Question about seat selection
 

Hi everyone,

I will be flying with Qantas for the first time next month from LAX to SYD (in discounted economy class). I just called Qantas to see if my dad and I could select our seats in advance to make sure we sit together. The agent told us that wasn't a problem and said we could get seats 46A and 46B, which I accepted. I just looked at a seat map and it looks like those are exit row seats! I thought we had to pay for those seats? In any case, if those seats are really in an exit row, I am one happy camper! She also gave us those seats for our return flight. :)

Edit: We were supposed to fly on the A380 but learned recently the flight has been changed to the Boeing 747.

looks like you got lucky - it can happen!

I just called again and changed our seats to 46B and 46C since I read 46A had limited leg room due to the emergency slide. Hope I made the right choice!

Yes the window seats have very restricted legroom due to the slides.
The other thing to remember are the seats are narrower, but same level of shoulder room, due to tray tables being stored in the armrests and the IFE screens.

I think you did (make the right choice).

However - as there are two of you travelling there are some pros and cons.

With two of you the leg-room issue is a bit less of a problem. You can sit in the A seat and position your legs straight out at a bit of an angle - (that is, taking up a bit of Bs space). This wouldn't be a problem with two of you in A/B.

There are a few advantages of the A seat - you get the wall to rest up against if you so wish - there is no window at 46 IIRC and so you can put a pillow up there and sleep (some people like that).

Secondly you get easy access to the storage pouch for all your bits and pieces. Otherwise you're constantly having to reach over the person in A to get the magasine, entertainment guide, duty free book, put your menu somewhere, store your headphones (etc etc).

Thirdly, and this is not really an issue for me but it is for some, there is no-one to bump you if you have the A/B combo. Sitting in C people may step on your toes in the middle of the night as they walk past. Finally, the A/B combo are a little more private and you can make your little nest in the corner for the two of you!

Otherwise the B/C combo is good because you both have unfettered legroom.

Just my thoughts.

'Cause I clearly have too much time on my hands this morning :)

Regards

lme ff

While we're on this topic, I pose a question as well:

I have an award flight coming up (QF Flights using AA AAdvantage Miles). I have both the QF and AA locator code, and I am OW Emerald due to AA EXP, and the flight is a "F" award with F on the International, and J on the domestic. The QF system allowed me to select the LAX-SYD flight, but on the SYD-PER flight, the best I could do was select aisle or window.

Is this correct? Should I be able to chose my intra-Australia seat in advance? Comments/info would be appreciated.

Absolutely correct. QF does not offer pre-allocated seating domestically

I wouldn't be concerned about the seating anyway; should be no issue getting a window or aisle from the preference.

Dave

I pack a small folding bag to locate under my knees/behind my feet while sitting in the aisle seat. (I place my documents, headphones, water bottle, snack on Q bags and other paraphernalia in it) so these are readily accessible.
This was a problem until I read here of og's white sports sock solution [patent pending].

I'm 183cm and stretched out in a WHY exit aisle seat my feet are a good 110 cm in front of the seat. I had this problem, og posted about it - and I have not looked back. I use the supplied pillow to rest my feet on.

Reclined in an aisle exit row on a 744 and trying to sleep in a darkened cabin, you do not get stood upon as much if on your feet are pure white socks (sports socks generally). They are more "visible" to wandering PAX, subliminalary or otherwise.

And yes, I was dubious, but og is correct, it does work!

To expand on Dave's point, seats for all QF domestic flights are automatically allocated by computer about 24 hours prior to the flight. The only seating option prior to this allocation process as you mentioned is to nominate an aisle or window option.

The computer is kind
 

This is slightly OT but about seat selection.

I made a TT reservation online on the QF website for Mr Mrs and Master Kangela. The system obviously recognised the SG status of both Mr and Mrs and the aisle seat preferences in our profiles. It allocated C and D (across the aisle on the 737-400) to us and B to junior. The Select Seats function allowed me to change this to ABC.

Is the system intelligent :-: to recognize our preferences or stupid :td: not to seat the family together?

Seems like they cannot win; if they allocate in accordance with preferences they will be accused of stupid for separating and put them together accused of ignoring preferences

Giving C and D seems a perfect solution; both get aisle seats and are adjacent

Dave

I agree. And the fact that seat selection (albeit request) is available immediately after ticketing makes it ideal if you want to make any changes.