Expert flyer blocked seats - really blocked?

[simongr]

Hi

I am flying SYD-WLG tomorrow - currently in 4C (but hoping for the points upgrade to come through).

Checking the seat map on EF shows an X in 4D - this normally means a blocked seat - one that can't be selected by plebs - just wondering if this is actually a shadow for the person in 4F.

Any thoughts?

S

 

[Princess Fiona]

Can you select that seat on QF?
My most recent experience of this was having 11K in A380 with 11J showing blocked on EF/ occupied on the QF seatmap. At T-24 11J was unblocked on EF and became available for selection on the QF seat map. I interpreted this as the shadow belonged to me up until T24

 

[simongr]

I can't select it on the QF site. To me that means it is either occupied or a shadow for a CL/P1...

 

[Princess Fiona]

I can't select it on the QF site. To me that means it is either occupied or a shadow for a CL/P1...

I could not select the seat next to me on the QF site either up until T 24 so I'm pretty sure it was a block and could only have been for me in that configuration ?

 

[Mal]

Do you have your FF number in your ExpertFlyer settings?

 

[richie9x]

In my experience if it is occupied then it will show as occupied in expert flyer. If it is shown with an X that means it is not available for selection by you. So probably a shadow, but you never know for sure. Sometimes I think Qantas block a few seats in case of a last minute booking or change by P1 or CL.

While on the Qantas seat map if it shows as unavailable it is either blocked or occupied. You can't tell the difference.

 

[simongr]

Yep........

 

[serfty]

I can't select it on the QF site. To me that means it is either occupied or a shadow for a CL/P1...

If heavily loaded flights that generally means it is allocated for someone or, indeed, a shadow for 4A.

On lightly loaded operations, say O9 the day that might be a load balancing block affected by eliteness in 4A and 4C.

Assuming the evening departure and looking at your flight, I'd say it was the latter:
Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Seat Map Search:
Departing SYD on 27/03/12 for WLG
Flying QF ... Economy

        A   B   C       D   E   F   
4       -   X   -       -   X   -       
5       X   X   -       -   X   X       
6       -   +   -       -   X   X       
7       +   X   X       X   X   +       
8       +   +   -       H   +   -       
9       X   +   -       -   -   X       
10      +   +   +       H   +   +       
11      +   +   +       H   +   +       
12      +   +   +       H   +   +       
13  E   X   X   X       X   X   X   E   
14  E   X   X   X       X   X   X   E   
15      +   +   +       +   +   +       
16      +   +   +       +   +   +       
17      +   +   +       +   +   +       
18      +   +   +       +   +   +       
19      +   +   +       +   +   +       
20      +   +   +       +   +   +       
21      +   +   +       +   +   +       
22      +   +   +       +   +   +       
23      +   +   +       +   +   +       
24      +   +   +       +   +   +       
25      +   +   +       +   +   +       
26      +   +   +       +   +   +       
27      +   +   +       +   +   +       
28      +   +   +       +   +   +       
29      +   +   +       -   +   +       
        A   B   C       D   E   F

 

[simongr]

Let's hope so

I would rather be seated in a lower seat number though...

 

[medhead]

I can't select it on the QF site. To me that means it is either occupied or a shadow for a CL/P1...

An "X" means a block rather than occupied IME.


Sent from the Throne

 

[serfty]

Let's hope so ...

That does not stop some helpful agent at check-in getting an override.

...
I would rather be seated in a lower seat number though...

Wouldn't we all?

An "X" means a block rather than occupied IME. ...

I seat beside a WP can show as blocked on E/F, but via qantas.com/manangemybooking can show as available for section by that WP.

 

[TonyHancock]

To be honest I can't make head nor tail of the Expertflyer seat blockings. I'm heading up to PVG in April. All booked in Y :shock:. On the delightful QF400 I have selected seat 4C and expertflyer shows 4A and 4B blocked, but I can select them. For QF129 I have 23B, with 23A shown as available on Expertflyer, and available to me. 23DEFG are all shown as blocked on EF and are blocked to me on QF.* (For the latter I'm assuming the blocking is for bassinet seats???) It's the same story for my return journey.

