Seats!

[danlamb]

Hi Guys,

I'm new here so be nice!

I am a QFF Silver member and have booked a oneworld explorer ticket leaving Syd on 24 May. I am 6 foot 4 so the SYD-LHR sector is not one I'm looking forward to (for the tall ones of you you'll know what it's like having your knees behind your ears for 23 hours) and I wanted to get some expert advice.

I don't have enough points for a points upgrade, and I'm assuming I would not lucky enough to score an op-up, so the choice I am left with is to carefully pick where I want to sit.

Normally I opt for emergency exit seats as they are a sure bet to get more legroom, although last year I flew Virgin Atlantic from SYD-LHR and I found the emergency exit seating to be extremely uncomfortable as the seats were to thin and the tray tables dig in to your sides!

So my question is - would it be wiser to turn opt for emergency exit seating, or to go for another 'good' seat on the plane. Is there any way I can find out the loads on the plane as that may give an indication as to whether we would be likely to score 3 seats between the two of us or something.

Anyways if anyone has any suggestions/help/advice it would be greatly appreciated.

Ta!

Dan

 

[NM]

Hi Dan and welcome to AFF.

A few questions that may lead to a frw ideas to make your trip more comfortable.

Are you able to sleep on overnight flights? If not, then avoid the overnighters and plan to use day-time flights as much as possible. Some tall people can sleep well in an economy seat and that helps to get through a long flight. But I cannot sleep in an economy seat but an ok with a long day-time flight in an economy seat. So I will look for a daytime flight from Australia to Asia (say something like QF127 or any of CX daytime flights) and then stay the night in HKG before taking a daytime flight to Europe (such as QF29 or CX257). So long as the Asia transit is less then 24 hours, you can still visit Asia for your 4 Asia segments later between NA and SWP continents.

You other iptions are to pay for premium economy (BA World Traveller Plus) between Australia and Europe. This will add A$900 to the fare cost. Or forget OneWorld and use Air NZ via either LAX or HKG for their 34" seat pitch vs QF's 31 inch.

 

[danlamb]

Thanks for the reply.

The flight is a Qantas flight (QF74) so presumably it will just be the 3 class cabin - will they have world traveller plus seats? If so this could always be an option. What's the difference and is it worth the extra $$$$?

Is there any way I can ring Qantas and pre-book an exit seat, or is this only for platinum FF?

 

[serfty]

Qantas does not have WT+ seating.

CL & WP can request an exit row be preselected for them and if granted (normally) an exit row seat will be preallocated for them.

I believe other PAX can have an entry put in their bookings requesting an exit row seat. However even if you do this, the seat will not be allocated to you until you check-in and they can visually ensure you meet exit row criteria. Also, exit row seating is popular and many requests are made for these. For these reasons, you should be at the airport and ready to check-in when it opens.

One other piece of advice, Avoid window exit row seats on QF 747's as there is a lifeboat cowling immediately in front of the passenger.

 

[Alan in CBR]

Qantas do not currently have a premium Economy. We live in hope, but nothing is even rumoured, let alone confirmed.

Exit rows can only be allocated ahead of time to Chairman's Lounge and Platinums (not even non-QF oneworld Emeralds - Grrrr!). Your only real hope is for a Platinum to have been assigned an exit row and have waitlisted for an upgrade. If s/he gets the upgrade the exit row seat will be available for airport allocation. "Long shot" barely begins to describe your chances, but stranger things have happened.

On preview, serfty covered most of this, but as the forum is reminding me that I haven't posted for a while, I'll submit it anyway.

 

[danlamb]

Thanks Guys.

Do you guys by any chance know the cheapest way of upgrading this ticket to business class? Or have I missed my chance for this now?

*Getting concerned about DVT*

 

[maninblack]

IMO a 31 inch pitch to London for a man your size is not healthy. Go for BA WT+ or NZ Premium economy. You are spending a few more dollars but its worth every cent. NM suggestions are also good. Now that you have AVOD surely its the night legs that are the worst in economy.

