Seating
May 23, 2016 | 6:11 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,604
Seating
I just booked 3 domestic flights with Qantas next April, hoping that so far in advance will mean I can select exit row seats. However, on all the flights except one, nearly all seats are greyed out already. Is this normal? On the third flight, nearly all are greyed out too, but an exit row at the back is still available.
Any thoughts? Will we manage to get exit row on these flights?
I'm looking at SYD>CNS and CNS>AYQ.
On MEL>SYD, it is an A330 and I booked A and B in row 44. Seatguru doesn't seem too optimistic about these seats, and in the middle part of row 44, it actually says it has restricted legroom. How is this possible when there is a huge gap and it is an exit row?
Thanks!
Any thoughts? Will we manage to get exit row on these flights?
I'm looking at SYD>CNS and CNS>AYQ.
On MEL>SYD, it is an A330 and I booked A and B in row 44. Seatguru doesn't seem too optimistic about these seats, and in the middle part of row 44, it actually says it has restricted legroom. How is this possible when there is a huge gap and it is an exit row?
Thanks!
May 23, 2016 | 2:32 pm
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2009
Posts: 2,604
Just the standard 'blue' with BA unfortunately. OW is not an alliance I fly as much as others.
There's no way to make more seats visible? I'd be willing to pay for exit row but there just seems to be no option. At nearly 2m, I am suddenly really paranoid about these flights as I was really counting on getting exit row for them! 2 of the 3 are around 3 hours which is quite chunky in tiny seats.
There's no way to make more seats visible? I'd be willing to pay for exit row but there just seems to be no option. At nearly 2m, I am suddenly really paranoid about these flights as I was really counting on getting exit row for them! 2 of the 3 are around 3 hours which is quite chunky in tiny seats.
May 23, 2016 | 9:58 pm
#4
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: Sydney (for now), GVA (only in my memories)
Programs: QF Lifetime Silver (big whoop)
Posts: 9,347
Unfortunately, this far before the flight, there are only limited seats available for selection, usually at the back of the plane. At T minus 80 hours, I (as QF Silver) get options for the rest of the seats. I think Gold and Plats either get more seats available from the beginning or access to the rest earlier than T-80.
Without looking it up, the best you could expect as BA blue is more options 80 hours before the flight, and possibly not even that until checkin at T-24.
Without looking it up, the best you could expect as BA blue is more options 80 hours before the flight, and possibly not even that until checkin at T-24.
Last edited by RadioGirl; May 24, 2016 at 12:20 am Reason: typo: Silver seems like a "sliver" of benefits but is spelled differently...
May 23, 2016 | 10:41 pm
#5
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Melbourne
Programs: Velocity Gold
Posts: 1,069
Yep the period between 80 hours before your flight and 24 hours is when you want to get online and reselect seats. Booking in advance makes no difference. Those seats will all be greyed out for status flyers until the time frame mentioned above.
May 23, 2016 | 11:24 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: SYD BXG
Programs: QF WP/LTG | UA P
Posts: 13,664
Status matters. High QF status (WP (AKA platinum )) generally shows all seating on the 738s south of row 5 on booking. The remaining 2 rows in front open up at T-80 hours.
May 24, 2016 | 12:46 am
#8
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2012
Programs: BA Gold, QF WP
Posts: 12,551
Seatguru is a poor resource, out of date with generally inaccurate information. However the middle row seats may well have a bulkhead thus restricting legroom.
May 24, 2016 | 1:46 am
#9
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: SYD (YSSY)
Programs: QF QP
Posts: 173
The 80hrs is important, but of course everyone knows this, so you only have a couple of minutes before the better seats are snapped up. Don't log on before the magic time as sometimes it doesn't refresh properly.
May 25, 2016 | 4:27 pm
#11
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite, QF Platinum (LTS ), VA Red and still happy!
Posts: 2,127
I can only select window or aisle on a QF WA regional flight with plat - go figure. I'll check in a few days prior but it's a stupidly early morning flight so expecting lots of empty seats so am not bothering to call.
May 25, 2016 | 5:22 pm
#13
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,062
This is normal, you can only indicate an aisle or window seating preference on QantasLink flights operated by Dash 8 and Fokker 100 aircraft. When check-in opens you can then select specific seats.
May 25, 2016 | 8:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: New Zealand
Programs: NZ Elite, QF Platinum (LTS ), VA Red and still happy!
Posts: 2,127
It's Boeing 717-200 in WA, as is another flight to AYQ is this also and I've selected a seat on that?
May 25, 2016 | 10:12 pm
#15
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: Australia
Posts: 1,062