Seating Allocation??

[thadocta]

The issue is that it is done overnight.

Which is what I said several months ago. And is what NM said several months ago. And what Lindsay said several months ago. And a few other posters.

Dave

 

[straitman]

thadocta wrote

Which is what I said several months ago. And is what NM said several months ago. And what Lindsay said several months ago. And a few other posters.

It appears that we have consensus :!:

Almost :!:

 

[Warks]

So what about International flights? Just to stir the pot. You can get your itinerary weeks in advance with your seat allocated can't you?

 

[NM]

I agree!

 

[NM]

So what about International flights? Just to stir the pot. You can get your itinerary weeks in advance with your seat allocated can't you?

Yes, pre-allocation is available for all QF operated international flights, including the domestic sectors of those international flights.

1A SYD-LAX is mine on Monday .

 

[sully]

Lighten up lads. My post was a p**s take. To be honest, I don't give a rats really.

 

[serfty]

It's seems that we all agree (except for dazzler, who seems to have "left the building").

I also agree with NM about the domestic pre-allocation being a good method.

With the variety in craft and configuration that QANTAS has, the chances of an equipment change in the days before a scheduled domestic flight is quite high. Any such change can have large ramifications in seating etc. So pre-allocation as late as the night before minimises these issues.

Doesn't always work however, my 24B 763 OG* seat turned into 8C on a 73H VX* at the bording gate last Month. It was a NSW Labour Day evening flight from SYD to MEL and I guess there were not enough PAX to justify a 230 seater. The 737 was still only 3/4 full.

Within the international scene, the chances of such a change are more remote and the current preallocation setup is quite reasonable.

However I do take precautions. I travel 767's to NZ regularly and if in WHY, I give row 25 a miss. Once a ZX was substituted for OGE (I think) & row 25 disappeared: my 25J seat morphed into 50F on an almost full flight.

 

[straitman]

It's seems that we all agree (except for dazzler, who seems to have "left the building").

Maybe it's time for a joke :!:

Bad Airline Seating


A stewardess approached a gentleman who was voicing his complains rather loudly.

"Yes, Sir?"

"I want to complain about this airline. Every time I fly, I get the same seat, I can't see the in-flight movie, and there are no window blinds so I can't sleep."


"Captain, shut up and fly the plane."


:!:

 

[simongr]

Sorry to bump this very old thread - I was searching for some stuff on seat maps and pre-allocation of seats for some domestioc economy flights that I have later this month and also a general question regarding seat preferences.

I now have my answer - I think that seats are allocated overnight for domestic fights (although I am not exactly sure on this - having read this thread ) which means I cant angle for a better seat. Downside for me at the moment is that my qf domestic flight has my AA number - so I migth change that back to QF to get the seat allocation and then give AA number at check in.

In terms of general preferences I am trying to work out what to set as my preference. I have set "forward upper window" for int'l and "forward aisle" for domestic. What concerns me is that if I fly int'l on a non-747 it says "no preference will be registered" - do other people select simply forward window/aisle to guarantee (as much as you can guarantee anything flying) forward - or is experience that if you choose forward/upper/window(or aisle - I still cant decide on that) that if flying business class on a non-747 that you still get forward?

 

[NM]

In terms of general preferences I am trying to work out what to set as my preference. I have set "forward upper window" for int'l and "forward aisle" for domestic. What concerns me is that if I fly int'l on a non-747 it says "no preference will be registered" - do other people select simply forward window/aisle to guarantee (as much as you can guarantee anything flying) forward - or is experience that if you choose forward/upper/window(or aisle - I still cant decide on that) that if flying business class on a non-747 that you still get forward?

For international flights, I find the FF profile entry to be irrelevant for anyone with Sapphire or Emerald status flying with QF. Once the booking has been made (does not need to be ticketed), just phone QF on 131211 and ask to have a seat pre-allocated for you. Then just chose the best seat available to you at the time.

The computer system will auto-allocate you a seat when you make the reservation. But it makes not difference at all where that auto-allocated seat has been placed when its a 2 min phone call to discuss with a real person who can tell you what seats are available and you can choose any of the ones available no matter what your stated preference happens to be in your profile.

And for domestic flights, I think you are better to go to a real check-in agent and ask for an exit-row seat rather than taking pot luck with the auto-allocation system. You may be surprised how often the exit row seats are actually available. If you really want to use Quick Check, then use the system to check for different seats. Again you may be amazed how often the forward seats are available via QuickCheck due to last minute changes by elite FFs who had been auto-allocated their preference and changed to a different flight.

Personally I am much less concerned about the seat allocation for a 1-2 hour domestic flight than I am for a 14 hour international flight. I will always check the seat maps on-line (via ExpertFlyer) for international flights, select the one I want and call QF on 131211 and ask to be moved to that specific seat. The computer system is not smart enough to know my seating preference for each aircraft type and route. I may chose a different seat based on being a day or night flight, east-bound vs west-bound, over water or land etc.

So my QF FF profile just has a generic "forward aisle" includes, and I always call to select the seat I want. And it makes no difference if I use my QF Plat number or my AA Plat number in the booking for international flights since I always phone and select the seat I want regardless of what the system has auto-allocated me.

