Seat Allocations on flights with stops

[Brettmcg]

Just a general question on how airlines (Qantas in particular) allocate seats on flights which have stops.

For instance, how can it be that on a flight from SYD - FRA, I can have a seat allocated to me in the front few rows of economy (from what I gather these are the seats reserved for 'status pax') when I first connect to the flight in SIN? Will the same seat I have from SIN - FRA be allocated to someone only flying the SYD - SIN leg? How does this work if all 'status pax' are flying the entire route?

 

[JohnK]

That is a difficult question to answer with so many possibilities. Generally it is first in first served with status passengers up to a certain seat pre-allocation limit.

For instance, how can it be that on a flight from SYD - FRA, I can have a seat allocated to me in the front few rows of economy (from what I gather these are the seats reserved for 'status pax') when I first connect to the flight in SIN? Will the same seat I have from SIN - FRA be allocated to someone only flying the SYD - SIN leg?

If I, as a Platinum, have a forward seat allocated on the same flight and will only travel SIN-SYD then someone else will possibly have this seat allocated for the SIN-FRA sector. Now this could be someone boarding in SIN without any status.

How does this work if all 'status pax' are flying the entire route?

If all status passengers are flying the entire SYD-FRA route and they booked early enough and have seats allocated then a status passenger travelling only SIN-FRA could essentially be seated further back.

On a few occassions I have booked SYD-SIN-SYD on the through flights and I have booked many months in advance and I have most times received a good seat allocation.

 

[Optics]

Just a general question on how airlines (Qantas in particular) allocate seats on flights which have stops.

For instance, how can it be that on a flight from SYD - FRA, I can have a seat allocated to me in the front few rows of economy (from what I gather these are the seats reserved for 'status pax') when I first connect to the flight in SIN? Will the same seat I have from SIN - FRA be allocated to someone only flying the SYD - SIN leg? How does this work if all 'status pax' are flying the entire route?

I often fly MEL - SIN - FRA, on QF9 then 5 (which I gather is the SYD - FRA flight you refer to). I always have my favourite seats allocated for each leg, so I gather its just a matter of getting in early enough, before another 'status pax' takes it all the way through from SYD - FRA.

 

[Brettmcg]

I often fly MEL - SIN - FRA, on QF9 then 5 (which I gather is the SYD - FRA flight you refer to). I always have my favourite seats allocated for each leg, so I gather its just a matter of getting in early enough, before another 'status pax' takes it all the way through from SYD - FRA.

Yes those are the flights I am referring to. QF005 originates in SYD and terminates in FRA, and QF009 originates in MEL and terminates in LHR.

The question was asked more out of general interest than a need to organise requests.

 

[Optics]

Yes those are the flights I am referring to. QF005 originates in SYD and terminates in FRA, and QF009 originates in MEL and terminates in LHR.

The question was asked more out of general interest than a need to organise requests.

I understand, I was simply trying to illustrate that it is not uncommon for someone only taking the second half of the QF5 flight to still get their preferred seat.

 

[Mal]

And of course seat preferences can be moved at any time by Qantas.

On a flight in a couple of weeks time, Qantas has shifted me from my preferred seat in Economy (2nd row aisle in the middle block) to 3rd row, Aisle on the Window block. I dislike Window area seats on widebody's for the same reasons as many others here.

I'll be interested in who the special people are that now occupy my old seat and the other three in that block, and why I deserved to be shifted to accommodate them!

 

[Optics]

And of course seat preferences can be moved at any time by Qantas.

On a flight in a couple of weeks time, Qantas has shifted me from my preferred seat in Economy (2nd row aisle in the middle block) to 3rd row, Aisle on the Window block. I dislike Window area seats on widebody's for the same reasons as many others here.

I'll be interested in who the special people are that now occupy my old seat and the other three in that block, and why I deserved to be shifted to accommodate them!

Don't assume that someone "special" has trumped your seat allocation. As I have discussed on another thread, I often have my selected seats get changed for no obvious reason, but by phoning again get them reallocated. This has happened twice for next weeks MEL-SIN-FRA-SIN-MEL flights. I just got on the phone again this morning and hey presto, my requested seats reappeared. So I would suggest you call them and try to get your seats back.

 

[Dave Noble]

It is also possible to lose a seat for a good reason ( e.g. have been allocated a bulkhead but been beaten by someone booking the bassinet ) and then subsequently for that person to cancel/rebook thereby leaving the seat free

Dave

 

[Optics]

It is also possible to lose a seat for a good reason ( e.g. have been allocated a bulkhead but been beaten by someone booking the bassinet ) and then subsequently for that person to cancel/rebook thereby leaving the seat free

Dave

Yes, I understand that, but each time I have lost my preferred seats and then phoned again, they have told me the seats have not been allocated, and I have been reallocated them. My preferred seats are the upstairs window seats on the exit rows, so, as far as I am aware, the only person who could "beat" my reservation is a CL anyway, and that has not been the case.

