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

[Tonkatough]

Apologies if misleading (OP corrected), flight is ADL-MEL, Wed 17 Apr, 6:55 pm.

 

[Steve994]

If VA's Economy X is anything to go by:

- On longer routes like stuff to/from Perth Row 4 will be paid for and snapped up quickly meaning worse off for Plat One/CL.
- On leisure routes row 4 will be snapped up by people who travel once per year, see Row 4 as paid for seat selection and select it at booking 10 months out, meaning worse off for Plat One/CL.
- On the golden triangle this will be the only one where the T24 will be useful and probably a benefit to those P1's/CL who book last minute but more than 24 hours out.

The way I read the article Row 4 will not be available 10 months out to people who travel once per year. If the seat is available at T80 they will then have the option to book it and pay the charge. Prior to that the seat will be blocked. Not defending the change, I am unhappy like most others on here.

 

[Steve994]

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):

1. Happens because part of the algorithm that works out which seats are visible to select includes T-80
2. The algorithm also includes Pax status as part of what it does
3. 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.

I don't think there will be any advantage for those connecting from earlier flights. When I fly Perth to NZ via Melbourne I can't get a better seat with T-80 on the Melbourne to NZ sector until T-80 on that actual flight. When I go on the website 80 hours before my departure from Perth I can only move forward on the first flight.

 

[elanshin]

I don't think there will be any advantage for those connecting from earlier flights. When I fly Perth to NZ via Melbourne I can't get a better seat with T-80 on the Melbourne to NZ sector until T-80 on that actual flight. When I go on the website 80 hours before my departure from Perth I can only move forward on the first flight.

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.

Imagine if you're checking in at LHR for a connection from SYD to ADL for example, or JFK to PER. Your check in would be over 24h ahead of everyone elses.

But yes as everyone else has pointed out, this is more a slap to SG, WP than anything else, but perhaps QF feels there are too many status holders in this year and maybe we'll see a change later as the covid extension and rollovers all end. (Ha)

 

[Marky Mark]

Maybe I'm slow on the uptake but has anyone else noticed the free Row 4 selection for premium ff 80hiurs or has now changed. My Thursday flight to darwin offered me Row 4 after the 80 hr mark at a fee of $65 each way. Suffice to say at the 48 hour mark all 6 Row 4 seats are still available. I'm WP and always got that free, same as exit Row seats at the 80hr mark. No longer. Pay or stay back whereever you're seated. So much for QANTAS wanting to make it up to FF for the poor treatment in recent years. Appears they're making it up alright, making up more profit. Really getting hard to stay loyal.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes, you're a bit late to this.

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

Looks like Row 4 and certainly other so called.extra leg room seats are seeing a price rise on QF. https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-extra-legroom-seats

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[RnD]

Yes, you're a bit late to this.

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

Looks like Row 4 and certainly other so called.extra leg room seats are seeing a price rise on QF. https://www.executivetraveller.com/news/qantas-extra-legroom-seats

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

When checkin opened for my flight today D-F were free and A-C were being charged ... Row 1 on a320

 

[aikman]

I expect row 4 will remain unsold on a lot of flights. I look forward to hearing stories of people poaching row 4 seats after boarding.

 

[RooFlyer]

Really getting hard to stay loyal.

Then why stay loyal??? Why stay loyal to the airline when you know you’re being screwed?

 

[CaptJCool]

J J All the way

When T-80 came for the flight Thursday night
I Could swap 2F to 1F
For free

Seems like it’s just an enhancement for Y

 

[MelbFlyer]

I was lucky enough to get a seat in Row 4 for my QF flights in both directions last week thanks to T-80 before they introduced this change - I logged in to the minute and selected my seats free of charge just over a week ago.

I'm a lowly Bronze member and wouldn't pay the exorbitant fee for Row 4 - sure, the legroom is good, but I wouldn't pay extra for it for a domestic flight of 2hrs.

If 4 hrs, maybe, but I've got no plans or reason to travel to Perth or Cairns etc.

 

[1022]

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.

Imagine if you're checking in at LHR for a connection from SYD to ADL for example, or JFK to PER. Your check in would be over 24h ahead of everyone elses.

But yes as everyone else has pointed out, this is more a slap to SG, WP than anything else, but perhaps QF feels there are too many status holders in this year and maybe we'll see a change later as the covid extension and rollovers all end. (Ha)

Or a reduction in status holders when people loosen the golden/plat handcuffs and fly with VA or ZL instead, sometimes in J for not much more than QF Y (row 4 or otherwise) for flights at comparable times.

 

[serfty]

Sorry not clear. I meant on international routes in J cabin.

[moderator hat]

In that case, it is very off topic. Posts re this moved.
​

[/moderator hat]

T-80 - Discussion and Questions

I was able to grab 3 seat 5a b c for syd mel flight this morning at T-80 ( bronze member ) . As economy start from row 4 . Isnt those seat reserve for higher status member ?

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Charlie B]

As someone who has just requalified for QF Platinum and only about 3-4 flights away from LTG. This new money grab for row 4 is just one more nail in the coffin for me continuing to show any loyalty to Qantas at all. I am pretty tall, and have relied on row T-80 & row 4 making domestic travel in Y tolerable. From now on for me it will be BFOD factoring the extra leg room charge, which from what I have observed lately will often have me travelling on Virgin in Economy X and saving $$$'s over the QF fare. I have frequently seen Virgin business fare within $100 of the QF economy fare, occasionally even cheaper than QF Y.
Hopefully, from what I have read on this forum, should not be too difficult to get a status challenge at Gold or Plat level with Virgin to make the transition easy.
My last few years of international flights have all been paid for J with a non-Oneworld airline because they are SO much cheaper, so I see precious little benefit of being a QF plat anymore.

 

[oirets]

It never ceases to amaze me what the lack of competition in the Australian airline industry does.

Qantas routinely treats their WP (and even SG, to be honest) members far worse than equivalent airlines overseas, whilst having far higher requirements to reach those tiers.

I've previously been an equivalent status tier with AA, and as much cough as people like to give the legacy US carriers, they treat their elites far better than Qantas - complimentary upgrades if space available at 72 hours (yes, free - no points), free selection of Main Cabin Extra (basically extra legroom seats), very practical group based premium boarding...etc.

 

[Hobbsy4]

Its now time to rethink my loyalty as a WP.... other than business/first lounges and the extra baggage allowances ( thats the next to go ) not much value left and maybe not worth the extra $$$$'s

I gave up my WP and am en route to silver. So many small iterations (can't bring a guest who drove me to the airport into an empty lounge, for example) are happening over time.

I do enjoy being home more though!

 

[exceladdict]

I wonder if this is a QF loyalty vs QF airline fight. Airline decided they wanted to charge for the seat and loyalty decided they wouldn't pay.

Possibly similar to us airline not paying for domestic lounge access for their own elites.

 

[jakeseven7]

WP is the new silver. If you want something from QF, better become an "influencer" and be invited to CL.

 

[encryptededdy]

Qantas routinely treats their WP (and even SG, to be honest) members far worse than equivalent airlines overseas, whilst having far higher requirements to reach those tiers.

I agree with the first half, but disagree with the second. I don't think QF's qualification requirements are higher than most competing airlines.

I'm sure there's some exceptions (you book very expensive flex tickets often on a revenue-based program or a lot of heavy co-brand credit card spending)

 

[fletty]

T-80 for an upcoming QFLink flight on an E190 BNE>HTI, Row 5 is $20.