Why the difference in choosing a seat?

[NamarrgonFlyer]

Hi Brains trust.

I am selecting our seats (me and SO) at the moment via the Qantas website for QF682 (ADL-MEL) this Thursday. Note, it was Amex travel credit redemptions and PNRs are different, but price was the same when booking.

We are both bronze QF members. Why can I select fewer seats than my SO?

Using two browsers in the screenshot.

Thank you

 

[cwd]

Presumably you're being scored differently despite having the same status level. Looking at the seat map on expertflyer, it seems you're being restricted from selecting a seat next to anyone, while your SO has access to those seats, as well as rows 21 and beyond. If you want to sit together, you might have more luck selecting your seat first, then your SO's.

The strangest thing to me is that they're showing row 9 as being "Preferred Seating". Isn't that the row with no window (on the left hand side certainly)? Don't fall for that trap!

Ok looks like there's an AFF article about it: https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qantas-worst-seat-on-plane/

 

[justinbrett]

I don't think intra-status scoring is a thing when it comes to seat selection.

Were they both booked through Amex? Or one via QF? I would hazard a guess the more restrictive one isn't picking up the FF status, or if one is direct and the other agent, the agent booking is more restrictive.

Also check the timing, as we are about T-80 for Thursday flights, one might have been before, the other after.

 

[SeatBackForward]

The strangest thing to me is that they're showing row 9 as being "Preferred Seating". Isn't that the row with no window (on the left hand side certainly)? Don't fall for that trap!

Ok looks like there's an AFF article about it: https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/qantas-worst-seat-on-plane/

Why on earth would a seat without a window be considered as "Preferred" by whom?

 

[NamarrgonFlyer]

I don't think intra-status scoring is a thing when it comes to seat selection.

Were they both booked through Amex? Or one via QF? I would hazard a guess the more restrictive one isn't picking up the FF status, or if one is direct and the other agent, the agent booking is more restrictive.

Also check the timing, as we are about T-80 for Thursday flights, one might have been before, the other after.

Yeah, both definitely booked through Amex travel as we both have the same card.

Just checked again and both members showing more availability than the other.

 

[Scarlett]

Because QF IT…



Status is clearly not being ‘seen’ for the person with lesser seat selection options. Why that is, see above. Sorry I don’t know a workaround.

Actually, just check one more thing, are they definitely the same flight on the same date?

 

[Mattg]

I've also seen this before where both pax had the same status and on separate bookings.

Out of interest, are you both on the same fare type? Or is one a reward booking and the other a Flex fare, etc.?

 

[jpp42]

Or is one a reward booking and the other a Flex fare, etc.?

They said both booked through Amex and the same price, so you would think the same fare class but I guess that isn't gauranteed.

it seems you're being restricted from selecting a seat next to anyone

Could this be something that happens to men travelling alone, unable to select a seat next to children or women travelling alone? I know Qantas has certain rules about this which they aren't very transparent about. But it doesn't explain those open rows in the back being totally blocked.

 

[justinbrett]

As a WP for this flight I can only select from 5 seats.

 

[cwd]

This is what I see as a WP at the moment:



vs ExpertFlyer

So it's not just the straight status level affecting the seat choice.
Ok, who knows, the 5 available seats as a WP was only because the account wasn't logged in. Curious what the reason is for @NamarrgonFlyer seeing two different (but related) seat maps with the same (customer facing) status.

 

[NamarrgonFlyer]

As a WP for this flight I can only select from 5 seats.

How did you manage that - are you trying to booking a flight?

So you as WP still have less seats available than me currently. Are you penalised for booking last-minute?:

@Mattg Both tickets are N class so the mystery deepens:

 

[justinbrett]

How did you manage that - are you trying to booking a flight?

So you as WP still have less seats available than me currently. Are you penalised for booking last-minute?:

@Mattg Both tickets are N class so the mystery deepens:
View attachment 337424

View attachment 337425

You can select seats when booking a flight before confirming, so I went as far as I could to do that.

It looks like a lot of seats are blocked.

This is what I see as a WP at the moment:

View attachment 337422

vs ExpertFlyer
View attachment 337423
So it's not just the straight status level affecting the seat choice.

If you have your ## number in EF this map is useless. I don't include mine so I can see which are blocked to plebs, and my EF map is almost completely blocked.

 

[SYD]

You can select seats when booking a flight before confirming, so I went as far as I could to do that.

It looks like a lot of seats are blocked.


If you have your ## number in EF this map is useless. I don't include mine so I can see which are blocked to plebs, and my EF map is almost completely blocked.

OT but that a good reason to have a second freebie EF account! (Besides doubling the number of free seat searches).

 

[encryptededdy]

This is what I see as a WP at the moment:

I'm seeing the same seat map as a WP. Not sure why @justinbrett can only see 5 open seats.

 

[justinbrett]

I'm seeing the same seat map as a WP. Not sure why @justinbrett can only see 5 open seats.

In EF or on an attempted booking?

My EF has no status.

 

[encryptededdy]

In EF or on an attempted booking?

My EF has no status.

Both (my EF has my QFF number loaded).

 

[justinbrett]

Both (my EF has my QFF number loaded).

Well EF difference explained because I don't put my FF number on my account, so I see the map available to plebs (I like this so I can see if I have a shadow).

As for QF, I have just found out if you book whilst not logged in, even entering your FF number, you don't get status seats. You have to be logged in to see them. Once I logged in I have lots to chose from.

 

[SYD]

Well EF difference explained because I don't put my FF number on my account, so I see the map available to plebs (I like this so I can see if I have a shadow).

As for QF, I have just found out if you book whilst not logged in, even entering your FF number, you don't get status seats. You have to be logged in to see them. Once I logged in I have lots to chose from.

You probably have to enter a whole bunch of stuff that would otherwise be in your profile.

But does still sound like one of the OP bookings isn't correctly linked to QFF#?

 

[justinbrett]

You probably have to enter a whole bunch of stuff that would otherwise be in your profile.

No it was all prefilled as it recognised my account, I just wasn't signed in (ie, it had my name, I just had to enter my pin to sign in). The pax detail was all prefilled.

I think it's because it doesn't verify the number until after you book, but if you're signed it, I guess it doesn't have to.

 

[madrooster]

I don't think intra-status scoring is a thing when it comes to seat selection.

It is a thing at T-80h when PCV comes into play. Within each status level, you can see a large variance in what seats are visible to each pax. Even within status levels, eg. platinum I've seen a variance between what's visible within T-80h and I have to resort to seating overrides to seat pax on separate PNRs together.