When do seat numbers get allocated?

[SimonM]

I'm due to start my RTW next Monday and I'm curious to know when the seat numbers will be allocated or shown on the booking page (which I check daily. Sad.)

I did have a previous booking for March, but had to cancel quite a long time before and yet I'm sure some of the seat numbers were already shown.

The booking is a classic award in J. I'm NB, so I'm not expecting to be able to allocate the best seats in the house, just curious.

SimonM

 

[tuapekastar]

I would have thought you could allocate most of them ahead of time SimonM (BA excepted), even if it has to be done over the phone. Which airlines are involved?

 

[SimonM]

Thanks tuapekastar. I'm generally happy to let seat allocations take care of themselves when up front of the plane. However, I am curious to know why the seat numbers aren't already showing on this booking when they were on the last.

The airlines are QF, CX, AY and AA.

 

[serfty]

Are there no seat numbers showing on either www.qantas.com/yourbooking or www.checkmytrip.com ?

What is your status? If PS or better you should at least be able to pre-select some seats. (More open up for Qantas flights within 80 hours of the flight.)

 

[moa999]

As a QF Plat, I have allocated seats with QF, BA, AA and CX for my DONEx, booked through AA. AA was auto-allocated although I changed online. I then got the QF/BA and CX record locators and went and selected seats on each airlines website individually.

Without status these options may not be available.

 

[simongr]

On my RTW a couple of years ago I preallocated all my seats apart from CX and ended up back in the last couple of rows of business about 2 rows ahead of the screaming kids in whY and last to get served meals - something I haven't repeated.

 

[SimonM]

Are there no seat numbers showing on either www.qantas.com/yourbooking or www.checkmytrip.com ?

What is your status? If PS or better you should at least be able to pre-select some seats. (More open up for Qantas flights within 80 hours of the flight.)

In just a NB, I'm afraid serfty.

I've pasted in a snapshot from checkmytrip.com. No seat numbers showing, nor on the Qantas link.

On the Qantas booking page through the Frequent Flyer section, I've looked for a button that says 'Change my seat' or something, but can't see one.

 

[SimonM]

As a QF Plat, I have allocated seats with QF, BA, AA and CX for my DONEx, booked through AA. AA was auto-allocated although I changed online. I then got the QF/BA and CX record locators and went and selected seats on each airlines website individually.

Without status these options may not be available.

Thanks moa999. I think status might be the key.

 

[SimonM]

On my RTW a couple of years ago I preallocated all my seats apart from CX and ended up back in the last couple of rows of business about 2 rows ahead of the screaming kids in whY and last to get served meals - something I haven't repeated.

Hmm, that's exactly the sort of thing I'd like to avoid. That and sitting next to the loo.

 

[serfty]

You need to drill down somewhat to access any seat pre-allocation using www.checkmytrip.com . Plug you Qantas PNR and Surname in to 'log in'.

Once 'logged' in, look to the bottom of the "your flight selection" box for:

view details click to see additional information including price, payment and flight special requests.

Click the "

view details" and the window will expand and you may see any seat pre-selection there. If you do see a seat number, click that/those and you may get a seat map.

 

[SimonM]

You need to drill down somewhat to access any seat pre-allocation using www.checkmytrip.com . Plug you Qantas PNR and Surname in to 'log in'.

Once 'logged' in, look to the bottom of the "your flight selection" box for:


Click the [+] View Details and the window will expand and you may see any seat pre-selection there. If you do see a seat number, click that/those and you may get a seat map.

Thanks serfty. I had not looked that far down. The seat numbers were by the flights themselves last time.

Here's what I see now:



First is Qantas through the FF section and clicking on Select Seats (which has only recently become active for me). The second is from checkmytrip.

 

[SimonM]

I'm getting it now. I can click on 'Next' at the bottom of the page to move the next flight. I read the message at the top and thought that meant I couldn't change any flights.

 

[Hvr]

I reckon it must be status as well. I have just booked my Circle Asia for next year on QF, CX and JL in business and as an SG was able to choose seats on all flights.

Also, I can change them in "Check my bookings" on Qantas.

 

[simongr]

I would be surprised if those seat selections made through the QF website for CX and JL actually stick. They normally show up but dont actually become selections.

For example I selected seats on AA through the QF site and then checked teh AA site (some days later) and none of the selections were showing.

 

[serfty]

With my current LONE4, QF.com seat selections stick wth BA, IB and QF (Well, Duh!).

They did not with AA and JL.

I can also use BA.com to select seating for the BA flights only.

For JL I had to call; done very easily. AA.com did the trick for the AA flights.

I saw a link to Finnair seat selection that seems to work with Amadeus. https://www.finnair.com/finnaircom/wps/portal/travel

 

[ozbeachbabe]

With my current LONE4, QF.com seat selections stick wth BA, IB and QF (Well, Duh!).

They did not with AA and JL.

I can also use BA.com to select seating for the BA flights only.

For JL I had to call; done very easily. AA.com did the trick for the AA flights.

I saw a link to Finnair seat selection that seems to work with Amadeus. https://www.finnair.com/finnaircom/wps/portal/travel

So in short, if the carriers share a common gds eg Amadeus for OW the seat selections will stick, if not go to the respective airline website & use that airlines pnr (not the Amadeus one). Failing that if you can't get any joy by doing in online, give the airline a call.

If it seems like a hassle now, try leaving it until you get to the airport & end up with a middle seat or not together if you're a couple.

AFAIK all airlines allow you to select your actual seat number at the time of booking for travel in business and first class whether you have any ff status or not.

 

[simongr]

AFAIK all airlines allow you to select your actual seat number at the time of booking for travel in business and first class whether you have any ff status or not.

In J - BA do not allow people not on fully flex fares to pre-allocate at booking. Just one example.

British Airways - Seating guide

BTW that is a horrid link - very much cough about face in communicating the policy...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

In J - BA do not allow people not on fully flex fares to pre-allocate at booking. Just one example.

British Airways - Seating guide

BTW that is a horrid link - very much cough about face in communicating the policy...

Bit like the old T-Model Ford and you can have any colour you like as long as it's black!

Of course if you had a disability when you booked & needed a wheelchair eg broken ankle they might confirm an aisle seat. Your ankle might have recovered nicely by the time you travel.

 

[Hvr]

I would be surprised if those seat selections made through the QF website for CX and JL actually stick. They normally show up but dont actually become selections.

For example I selected seats on AA through the QF site and then checked teh AA site (some days later) and none of the selections were showing.

I also did a Circle Asia fare in Jan this year and my seat selections for CX and JL stuck with no problems. With my points redemption MEL-HKG-PVG return in June on CX my seat selections also stuck with no problems.