I normally just lurk around here and have a good laugh at some of the comments made. Some know me well from other places
. But I can't let this one go by with the misinformation that is being posted.
QF allocate DOMESTIC seat allocations overnight. This is a fact confirmed to me verbally by several current QF reservations and check-in staff, as well as 100% confirmed by my own practical experience.
Note that ANY change to a flight on the day of travel, including a new reservation, means you have missed the auto-allocation process that happenned overnight. Even if a new reservation or flight change is made more than 6 hours before the scheduled departure time you have missed the auto-allocation process and will be allocated a seat a check-in time from those available.
Of course it is quite possible, and even probably, that if someone else with status and a good pre-allocated seat has changed off the flight you have joined, that a good seat will be available, but even a Plat or CL member is given the same "chance" of getting it depending on what is available at the time you actually check-in. Note this is specifically just for the case when you missed the overnight auto-allocation process.
Now, as regards the seating preference for the valious member status levels and profiles.
1. All Qantas Club members, regardless of FF status, can have a seating preference in their profile. This includes QC Bronze members as has been confirmed here by several such members.
2. FF Bronze members do not have access to the seating preference section of their profiles. They cannot add a seating preference.
3. If an FF member is downgraded to FF Bronze after holding a higher status level (either a QC memvership or FF Silver or above), and they had a seating preference in their profile, that seating preference remains in gtheir profile. BUT it cannot be changed by the member. It is unknown to me (and other here as a result of my reading) if the auto-allocation process actually takes that preference into account.
4. INTERNATIONAL flights are different as has been mentions. Some examples above are for seating allocations that were granted for international flights (SYD-MNL comes to mind as an example above). Qantas allows pre-allocation by request or FF profile at the time of reservation (not just at ticketing) up until a pre-determined percentage of the cabin is pre-allocated. After that limit has been reached, only elite FF members (normally Gold, Plat and CL, but is at the descretion of a Yield Management agent) can be pre-allocated by asking the reservations agent to submit a request to the Yeild Management department. This can be done through their reservation system or by telephone - most res agents do it on-line. Some of the prefered seats are reserved for elite level members and not available for pre-allocation by non-status members. These can be requested in the same manner described above by CL, Plat and Gold members if the computer does not pre-allocate for you according to your preference.
Personally, I prefer the Qantas seat allocation process over that used by some other airlines. I like not having to concern myself with the seat allocation at the time of booking and have confidence the Qantas auto-allocaiton system will give me the best seat that matched my preference. And as a Qantas Platinum FF member, it has not failed me. But I do understand the allocation process and know that if I make a reservation at 9am for a flight departing at 6pm, I have missed the auto-allocation process and know I am unlikely to sitting in a seat that matches my profile. In that case I will rely on being able to choose the best available seat via QuickCheck or have the Qantas Club service desk find me an acceptable seat. If not, I will apply for an On Departure Upgrade to get a better seat :wink: .
:cry: 
