OLCI - What's the point? Shocking seat selection

[ozbeachbabe]

Presumably you don't recall the finger sandwiches they served on MEL-PER - MEL flights in the dark ages of monopoly? Cacooned in 737-300s that seemed to run at random times.

The only ppl I knew that got sandwiches were the occasional prisoner travelling in custody as the meal came without cutlery! Don't believe that applies to you though Stealth! :mrgreen: :mrgreen:

 

[Simsy85]

Yeah I get pretty woeful seats for OLCI Seat Selection - but I normally don't bother... I check in at the QP in Darwin and often get one of the first three rows after business or at least always in middle cabin on the 767's..

 

[yohy?!]

Checked in the night before for SYD-ADL on Sat (Seq 1) was offered 15D on a 734 as an NB.

The next day in the SYD Dom J about an hour before the flight...voila 5F (converta-J seat)

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Yeah I get pretty woeful seats for OLCI Seat Selection - but I normally don't bother... I check in at the QP in Darwin and often get one of the first three rows after business or at least always in middle cabin on the 767's..

Is your QP number in the booking when you OLCI?

The seats you get at the QP should be the same seats you can allocate yourself via OLCI. Maybe more have opened up in the meantime as a lot can happen between T-24 (if that's when you've done OLCI previously) & say 2 hours before ETD when you go to the QP.

Also ask the QP next time to check your FF profile & see what your seat preference is - should be "NFA" (aisle) or "NFW" (window). If your preference is just NF or there is no preference at all the system will generally allocate you the most forward seat on the plane which is often a middle seat.

This happens even if there are plenty of window or aisle seats aft of the middle seat you're allocated.

Remember that as you're QP, you're entitled to allocated yourself a seat a T-80 so again, assuming your QP number is in the booking you should be able to get yourself a semi-decent seat.

 

[Simsy85]

Is your QP number in the booking when you OLCI?

The seats you get at the QP should be the same seats you can allocate yourself via OLCI. Maybe more have opened up in the meantime as a lot can happen between T-24 (if that's when you've done OLCI previously) & say 2 hours before ETD when you go to the QP.

Also ask the QP next time to check your FF profile & see what your seat preference is - should be "NFA" (aisle) or "NFW" (window). If your preference is just NF or there is no preference at all the system will generally allocate you the most forward seat on the plane which is often a middle seat.

This happens even if there are plenty of window or aisle seats aft of the middle seat you're allocated.

Remember that as you're QP, you're entitled to allocated yourself a seat a T-80 so again, assuming your QP number is in the booking you should be able to get yourself a semi-decent seat.

Yeah it certainly is, as I log in online to do it and use my FF number to log in.

That being said, as I mentioned, if I just check in at QP, I always get a good seat in the first Y cabin when flying Y..

 

[Groundfeeder]

Perseverence is the key!! Start at T80 to get into the game (usually for a cough seat allocation) and eventually it will open up more towards T24. OLCI after -T24 and keep checking.
My last venture started at row 20 and finished at 5A (B738) with 5B blocked.

 

[kamchatsky]

Believe it or not it's not unbelieveable - that's the norm if you're on an X or O class ticket with no status or NB. If you were PS, QP, SG WP you would be able to allocate yourself the usual forward seat same as if you were on a higher fare or non-redemption ticket.

As you're on a peak hour flight as far as business travellers go there could easily be 100 people that are PS and above so would get priority seating over you so the system's only doing what it's supposed to.

Others on AFF have done OLCI and got an even lower sequence number than you yet got seats like 27E & 26B even in the same pnr so at least you're together.

Why not ask for the exit row when you get there, you never know.

The engines on the 73H are CFM's by the way not RR like the A380.

Enjoy your flight.

Thanks for that. I managed to get there and back safely

Coming back (ADL-SYD) on QF774 on Sunday night, and we were allocated on 25A/B. It is an older 737 and was the last row, again!!!! Our sequence was 18/19.

Oh well the dinner on both flights was actually alright (thai chicken curry with rice, and beef ball pasta), compare with my past experience in Feb this year. Got myself James Squire which was good.

 

[JohnK]

Strange thing happened on Saturday evening travelling SYD-BNE.

I used OLCI and could only get to 5D with all seats around appearing to be pre-allocated. Checked again at ~T-90 minutes and still the same.