Oh well, I am happy to have my seats back for next weeks flights, now just need to ensure they follow through and do the same for my MEL-LAX-JFK trips later in the month. Fingers crossed .

 

[NM]

It could also be that there was an aircraft substitution in the system and that caused all seat allocations to be reset.

 

[Optics]

It could also be that there was an aircraft substitution in the system and that caused all seat allocations to be reset.

Yes, that is a reason I have been given. How far in advance of the flight do they allocate the aircraft though, I have had my requested (and allocated) seats reallocated months prior to a flight? Accepting that this is the reason, I have queried why the reallocation done after a substitution does not automatically lead to pax seating requests being reinput. I know the requests are held in the system, as they can always see my previous requests when I ring to get my preferred seat reallocated. I know this was a bug in the previous system, as both helpdesk and check-in staff have told me the problem is fairly common. I just hope their newly introduced seating allocation system corrects it.

 

[Maca44]

Having read this thread I went into my QF bookings and noticed the banner across the top that my flight details had changed and to contact qantas. I did this, gave them my booking reference and was informed that it was an "internal" problem concerning "inventory" change only and that my flight details had not changed in any way. I pre-allocated seat 3A on QF73, but have a J class flight to SFO in May 08 and there was no mention on the website about this. I was advised this only related to First and Economy pax, with J class not being effected. Seems strange that if my flight details had not changed why they want me to contact them??

However, as a result of this thread I now check my bookings on a regular basis as I have not flown QF F Class before, several times in 2A on F with UA but I believe it is slightly different configured layout in QF and have been advised that 3A is a good seat.
Edit: is an award F booking

 

[NM]

Having read this thread I went into my QF bookings and noticed the banner across the top that my flight details had changed and to contact qantas. I did this, gave them my booking reference and was informed that it was an "internal" problem concerning "inventory" change only and that my flight details had not changed in any way. I pre-allocated seat 3A on QF73, but have a J class flight to SFO in May 08 and there was no mention on the website about this. I was advised this only related to First and Economy pax, with J class not being effected. Seems strange that if my flight details had not changed why they want me to contact them??

Was this an aware ticket by any chance? Perhaps related to Z -> P booking code changes for First Class awards. And some economy awards would change as T becomes Premium Economy paid inventory.

 

[Optics]

Having read this thread I went into my QF bookings and noticed the banner across the top that my flight details had changed and to contact qantas. I did this, gave them my booking reference and was informed that it was an "internal" problem concerning "inventory" change only and that my flight details had not changed in any way. I pre-allocated seat 3A on QF73, but have a J class flight to SFO in May 08 and there was no mention on the website about this. I was advised this only related to First and Economy pax, with J class not being effected. Seems strange that if my flight details had not changed why they want me to contact them??

However, as a result of this thread I now check my bookings on a regular basis as I have not flown QF F Class before, several times in 2A on F with UA but I believe it is slightly different configured layout in QF and have been advised that 3A is a good seat.
Edit: is an award F booking

They are all good seats in F .

 

[NM]

They are all good seats in F .

Its just that some are better than others

 

[Optics]

Its just that some are better than others

I just wish I got to fly it more often so I could choose which ones they are .

 

[Maca44]

Its just that some are better than others

I have been in 2A, 2B with United and found 2B better as you have heaps of room to the right of you, but if some QF F seats are better than others please let me know. As I said this is my first seat up the front with QF

"Perhaps related to Z -> P booking code", now that I think about it, it has changed from Z to P.

 

[NM]

I have been in 2A, 2B with United and found 2B better as you have heaps of room to the right of you, but if some QF F seats are better than others please let me know. As I said this is my first seat up the front with QF

See my preferences in this thread.

"Perhaps related to Z -> P booking code", now that I think about it, it has changed from Z to P.

Yep, that was my guess.

 

[Maca44]

NM, just contacted QF and tried to change to seat 1A as suggested (didn't want 4A - too close to galley for me), however, all seats apart from 3F and 4F have already been pre allocated, and this is for a flight in August 08. I was told to ring back a couple of months before the flight as things change.

 

[Brettmcg]

See my preferences in this thread.

Yep, that was my guess.

NM, I see you list 31D as your first preference on the QF 747-438 56J/356Y. From the seat map I can see that this seat appears to be within the galley, and is also not on any seat maps in CheckMyTrip. How does one go about allocating this seat?