Preferred seating charge for second passenger on same ticket?

[Stevo.1702]

Mrs, myself, plus infant travelling domestic on a 737 booked direct with QF on same ticket. I attempt to book row 8 as QFF Gold but I’m being charged for Mrs (QFF Bronze) to be in seat next to me?

This a new thing or an infant thing? I don’t like it.

Edit: return flight same $7 charges. Classic reward ticket.

 

[Happy Dude]

<Robbery!>

 

[dylarr]

If on the same booking, all pax should have access to the same complimentary zones of the highest status person in the booking. If not, it’s a glitch and the call centre can do the seating for you.

 

[Stevo.1702]

They are doubling down. I don’t want to call but suppose I must now.

A few rows on a short sector doesn’t really bother me but this is quite an abrupt change.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

In your screenshot above you have the bronze member in a preferred seat, while you as gold are in standard. If you swap those around does that solve the issue of charging?

 

[Stevo.1702]

In your screenshot above you have the bronze member in a preferred seat, while you as gold are in standard. If you swap those around does that solve the issue of charging?

Good idea. But unfortunately no change. Any seat I put myself in (can select as forward as row 8) shows it’s a standard for me but preferred for the Mrs.

All my other bookings (a few months old) don’t replicate this issue. Only this ticket booked yesterday.

 

[serfty]

Good idea. But unfortunately no change. Any seat I put myself in (can select as forward as row 8) shows it’s a standard for me but preferred for the Mrs.

All my other bookings (a few months old) don’t replicate this issue. Only this ticket booked yesterday.

I suggest something has changed.

Row 8 is "Preferred Seating" on most Qantas B737 services.

Sadly, it appears there is no preferred seating fee exemption on domestic flights for passengers who are not at least of Gold status as there is with standard seating on international flights.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policies/book/seating/select-a-seat.html#qantas-complimentary-seat-selection

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Qantas Complimentary Seat Selection​

Seat Selection is complimentary when:

• travelling on any Qantas operated domestic service
• travelling internationally in Economy on a Saver (in S/L/V/M/K classes) or Flex (in H/B/Y classes) Fare
• travelling internationally in First, Business or Premium Economy
• travelling internationally as a Platinum One, Platinum, Gold or Silver Frequent Flyers or equivalent oneworld or Emirates Skywards Frequent Flyer,
• travelling internationally as a Bronze Qantas Frequent Flyer on any Qantas operated flight when the itinerary originates in Australia and when booked direct with Qantas or via Qantas NDC,
• travelling on a Economy Classic Flight Reward, or
• on the same booking and travelling with any of the above-mentioned travellers.

---

Preferred Seating​

Preferred seating gives Silver, Bronze and non-Frequent Flyer members the option to purchase seats towards the front of the economy cabin. The following fees apply:

The cost of preferred seating is dependent on the flight and the booking source.
...

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policies/book/seating/select-a-seat.html#preferred-seating

 

[Stevo.1702]

I suggest something has changed.

Row 8 is "Preferred Seating" on most Qantas B737 services.

Sadly, it appears there is no preferred seating fee exemption on domestic flights for passengers who are not at least of Gold status as there is with standard seating on international flights.

A sad change in my opinion. If anyone on AFF makes a 2pax booking and experiences the same then we can have some corroboration.

After some further polite messenger chat they were insistent that this was always the case and no terms or benefits have changed regarding seat selection. They have “waived” the fee this time and allocated us seats in row 8. I’m still hopeful this is just a glitch.

 

[dylarr]

They are doubling down. I don’t want to call but suppose I must now.

A few rows on a short sector doesn’t really bother me but this is quite an abrupt change.

That's a shame they are giving you that advice. It's definitely a glitch so calling is worthwhile.

I just tried a dummy booking with myself (WP) and a passenger with no status, and was able to place the no status pax anywhere in the Platinum seating areas without additional charge.

 

[kevrosmith]

If that is a change, Qantas really should write the PhD for how to piss its loyal customers off. It’s an expert in knowing how to do just that.

 

[Happy Dude]

That's a shame they are giving you that advice. It's definitely a glitch so calling is worthwhile.

I just tried a dummy booking with myself (WP) and a passenger with no status, and was able to place the no status pax anywhere in the Platinum seating areas without additional charge.

View attachment 451333

This begs the question of what would happen if Mrs @Stevo.1702 had no status and/or Mr John Nostatus was NB?

It is confusing that "preferred seating" is called "standard seating" for those with some status.

 

[DejaBrew]

I suggest something has changed.

Row 8 is "Preferred Seating" on most Qantas B737 services.

Sadly, it appears there is no preferred seating fee exemption on domestic flights for passengers who are not at least of Gold status as there is with standard seating on international flights.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policies/book/seating/select-a-seat.html#qantas-complimentary-seat-selection

---

Qantas Complimentary Seat Selection​

Seat Selection is complimentary when:

• travelling on any Qantas operated domestic service
• travelling internationally in Economy on a Saver (in S/L/V/M/K classes) or Flex (in H/B/Y classes) Fare
• travelling internationally in First, Business or Premium Economy
• travelling internationally as a Platinum One, Platinum, Gold or Silver Frequent Flyers or equivalent oneworld or Emirates Skywards Frequent Flyer,
• travelling internationally as a Bronze Qantas Frequent Flyer on any Qantas operated flight when the itinerary originates in Australia and when booked direct with Qantas or via Qantas NDC,
• travelling on a Economy Classic Flight Reward, or
• on the same booking and travelling with any of the above-mentioned travellers.

---

Preferred Seating​

Preferred seating gives Silver, Bronze and non-Frequent Flyer members the option to purchase seats towards the front of the economy cabin. The following fees apply:

The cost of preferred seating is dependent on the flight and the booking source.
...

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/au/en/policies/book/seating/select-a-seat.html#preferred-seating

FWIW, it seems that this wording was in place as far back as SEP 2023 (according to the Wayback Machine)...

Select a Seat

You can select your customer’s seat on any Qantas operated flight up to 3 hours prior to departure through Manage Booking or your GDS once the ticket has been issued.

web.archive.org

 

[LondonAussie]

After some further polite messenger chat they were insistent that this was always the case and no terms or benefits have changed regarding seat selection. They have “waived” the fee this time and allocated us seats in row 8. I’m still hopeful this is just a glitch.

How amusing they go from "we can't comment on any previous bookings" to insisting that your previous bookings were always like this and nothing has changed!

 

[nancypants]

The booking engine is glitchy as all hell. I regularly get asked to pay for standard seat selection as a platinum. Unsure if this helps you but sometimes if you finish the booking flow without selecting seats, picking them “after the fact” works

 

[elanshin]

There could be other reasons for the glitching out - perhaps the infant is causing it to do something weird as well.