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.

 

[Quickstatus]

But the posed question is how to get three seats together for one person

You can't. The only possible ways:

Aircraft is not full and you hit the jackpot
They sell empty rows like they did on the A380 DFW-SYD.
Shadow compliments of status

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Fully understand that, alluded to it obliquely.

But the posed question is how to get three seats together for one person especially long haul as there are not so msny checks domestically

You call qantas, or go via your TA and book per the agency connect instructions. Additional seats over the first comfort seat are booked as stated (surname/seatpaid).

 

[p--and--t]

You can't.

I don't believe that is a fsct

 

[Quickstatus]

Additional seats over the first comfort seat are booked as stated (surname/seatpaid).

My understanding is a passenger can only book 1 seat (EXST notwithstanding)

 

[p--and--t]

My understanding is a passenger can only book 1 seat (EXST notwithstanding)

I just read the QF instructions included in a post above and it appears from a quick scan of the link you can book as many seats as you want but not guaranteed will be alongside each other "for operational reasons".

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

Noteably :

When two or more extra seats are required for the same passenger, enter the second extra seat name as SURNAME/SEATPAID.

 

[p--and--t]

You call qantas, or go via your TA and book per the agency connect instructions. Additional seats over the first comfort seat are booked as stated (surname/seatpaid).

Thankyou. At least on QF it is definitely covered and part of standard procedure

 

[MEL_Traveller]

My understanding is a passenger can only book 1 seat (EXST notwithstanding)

That’s right. It’s a single reservation, one passenger, but more than one seat. Each seat isn’t considered and assigned individually, it’s all under the one passenger.

The agency connect guidelines are clear on how this can be done, so not sure where the confusion is.

Multiple seats can be an advantage to the airline. They’re selling the seats at the intended price, but don’t have to load additional meals or catering, carry additional baggage, or provide ground handling.

I just read the QF instructions included in a post above and it appears from a quick scan of the link you can book as many seats as you want but not guaranteed will be alongside each other "for operational reasons".

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

Noteably :

When two or more extra seats are required for the same passenger, enter the second extra seat name as SURNAME/SEATPAID.

Seat allocations can change for operational reasons, but the two seats will always be located next to each other. This is important as the seat is a ‘comfort’ seat… not specifically designed for status running A passenger of size or with mobility constraints needs to rely on the two seats being beside each other. But whereas they may have chosen row 4, they might have to get moved to row 5, etc.

 

[p--and--t]

Given the info in the last few posts, it would seem even cheaper than I thought to get some comfort.

Potentially three seats could notionally be $1500 + 2 x $800

Only one luggage and meal allocation but triple status credits (or 6x if under double status sale)