Domestic seat selection now up and running

[Kendall Roy]

Spoke to someone at QF today who indicated that PS should be receiving this benefit.

The web team are also looking into my issue (they didn't respond telling me I wasn't eligible).

This is posted on their Facebook page:

Qantas Hello - the option is available to Platinum, Gold and Silver Qantas Frequent Flyers and equivalent oneworld members.

Mon at 12:13

Bit of a stuff up one thinks!

 

[Katie]

OK, all jokes aside....so PS/OWR can't access this function? Seems odd.

I got the email, am QP PS, and have been able to pre-select domestic seats on our upcoing International trip. When we reserved the flights, we were assigned seats on QF11/12, and our AA US domestic flights, but not on the QF flights BNE-SYD-BNE. QF domestic in B, International in R (I think? Y+).
When seat selection came out last week, and as we were ticketed on the weekend, I was finally able to select seats on our BNE-SYD-BNE flights. Pretty much at the back of the plane, but I'm only a QP PS.
I don't have any other upcoming domestic bookings to check with, I don't know if our seat preselection has been altered by it being international. I have the highest status of all FFers on our booking.
My only concern about wanting seat assignments 8+ weeks out is to ensure that we were all sitting together. I'm sure QF are not likely to sit my three year old a few rows away from me, but it does feel odd to not have seat assignments, when I already had seat assignments on the AA flights at reservation time (before we even paid a cent).

My email link was to the "seat selection silver members" page, with the "you may be able if you are the right kind of FF" statement, but the actual email from QF read:
Hello Katie,
<snip>
As a valued customer, you can now preselect your seat any time from when you first make your booking and up to 3 hours before your scheduled departure. Advance Seat S <snip>

So I take the 'personalised' email to mean that I can pre-select seats because I'm such a valued customer.

 

[Volando]

The 80 hour trick is a boon for those of us at the more humble end of the status ladder.

Flying SYD-MEL on QF423 (763) this Sunday. I'm merely NB, hubby on same booking is PS meaning that the seat select option is open to both of us on this booking. I went to select my seat last night @ >80hours and everything forward of row 39 was blocked. Just went on again this morning and rows 27-38 had opened up.

For our return flight to SYD on a 734, row 18 was the first row available, and obviously remains so as that's still >80 hours away.

Interestingly on my last few QF domestic mainline flights - SYD-BNE a couple of weeks ago and SYD-DRW late 2009 - OLCI has only given me the option of seats *r..i..g..h..t* down the back (as in last 2 or 3 rows being the only choice). I find it a bit hard to believe that everyone else on those flights was PS or higher, in fact I caught a glimpse of a boarding pass of a guy well forward, aisle seat, without any FF details printed on it. On the other hand, another trip SYD-MEL last year saw OLCI allocate me 24B in the mini cabin on a 763 - again remember I'm merely a NB.

It seems that while there's a reasonably high level of certainty that CL and WP and to an extent SG can nab good seats at the front, there are occasional strokes of luck, or software glitches that sometimes sees those seats allocated to us mere mortals as well.

PS: First post btw.

 

[QF WP]

Welcome to AFF, chai_1022. My favourite drink (behind tea)

 

[k_sheep]

QP NB here .... couldn't get on at T-80 so just online checked in at T-23:59 Seq 1. Was originally assigned 14A on a 737-400 but moved myself up to 8F. There were a few window-middle combos taken behind the exit rows, but other than that I could choose anything from row 8 back.

 

[medhead]

HA!

Got the same email from Qantas as Wark got but it says "If you are an eligible Frequent Flyer or equivalent oneworld member, you can now preselect your seat" (subtle difference - click on the the links in Warks and YQY's post then check out the address: seat-selection-silver-member versus seat-selection-gold-and-above-member).

Checked my upcoming bookings and it seems that I am NOT an eligible FF. It's a little condescending to email you about a new feature that you're not eligible for. Sort of rubbing it in saying 'oh, so you're only QC PS, look what SG and WP get'

Not sure what's that all about.

I think the different emails are just to stroke the ego of SGs and WPs, to make them feel special. A marketing ploy, no more or less. Note neither email say that PS aren't eligible and if we refer to the FAQ on the qantas website we see

Seat selection is available:
Qantas Frequent Flyer Platnium, Gold, Silver and equivalent oneworld status
International Itineraries
From the time of booking up until three hours before scheduled departure
Domestic Itineraries
From the time of booking up until three hours before scheduled departure

Also i called qantas again yesterday to follow up about the lack of seat selection for my bookings. they didn't tell me I wasn't eligible (as PS). They did say that it was a known problem and IT are working on it and that I should try refreshing to see if the option appears.

 

[JohnK]

I think the different emails are just to stroke the ego of SGs and WPs, to make them feel special. A marketing ploy, no more or less.

I didn't think too much of the email and it certainly did not stroke my ego. I am more interested to see what else Qantas is going to stuff up with the "introduction of a host of exciting domestic travel initiatives to make your journey easier".

How about fixing the current issues. Like getting IFE consistent on all aircraft, consistent professional service levels from all staff including flight attendants, delayed luggage, damaged luggage etc etc....

 

[medhead]

How about fixing the current issues. Like getting IFE consistent on all aircraft, consistent professional service levels from all staff including flight attendants, delayed luggage, damaged luggage etc etc....

Ohh come on you don't want those things fixed. consistent professional service would just be plain boring. Surely you crave the excitement of not knowing what service you'll receive?



I must say I've only just started the weekly communte thing (6 weeks) and I find the service to be fine. nothing that has upset me anyway.

