Seat Envy

[Homer]

I used to be an SG. Since making WP for the first time late last year the seat that I am allocated has actually gotten worse. Let me explain...

I do a lot of domestic flights from SYD-BNE and a few flights from SYD-MEL. All of these flights are in J, either as a U class or a full J class. Back in the SG days I noted that I almost always got row 1 on SYD-BNE-SYD flights (eg 1A or 1F). However on SYD-MEL-SYD I would frequently be in row 3 or 4 and almost never in row 1. I used to rationalise that this was because there are more WP and CL members flying the SYD-MEL-SYD sectors than SYD-BNE-SYD so while I was being regularly out-ranked when flying to MEL I was up there at the top when flying to BNE.

Some of you will be howling with derisive laughter by this point - how could someone care whether they are in row 1 or row 3?, etc. I realise it's a personality flaw. I've accepted that. I just like being as far up the front as it is possible to get. A QF check-in person once told me that some WP or CL members will refuse to board a plane if they aren't in 1A and they will wait in the lounge until a 1A boarding pass can be produced for another flight. I'm not nearly that bad...well, not yet...

But I am digressing. Here's my point:

Since I made WP I am only getting row 1 on SYD-BNE-SYD flights about two-thirds of the time. In other words, I am in row 1 less now than I was 3 months ago as an SG.

Is there an actual formula that is used by QF to determine this or is it just random? Do any of you WPs find that you always get row 1 while others find that you are often not in row 1? Should I forget this whole thing and just be thankful that I am not travelling in whY? What in the name of all that is right and true is going on???

 

[simongr]

Have you got some stats to back this up? It might just be a brief abberation rather than a fundamental shift...

 

[Homer]

Have you got some stats to back this up? It might just be a brief abberation rather than a fundamental shift...

I hope it is a brief abberation. Unfortunately I don't have stats - I don't hold on to boarding passes. But I started noticing it as soon as I became a WP in mid December and my recollection over the past two months is that this is approximately/anecdotally what is happening.

 

[JohnK]

I can't help you with business class seating allocations but I can confirm that since qualifying QF Platinum my domestic WHY seat allocations have improved. I regularly get row 4 on a 737, with blocked middle seat, and row 23, 24 on a 767. I have been allocated exit row on some of the Dash 8 flights as well.

With international flights I can now request exit row and this has been granted each time. So can't really complain. Just wish I would get the occassional op-up....

 

[Travel Guru]

In my book anyone who's so filled with self importance and precious that they won't board unless its for seat 1A need to take a serious reality check and get over themselves big time.

Who really give a **** what J seat you're sitting in, I never do????

TG

 

[Homer]

In my book anyone who's so filled with self importance and precious that they won't board unless its for seat 1A need to take a serious reality check and get over themselves big time.

Who really give a **** what J seat you're sitting in, I never do????

TG

Just to clear it up Travel Guru, I wasn't saying that I won't board unless I am in 1A - just that I have been told that some other people won't. However I think it does matter which J seat you are in. Sure it matters more internationally than domestically, but it still matters. Just ask the folks over at SeatGuru...

 

[Arthur Hodgson]

In my book anyone who's so filled with self importance and precious that they won't board unless its for seat 1A need to take a serious reality check and get over themselves big time.

Who really give a **** what J seat you're sitting in, I never do????

TG

FWIW, I've just booked 14 domestic US flights on UA. On 13 of them I will be sitting in 1A. On the 14th it will be 5A (Bus class on a 3-class a/c).

But really, at a pinch, I would accept any first class seat.

Have to say, though, I draw the line at middle seats...

 

[simongr]

In my book anyone who's so filled with self importance and precious that they won't board unless its for seat 1A need to take a serious reality check and get over themselves big time.

Who really give a **** what J seat you're sitting in, I never do????

