Qantas FF upgrade and Paid Seat Selection

[DownunderDave]

I recently booked a flight from Melbourne to Darwin via Alice Springs.
As this was 2 flights amounting to almost 5 hours of flying I decided to apply for a business upgrade using my FF points.
This required 19000 points for both legs but as I have racked up a considerable number of points T's I thought I might as well use them.
2 Days prior to flying I hadn't received any notification of an upgrade so instead I decided to pay for extra legroom seats amounting to $90 total.
One day prior to flying I was notified that the 1st leg to Alice Springs had been successfully upgraded using points so I assumed I would be reimbursed the $45 for that leg. On the day of travel I was then notified that the 2nd leg had been upgraded.
On checking in at Melbourne I asked the staff member how I get a refund for the paid seats I
She kindly contacted Qantas FF and was advised that normally there would be no refund.
I this case they would refund the money but this would not be the case in future.
I was somewhat shocked and surprised that there wouldn't normally be a refund???!!!
When I boarded both flights I observed that the seats I had selected had Bern bought by another traveller.
This could be construde as double dipping by Qantas taking money twice for the same seat.. .
Take this as notice that Qantas will happily take both your $'s and your points without even considered giving back what is rightly yours.

 

[DAC1]

When I boarded both flights I observed that the seats I had selected had Bern bought by another traveller.
This could be construde as double dipping by Qantas taking money twice for the same seat.. .

QF generally allows all passengers to select all available seats (including exit row and extra leg room seats) for free once checked in (ie within 24 hours). So at least on this part of your comment, my expectation is that the seats were not purchased but instead selected for free by another passenger.

More broadly, while it is unfortunate, the terms and conditions are clear that seat selection fees are non-refundable unless you meet one of four categories (none of which appear to apply to you).

 

[Dmac59]

I recently booked a flight from Melbourne to Darwin via Alice Springs.
As this was 2 flights amounting to almost 5 hours of flying I decided to apply for a business upgrade using my FF points.
This required 19000 points for both legs but as I have racked up a considerable number of points T's I thought I might as well use them.
2 Days prior to flying I hadn't received any notification of an upgrade so instead I decided to pay for extra legroom seats amounting to $90 total.
One day prior to flying I was notified that the 1st leg to Alice Springs had been successfully upgraded using points so I assumed I would be reimbursed the $45 for that leg. On the day of travel I was then notified that the 2nd leg had been upgraded.
On checking in at Melbourne I asked the staff member how I get a refund for the paid seats I
She kindly contacted Qantas FF and was advised that normally there would be no refund.
I this case they would refund the money but this would not be the case in future.
I was somewhat shocked and surprised that there wouldn't normally be a refund???!!!
When I boarded both flights I observed that the seats I had selected had Bern bought by another traveller.
This could be construde as double dipping by Qantas taking money twice for the same seat.. .
Take this as notice that Qantas will happily take both your $'s and your points without even considered giving back what is rightly yours.

I don’t see this as double dipping at all.
You purchased a seat in Y and applied for an Upgrade to J.
In the absence of any upgrade advice you decided to purchase a ‘better’ seat in Y. At this point you could have withdrawn your Upgrade Request.
When your Upgrade Request was approved, Qantas has the right to on-sell your vacant Y seat, irrespective of how much you paid for it.

 

[CaptJCool]

would be useful if they had instead of conditions, which you gotta click thru and read a swATHE of points, that they could state - your seat selection payment is non-refundable.... upfront