 

[simongr]

Thanks - the whole phoning to choose my seat is a little new to me and goes against the years of "get to airport as early as you can for a good seat ...." and so far I havent had status to be able to get that (well yes I did qith QP but I never flew int'l with QF whilst I was QP). I guess I need to check out expert flyer to see what I can do on seat availability - but skimming this didnt seem to indicate that anywhere could give you a good idea of available seats - or was that the case when this thread started (back in 2004)?

Is checkmytrip a good/reliable indicator of available seats?

 

[Dave Noble]

Thanks - the whole phoning to choose my seat is a little new to me and goes against the years of "get to airport as early as you can for a good seat ...." and so far I havent had status to be able to get that (well yes I did qith QP but I never flew int'l with QF whilst I was QP). I guess I need to check out expert flyer to see what I can do on seat availability - but skimming this didnt seem to indicate that anywhere could give you a good idea of available seats - or was that the case when this thread started (back in 2004)?

Is checkmytrip a good/reliable indicator of available seats?

checkmytrip (if you have a seat assigned) is a fairly good indicator of available seats other than the 1st few rows of economy will show as unavailable since they are in the qualified seating area and so only available to those with status. Also, if the normal seating allocation limits have been reached, checkmytrip will say that the seatmap is unavailable

Personally I tend to use expertflyer to locate available good seats when arranging travel and then contact the airline to assign

For domestic flights, except one time, I have always been able to get an exit seat which are my preferred seats and status makes no odds on getting these

Dave

 

[simongr]

Just joined expert flyer - seems interesting and I will try it out for the next few montsh to see if I get "value" out of the extortionate $4.99 (US I assume) per month - be good also to share the info with the guy that works for me so that he can get good seats also - such a nice boss I am

 

[NM]

Just joined expert flyer - seems interesting and I will try it out for the next few montsh to see if I get "value" out of the extortionate $4.99 (US I assume) per month - be good also to share the info with the guy that works for me so that he can get good seats also - such a nice boss I am

Remember that you can get a 15% discount on annual EF membership if you first sign up as a AFF Gold member. Combine this discount with the 10% off Columbus Direct Travel insurance and the ad-free AFF surfing experience, and the AFF Gold Membership may be worth considering.

I am amazed how often I use EF now that I have an annual membership.

 

[NM]

checkmytrip (if you have a seat assigned) is a fairly good indicator of available seats other than the 1st few rows of economy will show as unavailable since they are in the qualified seating area and so only available to those with status. Also, if the normal seating allocation limits have been reached, checkmytrip will say that the seatmap is unavailable

Its not just in economy that QF reserves some seats for elite FF members. But they do show differently between economy and business/first class on the on-line views. In economy they often show as reserved for elites but unallocated, while in business and first class they just show as allocated. Typically on the 744 aircraft, row 16 as well as 23AB (and possibly 23JK) show as allocated even of they are not presently taken. They can be requested via the phone, but some agents will just tell you they are already taken as I think it may only be the "Premium Desk" agents that can actually see that they are reserved and not allocated.

Same story for seats 4A and 4K in the F cabin.

 

[Dave Noble]

Exit Row 16 on a 744 ( as well as exits 46,58 and 29 (on 2 class aeroplanes) ) indeed show as taken. A request to the seating ppl can be made for QF Platinum/Chairman's Lounge members only, but cannot be assigned by the reservations agents directly.

Just looking at seatmaps , there seem to be no seats held back in F , though it looks like 11JK and 23ABJK are blocked off

Dave

 

[simongr]

Just checking the AKL flights this Sunday (QF43) and there are a number of seats showing as blocked. Are these seats available to a QF silver? The guy working for me is not going to try to upgrade.

Thinking about it I probably should choose my seats in economy as well - in case my upgrade doesnt come thorugh... I can see I have 26F on my return flight - just nothing allocated on outbound flight.

@NM Just a quick one - you said call 131211 below - is that the platinum number? If so as a Gold will they hang up on me if I call it? :mrgreen:

 

[NM]

Just looking at seatmaps , there seem to be no seats held back in F , though it looks like 11JK and 23ABJK are blocked off

Dave

11JK and 23ABJK are all bassinet positions, which is why they are held back. But these are available on request.

I have regularly seen 4A and 4K reserved in F, and also when the F cabin is sold as J. Again I believe this is due to them being the bassinet positions. I have had them allocated when shown as reserved following a call to the seating folks as your example of row 16. I have also had them allocated at the airport after being told they are not available just hours earlier by the reservations staff on the phone, and then find the other one is empty during the flight (what's the chances of both 4A and 4K being cancelled 2 hours before departure?).

4AK may not always be held back, but in my experience they are on many occasions. And for me that is a good thing since the only time I get in F on QF is when my waitlist upgrade is successful, so the chance of 4A or K being available at that late stage is good!

 

[simongr]

Sorry to spam again - just a quick one. Is there a way to check the availability on BA WT+ - I dont know the fare code that I have (is there a way to track that down if it isnt on my itinerary rfom expedia?) and if I look on expertflyer it doesnt show the WT+ in either business or economy...

 

[NM]

Sorry to spam again - just a quick one. Is there a way to check the availability on BA WT+ - I dont know the fare code that I have (is there a way to track that down if it isnt on my itinerary rfom expedia?) and if I look on expertflyer it doesnt show the WT+ in either business or economy...

BA WT+ booking codes are W (full fare) and T (discounted). These will show in EF availability searches.

For EF seat maps, put W in the class field