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

[sudoer]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I'm hoping someone can confirm...

I'm in premium economy on QF1 this weekend. Will the bulkhead row open as it previously did at T-80 for free selection or will it cost me to select it before T-24?

If it costs money and I pay, then my upgrade request to J goes through, will the fee get refunded?

 

[elanshin]

Sorry to dig up an old thread but I'm hoping someone can confirm...

I'm in premium economy on QF1 this weekend. Will the bulkhead row open as it previously did at T-80 for free selection or will it cost me to select it before T-24?

If it costs money and I pay, then my upgrade request to J goes through, will the fee get refunded?

Rdm SYD - LAX flight departing in the next few days. That being said, 31E is free.

 

[sudoer]

Rdm SYD - LAX flight departing in the next few days. That being said, 31E is free.

Thank you for the data point! Interesting that 31A/K are considered standard but 31E is extra leg room.

 

[elanshin]

For reference on the a330s 23A,B,J,K are not considered extra leg room (and rightfully so) but 24D,E,F,G are considered extra leg room.

It may also have to do with bassinet access and potentially messing up the system for that.

 

[madrooster]

If it costs money and I pay, then my upgrade request to J goes through, will the fee get refunded?

No.

For reference on the a330s 23A,B,J,K are not considered extra leg room (and rightfully so) but 24D,E,F,G are considered extra leg room.

It may also have to do with bassinet access and potentially messing up the system for that.

QF charge for BSCTs too, so it's not that they are marked as extra legroom seats, they're marked as chargeable BSCT selections.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policies/book/seating/select-a-seat.html

 

[aikman]

I guess the trick of getting it for free at 24 hrs before departure doesn't work for trans Tasman.

 

[ShrinkWrapped]

I guess the trick of getting it for free at 24 hrs before departure doesn't work for trans Tasman.

I'm pretty sure once OLCI opens exit row seats are free for selection

 

[DAC1]

I'm pretty sure once OLCI opens exit row seats are free for selection

Agreed and it has done so for me on trans Tasman flights recently.

Note you need to actually go through OLCI and then change it to row 4. If you merely just try to change your seat without actually being checked in it will still require payment.

 

[sudoer]

I'm in premium economy on QF1 this weekend. Will the bulkhead row open as it previously did at T-80 for free selection or will it cost me to select it before T-24?

Just confirming row 31 opened at T-79h58m and I secured my preferred seat

 

[CaptJCool]

In my next QF flight
I could book row 8 & above
Exit rows at $45

At T80 Rows 5 & above opened up
Row 4 legroom at $45
By 1 minute before OLCI only 1 row 4 & 1 exit row seat had been “sold”

At OLCI 23 hours and 59 minutes I checked in
Then needed to find the view/change seat “button”

Row 4 had opened up as FREE so I’m in 4F

What occurred to me that because row 4 is for sale at $45 that this would dissuade most travellers from buying it up. (If on employer paid tic it’s like no capacity to do the add-on extra) and budget conscious travellers aren’t going to stump up $45 for the privilege either

So that means 75% plus seats will likely be available at OLCI

 

[Kangol]

In my next QF flight
I could book row 8 & above
Exit rows at $45

At T80 Rows 5 & above opened up
Row 4 legroom at $45
By 1 minute before OLCI only 1 row 4 & 1 exit row seat had been “sold”

At OLCI 23 hours and 59 minutes I checked in
Then needed to find the view/change seat “button”

Row 4 had opened up as FREE so I’m in 4F

What occurred to me that because row 4 is for sale at $45 that this would dissuade most travellers from buying it up. (If on employer paid tic it’s like no capacity to do the add-on extra) and budget conscious travellers aren’t going to stump up $45 for the privilege either

So that means 75% plus seats will likely be available at OLCI

Strange inference in the last line, based on one observation.
CL/P1 can select row 4 at any time after booking.
If you are on a typically heavy CL/P1 route, likely there will not be as many row 4 seats available at OLCI.
End of the day, it's only a few rows back or a small fee of $45.