When Does Qantas Allocate Seating for Domestic

[Bundy Bear]

Before online check in came along Qantas computers allocated seating based on your FF status and then your choice of seat whether it be window or aisle. Now that we have online check available at 24hours when does Qantas allocate the seating for those who don't online check in.

Last year when online check in first started I went and online check in at 18 hours to flight time only to get a seat in row 17 that is as far forward as I could get on a 737-400. I was sequence number 13. I spoke to Qantas last week and they said that they allocate seats for those who haven't checked in at 5 hours.

So did it change or does Qantas really still allocate at 24 hours so online check in only saves them paper as you already have the boarding pass printed yourself.

 

[serfty]

Before OLCI, Qantas used to allocate domestic seating using Computers between 1am and 4am AEST. On had were staff ready and able to manually adjust in situations where the program could resolve a load.

Since OLCI, it has become apparent these programs are now executed sometime before T-24 and pre-allocation is basically as it always was.

I find OLCI useful,; last month I was preallocated 8C on a 73H; I kept OLCIing every 30 minutes or so until 4 hours before th flight 4D became available - I snaffled it and travelled it.

SO in answer to your question phrased in the last paragraph of your post; It's basically the same, just that it can be done on the internet and you can keep trying until a better seat may arise. (And you may print the BP using you own rescorces)

 

[JohnK]

I find OLCI useful,; last month I was preallocated 8C on a 73H; I kept OLCIing every 30 minutes or so until 4 hours before th flight 4D became available - I snaffled it and travelled it.

I find this a great feature. Even though you have used OLCI you can still keep going back to OLCI as often as you like to check better seat availability.

I was surprised using DJ web check-in last week to find that once I checked online I could not go back to web check-in again.

 

[Yada Yada]

I find this a great feature. Even though you have used OLCI you can still keep going back to OLCI as often as you like to check better seat availability.

I was surprised using DJ web check-in last week to find that once I checked online I could not go back to web check-in again.

John - so how did your first flight on VB go? Did you post any comments?

 

[JohnK]

John - so how did your first flight on VB go? Did you post any comments?

It was OK with very light loads on the flights. I should do a mini trip report.

 

[macgret]

Here is what i believe. Dont get me wrong. People have told me a similar story and some where just correct there.

If you go to qantas domestic flights choose the date so on and wait for that particular date lets say 1st of may you would get on close to that date anytime within the 24hour clock time. You just log in type in your reference booking on qantas website. Then because youw ant to check in from home and print out your boarding apss which ill be doing so soon you will then go to this area change seats.. and it will open up and you can look all the free seats available on that plane your going to get on..

scroll up or middle or back of the plane view seats... lets say you want the back rows well your looking there you fine a few free seats.. all you do is point with your mouse the actual seat at a particular fave row you wish to remain and thats that lets say window on 28Window view seat on LEFT side of the plane.

Ones you done that it stays there no one will ever change or steal your seat by a jelours FF member (frequent flyer member) otherwise you wouldnt no where is your change seat has been put u on. Thats something im still wondering. But i dought they have the power to move you or change you somewhere els just because they want your window seat.

I always thought ones u choose your seat no one can change it or take over your seat. Thats what i believe. Who knows.

Im a frequent flyer member but its only got nill oints. Its not a credit card. The card isnt a money card at all its just bronze. But im sure FF members has nothing to do with the they can change anyone and steal over the seat preference... i just get the idea that regardles your a FF member or not regardless to that you choose whats available only seats and not bush over and steal someones allready choosen seats. That is upsolutely wrong and rude.

 

[Travel Guru]

Here is what i believe. Dont get me wrong. People have told me a similar story and some where just correct there.

If you go to qantas domestic flights choose the date so on and wait for that particular date lets say 1st of may you would get on close to that date anytime within the 24hour clock time. You just log in type in your reference booking on qantas website. Then because youw ant to check in from home and print out your boarding apss which ill be doing so soon you will then go to this area change seats.. and it will open up and you can look all the free seats available on that plane your going to get on..

scroll up or middle or back of the plane view seats... lets say you want the back rows well your looking there you fine a few free seats.. all you do is point with your mouse the actual seat at a particular fave row you wish to remain and thats that lets say window on 28Window view seat on LEFT side of the plane.

