The WP shadow

[pauly7]

My shadow seems to recently have gathered some strength - just did a grueling trip around Aus on pretty busy flights and only had a person next to me once. (Of about 9 flights).

It's a nice unpublished benefit.

Have people found their shadows are getting better in general?

 

[Dmac6345]

I have had a shadow my last 5 Dom flights ranging from row 4 to emer exits so strike rate lately has been good. Also, had a shadow even when booked with Mrs Dmac. Even though I selected seats together, a shadow was given. Told her that she had to sit in 4C so I could stretch out in A-B. :mrgreen:

 

[Anna]

What I can't get my head around is the insatiable desire to secure the first few rows It's not J, it's not extra, it's NFS.

IMHO legroom seems to be a no brainer!

I have mixed feelings about row 4 on dom flights.

Pros - get off early; get served food early; a bit more legroom usually (not as much as the exit row obviously)

Cons - sometimes the overhead locker is reserved for crew only; no gate-to-gate IFE where fitted in other rows; often hard to see the screen when it is a drop-down screen; seat pocket and space under seat in front is more restricted due to narrower J row in front; occasionally the FAs won't let you have a bag under the J seat in front for take off and landing - I hate not having easy access to my handbag but YMMV

As a result I am about 50-50 on selecting row 4 or row 5 when I can get the choice.

 

[amaroo]

Have people found their shadows are getting better in general?

Yes, the last 7 flights have resulted in 5 shadows? for me.......5 of them exit rows.

Definitely have a shadow for flight home tomorrow - seat 3A in the old 5 across 767 cabin* barring a late change in metal tube

 

[sjd]

I have mixed feelings about row 4 on dom flights.

Pros - get off early; get served food early; a bit more legroom usually (not as much as the exit row obviously)

Cons - sometimes the overhead locker is reserved for crew only; no gate-to-gate IFE where fitted in other rows; often hard to see the screen when it is a drop-down screen; seat pocket and space under seat in front is more restricted due to narrower J row in front; occasionally the FAs won't let you have a bag under the J seat in front for take off and landing.

The IFE is really the only con for me, but that is a real lottery anyway. My legs appreciate the space on longer flights and you tend to get a little bit more attention from the FA's in row 4 rahter than the exit rows. Also more reliable WP shadow.

 

[Kangol]

I have mixed feelings about row 4 on dom flights.

Pros - get off early; get served food early; a bit more legroom usually (not as much as the exit row obviously)

Cons - sometimes the overhead locker is reserved for crew only; no gate-to-gate IFE where fitted in other rows; often hard to see the screen when it is a drop-down screen; seat pocket and space under seat in front is more restricted due to narrower J row in front; occasionally the FAs won't let you have a bag under the J seat in front for take off and landing - I hate not having easy access to my handbag but YMMV

As a result I am about 50-50 on selecting row 4 or row 5 when I can get the choice.

I've never seen the row 4 overhead locker reserved for crew.. are you referring to row 1 instead?
Also never had anyone tell me off about putting a bag under the seat in front - if anything there is more room for it than any other non-exit row.

In saying that I haven't flown too many row 4 738 flights, maybe 30 or so in the past couple of years?

Like you said, YMMV.

 

[markis10]

I've never seen the row 4 overhead locker reserved for crew.. are you referring to row 1 instead?.

I find about 50% of my flights there is crew baggage above 4A-C

 

[MH_fan]

Speaking of WP shadows, I wonder whether if there's more success having a shadow if your booking is for 2 people (the other passenger not neccesarily having status) and you book out a window and your fellow traveller takes the aisle (for a B738, for example)?

 

[samh004]

Speaking of WP shadows, I wonder whether if there's more success having a shadow if your booking is for 2 people (the other passenger not neccesarily having status) and you book out a window and your fellow traveller takes the aisle (for a B738, for example)?

I put myself in 4D and mother in 4F and we successfully had 4E vacant between us. My mother is NB with Qantas and she was crediting to Qantas.

 

[MH_fan]

I put myself in 4D and mother in 4F and we successfully had 4E vacant between us. My mother is NB with Qantas and she was crediting to Qantas.

I'm going to have to try that now!

 

[medhead]

I find the best way to get a shadow is to have a CL sit on the other side of the shadow. The trick is arranging that to happen.

 

[JohnK]

Have people found their shadows are getting better in general?

Don't know about better but my shadow is getting bigger.

But if you are referring to vacant seats it happens more often if there is a lightly loaded flight otherwise it is total luck.

 

[JessicaTam]

I have been pretty lucky with domestic Y shadows. As I usually try to get a seat as far forward as possible, I may just be benefitting from sitting near another WP or WP1/CL. I would have to know the status of the person the other side of the shadow to know if it was me or not.

 

[CaviAck]

Anyone have any recent examples of shadows on full flights, I'm wondering if this new system update is better at allocating shadows, so that even after T-80, T-24 and T-3 empty seats next to WP and if possible SG are not select-able unless absolutely required.

 

[pauly7]

Anyone have any recent examples of shadows on full flights, I'm wondering if this new system update is better at allocating shadows, so that even after T-80, T-24 and T-3 empty seats next to WP and if possible SG are not select-able unless absolutely required.

MEL-BNE maintained a shadow in row 4 (or the other guy did who was WP as well) and plane was only 4 short of a full house (not including infants).

 

[Pushka]

My partner seems to get the shadow quite frequently. He comments on it when I am travelling with him. . Saying he has lost his space.

He hates row 4. Which is sadly the row I'd preselected when we travelled together a few days ago. Not that I fessed up to that. He says he gets bumped by passengers as they board as the seat is more into the aisle than J and that curtain was resting on his knee. Sigh.

 

[markis10]

Hoping for a shadow today, always funny when check in asks "did you select that seat"? Now can I count to 72????

 

[danny09]

If i pick seat 4B (4A & 4C are not occupied) on a B737 will I get 2 shadows? Or will only one seat be blocked out? Anyone ever tried this?

Im aware no-one picks the middle seat on purpose here but would be interesting to know people's experiences if they have or any idea if you'de get 2 blocked seats.

 

[pauly7]

If i pick seat 4B on a B737 will I get 2 shadows? Or will only one seat be blocked out? Anyone ever tried this?

Im aware no-one picks the middle seat on purpose here but would be interesting to know people's experiences if they have or any idea if you'de get 2 blocked seats.

Interesting question but I'm not up for volunteering to find out !

Perhaps there is a middle seat lover here that can help...

I have actually, never flown in a middle seat! And don't intend to break that tradition

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I've had a Plat shadow twice on transcon a PER/SYD & SYD/PER flight but I usually pick 26K or thereabouts. I once chose 23K on another PER/SYD flight which was the intl config 333 with a bulkhead in front which I find cramped as the fuselage gets narrower towards the front of the a/c. I'm guessing that I would have had a shadow on that flight but ended up with a QP pax next to me. Whilst waiting to dsembark he was asking the F/A how to reserve exit rows & said he'd gone to counter 20 in PER who had allocated him 23J (read overridden my shadow). Got another SYD/PER next month so will see how that goes.