QF JFK-SYD J seat allocation

[adrian]

Two of us are travelling on QF108 JFK-SYD later this week. We originally booked our tickets thru AA, and were on the same booking.

Last week we needed to change to an earlier flight, which was not available, so we waitlisted it. But as we were a party of 2, we would only have the waitlist confirmed when 2 seats became available. So, when 1 seat became available, I called up AA, split the booking into 2 separate record locators, and grabbed the seat. The next day, the other seat became available, and so now we are both confimed on the flight we want.

So far, so good.

However, the flight is fairly full in J, and seating preallocations are closed. As we are no longer on the same booking, and we can't request a seat, I am a bit worried that we won't be sitting together for the very long flight. I called AA, and they said they could not re-join the booking (as I suspected). I called QF, and the operator said she would put a note in the booking asking that we be seated together when QF allocate the final seating. She said that she wasn't able to do any more, and didn't seem too confident that this would be successful in any event.

Has anybody had any experience with this? Any other suggestions how we can be seated together? I was actually thinking about requesting a points upgrade to F (F doesn't look as full as J), but was worried that one might get the upgrade and one might not (and then be stuck in a centre seat alone!!)

By the way, one of us is QF Plat, and one QF Gold. Both of us are AA ExecPlats / Emeralds.

 

[NM]

By the way, one of us is QF Plat, and one QF Gold. Both of us are AA ExecPlats / Emeralds.

seating pre-allocation does not close to QF Plat/Gold status members travelling in business class. If you are unable to change the current seat allocations then it is because all seats are allocated (with the possible exception of the exit rows (row 16) or some bulkheads. Have the QF Platinum member call Qantas FF in Australia during normal Australian business hours and hopefully you will get to the Premium Desk. Then ask politely for them request exit row seating for you. Only QF Plat can pre-allocate exit rows. Even if only one of you gets the exit row now, it gives you a bargaining chip once onboard if you need to ask someone to swap seats so you can sit together. Whoever is next to your travelling partner may be very happy to swap for an exit row seat. just be sure to ok it with the CSM once onboard.

 

[adrian]

seating pre-allocation does not close to QF Plat/Gold status members travelling in business class. If you are unable to change the current seat allocations then it is because all seats are allocated (with the possible exception of the exit rows (row 16) or some bulkheads. Have the QF Platinum member call Qantas FF in Australia during normal Australian business hours and hopefully you will get to the Premium Desk. Then ask politely for them request exit row seating for you. Only QF Plat can pre-allocate exit rows. Even if only one of you gets the exit row now, it gives you a bargaining chip once onboard if you need to ask someone to swap seats so you can sit together. Whoever is next to your travelling partner may be very happy to swap for an exit row seat. just be sure to ok it with the CSM once onboard.

Thanks for the excellent advice, NM. I had called QF about 5 times recently, and each time they said they couldn't allocate me any seats. I tried again after I got your reply, and got the same answer, so I asked if I was actually connected to the Premium desk, and was told I wasn't (she said the line must have been busy). So she transferred me to the Premium desk, the Premium desk person called seating. She wasn't able to get us exit rows (already allocated to CL and other WPs!), but she was able to get us 11J&K, first row upper deck. Hey, I just wanted seats together, so this was a excellent result! Thanks again.

 

[Febs]

11J&K

Sorry to hi-jack the thread, but does anyone know if 11K is a decent seat? I know it's near the toilet (which doesn't bother me too much), but generally is it OK?

I'm not a big fan of upper deck, but I do like front-row seats (for the TV in the arm-rest) and this was all I could get.

Also I was told row 23 couldn't be pre-allocated as it's a bassinet row. As a WP, can this be pre-allocated (like an exit row)? Will be WP when I land in LAX and would like to get row 23 for the flight home if possible.

Thanks guys.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[Flying Fox]

Sorry but I'm a bit different to you. I prefer the upper deck and as such I like 11A & 11K. Only thing to watch for is that the side bins have a slight angle and hence aren't quite as big as the bins elsewhere. However, you also have the standard overhead bins as well and I have never found this to be a problem.

 

[straitman]

Sorry to hi-jack the thread, but does anyone know if 11K is a decent seat? I know it's near the toilet (which doesn't bother me too much), but generally is it OK?

