Qantas Increases Legroom Charges; Changes to Row 4 selection on most 737 flights

[Fifi2207]

I imagine this will be the new game now. With a few people sprinkled here and there willing to pay. It does make it a lot more competitive as its much easier to calculate t-24 than t-80 mentally.

I'm one of those sprinkles.....Today I feel doubly annoyed. Booked my 6'3" son a row 4 seat at $35;-| Just outside the 24hrs cancel window-he had to change it by a day lost the seat selection and on changing had to pay another $35 to select again. Grrrr. Learnt another Qantas rule.

 

[GoldenTouchdown]

The bonus though is that, unlike T-80, T-24 will never be at a horrific hour like 3am.

Can’t believe people would stay up or get up at that hour for T-80 selection on a domestic hop! Reminds me of iPhone launch days gone by

 

[Princess Fiona]

Literally the title of the thread......

To be fair to the OP they had posted this as a new thread presumably before searching and it was merged into this thread.

 

[SYD]

Can’t believe people would stay up or get up at that hour for T-80 selection on a domestic hop! Reminds me of iPhone launch days gone by

I just set an alert around 6 or 7am and that’s usually fine.

 

[BQ-Mel]

For me this change was the last straw. Very little point to maintaining loyalty with Qantas now, and I'm a 20+ year platinum/gold FF.

 

[Kendall Roy]

For me this change was the last straw. Very little point to maintaining loyalty with Qantas now, and I'm a 20+ year platinum/gold FF.

Same here.

I'm P1, about to drop to WP, then I'll revert to LTG.

Moving forward, I'll look for best value options, as well as other OW airlines internationally.

 

[1022]

You've really got to wonder how much revenue they really think charging for row 4 will earn them vs lost goodwill and people deciding to try the competition instead, and realising that the gap in product these days between QF and VA is much narrower than it used to be. And that sure as hell isn't because VA has got any better.

Surely there'd be more revenue in the long run generated via loyalty by being somewhat consistent with several other OW airlines and offering preferential/extra legroom seating gratis to OWS and above as discussed upthread. But then "loyalty" to Qantas is now just a highly profitable virtual currency sold to banks, supermarkets and petrol stations that mugs go out of their way to earn to buy toasters.

 

[tdimdad]

There is the risk that those who appreciate leg room in Y will come to like VA's free Economy X seats, all three rows of them. Given WP over there is generally easier to gain & maintain, those individuals may be changing their loyalties. Not that it'd necessarily bother QF.

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF @BQ-Mel

You are not alone ...

 

[SYD]

For me this change was the last straw. Very little point to maintaining loyalty with Qantas now, and I'm a 20+ year platinum/gold FF.

If you’re doing a lot of domestic whY travel, then maybe VA WP for this…

There is the risk that those who appreciate leg room in Y will come to like VA's free Economy X seats, all three rows of them.

…is worth looking at but even more crowded lounges, infrequent schedule, random status benefits flying international partners is the price you pay.

Given WP over there is generally easier to gain & maintain, those individuals may be changing their loyalties.

If you have at least one longhaul Biz flight per year and can get the 8x eligible sectors, yes VA WP is very easy to attain and retain.

 

[clifford]

random status benefits flying international partners is the price you pay.

Not sure what you're referring to, but I'm quite happy with the benefits I receive from EY, as a VA Plat, in terms of VA points, SC's and first lounge access at AUH. Also helps me get VA Plat every year.

 

[SYD]

Not sure what you're referring to, but I'm quite happy with the benefits I receive from EY, as a VA Plat, in terms of VA points, SC's and first lounge access at AUH. Also helps me get VA Plat every year.

That’s one of the better ones (for now) but inconsistent lounge access at your departure port in Oz is a good example (unless in J and then it’s academic). You are generally looked after at the partner home port.

But comparing VA status perks vs OW, *A and ScaryTeam it’s a bit all over the place but we digress from the topic.

 

[serfty]

But comparing VA status perks vs OW, *A and ScaryTeam it’s a bit all over the place but we digress from the topic.

Domestic seating is the relevance of this thread - Rows 3 4 5 make a difference on VA for WP. It was an irrelevant reference to "random status benefits flying international partners" that initiated divergence.

For mine, I'm ok with being WP with both QFF and Velocity.

Most of my domestic flights these days are with VA. Most international are with oneworld.

 

[flydoc]

It's not the T-80 that's the advantage, its the T-24 check in. You will be able to check in for your MEL - NZ sector when PER opens up. That would be a solid 6-8 hours before everyone else.

+1.
Datapoint: checked in today at T-24 for a domestic regional flight, & already sequence #17

 

[Appalled]

This is a disgrace. Just the smallest benefit to a loyal P, ripped away. As a regular in 4C I’m no longer going to help hold the attendant’s stuff while he/she performs the preflight drill or engage in small talk. How pathetic. Well done Vanessa, smack your most loyal.

 

[FlyingKangaroo]

This is a disgrace. Just the smallest benefit to a loyal P, ripped away. As a regular in 4C I’m no longer going to help hold the attendant’s stuff while he/she performs the preflight drill or engage in small talk. How pathetic. Well done Vanessa, smack your most loyal.

Agreed.

Have also noticed since the change as a mere Gold that I’m relegated to choosing Row 9 or further back at booking. Previously as a Gold I recall at least having choices from Row 6. Enhancements for all, it seems.

Reinforces the decision to continue to stick to VA where I can even more.

 

[downgraded]

Agreed.

Have also noticed since the change as a mere Gold that I’m relegated to choosing Row 9 or further back at booking. Previously as a Gold I recall at least having choices from Row 6. Enhancements for all, it seems.

Reinforces the decision to continue to stick to VA where I can even more.

I think it's been row 9 for mere Golds for some time when booking.

 

[Lynda2475]

I think it's been row 9 for mere Golds for some time when booking.

Yep, WP get row 6 at booking, SG haven't had access to 6 at booking for years.

 

[drron]

This is a disgrace. Just the smallest benefit to a loyal P, ripped away. As a regular in 4C I’m no longer going to help hold the attendant’s stuff while he/she performs the preflight drill or engage in small talk. How pathetic. Well done Vanessa, smack your most loyal.

Welcome to AFF @Appalled . hope you can find some better subjects on here.

 

[TheInsider]

This is a disgrace. Just the smallest benefit to a loyal P, ripped away. As a regular in 4C I’m no longer going to help hold the attendant’s stuff while he/she performs the preflight drill or engage in small talk. How pathetic. Well done Vanessa, smack your most loyal.

Because that's the fault of the FA yeah?