Qantas New Check In Seating Allocation

[oz_mark]

My last three flights have been 5C, 5C and 5C.

(Everytime you fly, you almost certainly will be sitting in a different seat.....)

....and 20B (which is hardly aisle or forward on a 738, but there you go!)

 

[serfty]

Hmmm, perhaps QF are starting to introduce fare level in the the allocation 'score'.

It will be interesting to see what happens when seat pre selection become available for domestic flights next year ... much of this may be moot!

 

[oz_mark]

Hmmm, perhaps QF are starting to introduce fare level in the the allocation 'score'.

Except mine were in O, O, O and O

 

[sparoy]

I wonder how's the system work for non QF OW Sapphire?
As AA PLT I've just found out that I was able to preselect blocked seats (except exit row seats) for our upcoming QF SYD-SIN & NRT-SYD flights in L, but our daughter who has no status whatsoever couldn't.
Has this been always the case?
We preselected the bulkhead seats, but the agents told us that there's a possibility we might be bumped out, if there's an infant requiring those seats.
Realistically speaking, how strong is the chance of this happening?
Anyone has any experience with this?

 

[medhead]

We preselected the bulkhead seats, but the agents told us that there's a possibility we might be bumped out, if there's an infant requiring those seats.
Realistically speaking, how strong is the chance of this happening?
Anyone has any experience with this?

My mum has a pretty good relationship with a qantas travel agent. She usually gets her preselected bulkhead seat.
On the couple of flights I've had with her, she was able to preselect bulkhead for me as a bronze (2005). And we got bumped from those seats at check-in, mum had check on allocation the day prior to the flight. There wasn't a baby their, so I assumed it was a sky marshall or some other better class person., based on mum being SG and getting pretty good service with an in house agent.

Last year we couldn't preallocate bulkhead but that was mum, me and 3 non-FF members, and there was a child at the bulkhead.

 

[JohnK]

Hmmm, perhaps QF are starting to introduce fare level in the the allocation 'score'.

I thought about this as well but when I speaking with the FA yesterday he commented that they look at passenger manifests and notice that Platinums are at the front of economy for most flights. Perhaps load balancing was the reason for 45D yesterday. I don't know and I am not happy if this type of trend continues.

It will be interesting to see what happens when seat pre selection become available for domestic flights next year ... much of this may be moot!

Pre selection of seats for domestic flights? I thought it was only going to happen for international flights.

 

[serfty]

... Pre selection of seats for domestic flights? I thought it was only going to happen for international flights.

Within the last week, it's been posted here and on FT, but to refresh:

• About Qantas - Newsroom

Latest News
Sydney, 11 September 2008

Qantas said today it would introduce new online check-in options, including paperless check-in, from early 2009 to make the process faster and easier.

Qantas Executive General Manager, Mr John Borghetti, said the new check-in options included:
- online check-in for international customers, building on the successful domestic online check-in options already available;
- the option for customers to select their seat from the point of booking, for both domestic and international flights;
- the option for customers who have not made their booking online to select their seat via the 'Manage Your Booking' service on qantas.com; and
- the ability for customers who select their seat online before departure to be automatically checked-in and have a 2D barcode sent to their mobile phone, portable device or PC.

"Domestic customers electing to receive their boarding pass on their mobile phone or portable device can have a paperless experience, from booking, to check-in to boarding. Customers with baggage can proceed directly to the bag drop facilities before heading straight to their flight," he said.

"For our international customers, passengers who have already checked-in will proceed straight to a dedicated online bag drop counter."

Mr Borghetti said these technological enhancements formed part of a broader mobile strategy for Qantas, giving customers access to information and services via portable devices.

"As part of this strategy, Qantas is working to ensure all services are available for customers with the iPhone 3G," he said.

Regardless of which option they use, all passengers and their baggage will continue to pass through all required airport security screening. ...

 

[JohnK]

So the person who plans their once a year trip SYD-BNE could end up with a better seat allocation than the Platinum who commutes weekly. Another dumb move by QF in my opinion. Or is it? QF knows the Platinum will continue to fly with them so they are more interested in making the less frequent travellers happy....

 

[straitman]

Last night when I finally got the online check-in working for today's flight I found that the pre allocation had us in different rows even though we were on the one booking :!: :shock::evil:

Go figure.

