The WP shadow

[vertisol]

I have never understood why someone would CHOOSE to sit in 4B or 4E when an aisle or window is available in numerous rows a short way behind..... it's utterly bizarre. I sit there shaking my head at them when it happens. I almost want to say 'WHY??? WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS!?!?!?! ARE YOU INSANE?!?!?!?" but I bite my tongue

That whole exasperated conversation goes through my head too. If I turn round and see empty aisle/ window seats I turn a shade of purple.

I had this happen on a family trip where the lounge captain had allocated my wife and I a window and aisle with Junior Vertisol on our laps, assured that the flight load was light then just before takeoff someone comes and sits in 6B, right between us and wouldn't move. Not even a swap in the same row of 3 to let us sit together.

 

[JohnK]

Another flight where most middle seats up the front were occupied. I could see 6B and 7E were vacant.

Flight was probably ~80%-90% full although first time in a long time there were 2 vacant seats in business.

 

[vertisol]

QF 795... Filling fast..... Middle seats starting to fill.... Shut the front door!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I checked in ~50 minutes before my flight with seq # 186 and only 4 seats unallocated judging by seat map.

There were 3 middle seats down the back as well as 29A. I was grateful to be in 4D but why are the 4 "shadows" down the back?

Was is rows 27-29? I believe any seats in those rows show as being least desirable.

Often row 29 will be blocked off in case of go show UM's to which can then be unblocked as needed which eliminates the need to reseat other passengers.

I have never understood why someone would CHOOSE to sit in 4B or 4E when an aisle or window is available in numerous rows a short way behind..... it's utterly bizarre.

I sit there shaking my head at them when it happens. I almost want to say 'WHY??? WHY HAVE YOU DONE THIS!?!?!?! ARE YOU INSANE?!?!?!?" but I bite my tongue

I don't understand either but I remember being on flight in 4F & the young guy in 4E was so elated you'd have thought he'd just won the lottery.

I was with SO when he was using a SSK to checkin for a CNS flight when he had 4F pre-allocated. The girl in front of him using the SSK was also on his flight & he watched in horror as she moved herself from a window seat in 18F to 4B (4E was also showing available).

She must've had a same day return as she did the same manoevre for the other flight as well. When her companion questioned why she moved from a window to a middle seat she replied "but it's row 4 so I'll get off the plane quicker." :sly:

 

[blackcat20]

Yes i'm not sure, but I have a feeling only QF staff with the appropriate security clearance can access the jumpseat -- not just friends of operating crew.

I've seen a member of the public travel in the jump-seat when more boarding passes were issued than there were seats. We had to wait quite a while as they made security checks.

 

[JohnK]

Was is rows 27-29? I believe any seats in those rows show as being least desirable.

Often row 29 will be blocked off in case of go show UM's to which can then be unblocked as needed which eliminates the need to reseat other passengers. as well.

Apart from 29A all seats in rows 28 and 29 were occupied. From memory the 3 vacant middle seats were scattered between row 22 and row 26.

 

[medhead]

Excellent job on QF740 today

I'm sure all those golds wish the could have the front seats with solid shadow. Instead of an empty middle seat.

But I'm very happy not being in 4D, since 4E just asked for the seat belt extension.

View attachment 38907

 

[Jaryd]

Excellent job on QF740 today

I'm sure all those golds wish the could have the front seats with solid shadow. Instead of an empty middle seat.

But I'm very happy not being in 4D, since 4E just asked for the seat belt extension.

View attachment 38907

Nice one! I was handed a seat belt extension this morning by the attendant who was obviously in a rush! (I'm 175cm tall and about 80kg).

Needless to say I was a tad confused, but amused!

 

[medhead]

4E was probably about 140kg and 170cm. 4D moved to 5E. And of course 4E moved to D. The guy was a prime candidate for buying a comfort seat. But you can't say such things.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The guy was a prime candidate for buying a comfort seat. But you can't say such things.

I'm sure you could Medhead.

 

[medhead]

I'm sure you could Medhead.

Maybe I just did.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yes i'm not sure, but I have a feeling only QF staff with the appropriate security clearance can access the jumpseat -- not just friends of operating crew.

They must have a valid QF Group ASIC which the Captain may ask to sight before he/she agrees.

One of the last to board and 2 ladies were given boarding passes to sit in the coughpit. Don't know whether that was special request, friends of staff etc.

No friends of staff are permitted to ride in the jumpseat unless they fulfil the above criteria.

I've seen a member of the public travel in the jump-seat when more boarding passes were issued than there were seats. We had to wait quite a while as they made security checks.

It was most likely a staff pax not in uniform who was eligible for the jump seat but had a seat in the cabin. If that seat was needed for a commercial pax the Captain may then approve the staff member for the jump seat, if not the staff pax would need to take the next available flight.

 

[amaroo]

4E was probably about 140kg and 170cm. 4D moved to 5E. And of course 4E moved to D. The guy was a prime candidate for buying a comfort seat. But you can't say such things.

Maybe they should get the FA's to conduct gate checks similar to the "Nigel" thread

 

[medhead]

Maybe they should get the FA's to conduct gate checks similar to the "Nigel" thread

Hahaha.

I know that's a flippant comment. But to be slightly serious. I think the airlines need to take a corporate approach to this issue. Basically to identify such passengers and somehow make them aware of the availability of comfort seats. It would make everyone comfortable. But as alluded above that's not going to happen.

 

[Aeolus]

I've seen pax needing to walk sideways along the aisle to get to their seats but guess you can't say that either.
On a serious side, on the last flight, 4B and C were blocked and I asked for 4C at the Business lounge only to be told it's been taken. Do you think the lounge staff couldn't be bothered checking or they really can't see that it's blocked? 4A ended up having 2 shadows.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I've seen pax needing to walk sideways along the aisle to get to their seats but guess you can't say that either.
On a serious side, on the last flight, 4B and C were blocked and I asked for 4C at the Business lounge only to be told it's been taken. Do you think the lounge staff couldn't be bothered checking or they really can't see that it's blocked? 4A ended up having 2 shadows.

I'm not sure what tier status you are but when the lounge staff they say the seat is 'taken' they may mean that that seat is in fact theorectically reserved for people higher up the food chain in tier status who have yet to checkin.

Putting you there would have meant overriding the Altea theoretical seating protocol and if that's done generally it upsets someone else. I think there's plenty of anecdotes here on AFF that will attest to that.

If 4C still remains vacant it could mean that there was a WP yet to checkin earmarked for that seat who was a noshow, or the WP checked in but did a points upgrade to J or possibly that it just won't allow you to select that seat (or lounge staff to allocate without overriding) based on your status.

 

[JohnK]

I've seen pax needing to walk sideways along the aisle to get to their seats but guess you can't say that either.

I need to do that quite a lot. Partly because I am big and partly because everyone thinks it is OK to have their body parts all over the aisle and I don't like bumping them as I walk past.

And that makes me inconsiderate.

 

[JessicaTam]

I was in 4D this afternoon on a fairly full MEL-ADL flight. 4E remained empty from T-80 to when we landed. It did not show as blocked on EF.

 

[medhead]

I was in 4D this afternoon on a fairly full MEL-ADL flight. 4E remained empty from T-80 to when we landed. It did not show as blocked on EF.

That just means it is showing as available based on your QFF number in EF. Mostly you're senior enough to be able to select your own shadow.

 

[JessicaTam]

That just means it is showing as available based on your QFF number in EF. Mostly you're senior enough to be able to select your own shadow.

I am still not sure if I had a shadow or just an empty seat, as other seats on the EF seat map showed as blocked.