* I should add that I don't expect QF to block seats next to me. Also QF129 is showing lots of Y availability.

I'll be hoping for an improved international upgrade experience on this trip!!!!!

 

[medhead]

I seat beside a WP can show as blocked on E/F, but via qantas.com/manangemybooking can show as available for section by that WP.

I realised just as I hit send that my comment was too simplistic. It is rather variable, this morning I was in 4F and at no stage was 4E available for me. Remaining blocked in E/F and in MMB but empty on board clearly a shadow for 4D. On other flights MMB allowing me to select the seat next to me has invariably resulted in that seat being occupied on take off.

Anyway, what I really meant was a sequence of occupied, X, me (or vv) = shadow for the other person (and me by lucky coincidence )


Sent from the Throne

 

[christopherc]

Hello

I travel 4 to 6 times to USA and and at the check in counter they told me as a QFF Gold member i can have a free seat next to mine and they usually do it each time i travel on QANTAS.
I recently traveled on Cathay Pacific from Denpasar to HKG and the staff at the check in counter tod me as a sapphire Oneworld member i can get seat on exit row for free. QANTAS should think about it because i am QFF member i can get this free on another company...

 

[TonyHancock]

Quick question!

Can QF WP1's pretty much select any seat that is shown as blocked to QF WP's in ExpertFlyer?

Also is it safe to assume that ExpertFlyer does not recognise the WP1 status? (Actually how does that all work on EF? It takes your FF number so presumably there is some sort of corellation with QF status?)

 

[richie9x]

Quick question!

Can QF WP1's pretty much select any seat that is shown as blocked to QF WP's in ExpertFlyer?

Also is it safe to assume that ExpertFlyer does not recognise the WP1 status? (Actually how does that all work on EF? It takes your FF number so presumably there is some sort of corellation with QF status?)

Pretty much any seat with some exceptions. From my experience P1 can't break a CLs shadow, but they could break a WP or another P1s shadow. I sometimes notice that 6D is blocked on 737s I guess this is because a passenger that needs assistance is booked on the flight and the seat is being held for them.

Another exception are economy exit rows on international flights, although P1s can ring up for this. I also been unable to select bassinet seats on international flights in economy, although I could probably ring up for this as well.

I believe that expert flyer passes the FF number with the request to Qantas. And then Qantas calculates the seat map and returns it to expert Flyer.

 

[TonyHancock]

Thanks for the response it seems to make a little more sense now.

I believe that expert flyer passes the FF number with the request to Qantas. And then Qantas calculates the seat map and returns it to expert Flyer.

ExpertFlyer appears to show blocked seats in row 4 on a domestic 737 for me and that is what is confusing me.

 

[serfty]

... I sometimes notice that 6D is blocked on 737s ...

FOR domestic Flights:

That 6D would be a mere WP waiting for their chance at 4D at T-80.

Once a seat is so selected only VVIPs such as bossreggie can generally get at it.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[simongr]

Well given the 50% loading I wasn't surprised that the seat next to me was empty

The pax didnt seem like a CL (FNQ farmer) but I assume as WP the seat defaulted to blocked for him as it would have done if I had snagged 4A first.

The legroom on that 738 in row 4 is just enormous - surely more than J...

 

[richie9x]

That 6D would be a mere WP waiting for their chance at 4D at T-80.

Once a seat is so selected only VVIPs such as bossreggie can generally get at it.

But these seats show as blocked as opposed to occupied in Expert Flyer. I would expect a WP would show as occupied. And the two times I have noticed it a wheel chair passenger did end up in the seat. Of course the wheelchair passenger could have been a WP. Also it seems a sensible thing for Qantas to do if there are some passengers that need assistance on the flight and they haven't selected seats yet then block an aisle seat near the front for them.