The WP shadow

[amaroo]

I was pre-allocated 4A. Upon checkin that evaporated.

Jeez, that is piss-poor!

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

Jeez, that is piss-poor!

The excuse was that my partner was on a separate booking (linked however) and they were the only seats together.

Frankly they could have moved some pleb from row 4 considering it's now open to anyone.

Our poor little puppy dog got off the plane well before us and we found him unattended at the oversize collection area crying for us, goodness knows for how long.

 

[TonyDoh]

I had a similar experience with a flight from Melbourne to Adelaide Saturday morning, which had a return to Melbourne on Sunday night. I booked the trip some time back using a gift voucher, which had resulted in the "Your voucher has been created" message instead of the flight details in the My bookings area, and I had never rung up to get them to fix that problem.

I was confident that the computer would give me a decent seat when I checked in at the airport on Saturday, thinking perhaps row 5 or 6. Up came my allocated seat - 28C (at least they gave me a platinum shadow - 28B was vacant). The flight was perhaps 80% full, but there were only single seats available forward of me, so I squeezed into the allocated seat (At 195 cm, I like legroom).

During the flight, the CSM approached and asked what terrible thing I had done to Qantas as a P1 to be seated at the back of the bus. In an effort to help, she offered to move me forward, but agreed there was nothing worth moving to, so I stayed where I was. When I got to Adelaide, I went to the Qantas Pub and told my story and was quickly and cheerfully given a boarding pass for 4D, and the seat next to me blocked, for the return leg of the trip.

Both the Qantas staff I dealt with were sympathetic and did everything they could to redress the situation and I am appreciative to both for their efforts. I am less complimentary of the QF computer system and its multiple glitches........

 

[kermatu]

After 2 good airberlin experiences with shadows, I just had a BA flight from Germany to London. No special treatment on board, but did have lounge access, fast track security and a shadow in Y. Flight looked quite full, but EF lost access to seats so can't tell if it was a genuine shadow or just luck.

 

[opusman]

When I got to Adelaide, I went to the Qantas Pub and told my story and was quickly and cheerfully given a boarding pass for 4D, and the seat next to me blocked, for the return leg of the trip.

They checked you in and printed a boarding pass more than 24 hours before the flight? That's definitely special service

 

[mrpooky]

I've been testing a bit lately on 737 Y flights (two rows of three separated by the single aisle), by deliberately picking a window seat towards the back in a row that is completely empty at the time I select my seat and check in, since my forward seat selections always end up with someone next to me (no shadow). My previous attempt was 26A, this morning's flight was 23A. Both times I had someone in the 'B' seat, even though rows around me had no centre seats filled. On the previous flight mine was the only row of three with all three seats filled that I could see.

I am convinced that the WP shadow does not exist; it is just luck of the draw.

mrpooky.

 

[TonyDoh]

They checked you in and printed a boarding pass more than 24 hours before the flight? That's definitely special service

Yes, I was very happy with that. She did mention that she wasn't supposed to do it.

 

[JohnK]

Don't you select Row 4 at T-80?

Only if 4C or 4D are available but first you have to remember to check.

 

[Awesom Andy]

I am convinced that the WP shadow does not exist; it is just luck of the draw.

Sounds like it should now be called the WP magnet.

 

[JessicaTam]

Sounds like it should now be called the WP magnet.

But it needs to be marketed correctly:

"Qantas are pleased to announce a new enhancement for our most valued frequent flyers. From today, you won't have to suffer the embarrassment or indignity of travelling by your self. You are guaranteed a travelling companion, no matter where you sit. And to ensure no opportunity is wasted, we will make the effort to sit you with a passenger who hasn't flown as much as you, so you can share your experiences for the whole flight.

And we haven't forgotten our Platinum One frequent flyers. We will make every effort to place you in a middle seat so you can have two companions to while away the flight with. We are sure that is an enhancement that will help you choose Qantas again and again".

