Seat selections made before dropping status level

[SeatBackForward]

What happens to selections that are made before a drop in status?

To give a specific example, as a current WP, I've selected seats in J Emerald City, but by the time I actually fly, I'm more than likely to be dropped to Gold (unless comped WP). Will my selected seat stick? or will the change in status also lead to change in available seats, and potentially being bumped out of my selection?

 

[andye]

It sticks on VA

 

[TomVexille]

It should stick

 

[Hvr]

Should stick on QFi, but once your status has dropped don't try to change your seat because then you'll only have access to seats at your new status level.

 

[Mattg]

Should stick on QFi, but once your status has dropped don't try to change your seat because then you'll only have access to seats at your new status level.

^ This was my experience with QF. All my seat selections stuck after dropping but I didn't try to change anything.

 

[Pushka]

^ This was my experience with QF. All my seat selections stuck after dropping but I didn't try to change anything.

A couple of years ago on Emirates we booked via Qantas when MrP had Q WP status. Had been dropped to SG at time of travel but I did not touch the booking once that happened. WP status "stuck" on the boarding pass.

 

[Borisdog]

What happens to selections that are made before a drop in status?

To give a specific example, as a current WP, I've selected seats in J Emerald City, but by the time I actually fly, I'm more than likely to be dropped to Gold (unless comped WP). Will my selected seat stick? or will the change in status also lead to change in available seats, and potentially being bumped out of my selection?

This will be interesting as I'm in exactly the same position. I drop to SG soon - fly March and May with award bookings in Emerald City for me and Mrs BD
When/where are you going SBF. I'm off to LHR ex SIN and rtn

 

[SeatBackForward]

This will be interesting as I'm in exactly the same position. I drop to SG soon - fly March and May with award bookings in Emerald City for me and Mrs BD
When/where are you going SBF. I'm off to LHR ex SIN and rtn

I'm off to DFW in late Jan, but on paid tickets. Will drop to SG at the end of Dec (unless a Comp occurs as I think I may make the unwritten past years average rule).

Will update this post of anything happens.

 

[Andyc]

I went through a spell shortly after VA switched to the current bookings back-end where I kept loosing my row 3 seat allocations.
Turns out the cause was that the ticketing system couldn't handle the apostrophe in my surname and dropped it. That caused a mis-match with the frequent flyer card, so the frequent flyer number was then be dropped leaving me with no frequent flyer number attached.
It seemed that when some bookings agents saw that, they were happy to move my bookings to make way for other WPs.

It's a pretty niche issue, but it highlighted that bookings/check-in agents must look at status and move low/non-status passengers to make way for high status guests.

 

[NM]

Seat selections also stick if you change the FF membership number/program associated with the booking. I often start with my QFF number in the QF flight bookings so I can select seats according to my QFF status, then change the FF details to my AA number for earning purposes. Once a seat selection is made, it sticks unless there is a trigger event that causes the seating assignments to be recalculated, such as a change in aircraft type.

 

[eastwest101]

..... it sticks unless there is a trigger event that causes the seating assignments to be recalculated, such as a change in aircraft type.

I think that's a key point - if you book a route that can have aircraft type or aircraft configuration changes, say A380 to B747 or B747 new 3-class to older B747 4-class or swaps between the different A333 or A332 variants, or the dreaded A330 morphing into a B738.