Ones you done that it stays there no one will ever change or steal your seat by a jelours FF member (frequent flyer member) otherwise you wouldnt no where is your change seat has been put u on. Thats something im still wondering. But i dought they have the power to move you or change you somewhere els just because they want your window seat.

I always thought ones u choose your seat no one can change it or take over your seat. Thats what i believe. Who knows.

Im a frequent flyer member but its only got nill oints. Its not a credit card. The card isnt a money card at all its just bronze. But im sure FF members has nothing to do with the they can change anyone and steal over the seat preference... i just get the idea that regardles your a FF member or not regardless to that you choose whats available only seats and not bush over and steal someones allready choosen seats. That is upsolutely wrong and rude.

Why should those who hold status (other than Bronze) with the airline not be able to have first preference over those who casually fly with them....loyalty has its rewards you know, and rightly so.

TG

 

[macgret]

well i guarranty that 90% of the times i dought a FF member would steal your seat just because you have choosen it first and he was late to do so. picky there.
Depends on time and such date.. I dought that which time you travel its not like the plane is going to be 100% packed with people but more of 4 to 8 or 10 free seats no one has choosen just because the plane you get on dosnt mean its going to be jamped with people on every seat and rows. since there is a flight every hour around the clock everydays 7 days a week the whole year. And dosnt mean just because u choose that time like 730am dosnt mean its the only flight to a city destination like bne to sydney

do you also have a bronze ff card? i join in 2004 i had some points.. then realies in 2008 my points where nill because i havnt fly since then. Well its alittle useless with these cards.. because domestic flight dosnt give you a thousand points. you would have to archive many flight travel to archive higher points like 25,000 to be a top leader and choose something like business class.. But i dought FF can change or turly choose the seat they are well in advance weeks before travel or such because simply that active button on the check in online will upsolutely WONT work until 24hours before departer. this goes to everyone FF members and non members. So it makes it equal. Well i think so..

 

[Keith009]

Well, the program is called Qantas Frequent Flyer for a good reason...

 

[JohnK]

i just get the idea that regardles your a FF member or not regardless to that you choose whats available only seats and not bush over and steal someones allready choosen seats. That is upsolutely wrong and rude.

Airlines have been known to change pre-allocated seats of some passengers to accommodate their high status frequent flyers. Also there are other reasons like accommodating groups, families, people travelling with infants, missed connections etc.

I am not saying that it is OK but even if you have a pre-allocated seat or chosen one through online check-in that seat is not guaranteed by the airline.

 

[macgret]

Right.. well dam if i didnt new this. Sorta not really fair for these non ff members... well im a ff member but it has nill points its a bronze card.. how to jump to the next free card level so i can do like what other ff members advance users do?

dont tell me, you need a credit card by qantas correct? il pass the ideal since i dont deal credit cards unfortunaly.

 

[JohnK]

Right.. well dam if i didnt new this. Sorta not really fair for these non ff members... well im a ff member but it has nill points its a bronze card.. how to jump to the next free card level so i can do like what other ff members advance users do?

One way to get some status is to pay for Qantas Club membership. Not cheap but gives you some benefits with priority check-in, pre-allocating a seat on international flights, increased luggage allowance, lounge access etc.

There are also a few status levels above entry level bronze and most require a fair amount of travel. There is Silver, Gold and Platinum. There is no easy way to recommend how to get there to each level.

 

[oz_mark]

I wouldn't sweat too much about the possibility they may change a seat after you have checked in on OLCI. It does happen, but chances are that it won't. I am not sure that in general a plat could usurp your seat.

 

[NM]

macgret, where on earth did you get the idea that anyone can "steal" someone else's seat? That has not been mentioned by anyone except you, macgret. I thought I made it very clear when I described the process previously, but I will try once more ...