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Thanks Guys.

Do you guys by any chance know the cheapest way of upgrading this ticket to business class? Or have I missed my chance for this now?

*Getting concerned about DVT*

The only way to be sure of getting business class is to pay for it. Otherwise chose an airline with premium economy and pay for that, or thirdly one with more generous pitch - eg NZ or TG.

 

[danlamb]

IMO a 31 inch pitch to London for a man your size is not healthy. Go for BA WT+ or NZ Premium economy. You are spending a few more dollars but its worth every cent. NM suggestions are also good. Now that you have AVOD surely its the night legs that are the worst in economy.

Unfortunately I am travelling with my partner who is on an One-world RTW Award flight so I can't change to another airline - I'm stuck with Qantas so I'm now wondering the best way to upgrade to business. Don't have enough FFs to upgrade and I'm not sure that even if I did it would come through.

What's the cheapest way to pay for the upgrade, and does anyone have any idea how much it will set me back?

I'm happy just to upgrade the SYD-LHR leg as the others are relatively short. Is this possible?

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Ignoring the possibility of cancelling and rebooking, the only way is to upgrade your LONEx to a DONEx (which will cost several thousand $ if was purchased in Australia). You can't upgrade individual sectors to business class. You can, however, upgrade individual sectors to BA WT+ for a surcharge as long as on BA operated flights.

 

[danlamb]

Ignoring the possibility of cancelling and rebooking, the only way is to upgrade your LONEx to a DONEx (which will cost several thousand $ if was purchased in Australia). You can't upgrade individual sectors to business class. You can, however, upgrade individual sectors to BA WT+ for a surcharge as long as on BA operated flights.

What are your thoughts on scoring an op-up? Risky I know, but maybe the only strategy left unless and exit seat comes through

(is that a pig I can see flying?)

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Not only will the pig need to be flying, it will need to be on a blue moon that coincides with a leap day with a leprachaun hitching a ride after first giving you his pot of gold

Only slight exaggeration.

 

[serfty]

Not only will the pig need to be flying, it will need to be on a blue moon that coincides with a leap day with a leprachaun hitching a ride after first giving you his pot of gold

Only slight exaggeration.

You forgot being bitten by a hen's tooth. :shock:

 

[Altair]

What are your thoughts on scoring an op-up? Risky I know, but maybe the only strategy left unless and exit seat comes through

(is that a pig I can see flying?)

Or be either a member of QF or related to one

 

[Kiwi Flyer]

Or be either a member of QF or related to one

do you mean employee, or missing the words "Board or senior management"?

 

[Altair]

do you mean employee, or missing the words "Board or senior management"?

It does not matter as we all know that QF is all one big happy family regardless of what job you have.

 

[danlamb]

Whilst we're on the subject of upgrades, I've noticed on eBAY that you can purchase upgrade vouchers for AA and United Airlines for domestic/international flights.

Does Qantas do anything similar? If so where can I buy them from?

 

[simongr]

The ones for sale on ebay for AA are potentially ones that are being sold in breach of AA's T&Cs and the buyer is at risk of getting his upgrade refused on boarding...

I believe that QF used to do upgrade certificates but they should by now have all expired I believe.

 

[JohnK]

The ones for sale on ebay for AA are potentially ones that are being sold in breach of AA's T&Cs and the buyer is at risk of getting his upgrade refused on boarding...

Is selling on ebay any different to FT coupon connection?

 

[simongr]

You must have been reading the same thread on the AAdvantage forum at FT as me

On the face of it no - but my understanding is that bartering on CC is tolerated - I dont know why. I guess the difference is that if you see an award or upgrade to someone - that is direct revenue lost for the airline. However if I trade my eVIP for an award flight using your points although there is revenue leakage for the airline there is also a reduction in liabilities as well. So the loss to the airlines is smaller.