A question regarding the seat selection process on Qantas Domestic.
I am in the process of booking some upcoming travel (BNE to Cairns) with Qantas. I will be travelling with two work colleagues (same flight, different bookings). My colleagues are QFF Bronze and travelling on the cheapest Red-E Deal fare, whereas I am QFF Gold and travelling on a full Economy Flexi fare.
On my colleagues booking the Qantas web site shows row 9 as being completely unoccupied. They are able to select any seating in this row (for an additional $10 fee per person). However, when I view the seat map on the same flight it shows row 9 as unavailable for seat selection. In fact, the Qantas web site only offers seating to me from row 11 and beyond.
I am a little curious why the Qantas web site does not offer any row 9 seating to me given that I hold higher QFF status and am travelling on a more expensive fare class compared to my colleagues.
There are certain rows in the forward cabin which Qantas prioritises for low/no status passengers who are willing to pay the seat allocation fee to sit in these rows. These seats are not made available to Gold frequent flyers to reserve. As a workaround, if you sign out of your frequent flyer account at the beginning of the booking process you will find these seats become available for selection. Once you have completed the seat selection step you can then add your frequent flyer number to the booking. Your seat selection should 'stick'. Note however you will still be charged the seat selection fee.
Thanks MrT. I forgot to mention that the aircraft in question was a 717, but I agree that row 9 on the 737 is one to be avoided. I followed the tip above to log out of my frequent flyer account before attempting the seat reservation - and found that worked. I was able to grab a seat beside others in my traveling party. Still a bit miffed that Qantas didn't offer the seat selection option in the first place as a Gold FF and with the more expensive flexi fare. Seems that Qantas keeps quietly eroding the benefits of it's most loyal frequent flyers.
You could also have phone Qantas and requested to be seating with others in your party, although I'm not sure what the hold time is like at the moment.
I generally find the best trick is to log back in at T-80 and select whatever is still available at the front
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on
Seat selection choices on Qantas Domestic
nige00160
nige00160
Member since 07 Jan 2016
Total posts 64
A question regarding the seat selection process on Qantas Domestic.
I am in the process of booking some upcoming travel (BNE to Cairns) with Qantas. I will be travelling with two work colleagues (same flight, different bookings). My colleagues are QFF Bronze and travelling on the cheapest Red-E Deal fare, whereas I am QFF Gold and travelling on a full Economy Flexi fare.
On my colleagues booking the Qantas web site shows row 9 as being completely unoccupied. They are able to select any seating in this row (for an additional $10 fee per person). However, when I view the seat map on the same flight it shows row 9 as unavailable for seat selection. In fact, the Qantas web site only offers seating to me from row 11 and beyond.
I am a little curious why the Qantas web site does not offer any row 9 seating to me given that I hold higher QFF status and am travelling on a more expensive fare class compared to my colleagues.
Anybody know ?wdeguara
wdeguara
Etihad - Etihad Guest
Member since 06 Apr 2012
Total posts 94
There are certain rows in the forward cabin which Qantas prioritises for low/no status passengers who are willing to pay the seat allocation fee to sit in these rows. These seats are not made available to Gold frequent flyers to reserve. As a workaround, if you sign out of your frequent flyer account at the beginning of the booking process you will find these seats become available for selection. Once you have completed the seat selection step you can then add your frequent flyer number to the booking. Your seat selection should 'stick'. Note however you will still be charged the seat selection fee.
MrT
MrT
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Aug 2015
Total posts 80
It may also be because Row 9 on the 737s doesn't have windows so could be perceived as being less desirable.
nige00160
nige00160
Member since 07 Jan 2016
Total posts 64
Thanks MrT. I forgot to mention that the aircraft in question was a 717, but I agree that row 9 on the 737 is one to be avoided. I followed the tip above to log out of my frequent flyer account before attempting the seat reservation - and found that worked. I was able to grab a seat beside others in my traveling party. Still a bit miffed that Qantas didn't offer the seat selection option in the first place as a Gold FF and with the more expensive flexi fare. Seems that Qantas keeps quietly eroding the benefits of it's most loyal frequent flyers.
MrT
MrT
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 28 Aug 2015
Total posts 80
You could also have phone Qantas and requested to be seating with others in your party, although I'm not sure what the hold time is like at the moment.
I generally find the best trick is to log back in at T-80 and select whatever is still available at the front