Before the flight opens of on-line check-in at 24 hours before departure, all the Qantas FF members with Silver or higher status, all Qantas Club members, and all OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald members who have a seating preference registered with Qantas either in their FF profile or by using Manage My Booking on the QF web site, will have their seats pre-allocated by the Qantas computer.

Then when on-line check-in opens at 24 hours before departure, anyone seeking to change their seat allocation will be shown a map of the unallocated seats and can choose one. nobody can select a seat that has already been allocated to someone else, whether that seat was pre-allocated by the computer based on the passenger's registered seating preference, allocated by a check-in staff member at an airport, or selected by the passenger using on-line check-in.

The only time an allocated seat would be changed is if there are operational reasons to do so, such as a last minute aircraft change that results in different seat layout, the need for an infant to be seated at a bassinet position, or to permit a family to sit together. This is rare and I can't remember it ever happening to me on a domestic flight in recent years.

Two flights in 4 years does not make one a frequent flyer. By way of comparison, I did 15 flights last month and I am sure there are others here who did a lot more than that. Preferential seating pre-allocation is a benefit of holding status in the Qantas FF program, and that only comes from sustained periods of frequent flying.

 

[Batesy]

macgret, where on earth did you get the idea that anyone can "steal" someone else's seat? That has not been mentioned by anyone except you, macgret. I thought I made it very clear when I described the process previously, but I will try once more ...

Before the flight opens of on-line check-in at 24 hours before departure, all the Qantas FF members with Silver or higher status, all Qantas Club members, and all OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald members who have a seating preference registered with Qantas either in their FF profile or by using Manage My Booking on the QF web site, will have their seats pre-allocated by the Qantas computer.

Then when on-line check-in opens at 24 hours before departure, anyone seeking to change their seat allocation will be shown a map of the unallocated seats and can choose one. nobody can select a seat that has already been allocated to someone else, whether that seat was pre-allocated by the computer based on the passenger's registered seating preference, allocated by a check-in staff member at an airport, or selected by the passenger using on-line check-in.

The only time an allocated seat would be changed is if there are operational reasons to do so, such as a last minute aircraft change that results in different seat layout, the need for an infant to be seated at a bassinet position, or to permit a family to sit together. This is rare and I can't remember it ever happening to me on a domestic flight in recent years.

Two flights in 4 years does not make one a frequent flyer. By way of comparison, I did 15 flights last month and I am sure there are others here who did a lot more than that. Preferential seating pre-allocation is a benefit of holding status in the Qantas FF program, and that only comes from sustained periods of frequent flying.

For Macgret to state that those who travel a lot with an airline to get seating benfits is not fair to other passengers makes no sense.
Unfortunately Macgret has made several posts in the last few days that contain a lot of nonsense. These questions clearly show a lack of understanding of how QFF works and the defintion of a what frequent flyer actually is. I welcome Macgret to AFF but would suggest doing some research of your own before contributing to these subjects. Maybe a spell check would be a good idea as well. My comments are directed with no malice, just some frustration after reading Macgrets posts over the last few days.

 

[macgret]

macgret, where on earth did you get the idea that anyone can "steal" someone else's seat? That has not been mentioned by anyone except you, macgret. I thought I made it very clear when I described the process previously, but I will try once more ...

Before the flight opens of on-line check-in at 24 hours before departure, all the Qantas FF members with Silver or higher status, all Qantas Club members, and all OneWorld Sapphire and Emerald members who have a seating preference registered with Qantas either in their FF profile or by using Manage My Booking on the QF web site, will have their seats pre-allocated by the Qantas computer.

Then when on-line check-in opens at 24 hours before departure, anyone seeking to change their seat allocation will be shown a map of the unallocated seats and can choose one. nobody can select a seat that has already been allocated to someone else, whether that seat was pre-allocated by the computer based on the passenger's registered seating preference, allocated by a check-in staff member at an airport, or selected by the passenger using on-line check-in.

