[What if?] Paid advanced seat selection denied at check in.

[pmdg7444]

Here's a scenario NBs might encounter:

You're travelling on QFi and paid $25 to secure your preferred seat 71D or 80A on the A380 for example.

Upon check in, staff inform you that 'unfortunately you can't have that seat for operational reasons' - most likely a WP, WP1, CL has grabbed them for themselves and their family.



What are your chances of getting back $25 or $180 if it was an exit row, or would it just be tough luck?

be interested to hear if this has happened to anyone

 

[MelUser]

Yes you are entitled to it all back - it is in the rules.

 

[pmdg7444]

Here's another point about the value of loyalty:

If a NB booked those seats well in advance and a subsequent WP1/CL eagerly requests them - would their request be accomodated - or would high status folk be told - unfortunately those seats are ready reserved?

 

[serfty]

The latter would (should?) be the case for a mere WP - and likely the case for most WP1/CL.

A bit moot really as I doubt most WP1/CL would be that far back on international flights.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[cmon0005]

Seat moves for non-legitimate 'operational' reasons are just wrong in my opinion, unless its a move up a class.

 

[mannej]

Yes you are entitled to it all back - it is in the rules.

Exit rows? I wouldn't be so sure.

 

[defurax]

It's funny I somehow always thought that 71D and 80A/K were "blocked" for higher tier members. The first and only time I saw one of those seats available was one week after reaching WP status. Coincidence I assume!

Sent from my HTC Desire using AustFreqFly

 

[Sprucegoose]

The latter would (should?) be the case for a mere WP - and likely the case for most WP1/CL.

A bit moot really as I doubt most WP1/CL would be that far back on international flights.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

I would fly 80A if I was whY on the 380, as I think most of us would.

Indeed as I have!

I would leave it to QF to decide whether I could have it or not in the scenario presented by the OP, taking into account my commercial relationship with the airline

 

[pmdg7444]

The latter would (should?) be the case for a mere WP - and likely the case for most WP1/CL.

A bit moot really as I doubt most WP1/CL would be that far back on international flights.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

As NB I can see upper deck row 35-36 for selction in y cabin. I would imagine this small special cabin Would be highly sought after

 

[TonyHancock]

I would fly 80A if I was whY on the 380, as I think most of us would.

A MEL-LHR-MEL coming up in Feb for me in Y...unless I can get out of making the trip. :shock: Not sure what I'll go for. I'm hoping for a refurb and 48C.

Now, please, all sit down.......as much as I would like to go into full DYKWIA mode and demand that I should get the seat of my choice......I don't think anyone should get turfed out of their pre selected seat for me.

I think that as a WP1 I get a good choice of seats even up too a few weeks out. I'd like to think QF might look after me in other ways.

 

[serfty]

Yes, but upper deck why on the 388 stats at row 32 - however 35/36-J/K are highly sought after.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[Flying mermaid]

Exit rows? I wouldn't be so sure.

In August Dr FM flew to London. She is life QC and silver. She had booked and paid for an exit row on the upper deck in economy. When she checked in in Sydney she was told there had been a problem, she had lost her exit row seat, but the money would be refunded.

Dr FM is now quite good at politely but firmly pressing a point, so she said she didn't want a refund, but her exit row seat. She was told to go through and they would see what they could do and contact her in the lounge. By the time she got to the lounge they had put her in an exit row downstairs. She was a very happy girl - not sure what they did to free up an exit row seat for her?

 

[reductionist]

serfty, I think you posted a while back that you were actually starting to prefer a seat with access to a foot net.

Is that still the case?

I've got 80A/K on a few upcoming flights but I can -never- sleep in them. I'm wondering if being able to get my feet off the ground will help.

 

[serfty]

Had the chance to compare footnet with 80A in the last week.

80A/K win! Just use yon pillow to rest your sock adorned feet on. Footnet still better than none in most other seats.

 

[mannej]

In August Dr FM flew to London. She is life QC and silver. She had booked and paid for an exit row on the upper deck in economy. When she checked in in Sydney she was told there had been a problem, she had lost her exit row seat, but the money would be refunded.

Dr FM is now quite good at politely but firmly pressing a point, so she said she didn't want a refund, but her exit row seat. She was told to go through and they would see what they could do and contact her in the lounge. By the time she got to the lounge they had put her in an exit row downstairs. She was a very happy girl - not sure what they did to free up an exit row seat for her?