 

[medhead]

Interesting little message this morning when I decided to move from 4D to 4A after checking expert flyer at 4:10 am. Basically said that seat selection is not available within 3 hours of departure. Has this changed recently? or did I miss the change?

In any case, the seat change did stick despite the message.

Pretty amazed, but not surprised, to see 4DEF, row 5 and row 6 completely full on a flight that still has N available for sale.

 

[boomy]

I used my "new" fly ahead benefit last night but had to give up 4C for 5D, not too bad, especially when the lounge agent said I will have the whole row to myself. Yea right... Boarded the flight and found someone in my seat (with 5F BP) and his friend in the middle. After I spent what seemed like a very long minute trying to explain that 5D is an aisle seat and 5F is window, not the other way around, the CSM kindly showed dumb and dumber how to read the complicated seat map on a 737. Then I could finally sit down, relax and envy the guy in 6A who end up having the whole row to himself. Oh well, he was probably CL so they didn't put anyone next to him... Yea right.

 

[serfty]

...

I am convinced that the WP shadow does not exist; it is just luck of the draw.

mrpooky.

There is no doubt that it did once exist ... and was demonstrable using qantas.com and expertflyer.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sounds like it should now be called the WP magnet.

there are dictionary definitions of shadow which include:

• a feeling or cause of gloom or unhappiness
  
• a constant companion.
  

it seems either of those may now be applicable!

 

[medhead]

So here is the final seat map from this morning's flight. I moved from 4D to 4A at 4:15am this morning. That X was in 4B the entire time, so must belong to 4C. But 4C had no special anything on board. About half a dozen people, including me, where offered newspapers. Not 4C, who did have a newspaper. However, I've been offered a newspaper in the past when I already have one.

Basically, mixed messages about whether 4C had status or not. (No doubt that will still be labelled as judgemental)

Overall the multitude of shadows beyond row 6 is interested. 4E was also not noticeably travelling with D or F, making me wonder why they didn't take, say, any of the D seats in rows 7-10 that were all available after they selected 4E.

View attachment 36395

View attachment 36396

 

[Happy Trails]

Sounds like it should now be called the WP magnet.

Hmmm, now where have I heard that before?

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ent-flyer-program/the-wp-shadow-47856-12.html

 

[Awesom Andy]

Hmmm, now where have I heard that before?

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ent-flyer-program/the-wp-shadow-47856-12.html

My bad. I never noticed that...

 

[JohnK]

I observed premium boarding in MEL one morning. Passengers, who seemed to be from a lounge, specifically chose not to use the priority boarding lane because they didn't want to push in on those waiting in the general queue. Their brief couple of words to each other revealed they considered it bad manners to skip to the front.

Use of priority boarding is not an indication of status, but the decision not to use priority boarding may be an indication of manners.

FWIW I tend to agree with you on this point.

If you are there at the beginning of boarding and have access to the priority boarding lane then by all means use it.

At all other times if there is only 1 person processing the boarding queue(s) then it would be good manners to wait.

Personally I try to be last on board on most flights except if travelling business class intra Asia but then at most international airports there are at least 3-4 staff at the boarding gate.

 

[tomo69]

Last week from MOV to BNE at T-24 I check in as normal and I usually have a choice of seat keeping in mind I am a mere SG, however on this occasion I can only select from row 7 and back. As it turns out the aircraft is full. No big deal.

Returning from BNE to MOV this morning the same deal, except there are only approx 30 pax on board (Q400), only 8 of whom occupy the entire first 6 rows.

Now the majority of pax being miners or contractors or big miner employees of some description on these flights, no different to the past few years. So why is it that the first rows are now 'occupied' or 'shadowed'?

Could it be that the mines are pre booking seats or has my SG been devalued in some way?

Any ideas?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Returning from BNE to MOV this morning the same deal, except there are only approx 30 pax on board (Q400), only 8 of whom occupy the entire first 6 rows.

So why is it that the first rows are now 'occupied' or 'shadowed'?

Any ideas?

possibly weight and balance issues?