Status Runs using Multiple Seats

[logicallysynced]

So I was doing some late night googling about flights in general, and I came across an interesting page:

Extra Seat (EXST) for Personal Comfort

Customers can purchase extra seat/s on Qantas operated and marketed flights for their personal comfort. If travel includes any codeshare or interline flights, please contact the operating airline for further information.

www.qantas.com

Basically the page details that passengers can book extra adjacent seats for “personal comfort” and explains how to book it from a travel agent perspective. There’s technical information there for how to book it for each booking system too.

In particular, this stood out to me:

“Qantas Frequent Flyers can earn Qantas Points and status credits for each seat purchased.”

So the question then must be asked - If you were planning to do a status run, does this mean you could book an additional “comfort” seat on each leg (assuming QF marketed flight) and earn double status credits, potentially quadruple if during a double SC promotion?

Doing this would obviously double increase the cost, but if you were planning to do multiple back and forth legs, this could potentially be a useful shortcut.

 

[samh004]

So does each seat count as a sector? I.e. does each entry for points/SCs earned have a ~ ?

Could potentially be a quick way to gain required eligible QF/JQ flights.

I don't have access to statements that far back I am afraid, to be able to tell you how they posted. It was a long time ago. It never concerned me though as I was flying roughly 70 sectors to keep my status on track

Does the comfort seat need to be booked for all flight sectors within a booking/PNR? Just wondering how strategically they can be booked.

I never tried to be that creative, but as I alluded to earlier, having a comfort seat in your booking stops certain functions of MMB working, such as seat selection, so if you only had 1 sector with an extra seat, chances are the rest of your booking would have issues. Probably not worth the hassle?

FWIW: I've stopped flying in this manner as I achieved my goals.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

So does each seat count as a sector? I.e. does each entry for points/SCs earned have a ~ ?

Could potentially be a quick way to gain required eligible QF/JQ flights.

Each extra seats earns the full points and SCs eligible under the QFFF program. I believe that is a ~ for each seat, each sector IIRC.

 

[bam71]

Back in another life when I worked in QF Res in BNE, we would get pax calling up happily saying they were obese and needed an extra comfort seat. I’d have to look up the procedure, tickets were issued, and I never heard of a case where it would be taken away to onload extra pax.

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Might have been answered already, but this comfort seat booking, can't be done online.
So, you have to phone QF up to make the booking.
Have done it WLG - MEL, phoned up QF and at that time, years ago now, was able to speak to a QF rep without an accent, ie, Aussie English.
This was of course pre covid.
Now, these days, if you phone QF up, you might have to explain yourself, as most likely, as has been mentioned, you would most likely get the outsourced overseas QF call centre.

 

[mrsterryn]

Just be mindful that the plane type actually has the arm rests go up in the seats you have been allocated.
Yes on double status been there done that... March 2020 I had a comfort seat in economy. The plane was chokkas and I ended up with a row of three seats as I still received my platform shadow.

 

[Quickstatus]

My experience was with AC on one and AA on another

We had booked "comfort seat" - middle seat of a row of 3
both times AC and AA said at the gate unfortunately the middle seat was unavailable.
Turned out they seated a passenger it it.
The refund was poor because it was part of a multisector

At least I got the extra luggage allowance

Mrs QS remarked that it was probably because we didn't look like we would overflow into the adjacent seat

 

[mviy]

I ended up with a row of three seats as I still received my platform shadow.

“Platform” - I assume that’s autocorrect and was meant to be Platinum?

 

[mrsterryn]

“Platform” - I assume that’s autocorrect and was meant to be Platinum?

Geez yeppers no platform for me

 

[HSB44]

So this sounds great in theory, but if you don't have status, and can't access Hobart or Auckland call centre is there much chance of actually being able to book this?

 

[bam71]

I’d get them to look it up, or use a TA.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policy-and-guidelines/seating-inflight-dining-and-cabin-upgrades/extra-seat-exst-for-personal-comfort.html#gds-entrie-amadeus

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

HSB44, if you are lucky, when you call, and you get the Philippines or South Africa or Fiji outsourced QF booking centre, and they will play ball, ie, they know what you want, and are willing to do it, I am sure sure they can sell you the comfort seat booking, and you can will successfully purchase the QF comfort seat request.
If they won't play ball, or your call does not get answered, or you have to wait an hour or they play that they do not know what you mean, then its hard to explain, in which case, maybe buying a J seat straight up, is the best policy.
These days with the QF outsourced call centre more than getting a local Aust QF call centre, I have made my most recent QFd J booking, straight up with $, rather than trying for a bid upgrade/award seat/comfort seat booking and forgoing the BNE QFd J/QP lounge visit.

 

[Rosege]

Direct aisles access on 737 J?

A certain chairman from a certain collapsed insurance company was reported to book an extra seat for his briefcase when travelling (usually first class) under the name Casey.

 

[MikeG]

Yes but why would you? Interested to hear…..

I know people in the entertainment industry who book a seat for their instrument.

 

[porterble]

I know people in the entertainment industry who book a seat for their instrument.

I have a friend who books an extra seat for her absolutely priceless late 17th century cello. The staff always look at her oddly until she says it is worth more than her house...

 

[KSC]

Could you possibly book out a plane for a status run?
Asking for a friend.

 

[tdimdad]

Could you possibly book out a plane for a status run?
Asking for a friend.

With family pooling, eh?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Will probably cost maybe (several) $150,000.
QFlink do it in WA for their FIFO clients.
They would love the money, but as to if friend will get all the QFF SC, that part probably no.

 

[KSC]

Will probably cost maybe (several) $150,000.
QFlink do it in WA for their FIFO clients.
They would love the money, but as to if friend will get all the QFF SC, that part probably no.

I guess such bespoke requests, should be negotiated directly with Qantas

 

[Townsend]

(Slightly off topic) Snowy Hydro are chartering Qantas planes from various cities to Cooma. As there is no commercial airline flying from Cooma it is very frustrating to see the plane on the runway knowing that there may be a spare seat on it.

 

[RichardMEL]

Pretty sure special charters don't generally earn points or SC's.

9.4.1 Qantas Points are not earned for travel on:

(a) flights or booking classes that are not listed in or are excluded in the Airline Earning Tables;
(b) infant fares (infant fares do not include infants travelling in their own paid seat);
(c) charter flights;
(d) freighter flights;
(e) free tickets;
(f) Classic Flight Rewards;
(g) travel industry rebated tickets;
(h) competition prize tickets;
(i) transport other than air transport unless specified by Qantas;
(j) tickets acquired at an auction; or
(k) tickets which are restricted from earning Points or are subject to any specific provisions excluding the accumulation of Points.

#PartyPooper