TG

I care a great deal - not to the extent above but I prefer an aisle over a window (sometimes), a blonde over a brunette but preferably a red head and forward if that is the way the drinks are served (I will take my chances with the food )

 

[opusman]

I care a great deal - not to the extent above but I prefer an aisle over a window (sometimes), a blonde over a brunette but preferably a red head and forward if that is the way the drinks are served (I will take my chances with the food )

If I had 1C and a brunette and you had 3A and a redhead, would you swap seats?

 

[straitman]

If I had 1C and a brunette and you had 3A and a redhead, would you swap seats?

opusman,

Why do you want to sit with simongr and leave the girls by themselves :?:

 

[garyjohn951]

I can't help you with business class seating allocations but I can confirm that since qualifying QF Platinum my domestic WHY seat allocations have improved. I regularly get row 4 on a 737, with blocked middle seat, and row 23, 24 on a 767. I have been allocated exit row on some of the Dash 8 flights as well.

With international flights I can now request exit row and this has been granted each time. So can't really complain. Just wish I would get the occassional op-up....

Have to agree with John, since becoming a WP 7 months ago I have had 16 domestic flights, all in Y, [J is waste of shareholders money domestically ] and have had row 4 in 737's and 24 in 767's.

 

[NYCguy]

...J is waste of shareholders money domestically...

They get their pound of flesh. I'm not flying economy for anyone.

Wasn't the CEO of the failed Rothwell's Bank (his name escapes me at the moment) infamous for insisting that he was in 1A on every flight? And there wasn't any happy ending there...

 

[serfty]

... (his name escapes me at the moment) infamous for insisting that he was in 1A on every flight? ...

Laurie Connell.

 

[simongr]

[J is waste of shareholders money domestically ]

In the "war for talent" if this is the weapon that can differentiate you then it may not be such a waste.

 

[simongr]

If I had 1C and a brunette and you had 3A and a redhead, would you swap seats?

Depends if there is FEBO on the flight

 

[Reggie]

FWIW, I have been WP for about 5 years now, and rarely get row 1 when travelling J, which means the system is working rom my point becuase I have it noted that I dont want row 1. Coem to think of it, the only time I am allocated row 1 is when I am checking in, in the US and travelling all the way through to Perth, and seating allocations have been done as yet. However recently I flew back from the US and was given a boarding pass for MEL - PER with 2A, some 36 hours before the scheduled departure, and i has seq # 1.

 

[Homer]

FWIW, I have been WP for about 5 years now, and rarely get row 1 when travelling J, which means the system is working rom my point becuase I have it noted that I dont want row 1.

Thanks Reggie. Your post inspired me to call QF's Frequent Flyer Service Centre for more information about seat preferences. They were very helpful.

It turns out that there is a system bug that switches around the preferences at the time of booking. For example, my domestic preference is Forward Window (FW) which, at the time of booking, is switched to Window Forward (WF). Apparently this can cause the system to allocate the first window seat as opposed to the most forward seat.

To try to resolve this they have switched my preferences to WF so that it will be the right way around (FW) when the booking is created. The FF Service Centre agent gave me his extension so that I could feedback the results to him after my next flight.

 

[QF WP]

How the compurer can create such a glitch (reversing the coding) is beyond me....

Homer, I'm sure we all have our idiosyncracies - I know people think I'm a bit short of a quid when it comes to my love of flying...however, I am interested that you think Row 1 is better than 2 or 3. I understand your pro for Row 1 (faster exit, first to be served meal/drink, etc), but I see the cons (particularly being unable to put bags under the seat or feet) as being a bigger negative. Thus the reason why I will always ask whether a seat in another row is available.

Still, each to their own. Your research on the matter was quite intriguing though. Wonder what other ones will surface

 

[JohnK]

What is the difference between Forward Window and Window Forward?

 

[opusman]

What is the difference between Forward Window and Window Forward?

I guess it's a question of which quality is more important - does the computer look for a forward seat in preference to a window seat? If the first open window seat is in row 20 then "Window Forward" would suggest you'd get that one, as the emphasis is placed on the window.