QF now charging WP for all Exit Row economy seats [CL/WP1 exempt]

[MickC32]

Can confirm that at T-80 I was able to select row 4 on a PER-ADL 737. Exit rows were available but still charging $30. (I am only SG)

 

[bjm76]

Ok so this is weird. On Wednesday night this week (5 July) I booked 2 tickets from SYD-AKL return for September/October this year - was able to select exit row on both flights for both passengers - no additional charge. I am SG and other passenger is PS. Was expecting the additional fee to be charged.

 

[kevrosmith]

I tweeted QF about existing bookings and this was their (eventual) reply:

The fee is applicable to new and changed seat selections only.

I'm not so concerned about my existing bookings now. Fingers crossed row 4 continues to open up as others have already reported.

 

[TheInsider]

Ok so this is weird. On Wednesday night this week (5 July) I booked 2 tickets from SYD-AKL return for September/October this year - was able to select exit row on both flights for both passengers - no additional charge. I am SG and other passenger is PS. Was expecting the additional fee to be charged.

Trans-tasman don't get charged as yet.

 

[Sukina]

Unfortunately, yes, for my upcoming flights where I'd selected 14A, manage my booking initially showed this selection as remaining in place, but when I went further into the seat selection area my choice had reverted to "window" and the banner stated 14A was a $20 "extra legroom seat"

 

[serfty]

Unfortunately, yes, for my upcoming flights where I'd selected 14A, manage my booking initially showed this selection as remaining in place, but when I went further into the seat selection area my choice had reverted to "window" and the banner stated 14A was a $20 "extra legroom seat" 

If your booking still shows the seats you had already selected, DO NOT GO BACK into seat selection.

 

[waltervp]

Qantas does nothing to reward loyalty imho. And how often do I fly and see noone sitting in an emergency exit row or some old lady with a cane. That does nothing to make me feel safe in any emergency. I rather have a platinum 6ft+ male there if something happened; an experienced flier with a bit of strength when needed in emergencies.

Pfft, who needs Qantas over any other airline. Just go by price and schedule, and maybe pay a smidgin more if you can fly QF and maybe allowed lounge access with your QC, but don't bank on that either.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Qantas does nothing to reward loyalty imho. And how often do I fly and see noone sitting in an emergency exit row or some old lady with a cane. That does nothing to make me feel safe in any emergency. I rather have a platinum 6ft+ male there if something happened; an experienced flier with a bit of strength when needed in emergencies.

Pfft, who needs Qantas over any other airline. Just go by price and schedule, and maybe pay a smidgin more if you can fly QF and maybe allowed lounge access with your QC, but don't bank on that either.

Seriously?? Old lady with a cane ?
I have never seen this on any QF aircraft.
I'm also pretty sure experienced female fliers well under 6ft would be more than capable in an emergency too

 

[Denali]

Seriously?? Old lady with a cane ?
I have never seen this on any QF aircraft.

You venture that far back on the plane?

 

[Princess Fiona]

You venture that far back on the plane?

Even Royalty flies whY sometimes :mrgreen:

 

[mannej]

Seriously?? Old lady with a cane ?
I have never seen this on any QF aircraft.
I'm also pretty sure experienced female fliers well under 6ft would be more than capable in an emergency too

I think the OP is using this as a Segway to include his other frustrations as well, no matter the fact that the eligibility criteria isn't hidden...

 

[waltervp]

I feel terrible taking photos of these sights, but next time I will. I should not put gender in this picture, that is unintentional. I just mean capable, or even at least plausibly capable compared to plausibly incapable.

