Seat Allocation - Platinum vs. Non Status

[Bolthead]

This is not a gripe but an observation. My wife and I (both Platinum) and daughter flew back from OOL last night. Both my wife and self had 3B & 3C. Our daughter who has no status (almost Silver) had 21D. (separate bookings) I did the OLCI and at the time there where no seats available for my daughter except for some middle seats further at the back. OK, so I assumed pretty much a full flight. When we got to the OOL lounge the lounge angel first asked us to move to a earlier flight but we couldn't because of our picking up arrangements in SYD. OK, so then she moved our daughter to 3F. Great for her and even more so because she had an empty seat next to her as well. When I checked in there where no available seats in row 3. No biggy but the chap next to us in 3A was a large man. Why didn't they put him in 3F and put our daughter in 3A.... we would have been one big happy family and the other chap would have had room to stretch. I just get confused sometimes on why seats are not available when they obviously don't have passengers in them.

 

[KCMil]

The larger gent next to you may have used web check, or kiosk check in or phone app check in. If he had status he would have been able to preassign his seat, therefore no need to present to a check in desk. And if he asks for that seat at face to face check in then they can't say no based on size. (Excpet for the overwing.) If i'd been you I'd have asked him if he was interested in swapping, he may have been glad of the space as well.