Row 4 - 737

[VeniVidiVici]

We (3 pax) are flying to the Sri Lanka in 10 days and I have previously reserved our seats through Qantas on a 737 domestic then the 330 to Singapore with the next flight on Sri Lankan.

I went to the SL's website to do that seat reservation and by accident chose seats that were open - 4A, B and C - on the first Qantas domestic leg thinking it was the flight from Singapore to Colombo. It looks like the Sri Lankan website allows you to do the Qantas seat selections also.

To my surprise the seats on the QF website were now confirmed as row 4 which were obviously always blocked for me as a Silver QC.

Long story to ask a short question - are we likely to get booted from those seats? The seats are confirmed on the website and app so fingers crossed we can stay there!

 

[samh004]

Long story to ask a short question - are we likely to get booted from those seats? The seats are confirmed on the website and app so fingers crossed we can stay there!

That's very interesting.

In my experience with row 4, you are unlikely to get moved, however it has been known for certain P1's to be able to bump passengers from front rows, though the only time this has happened to me was on an A330.

This question might be for those who post after me, but does Sri Lankan Airlines use the Amadeus booking system? If so, does this mean any Qantas booking could be managed from their site, with seats able to be chosen up front... or does using their system require you to have a flight with them? I know for instance I often use the Finnair booking manager to removed stuck FF numbers in non-Finnair bookings.

 

[VeniVidiVici]

I just plugged in a flight next year which has no Sri Lankan Airlines bookings and it showed up in their system and looks like I can select seats also so I suspect any QF flight can be managed that way.

BTW the flight doesn't look busy so hoping we can stay in row 4.

 

[Mattg]

Well I just tried this for an upcoming A330 flight booking. Sure enough, the UL website is allowing me to choose any seat on the plane, including those normally blocked. What's more, the seat selection seems to have stuck!

Very interesting indeed.

 

[trooper]

Just looking at that myself..... QF conf code brings up the entire booking..... and I can choose any seat it seems.... including those definitely greyed out on the QF site....Hmm...including row 14 on the UD....

Interesting. I have 5B outbound and 3E inbound on the QF site.... risk changing it???

 

[RichardMEL]

I think the seats will hold but if QF do a sub or some sort of change the seats may get reassigned by the QF system but probably if it's there it will stick. nice (accidental) find.

I'm still not convinced about this idea that "certain" P1's or CL's can bump others out of seats. Now I am sure there are those DYKWIA types who would eemand "their" row 4 or something, but you know what, as a P1 myself, I'd really hope QF would push back and say seats are assigned.. tough luck. I have no issue with the idea of priority seat assignments for P1 (or whatever status level) *for open seats* but if the seat is assigned then it's assigned. I would really hope that QF would only reassign seats in row 4 (or exits or whatever) for operational reasons (for example, an Air Marshal-if they still exist) rather than some high roller kicked up a fuss

but that's just a personal view. It's certainly never been indicated to me that I *could* request to have some other pax moved on my whim as a P1 (and even if it was, I wouldn't on principle).

 

[Fergo747]

Interesting...I have just had a look at my booking for tomorrow to HKG and it is showing that all seats are available for selection even those that are showing as occupied. Unsure how this would work if I selected a seat that already has someone seated in it? Personally I'm not going to risk losing my current seat but interesting nonetheless.

 

[Mattg]

That's strange. When I tried it earlier, it was showing seats that were actually occupied as "not available".

 

[serfty]

Well, I suspect this will shortly be "fixed" ... don't Qantas normally charge non status PAX $30 to select an economy seat on a long haul intentional flight?

 

[Captain Halliday]

Well, I suspect this will shortly be "fixed" ... don't Qantas normally charge non status PAX $30 to select an economy seat on a long haul intentional flight?

It will if people continue talking about it.

 

[whughes3]

I have just tried this for my next dom/int QF booking and it does indeed show all seats as "available" (and also fails to show my seats as already selected via the QF website). I would be a bit wary about using this for non -UL flights.

 

[trooper]

That was my concern too..... and given I have good seats already I might leave well enough alone!

 

[mannej]

Well, I suspect this will shortly be "fixed" ... don't Qantas normally charge non status PAX $30 to select an economy seat on a long haul intentional flight?

Only on deeply discounted fares.

 

[serfty]

Only on deeply discounted fares.

Qantas refers to these as 'sale' fares, which represent the majority of those purchased I suspect.

(Interestingly award bookings are exempt.)

 

[VeniVidiVici]

I have just tried this for my next dom/int QF booking and it does indeed show all seats as "available" (and also fails to show my seats as already selected via the QF website). I would be a bit wary about using this for non -UL flights.

That was my concern however I was only in row 16 so no biggie if we get put back there. At the moment we are in 4 though, it will be a nice to have at least one flight where my knees aren't up around my ears!

 

[dasheighty]

I have just tried this with our group booking on QF71 and it is showing ALL seats available, including those that have already been selected through QF MMB. Don't think I will risk the group being split up for a row 4 seat.
The UL seat selection may stick, but you run the risk of being relegated to the back end in a middle seat when QF finalises the seating.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It will if people continue talking about it.

Or if people call qantas to find out if this is a change in policy

 

[1022]

I just tried it with a couple of upcoming domestic bookings: one booked directly with QF and another via the work agent. Both showed seatmaps with all seats vacant. I cross checked with EF to make sure I picked empty seats (row 4 in each instance) but the UL website kicked up a "we can't process your request" error for each case. Loophole (if there actually was one) looks to already be closed.

 

[samh004]

Loophole (if there actually was one) looks to already be closed.

That's a shame, will have to continue monitoring in any case.

 

[Myrna]

Tried to get a seat for a family member (no QF status, bought cheap Y seat, so could not select any seat unless paying $35) for LAX-SYD in a months time. Expertflyer seat map showed blocked, occupied and available seats for the flight. I pulled up the booking on UL website OK, but it only showed 8 seats available for selection - bassinet position or non reclining seats on last row of the bus!