When I boarded the aircraft it was lightly loaded with 4DEF vacant but also 5E vacant. I was going to move to 4D after take-off but people in 4ABC spread out before take-off and the guy immediately broke the headrest in 4D. :shock:

Perhaps this is one those flights where load balancing did not allow certain seats to be pre-allocated during OLCI or even check-in.

 

[samh004]

I know I must've read this somewhere, but forgot, I can't preselect seats on a dash-8 right? But can I OLCI, or can I only do so at the airport? Is it worth doing so exactly at T-24 too?

 

[Verde]

I know I must've read this somewhere, but forgot, I can't preselect seats on a dash-8 right? But can I OLCI, or can I only do so at the airport? Is it worth doing so exactly at T-24 too?

Thats right, OLCI lets you select a seat for the Dash 8 flights 24hrs before departure.

I've found it a bit mixed though. Either I can't get a very good seat (on my Albury flights unless it is something like the 6:30am departure) or I've been bumped if I did score a good seat (like flying to/from Coffs Harbour). I had 2A on a Coffs flight, but then it just disappeared and I ended up having to do something like 5A (since I like window seats and enjoy the view from the Dash 8s). 3D was the other seat I got bumped from I think (front row on that side of the plane).

So my experiences as a gold ff suggest row 4 seems to be where I can select and actually keep my seat (except on two light flights I think I managed to stay in row 3), I think it was row 6 when silver (though it depends if it is a dash 300 or 400, I think those numbers shift forward a row for a 300).

I did have a surprise on Sunday when flying back to Albury -first they announced that elderly/infants etc should board, then that Gold/Plat can board anytime before finally opening it up for everyone. Thats the first time I've ever seen that happen on a Dash flight.

 

[Groundfeeder]

... the guy immediately broke the headrest in 4D.

I had the headrest in 4F previously break on me - not a sturdy item obviously.
BTW the FA ignored my suggestion of moving to J as it could not be repaired and I had to go without for 2.5hr flight.:evil:

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Thanks for that. I managed to get there and back safely

Coming back (ADL-SYD) on QF774 on Sunday night, and we were allocated on 25A/B. It is an older 737 and was the last row, again!!!! Our sequence was 18/19.

Oh well the dinner on both flights was actually alright (thai chicken curry with rice, and beef ball pasta), compare with my past experience in Feb this year. Got myself James Squire which was good.

Maybe on your next trip take a child with you and you will notice you have a better seat selection.

 

[kamchatsky]

Maybe on your next trip take a child with you and you will notice you have a better seat selection.

That is if I have a child first! :shock:

 

[Andyzx]

The problem I find with OLCI, they keep changing the versions of 767 ex ADE.

I usually end up with the non window or miss aligned. Last time it was a complete change and I ended up in 24 (second row) with no seat in front of me. :arrow:

 

[ozbeachbabe]

The problem I find with OLCI, they keep changing the versions of 767 ex ADE.

I usually end up with the non window or miss aligned. Last time it was a complete change and I ended up in 24 (second row) with no seat in front of me. :arrow:

If that was 24F then that's a champagne spot for some! It must've been one of the intl 763's ie the 25/204 configuration if there was just 23DE in front. Or was it 24DEF with the bulkhead infront of you.

I guess we need to find out what rows the non viewing windows are in all 3 different configs so you always choose a seat that doesn't have a dodgy window or is that bordering on OCD?

 

[blackhelicopter]

So looks like the issue of OLCIing without printer access has been solved.

I always OLCI without a printer. Seeing as I have checked baggage most of the time anyway, I ask for a BP when I go to drop off my bags.

 

[samh004]

Checked in online yesterday, but couldn't print my boarding passes and the seat number vanished, so just asked for a pass in the QP. Tempted to try my card at the gate, but it's BNE and a Dash-8 a/c.

I hope 4C is a good seat.

 

[Joshua]

Checked in online yesterday, but couldn't print my boarding passes and the seat number vanished, so just asked for a pass in the QP. Tempted to try my card at the gate, but it's BNE and a Dash-8 a/c.

I hope 4C is a good seat.

I found any of the front rows pretty decent on a Dash 8. Depending on the loadings, there may be nobody in front of you (tho unlikely ex BNE). Had to explain to a lounge agent in CNS why all the other seats were blocked & unallocated once.

 

[samh004]

Used my card at the gate. Worked. Was the first time she'd seen it.

 

[straitman]

Used my card at the gate. Worked. Was the first time she'd seen it.

You are a trail blazer samh004 :!: :shock: