only did she ask me The Questions and properly clear me from The List, but she also boarded me herself. Good to know!

Love it when a plan comes together!

 

[nonscenic]

Just booked a QF trip MEL-SYD in Aug through my corporate TA and went to select an exit row seat (43A each way in a 767 rustbucket)

I noticed online in the fine print and saw that QF seems to be preparing the way with its lawyers to extend charging for exit row seating :

Qantas has the sole discretion, at check-in or boarding, to determine whether a passenger meets the requirements to sit in an exit row seat. If the passenger does not meet the requirements, they will be assigned a regular seat and the amount paid or the points redeemed is non-refundable.
If between the date of purchasing an exit row seat and 24 hours before travel, you become unable to fulfil the requirements to sit in an exit row, contact your local Qantas Office immediately. You will be transferred to a regular seat, and the additional amount paid or points redeemed for an exit row seat may be refunded.


The second dot point is reasonable, but if you paid for an international exit row fee and got rejected at check in or the gate by someone who said you had a limp then I think it is unfair that they wouldn't refund the $ or points. In deed passing or failing the test to "fulfil the requirements" seems rather arbitary. I can recall a couple of years ago sitting in the row behind the exit rows. An elderly couple were in the exit rows and the plane was about to set back. The hostess noticed the man had a walking stick stowed underneath his seat, and asked them to exchange seats with my wife and I. The question remained as to how they had got that far with an exit row boarding pass and a walking stick.

 

[pshepvic]

Just booked a QF trip MEL-SYD in Aug through my corporate TA and went to select an exit row seat (43A each way in a 767 rustbucket)

I noticed online in the fine print and saw that QF seems to be preparing the way with its lawyers to extend charging for exit row seating :

Qantas has the sole discretion, at check-in or boarding, to determine whether a passenger meets the requirements to sit in an exit row seat. If the passenger does not meet the requirements, they will be assigned a regular seat and the amount paid or the points redeemed is non-refundable.
If between the date of purchasing an exit row seat and 24 hours before travel, you become unable to fulfil the requirements to sit in an exit row, contact your local Qantas Office immediately. You will be transferred to a regular seat, and the additional amount paid or points redeemed for an exit row seat may be refunded.


The second dot point is reasonable, but if you paid for an international exit row fee and got rejected at check in or the gate by someone who said you had a limp then I think it is unfair that they wouldn't refund the $ or points. In deed passing or failing the test to "fulfil the requirements" seems rather arbitary. I can recall a couple of years ago sitting in the row behind the exit rows. An elderly couple were in the exit rows and the plane was about to set back. The hostess noticed the man had a walking stick stowed underneath his seat, and asked them to exchange seats with my wife and I. The question remained as to how they had got that far with an exit row boarding pass and a walking stick.

What do you mean by "QF seems to be preparing the way with its lawyers to extend charging for exit row seating"?

This clause has been here ever since they introduced the charges for international exit rows, which has been quite some time now...

 

[nonscenic]

What do you mean by "QF seems to be preparing the way with its lawyers to extend charging for exit row seating"?

This clause has been here ever since they introduced the charges for international exit rows, which has been quite some time now...

I realised that they had charged for international exit rows for some time, but if they had no intention of charging for domestic exit rows why not have separate conditions on their website? It would be clearer to just say (for domestic) that if you are deemed to not meet requirements at checkin / gate then you will be assigned a regular seat, and if you are aware that you will not be able to meet the requirements (eg you break your leg or you plan imbibing too much in the QP!) ) that you should select a regular seat.

 

[pshepvic]

I realised that they had charged for international exit rows for some time, but if they had no intention of charging for domestic exit rows why not have separate conditions on their website? It would be clearer to just say (for domestic) that if you are deemed to not meet requirements at checkin / gate then you will be assigned a regular seat, and if you are aware that you will not be able to meet the requirements (eg you break your leg or you plan imbibing too much in the QP!) ) that you should select a regular seat.

Ah ok. Yes I agree with that, but I don't think they intend to charge for domestic, as these terms & conditions have been the same ever since exit rows became available for selection - they just have standard text, which for domestic doesn't really accurately capture what happens!

However, that might be another "enhancement" they come up with in the future!

 

[greg-777]

I have 6 flight for July booked.Syd-bne-sydSyd-ADL-sydSyd-mel-sydI have gone in and done advance seat selection as a gold off and have selected 35b for all 6 flights. The checkin should be interesting then.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Hence why you usually find me with a few drinks inside me (lowers inhibitions)

Works the same for most of us Sam!!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I have 6 flight for July booked.Syd-bne-sydSyd-ADL-sydSyd-mel-sydI have gone in and done advance seat selection as a gold off and have selected 35b for all 6 flights. The checkin should be interesting then.

It'll be plain sailing if you stay away from OLCI/Mobile/Podium check in methods & leave the actual checking in bit to when you arrive at the airport.

Use either the Premium Checkin queue assuming of course they a) still have one at SYD/ADL & b) that you can locate it! Otherwise just go up to one of the kiosk machines & it will ask you the exit row questions & once you click yes it will print out your exit row boarding pass.

Note that if you have attempted exit row checkin via OLCI/Mobile/Podium you cannot then go to a kiosk to sort it out you would have to find a real person which presents a challenge in itself.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Next Gen auto bag drop still works with exit row if you use Podium

Note that if you have attempted exit row checkin via OLCI/Mobile/Podium you cannot then go to a kiosk to sort it out you would have to find a real person which presents a challenge in itself.

Not any more (see below).

One of the things that can annoy travellers is when you checkin for your flight by scanning your Qcard
against the Qreader on the Podium tower at the airport only to find that you are seated in an exit row
(whether preallocated by yourself or randomly done on checkin) & you get a response such as "your
checkin cannot be completed as you have been seated in an emergency exit row" & you won't see the
Podium flash up green.

Instead of heading off with your tail between your legs trying to find the service desk queue for human
intervention mumbling to yourself "what's the point in doing this if I get an exit row & I still have to get
in a queue", if you have a bag to checkin & it's got a Qtag on it just go directly to the Next Gen auto bag
drop. If you don't have a Qtag on your bag you will need to get a paper tag(aka thermal tag) from one of
the kiosks first before going to the bag drop.

Despite the Podium saying that your checkin could not be completed, you have actually still been checked
in which will allow you to send off your bag via the Next Gen auto bag drop so you can get on with more
pressing matters such as heading off to the QP or J Lounge rather than joining a queue. If you are only
taking carry on luggage, just proceed to directly to the lounge or boarding gate.

To drop off your bag, scan your Qcard against the Qreader (red square panel with the Q on it) at the Next
Gen auto bag drop. You need to hold the card flat against it with the back side of the card against the
Qreader so the front of your Qcard is facing you.

After scanning either the Qtag or paper tag on your suitcase the system will send your bag off to the flight.
Remember to grab your baggage receipt for your Qtag (if applicable) from the machine. If you had a paper
tag you will already have your luggage receipt given to you at the Next Gen Kiosk after it printed out your
paper tag.

Once in the lounge don't worry about telling the lounge dragon you're in an exit row etc etc all I would do
is just prior to boarding speak to the gate agent & say "I'm in an exit row am I right to board" at which time
they will remove you from the ineligible to board list if they have not already done so.

To board simply scan the barcode on the back of your Qcard under the scanner at the gate reader & take the
docket that will print out with your name & seat number to show the CSM as you go onboad the aircraft.

The above scenario was when a pax did autocheckin/podium so it would be interesting to know if you can do
the auto bag drop thing (ie avoid queueing up at checkin) when in an exit row but this time using either OLCI
or mobile. Do we have any volunteers willing to road test these methods?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I’m glad this has been brought up, my dad encountered a similar situation in late-April in BNE. He’d just got his new PS-chipped-card so I decided I’d show him the works by getting him to make that pole green in the airport, but it didn’t work as I’d given him an exit row at T-80, so I asked a handler nearby and they said they’d check him at the gate, no worries.

Went to the J lounge for breakfast (he’s CX Diamond) and didn’t think to get a boarding pass, as I wanted to show him he could use his card to board. Eventually got to his turn in boarding and to use a phrase from this thread, created a logjam as the agent couldn’t verify he could walk and had to call the desk in the centre of the airport to take him off the aforementioned list.

Overall, it just seems silly that it can’t be done at the gate, and annoying that we were told it would be when it clearly wasn’t, however I do now know to see someone in the lounge about getting me off the list.

I might just go back to choosing row 4. Less hassles, same legroom.

samh004, now whilst the geeks obviously haven't yet mastered the art of OLCI or Podium checkin asking the exit row questions (despite still checking you in), I spoke to a guy yesterday who is SG & said that he pre-allocated an exit row seat 14A a few days before departure & when he did the mobile checkin process he got asked the exit row questions.

His name was not on the ineligible to board list so it appears that by using this method to checkin it's now possible to totally bypass staff at the airport to verify your suitability etc. Without checked luggage you arrive at the airport & head directly through security & up the the QP or JL or with luggage, walk into the terminal directly up to the Next Gen auto bag drop scan your card on the reader & send your bag on its merry way.