 

[JohnK]

Ohh come on you don't want those things fixed. consistent professional service would just be plain boring. Surely you crave the excitement of not knowing what service you'll receive?



I must say I've only just started the weekly communte thing (6 weeks) and I find the service to be fine. nothing that has upset me anyway.

Welcome to what is loosely described as my life.

Only 40 minutes late earlier this evening. And after making an effort to get to the airport early as I needed to do some things in Sydney. If I had known we were going to be that late I could have stayed at work to catch up.

By the way it is not fun going through the luggage issues I have had over the last couple of years. I need to somehow find some time to get to West End to try and get a replacement (rather than a repair) for my brand new Samsonite Qantas baggage services ruined.

And Qantas customer care does not care. Very sad....

 

[Davo70]

The spiel that came out when QF launched this initiative mentioned "Others travelling on your booking also benefit from your Frequent Flyer status, with a choice of preferential seats".

Does anyone know if this extends to separate bookings that are "linked" (e.g. via a call to the QFF Service Centre) ? My guess is not but interested in any experiences.

Thx

 

[anat0l]

Does anyone know if this extends to separate bookings that are "linked" (e.g. via a call to the QFF Service Centre) ? My guess is not but interested in any experiences.

I believe the answer is 'no'. I was talking to QF Premium last week about this, and they said that you can't select seats across linked bookings online, but you can try and do it through the call centre.

 

[oz_mark]

I believe the answer is 'no'. I was talking to QF Premium last week about this, and they said that you can't select seats across linked bookings online, but you can try and do it through the call centre.

I would also say the answer is 'no' based on the following from the FAQ

23. If an eligible Frequent Flyer is travelling with a non Frequent Flyer, are they able to request seats together?​

​

​

Yes, provided they are in the same booking. Non Frequent Flyers will have access to the same seat map as the eligible Frequent Flyer. Provided there are two seats available on the flight, they will be able to request seats together. If they are in separate bookings, the non Frequent Flyer will not be able to request their seat until the online check-in window opens.​

​

​

23. If a Bronze or non Frequent Flyer is split from a booking with an Eligible Frequent Flyer, what happens to their seat request?
The split booking will retain the original seating request. If they wish to change their seating they will no longer have access to seat selection via qantas.com, however they can make a new seat request when accessing online check-in.​

 

[MatF]

My next trip to Brisbane for work (departing 15/3) was booked today, so I just jumped in for a look.

Can't select on my QantasLink flights, but everything from row 6 back was available on my usual SYD-BNE-SYD flights QF510 15/3 (738) and QF539 19/3 (738). Chose 6F on both - say hi if you see me

QF539 is normally a 767-338. Bugger.

 

[Kendall Roy]

Also i called qantas again yesterday to follow up about the lack of seat selection for my bookings. they didn't tell me I wasn't eligible (as PS). They did say that it was a known problem and IT are working on it and that I should try refreshing to see if the option appears.

Still not working after more than a week.

One has to question QF's UAT/QA processes in relation to their website.

1) Login to a QP/PS Account
2) Works fine - next! :mrgreen:

 

[Tooner]

I believe the answer is 'no'. I was talking to QF Premium last week about this, and they said that you can't select seats across linked bookings online, but you can try and do it through the call centre.

Ditto for an international flight. Couldn't do it online, but the friendly operator was able to seat us together on the flight we share, and even get the MIL a good seat on the flight home (when we are not flying with her).

 

[medhead]

Still not working after more than a week.

One has to question QF's UAT/QA processes in relation to their website.

1) Login to a QP/PS Account
2) Works fine - next! :mrgreen:

Yep, it's still not working for me. Someone mentioned that some problems with entry of the FF number of a booking earlier. Not sure if that could be a problem, my number is 7 digit starting with 1, or how to check.

I also requal silver in 2 weeks, should be sooner but I got a couple of checp DJ flights, I was planning to wait and see what happens then. As i don't have any expectations of getting decent seats, I can wait that long. But might ring them next week anyway.

 

[anat0l]

Well, T-80 just passed for my OMG o'clock flight coming up this Saturday. (Or rather, it is now T-79).

Logged onto my booking and opened up seat selection. J cabin, 737. I can see everything bar one seat...w00t

My other flights remain the same (although the last one is an FJ operated flight). Perhaps the T-80 "rule" applies to each flight in turn, rather than only on the first flight (i.e. for me to get at the "locked" seats for my next flight in the same booking, which leaves at 0900h from MEL, I have to wait for it's T-80 time before I can try for row 1).

 

[anat0l]

Checked several times last night and today (well past T-80) for my 0900h flight following my OMG o'clock flight, and row 1 still completely knocked out. (This is a 767 service; J cash booking).

Even more interesting (not domestic), but the FJ flight following from that one has a "completely full" J cabin. I can't move anywhere.

 

[tuapekastar]

I have not been able to select domestic seating since implementation (am QP PS), and finally got around to ringing QF this morning.

The pleasant lady on the other end of the phone said they had actually had a memo come round this morning to staff acknowledging the problem ("with Silvers"), quoting a problem reference number, and stating that it was under investigation.

She speculated that they must have had enough complaints to formalise and investigate it, and suggested I give it 48 hours and try again (I think the 48 hours was based on 'hope' more than anything else).

Anyway, maybe a fix is imminent!

 

[JohnK]

She speculated that they must have had enough complaints to formalise and investigate it, and suggested I give it 48 hours and try again (I think the 48 hours was based on 'hope' more than anything else).

Anyway, maybe a fix is imminent!

Didn't they say the same thing for Apocalypse?