 

[oz_mark]

So the person who plans their once a year trip SYD-BNE could end up with a better seat allocation than the Platinum who commutes weekly. Another dumb move by QF in my opinion. Or is it? QF knows the Platinum will continue to fly with them so they are more interested in making the less frequent travellers happy....

What we don't know at this point in time is whether everyone will have unfettered access to each and every seat on the plane, or there will be some sections reserved for the different status levels. I would expect that with their new systems that they could actually be quite sophisticated with this. Of course, they could allow a free-for-all which would probably not be in th best interests of platinums.

In addition, I wonder how it would work on some of the PER-SYD flights, where it would be more accurate to just state EQV as the equipment on some of the flights

 

[serfty]

So the person who plans their once a year trip SYD-BNE could end up with a better seat allocation than the Platinum who commutes weekly. Another dumb move by QF in my opinion. Or is it? QF knows the Platinum will continue to fly with them so they are more interested in making the less frequent travellers happy....

I'm thinking there will be premium zones as there is for international flights. Still not as good for late booking top tier if that's what is to happen.

 

[waltervp]

Due to my first/middle name structure my bookings do not always register with my Qantas Gold membership. Let me tell you the difference in experience... Anyway, flying in alittle Dash-8 on my way home in Tasmania yesterday I was allocated seat 1B, an exit row. The little plane was 90% full, there were strong winds, the pilot cancelled hot beverages on the flight and advised us to expect turbuilence en-route and on landing in Devonport with 90 kmph winds. Next to me in seat 1A sits an elderly grey haired lady...

In a plane full of people is a grey hair lady the ideal candidate to sit in an emergency exit row? I do not think so, and have argued that on a few occasions. Crew argues relentlessly about how people are specially selected and blah blah blah I do not need worry. I worry! My wife has been involved in an emergency situation and an incompetent person caused one emergency exit to be blocked. All slid down the emergency slides to safety, but it could have ended up worse!

My solution is that as a frequent flier when we fill in our preferences we also tick a box to say we are (or are not) prepared and confident to man an exit row. Maybe a space to explain why you think so. This way us frequent flyers get more chance of getting the leg room as well as providing a better and more capable person, one with flying experience, to man the emergency escape!

 

[simongr]

I'm thinking there will be premium zones as there is for international flights. Still not as good for late booking top tier if that's what is to happen.

Does anyone have experience of this in the US? I know on AA you can preallocate at booking but not sure if anyseat is available to all and sundry (I have only preallocated as a AA EXP in F/J).

 

[Dave Noble]

Does anyone have experience of this in the US? I know on AA you can preallocate at booking but not sure if anyseat is available to all and sundry (I have only preallocated as a AA EXP in F/J).

There are some seats ( such as exit rows ) and a few rows at front which are available to AA GLD/PLT/EXP only

Dave

 

[simongr]

Seems like if QF follow that model then people wont really see much difference...

 

[Platy]

I have noticed on some flights with moderate loadings, the exit rows (for example by exits on or aside wings of 767s) are not always filled with passengers.

If the exit row is important for quick egress, surely you would want an able bodied person sat on every exit row on every flight rather than leaving the row empty?! :shock:

 

[simongr]

If the exit row is important for quick egress, surely you would want an able bodied person sat on every exit row on every flight rather than leaving the row empty?! :shock:

I would prefer the cabin crew to be able to get the exit door unimpeded some dithering pax who hasnt read the safety card and instructions on how to open the door.

 

[NM]

I have noticed on some flights with moderate loadings, the exit rows (for example by exits on or aside wings of 767s) are not always filled with passengers.

If the exit row is important for quick egress, surely you would want an able bodied person sat on every exit row on every flight rather than leaving the row empty?! :shock:

According to a Qantas Club service desk agent in Canberra recently, airlines are now required by law (well I assume she meant CASA regulation) to have at least one passenger seated in every exit row. She implied this was a fairly new requirement.

 

[Platy]

I would prefer the cabin crew to be able to get the exit door unimpeded some dithering pax who hasnt read the safety card and instructions on how to open the door.

On balance you may be right, Simongr!

I did think it a requirement, however, for cabin crew to ensure passengers had read the exit row safety briefing card?

 

[Platy]

According to a Qantas Club service desk agent in Canberra recently, airlines are now required by law (well I assume she meant CASA regulation) to have at least one passenger seated in every exit row. She implied this was a fairly new requirement.

Thanks for the info, NM!