The only time an allocated seat would be changed is if there are operational reasons to do so, such as a last minute aircraft change that results in different seat layout, the need for an infant to be seated at a bassinet position, or to permit a family to sit together. This is rare and I can't remember it ever happening to me on a domestic flight in recent years.

Two flights in 4 years does not make one a frequent flyer. By way of comparison, I did 15 flights last month and I am sure there are others here who did a lot more than that. Preferential seating pre-allocation is a benefit of holding status in the Qantas FF program, and that only comes from sustained periods of frequent flying.

Yep, Well mygoddness if only qantas flight centre would have told me this kind of information about frequent flyer point ddifferent level and options. I tell you what love. If only there was a different way to gain the next level on the ff member card i should be right perhaps pay one time fee to upgrade it Know unless you cant do such thing unless you travel quite oftern. I travel quite oftern just that having this bronze FF card is alittle useless because the travel i do is most likely ben to syd and return and the points on that is about 500 or 1,00 return. You need 25,000 to archive the best posability not just because the points you may have but also choose where you wish to be seated well before advance and way before 24hour time before departer.
Travel is quite fun.

One thing i do now is well regardless where you wish to be seated on the plane.. front midle or back of the plane (if any free seats shown on screen) then im sure its rare that anyone creedy would tempt to steal your seat because he or she wanted your seat. That part is something i would have no idea about because im not too familia with the whole frequent flyer point cards...

All i new is that its just a card to collect points you can buy qantas items and still get oints or get points on package deals with flight and commodation and they will give you 1,000 or obove points to do that. But i never new that there was upgrade cards from silver to cold or whatever the colour may be. And didnt new that a higher upgrade FF member would do anything well in advance and such. I gues ill look into that FF cards and how to get to the next level so im not left out.. I do travel oftern just last time i travel i forgot to include my bronze ff card. And thats because i dought i would had gotten good points from brisbane to Bundy which was 1hour to get there only.

Anyways thanks for that information. I understood your reply there so thank you.

Aniways all cleared, Happy travel.

 

[oz_mark]

Yep, Well mygoddness if only qantas flight centre would have told me this kind of information about frequent flyer point ddifferent level and options. I tell you what love. If only there was a different way to gain the next level on the ff member card i should be right perhaps pay one time fee to upgrade it Know unless you cant do such thing unless you travel quite oftern. I travel quite oftern just that having this bronze FF card is alittle useless because the travel i do is most likely ben to syd and return and the points on that is about 500 or 1,00 return. You need 25,000 to archive the best posability not just because the points you may have but also choose where you wish to be seated well before advance and way before 24hour time before departer.
Travel is quite fun.

A feature of the Qantas program is that there is a minimum of 1000 points per flight sector, so a BNE-SYD and SYD-BNE flights will earn you at least 2000 points. To say that you will get 500 or 1000 points for the retrun flight on Qantas is wrong.

In terms of improving your status, on each flight, assuming you are on discount economy, you will get 10 status credits for each flight (i.e. 20 for the return). To get from Bronze to Silver status you will need 350 Status Credits, which will give you an idea of how much you will need to fly to improve your status.

 

[Batesy]

Macgret, simply go to the Qantas web page and look at the section that tells you about the Frequent flyer program. You should start thinking of its a program or even a club that gives you benefits, not just a card for earning points to redeem as it is much more.

 

[macgret]

Macgret, simply go to the Qantas web page and look at the section that tells you about the Frequent flyer program. You should start thinking of its a program or even a club that gives you benefits, not just a card for earning points to redeem as it is much more.

to every one thank you for the help. much preciated.

 

[v8Statesman]

Macgret, simply go to the Qantas web page and look at the section that tells you about the Frequent flyer program. You should start thinking of its a program or even a club that gives you benefits, not just a card for earning points to redeem as it is much more.

Here are some links to look at.

Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Benefits & Privileges - Status Privileges
Frequent Flyer - About the Program - Benefits & Privileges