As for other frustrations, yes absolutely. I've failed to get QC access for various obscure reasons and the common reply is 'yes, we have it all the time, you are not the only one, but this is a xx_x lounge and blah blah blah, and because of that you cannot go in. I seriously don't know why I keep on renewing something that frustrates me so much with an airline I despise. Only reason I perservere is because I live near an airport only serviced by Qantas link, and I need QC access for medical reasons and letting it lapse means I need to pay the initial entry fee again. I can't imagine things getting worse with Qantas and assume it will improve sooner rather than later, and we only have one well recognised national carrier and I prefer to fly with my own country's planes rather than sending more money off shore (Singapore maintenance??? Wtf)... Anyways rave over and I feel marginally better venting a little

 

[DavidFlynn]

You venture that far back on the plane?

Princess Fiona doesn't, but her staff take photos of the Y cabin and Instagram them to her for her amusement.

 

[RichardMEL]

re Exit row capable pax....

I've seen on QFLink pax moved from the exit for not meeting the criteria.. so it is enforced from time to time.

On mainline I'm (ahem) basically never that far back to know what happens so can't comment there

but I will say just a couple of weeks ago I was in an exit row on an Air Canada CRJ-200 (ie: metal tube of hell) and I can assure you the 3 others in the exit row were... large.. I mean seriously they NEEDED the room to contain their bulk and frankly in an Emergency... well... *shudder* yet no comment was made (the a/c was totally full so I suppose that was also a factor).

I'd also note AC charge for these seats, but Star Alliance Gold get them free. and I think this is the way QF should do it. If you're QF Gold or Plat, or OWS/OWE then make it free.

 

[dairyfloss]

You know you're on a slippery slope when you're charging for something that BA is happy to make available for free to OWE/OWS Y pax...

 

[OzEire]

Qantas does nothing to reward loyalty imho. And how often do I fly and see noone sitting in an emergency exit row or some old lady with a cane. That does nothing to make me feel safe in any emergency. I rather have a platinum 6ft+ male there if something happened; an experienced flier with a bit of strength when needed in emergencies.

Old lady with a cane, 6ft male ??

I just want someone there who isn't going to freak out and actually do their "job" to open the damn door. This includes paying attention to the briefing, staying awake/alert for t/o and landing, keeping their shoes on, actually stowing their gear out of the way, etc.. the list goes on but you get the idea; there's much more to it than just how a person "looks".

If we were being honest here, off duty/deadhead crew should not be seated anywhere else as they are the ideal candidates.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Only reason I perservere is because I live near an airport only serviced by Qantas link, and I need QC access for medical reasons and letting it lapse means I need to pay the initial entry fee again.

I hope your medical reason doesn't exclude you from assisting in an emergency ie you are 100% fit and able bodied to help other pax evacuate if the need arises.

 

[waltervp]

I hope your medical reason doesn't exclude you from assisting in an emergency ie you are 100% fit and able bodied to help other pax evacuate if the need arises.

Lol, no, I wouldn't sit there either. I need oxygen on longer flights as is. Also, I'm not that tall that I'm uncomfortable in a regular seat and I like having things at my feet and storage and screen in front of me. I'd pay not to sit there. It shouldn't be sold as a premium seat, tall people can't help being tall! And we like people there the airline chooses to sit there, regular fliers, experienced people preferably with qualifications. Personally I think our airline profile should also contain an area to advise staff why you should sit there (police, army, security, athlete, ...)...

 

[Basalt]

If we were being honest here, off duty/deadhead crew should not be seated anywhere else as they are the ideal candidates.

Actually in a rare bout of unbridled honesty I have to agree with you. From a maximising safety aspect I'd suggest airlines should perhaps, as a matter of protocol, put off-duty crew into exit rows before they stick them in other seats (i.e. J).

 

[michaele]

Reference point - T80 for a flight this Friday BNE-SYD, had preselected row 6 as row 4 and 5 were blocked. At T80, row 5 opened up, but row 4 still blocked. Checked EF and just blocked, noone seated in R4. Midday flight, looks very light anyway. Disappointing change if this sticks - WP is supposed to be a high tier in line with the flight requirements to earn it. As someone who takes note of other pax, its rare to see many higher status pax especially in Y, sometimes a PO or two on the Mon/Fri shuttles, and almost never a CL..