That is an issue when the config changes. As such I would expect a refund in that case.

In the case of Dr FM, there may have been an Op-Up or no show, which may have opened up the exit row.

However, I am aware of the fact that there are cases as to when QF won't refund the exit row money, and this is explicitly stated on their site.

 

[ozmille]

Here's a scenario NBs might encounter:

You're travelling on QFi and paid $25 to secure your preferred seat 71D or 80A on the A380 for example.

Upon check in, staff inform you that 'unfortunately you can't have that seat for operational reasons' - most likely a WP, WP1, CL has grabbed them for themselves and their family.



What are your chances of getting back $25 or $180 if it was an exit row, or would it just be tough luck?

be interested to hear if this has happened to anyone

Have you taken that flight or about to? Was/is there someone sitting in the seat you paid for? Would be interesting to know.

 

[Finale]

How about my case?

I paid $20 each way for advanced seat selection early this year for SYD-BKK return. I didn't think that I would become Silver then Gold.
I don't think I'm entitled to a refund just because of my status change. I picked the new seat a couple of days before the flight.
However, my seat was changed at check in. I was stupid enough to not realize it until 15 or 20 minutes later when I arrived at the lounge in BKK.

The lady there had no idea and told me my original seat was already occupied. I chose the last row in the plane 58F(aisle) and I'm sure no Plats will want that seat.
I was moved to 25K (window) and the only aisle seat I could move to was 27B. I told her to forget about it.

Can I ask for $20 refund? Yes I know I'm stingy but I was VERY upset that day. There were a lot of young children around there who took turn screaming, crying, playing.
And the guy who sat next to me was MASSIVE! His elbow kept poking my body whenever he moved. Armrest was supposed to be shared but he even took my space.
I tried to sleep when he was eating. I put a pillow on my seat next to the armrest (all in my space) trying to block his elbow and arm then he said with attitude
'can you not do that? I cant eat?' LOL (I didn't say anything as I was too sleepy but I did take a revenge later)

My first flight as Gold has so far been the worst flight with Qantas.

 

[mannej]

How about my case?

I paid $20 each way for advanced seat selection early this year for SYD-BKK return. I didn't think that I would become Silver then Gold.
I don't think I'm entitled to a refund just because of my status change. I picked the new seat a couple of days before the flight.
However, my seat was changed at check in. I was stupid enough to not realize it until 15 or 20 minutes later when I arrived at the lounge in BKK.

The lady there had no idea and told me my original seat was already occupied. I chose the last row in the plane 58F(aisle) and I'm sure no Plats will want that seat.
I was moved to 25K (window) and the only aisle seat I could move to was 27B. I told her to forget about it.

Can I ask for $20 refund? Yes I know I'm stingy but I was VERY upset that day. There were a lot of young children around there who took turn screaming, crying, playing.
And the guy who sat next to me was MASSIVE! His elbow kept poking my body whenever he moved. Armrest was supposed to be shared but he even took my space.
I tried to sleep when he was eating. I put a pillow on my seat next to the armrest (all in my space) trying to block his elbow and arm then he said with attitude
'can you not do that? I cant eat?' LOL (I didn't say anything as I was too sleepy but I did take a revenge later)

My first flight as Gold has so far been the worst flight with Qantas.

I would have felt that if you were thinking about a refund, essentially it would have been done when you changed from NB to PS.

I don't think you have any grounds for a refund now. There is nothing to say that your seat neighbours down the back of the bus would have been any better...

 

[Finale]

I would have felt that if you were thinking about a refund, essentially it would have been done when you changed from NB to PS.

I don't think you have any grounds for a refund now. There is nothing to say that your seat neighbours down the back of the bus would have been any better...

Im thinking of a refund because of the fact that my seat was changed at checkin plus bad experiences..Even without bad experiences, I would have thought about refund too.
I wouldn't know my seat would be changed when I was NB or PS. Someone said you can get a refund if you cannot have that seat?

 

[medhead]

I would have felt that if you were thinking about a refund, essentially it would have been done when you changed from NB to PS.

I don't think you have any grounds for a refund now. There is nothing to say that your seat neighbours down the back of the bus would have been any better...

I would have thought that they are not eligible for a refund when changing status level based on my limited experience with paid seat selection. Basically if you choose to change seats the value paid follows you but is not refundable, based on the message displayed when changing a paid seat. However, a refund should be due if they fail to provide the paid seat and move someone involuntarily, in theory. The status change does complicate the theory.


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