Same status different seat selection availability

[SYD]

Wasn’t sure if this is a question under T-80 or Shadows but possibly warrants a seperate thread (if not already asked before?).

Two of us on seperate tickets flying SYD-MEL whY (return). Bookings are not linked AFAIK but we can see quite different seat availability within T-80 (I think it’s much the same before T-80 and not aware of this on QFi).

Both of us WP/LTG/PC/GT and flying associated to my QBR account. I’ve been continuous WP longer, attained LTG several years earlier.

Flying down to MEL we had adjacent aisle seats (as usual), EF was showing our middle seats blocked (shadow?) but SYD+1 could select the seat next to me but I couldn’t select their middle seat. Similarly, flight back to SYD within T-80 has better seat visibility for SYD+1….

The only other thing I can think of is individual QF customer “value” scores (what’s the term POV?). But even then, our spend is probably similar - although, there might have been instances where STD+1 has been the “primary” traveller on big ticket items.

Anyway, it appears that their are more undocumented perks within tiers!

Anyone else noticed this recently?

 

[serfty]

Anyone else noticed this recently?

It been this way for over a decade.

Search for "Notional Seating" and "Altea".

Are you both in the same fare bucket?

 

[SYD]

It been this way for over a decade.

Search for "Notional Seating" and "Altea".

That explains the slight variation to actual QF seat map but not the other.

Are you both in the same fare bucket?

Yes. Next flight is “X” CR (so identical) and if anything, the seat map difference between the two of us is more different.

Definitely something else at play!

 

[serfty]

Definitely something else at play!

I'd suggest it's more likely than not a simple outlier in PCV calculation.

 

[SYD]

I'd suggest it's more likely than not a simple outlier in PCV calculation.

That’s all I could think of. But a more visible incarnation.

It’s like I see the EF version and SYD+1 sees a superset?

 

[SYD]

So here’s an example pre T-24.

So according to EF (Note: I’m in 7C and SYD+1 is in 7C).



and my view via QF (which basically mirrors EF).



vs SYD+1 who has significantly better seat selection options even though we’re the same QF status!

 

[SYD]

Interestingly, this only seems to manifest itself on domestic routes (from what I can deduce from a small data set of 1x each QFd and QFi bookings).

We also have a trip to NZ in a few weeks. Seperate tickets, same whY fare over and back but identical B737 seat map presented to us.

It dawned on me that SYD+1 had 2x seperate J trips to the US pre COVID - which would tick up the PCV but they were 5/6 years ago now!

If PCV is in play, how often does it get updated / revised?

 

[serfty]

If PCV is in play, how often does it get updated / revised?

In relation to notional seating, PCV would be calculated per flight ... not sure if one off or after any seat assignment, booking changes, etc. occurs.

 

[SYD]

In relation to notional seating, PCV would be calculated per flight ... not sure if one off or after any seat assignment, booking changes, etc. occurs.

I was asking about the dark arts of PCV…. Presumably historical things drop off or is it a coughulative thing? Does anybody really know?

BTW, I found the old (closed) thread from 2012 with a similar discussion on notional seating and what’s available within T-80 for different status levels. But this was the first time I’d seen significant differences for the same status level on a Dom flight.

Lesson for now is to book us on the same PNR for domestic travel! While I remain slight jealous….

 

[oz_mark]

Are they the same fare class? That can affect things

Post automatically merged: Oct 14, 2024

Are they the same fare class? That can affect things

 

[SYD]

Are they the same fare class? That can affect things

Post automatically merged: Oct 14, 2024

Are they the same fare class? That can affect things

Yes. @serfty asked the same earlier.

The example seat maps posted are both “X” (MEL-SYD). Quite different!

BTW, EF presumably is showing its best endeavours at recognising my WP status. There were some slight discrepancies between those and that issue was discussed in another old thread.

 

[SYD]

Another data point. Heading off to NZ on B737 (whY class) - again seperate bookings (same fare bucket).

Outside T-80 the same seat visibility - as far as I could tell.

Now inside T-80, SYD+1 has slightly better visibility of available seats. Generally, things shown on EF as blocked are actually available. But blocked to me.

Note to self. In future when travelling together in whY book together!

 

[elanshin]

Another data point. Heading off to NZ on B737 (whY class) - again seperate bookings (same fare bucket).

Outside T-80 the same seat visibility - as far as I could tell.

Now inside T-80, SYD+1 has slightly better visibility of available seats. Generally, things shown on EF as blocked are actually available. But blocked to me.

Note to self. In future when travelling together in whY book together!

The system does funny things sometimes especially if you link bookings.

I found resetting myself (move myself out then look again) sometimes fixes things.

I've also had situations where after linking my lower tier friend has better access in T-80 but worse before T-80.

I've also seen linking completely lock (at least i suspect my linking) my gf and her brother out of seat selection on a flight I'm not even on. Had to hope that seats were still there at the airport even the Hobart team was locked out of moving them.

 

[SYD]

The system does funny things sometimes especially if you link bookings.

I found resetting myself (move myself out then look again) sometimes fixes things.

I've also had situations where after linking my lower tier friend has better access in T-80 but worse before T-80.

I've also seen linking completely lock (at least i suspect my linking) my gf and her brother out of seat selection on a flight I'm not even on. Had to hope that seats were still there at the airport even the Hobart team was locked out of moving them.

But my point is “unlinked” bookings but same status. I’ve been of the belief for years that what I see and what EF show (linked to my OWE status) is what I should expect to see and QF have blocked things for all (except maybe CL/P1) but SYD+1 can see straight thru those blocks.

It can only be PCV in play!