I'm not a big fan of upper deck, but I do like front-row seats (for the TV in the arm-rest) and this was all I could get.

Also I was told row 23 couldn't be pre-allocated as it's a bassinet row. As a WP, can this be pre-allocated (like an exit row)? Will be WP when I land in LAX and would like to get row 23 for the flight home if possible.

Thanks guys.

Cheers,
- Febs.

Febs,

As already mentioned by Flying Fox row 11 is good IF you like upstairs (I do). The danger with row 23 is you could still get a baby nearby and that could be worse than your dislike for upstairs.

Just a thought :!:

 

[NM]

Thanks for the excellent advice, NM. I had called QF about 5 times recently, and each time they said they couldn't allocate me any seats. I tried again after I got your reply, and got the same answer, so I asked if I was actually connected to the Premium desk, and was told I wasn't (she said the line must have been busy). So she transferred me to the Premium desk, the Premium desk person called seating. She wasn't able to get us exit rows (already allocated to CL and other WPs!), but she was able to get us 11J&K, first row upper deck. Hey, I just wanted seats together, so this was a excellent result! Thanks again.

Well done. The Premium desk comes to the rescue again. 11JK are held back as blocked for general allocated in the same was as the exit row. They have the bassinet on the bulkhead so are held for people with babies and can be allocated by the seating folks on request from the Premium desk.

 

[Febs]

Just a thought :!:

..and a good one at that.
I guess I'm taking a slight risk with 23, but I haven't seen a baby there yet, so I'm optimistic.

Re: upper deck - I dislike it for the same reason most people like it. I just find it a bit too quiet and lifeless. Don't get me wrong - I like my peace and quiet...but I just feel more comfortable downstairs. I've also had much better service on lower deck, but perhaps that was just luck of the draw.

Thanks guys.

11JK are held back as blocked for general allocated in the same was as the exit row. They have the bassinet on the bulkhead so are held for people with babies and can be allocated by the seating folks on request from the Premium desk.

Hmm...I wonder what happened in my situation? I only spoke to the one lady (non-premium desk), who told me I couldn't reserve row 23, but 11K was all mine. I'm SG.

Cheers,
- Febs.

 

[NM]

Febs,

As already mentioned by Flying Fox row 11 is good IF you like upstairs (I do). The danger with row 23 is you could still get a baby nearby and that could be worse than your dislike for upstairs.

Just a thought :!:

11JK are also bassinet positions, so just as much danger of a nearby baby.

 

[NM]

Hmm...I wonder what happened in my situation? I only spoke to the one lady (non-premium desk), who told me I couldn't reserve row 23, but 11K was all mine. I'm SG.

Looking at a 3-class 744 Pacific seat map, the following seats are "blocked" and would require a reservation agent to make a request from the seating department prior to be allocated:

4AK
11JK
16ABJK
23ABJK
29ABJK
34ABCDEFG
35ABCDEFGHJK
36ABCHJK
46ABCHJK
47DEFG
56AK
58ABCHJK
63DEFG

It is possible that the seats in rows 34, 35 and 36 can be allocated immediately without contacting the seating dept, but are reserved for Sapphire/Emerald status members. I am not really sure what happens with those economy seats. Nor am I sure why 56A and K are also blocked, except possibly due to not having windows at those seats.

The rest all seem to be either exit rows or bassinet positions.

 

[Maca44]

Seats 23AB and 23JK might be blocked because of the bassinet on either side of the ac, but don't discount 23D or 23F as they are good seats, although I do prefer 23D and have that seat allocated to me on my return flight from SFO next year. All you need is a set of Shure's and no more baby noise in any event.

 

[NM]

Seats 23AB and 23JK might be blocked because of the bassinet on either side of the ac, but don't discount 23D or 23F as they are good seats, although I do prefer 23D and have that seat allocated to me on my return flight from SFO next year. All you need is a set of Shure's and no more baby noise in any event.

I used to prefer 23D with the Dreamtime seats, but now prefer 23F with the Skybeds. This is because 23E has almost always been unalloctaed and with my preferred seat I can control and watch both my and 23E's IFE screen.