There will also be less availability for WP.
Every row four seat selected and paid for by SG and below between T-80 and T-24 reduces availability for WP to select for free at T-24.
This is my point.
At T-80, all those below WP will be able to select row 4 for a fee.
So by the time T-24 rolls around, it’s likely there will be fewer seats available in Row 4 for WP to select for free as pax with lower status may have paid for them in the previous 56 hours.
It’s a clear devaluation for WP IMHO.
Could you please explain to me when in reasonably recent times, has a SG and below been guaranteed access to row 4, let alone a platinum?
PCV has always come into play with seating on all QF flights at T-80h which is when a flight moves to departure control.
I have some pax on a PER-SYD this weekend for example, and at T-80h, I looked as a no FF number pax (yes, not even bronze) and I could select all of row 4. I know for fact that this flight in question is fairly elite lite, there's 1-2 platinums in Y and maybe a handful of golds/their oneworld equivalents. For an elite lite flight, this is fairly common behaviour.
In contrast if you look at peak hour golden triangle routes, I've seen on plenty of occasions where a lower-PCV platinum cannot see row 4 even though it's available. Similarly I've seen two platinums travelling together on separate PNRs see different available seats because of the fact the departure control system shows the available seats based on their PCV score.
If you are not travelling on a elite heavy route and not at a peak date/time, as a platinum you probably have a pretty good chance of seeing row 4 these days.
The dynamics have shifted some since COVID as I find there's less very elite heavy flights on the golden triangle now. Before covid on a Monday morning, it was normal to find a B738 with 50 platinums on it. The higher PCV platinums in that group would see row 4, the lower ones would not.
You have to remember each and every flight has a different elite make up and the dynamics have also changed since COVID. The elite travel patterns we saw before COVID do not exist in the same manner now.
I’m confused.
At T-80 aren’t the forward rows released for anyone to select:
How to reserve the best seats on Qantas flights with the 'T-80' rule?
If so, at T-80 a NB could select 4A for the relevant fee.
Yet a WP who can currently select 4A for free at T-80, will now have to wait until T-24 to select it for free.
By that time, pax with lower status willing to pay for row 4 may have selected those seats.
@serfty I’m not trying to pick a fight. If what I’ve set out is not the case can you explain I’m missing, cause it looks like a devaluation for WP to me.
No. Row 4 and every other row (including rows 1-3!), at T-80h is controlled by the departure control's theoretical seating algorithm. That algorithm heavily weighs on PCV (which is status, class and cabin influenced but also influenced by other factors).
The seat map visible to you will always be reflective of the highest pax PCV in your PNR or between linked PNRs.
Saw that and also thought it didn't seem right... I know my PS wife has been able to select row 4 at T-80 travelling the golden triangle at peak times as a sporadic solo traveller, for some years now... and unless QF had her secretly linked to her loyalty powerhouse of a husband, then I doubt she'd have any real PCV on their books...
A lot of platinums are often already in business, or already selected a seat in row 6 or further back at the time of booking, then they don't go and move their seat again. The system sees that these pax have a seat assignment already and effectively ignores them for determining what to make available to everyone else.
Will they be available to select for free at T-24 if not yet purchased or is that just wishful thinking?
At T-24h, ie. during OLCI, yes it will behave the same as the exit rows (when not already purchased by others). QF's OLCI infrastructure currently has no way to charge for a seat unlike VA/JQ, who do.
There are quite a few misconceptions still floating around here - and I don't think the real devaluation for WP1 is as great as it seems. The real issue is that QF have decided to charge for those sears - that is an impost on everybody (regardless of status, and ignore T-80).
The T-80 unblock (if I understand correctly, and I doubt anyone other than QF knows all the details for sure):
- Happens because part of the algorithm that works out which seats are visible to select includes T-80
- The algorithm also includes Pax status as part of what it does
- It also includes PCV - but that PCV is relative to (and here we are not completely sure) some combination of all the other PCV and/or status pax. Possibly looks at only those that have not selected a seat already, maybe the phase of the moon, and a few other things, including how many unselected seats remain.
The result has been that for the most part, row 4 was made available to most pax at T-80, but not always.
What QF has done is said everyone now needs to pay, if they can see the seat. WP1/CL still get it for free, as does anybody who can wait until T-24 (or earlier if on a connecting flight).
In the current scenario, mostly NB , PS etc. can jump in and select at T-80 for nothing (as can all the WP and SG) - so first in best dressed. Now, all can still do so, but need to pay. If you don't want to pay, then you just gamble and see if you can get in during the check in window.
If anything, this change is most likely to actually advantage (vert slightly) those connecting from other flights, as if everybody is too tight to pay when T-80 opens up (for almost all), they get an earlier crack than those waiting for the check in as the first leg.
There is zero devaluation for a P1. If anything it's an improvement for P1s as this will now keep row 4 emptier when it's near departure and a P1 buys a last minute ticket.
Your understanding and assessment of the new sitation is fairly close to correct.
or we will find out over time.
