Qantas Frequent Flyer - Able to choose a PreEco seat on an Eco ticket?

I am flying ORD-LAX-MEL tomorrow, and just went on Qantas to review my seat. Oddly enough, I am able to pick a premium seat - when my old ticket is just eco.

Couple of questions:

I'm flying on the AA code share, and I have Platinum (Saph) status - could this be it?

What are the chances they'll catch this and bounce me back to my old seat??

Just curious if anyone has had this experience?

Thanks! K

btw - flight is pretty empty

Not an uncommon occurrence on some routes. Qantas has been known to use Premium Economy seats for Economy passengers, Business seats for Premium Economy passengers, First seats for Business passengers or a combination of all.

It depends on the route, number of passengers and a few other things.

I think your chance is pretty good at keeping it if you've selected it - but no seating choice is guaranteed.

I shall keep my fingers crossed then. :)

Thanks!

Normally QF uses PE seats for Y when Y is full ... so not sure that flight being empty is a good sign for you. Status is irrelevant for snagging the PE seats -- they are treated as Y with no special status, so anyone can get them once they are released to be used as Y. I guess QF wants to use J seats for the PE pax, for whatever reason (competitive advantage?). The economic downturn has really caused some unusual arbitraging opportunities, in terms of seating class, this year; wonder how long it will continue.

Normally QF uses PE seats for Y when Y is full ... so not sure that flight being empty is a good sign for you. Status is irrelevant for snagging the PE seats -- they are treated as Y with no special status, so anyone can get them once they are released to be used as Y. I guess QF wants to use J seats for the PE pax, for whatever reason (competitive advantage?). The economic downturn has really caused some unusual arbitraging opportunities, in terms of seating class, this year; wonder how long it will continue.

Y+ seats sold as Y are indeed Q-Blocked for SG/WP only. Check EF for flights with 4 sold as 3 class configs, and you'll see the PE seats are generally Q-Blocked (as per the SYD-EZE example I showed on AFF the other day).

4-as-3 configs are currently due to cease on all routes by end of April (SYD-EZE is currently going back to a 4 class on the 12th of April).

I travelling QF94 early this week and it's showing F4 A0 J2 D0 I0 Y0 B0 ...

(Originally a 388, was subbed with a 744 some weeks ago (also QF26 is XLD that day))

I lost my 80A preallocation and was give 53A, chnaged this to 53D, but a few days later the rows 36-39 (PE) were redefined as economy and I (as a WP) have been able to select a row 37 PE seat.

I lost my 80A preallocation and was give 53A, chnaged this to 53D, but a few days later the rows 36-39 (PE) were redefined as economy and I (as a WP) have been able to select a row 37 PE seat.
Which is why its always good to check seat maps and assignments regularly before a flight ;)

i just flew in to SYD from SFO this morning. Booked Y but was able to select PE seats, which we got. Don't think the flight was full.