Seat allocation stolen

[serfty]

Durning that period I mentioned above I was a bit surprised that shadows were sticking with regularity. Out of curiosity I checked EF and noticed that all the seats next to mine were displaying as blocked. I went back into a few bookings and moved seating from 4C to 4D, R8, R23 or 24 (a332) and then went back and checked in EF and surprisingly each newly selected seat had a blocked set next to them that was not there before and the original blocked seat had also gone.

Curiosity satisfied changed all the seating back to my original seats, before some other 'bloody P1' pinched them, sure enough the blocked seat moved with me. I will find out from August if this was just an anomaly.

What you describe is a "Shadow" in the context of seating. It may not stick come departure due to various circumstances but that is how it's best observed.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I agree.
But all decisions re seat allocations by the airline will be deemed by it to be under the “operational safety or security” umbrella. That a passenger says it’s “commercial” is really a moot point

Practically, “operational, safety and security” = “any”. (Also because the airline is also the Judge and Jury

For sure. It was just pointing out that given the wording, I think seat shifting is a reasonable complaint. I don't endorse commentary on other threads suggesting non-status pax should be grateful to be flying at all and have no grounds to complain if the airline doesn't deliver what it advertises.

 

[Quickstatus]

Agreed. CLPO friend commentary is that even he ultimately has no grounds to complain even if he actually feels more entitled to a sticky seat selection on the bases on his $80k annual expenditure with the airline.

Though it’s easier for him because he mostly gets his seat selection

I do sympathise with passengers feeling like their seat selection was stolen especially when it was a product of careful advanced planning.

 

[jakeseven7]

Back when I was a P1, I only recall requesting someone to be 'booted' on one occasion. That occasion was to get my preallocated seat back after I was booted from that seat minutes earlier.

In J (and even F), I was booted from my preallocated seat on numerous (>10) occasions as a P1. So it can happen to anyone when flying QF....

Right....You had such *awful luck* and *terrible experiences* when you flew QF, its almost *unbelievable*

I've flown thousands of segments across VA, QF, multiple other airlines and I've been moved from my preallocated seat I think once or twice... I must be super lucky!

 

[Pleb Status]

Right....You had such *awful luck* and *terrible experiences* when you flew QF, its almost *unbelievable*

I've flown thousands of segments across VA, QF, multiple other airlines and I've been moved from my preallocated seat I think once or twice... I must be super lucky!

In total, I would estimate that QF have unilaterally moved my seat assignment on more than 40 occasions and only twice on VA in Y (both to accommodate a guide dog in row 3) and once in J (a broken seat and I checked that it was and remained empty during the flight).

Maybe this is what happens to a true frequent flyer....

 

[Ade]

As RooFlyer said they can, and the only notice you will get would be a red light at the boarding gate as it reprints your boarding pass

Or as I've noticed sometimes, they get a message on the BP scanning device that reads "Seating Issue" or something similar - which could mean that either your seats have changed or you've been op-up'ed.

 

[Martin J Cowling]

Just having a whinge.

Got myself a row 4 seat for ADL/MEL tomorrow at T-80.
Went to check in today and seat allocation has mysteriously "vanished", and of course row 4 is now full.

Bloody P1s!

I hope you didnt get 37J or something awful. When this has happened to me, I have rung and had a polite whinge and QF has managed to find a way to get me back to Row 4. I am not P1 (and never will be) but Platinum clearly counts for something sometimes!

 

[jakeseven7]

In total, I would estimate that QF have unilaterally moved my seat assignment on more than 40 occasions and only twice on VA in Y (both to accommodate a guide dog in row 3) and once in J (a broken seat and I checked that it was and remained empty during the flight).

Maybe this is what happens to a true frequent flyer....

Wow such bad luck!

 

[Aeolus]

Touch wood but it has only happened to me once and I jokingly told them that I would only accept the seat change if they move me forward.

Edit: I just remembered I had that wish granted during one of the earlier AFF lounge run in HKG. I checked in together with a fellow AFFer and we were seated beside each other in J on A380. Half way through the lounge run, that AFF person asked if I secretly moved away from him as seat guru indicated my seat was vacant, much to my amusement. When I got to the QF lounge I was assigned a new F boarding pass and so did he! F cabin ended up hosting 5 of us but most of them were half comatose from too much indulgence at the lounges so we didn’t have much fun on board but another AFFer and I saved some room for companion dining which was nice.