A mish-mash of QF and SA itinerary - how to manage FFPs and seat selection

[anat0l]

I had my trip to South Africa booked today; thanks to university policy on travel insurance, the travel had to be booked through Campus Travel (for those not in the know, another Flight Centre offshoot).

I have QF going to and from JNB, plus one internal flight booked on South African Airlink (SA8xx_ flight, Q class) in the middle of the lot.

Now Campus Travel, in their wisdom , have lumped all my flights onto one PNR. Yep, all QF and my sole SA flight all in one PNR. Seems good? Maybe.

Problem is: I (obviously) want to credit my QF flights to QFF and the sole SA flight to BD (it isn't much at all, but I could use some activity at the least and also for a promo). The TA put my BD number on the itinerary and I'm afraid that because she did that my auto-allocated seats for my QF international flights have been affected.

My current plan then is to change my itinerary FFP number to my QFF one. As for what happens to my SA sector, I'm thinking I might be able to change this at the airport, or get them to write nothing on the FQTV/FQTS information, then do a manual claim with BD.

Is this the best approach? Or is there an easier/better way to go about this?


I guess I should also ask what are the row numbers for Y+ (and Y) on the 747s? I don't know which 747 type will operate QF63/QF64 for dates 2 Oct and 21 Oct respectively (probably will be a 4-class type). I've been auto-allocated a row 41 and 27 respectively, and CMT seems to show these clearly as Y cabin. But CMT is giving some funny seat maps too. For example, there is a whole chunk of rows from around row 30-35 (guess here!) where the HJK seat block is missing...

Finally, how should I go about selecting seats after changing my PNR FFP to QFF? Should I use the Select Seats function on QF online or should I call QF Premium? I guess this might be related to some of the half-op-ups people are getting; my half-guess is that if you were auto-allocated a half-op-up, using the online Select Seats function would destroy your ability to select another seat that is also half-op-upped (does that make sense? I'm very tired as of writing this...)

 

[swissbignose]

Can't help you on the allocation of a BD number to the SA flight, but with respect to the seats thing, remember that QF codeshares with SAA across the puddle. As such, some seats are unavailable (for a time) to QF-bought seat holders.

Your flight over appears to be 4-class, and the flight back appears to be 2 class (which is surprising for a Wednesday). As such, rows 41/27 are firmly in economy on both flights.

 

[chrizzz14]

when it comes to seat allocation.... ive learnt this year after 40 odd flights with OW - allocating them online mean jack shyt! I have not once actually got the seat ive requested online. And im a SG status!

 

[serfty]

It can be done, A good TA will be able to apply different FF information to individual segments.

This may have been done - look your booking on www.checkmytrip.com .

If they won't/can't do it, then complain to Campus travel management.

If that fails, then I suggest you have your BMI number completely removed from the booking before having your QFF number applied to the entire booking.

Then allow time at check-in for you SA flight to change to the BMI number. Hopefully, you will end up with a BP showing your BMI number.

 

[Keith009]

It is entirely possible and only a few extra key strokes to associate different FF numbers with different carriers in the itinerary, or even individual segments as mentioned.

 

[anat0l]

OK I was a bit hasty, and tired. I checked CMT and expanding my pax information panel it shows that both of my numbers (QF and BD) are on the itinerary. It doesn't show them on a flight-by-flight basis, but I'm hoping that it should all work out; I guess if it doesn't, the lounge people will be able to help me out (except for perhaps the BD one, which I might have to claim manually).

I haven't called QF Premium yet as I want to work out the seating thing before I do.

It does seem that I have a 4-class 744 SYD-JNB and a 2-class 744 JNB-SYD (I confirmed the latter one by dummy booking, and seats are only available for Y and J). The 4-class 744 looks like the type that has the front of Y with a 2-row cabin; the 2-class looks like a mish-mash zoo.

How much room is there in the bulkheads of both? (Those of you who have met me know that at a mere 173cm I am not very tall). Would there be any difference between sitting in a bulkhead seat row compared to a non-bulkhead seat? On the other hand, I believe the "bulkhead" seat in at least one of the two 744s I'm flying has a curtain (possibly behind crew rests).....

Anyone else have any recommendations for seats besides exit row (which will come only as an extra cost)?

Also, the loadings look rather odd according to ol' SeatCounter. My ticket over to JNB on QF63 is booked in L; my QF64 back is in N. The loadings on 2 Oct for QF63 are:

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whereas the one on 21 Oct for QF64 are:

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99999999993096

Anyone want to predict what kind of omens these loadings might bring? (Or even simpler, what's going on here? I thought SYD/JNB was a prime travelled route).

What is also not making sense to me is that if I try to book BNE-SYD-JNB one-way or SYD-JNB one-way for 2 Oct, there are only Flexi Savers left (going on QF63, not via PER), but if I book BNE-SYD-JNB return, Sale and Red e-Deals are still available for flights going on QF63 and QF64. What the hell?!!!

 

[serfty]

Fare bucket availability can vary depending upon factors like country of query.

Your 2nd October flight is sold out in WHY; Qantas are willing to sell J seats for full Y prices.

Your 21st October flight is wide open in WHY and Business class is filling up.

 

[serfty]

A bit more- QF63 is a standard 4 class Kangaroo route (low J) 744 with WHY commencing in row 40. Indiciations are the PE seat are not being sold.

40H/J/K are crew rest. Best single seat IMHO is 41H.

E/F shows 40C, 41B/C/H allocated.

http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/744-14P50J32PY255Y.pdf

As for the return, 'tis a 2 class 744. 26C is free - grab it if you can!

http://www.qantas.com.au/infodetail/flying/inTheAir/ourAircraft/744-56J356Y.pdf

 

[Flashback]

What is also not making sense to me is that if I try to book BNE-SYD-JNB one-way or SYD-JNB one-way for 2 Oct, there are only Flexi Savers left (going on QF63, not via PER), but if I book BNE-SYD-JNB return, Sale and Red e-Deals are still available for flights going on QF63 and QF64. What the hell?!!!

I believe that when booking one way, the lowest class you can book into is K. This was the case when I bought NRT-PER.

 

[anat0l]

Fare bucket availability can vary depending upon factors like country of query.

Your 2nd October flight is sold out in WHY; Qantas are willing to sell J seats for full Y prices.

Your 21st October flight is wide open in WHY and Business class is filling up.

If 2 Oct QF63 seems odd to be sold out in Y, but so be it. T and W are also showing 0, so I'm guessing Y+ is also all gone, but there are still Premium Economy Flex fares available (both by booking BNE-SYD-JNB or SYD-JNB). Looks like quite a few will get their points upgrades if they've registered.

 

[serfty]

Yep, PE on Oct 2 is full as well.

I'd ensure you have your WP number associated with that flight - Op-Up chances are a little less unlikely with such a loading.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

For example, there is a whole chunk of rows from around row 30-35 (guess here!) where the HJK seat block is missing...

I understand the missing seats to which you refer are reserved for the SA coode-share pax.

As for Y seating at the bulkhead in row 40 - there is heaps of leg-room there thanks to the cut-out for the feet which extends well into the PE cabin in front. (Heaps of room as in fuly extend legs without touching the bulkhead.)

In fact row 40 aisle is pretty comfy - especially if you can get the middle block (only the possibility of one person having to climb over you).

That tiny cabin is very private and first to be served.

 

[anat0l]

OLCI'd for QF501 and QF63 just then; got 4F and 40A respectively.

Interesting that QF63 loadings are looking bottom heavy now compared to before. Seems like a lot of points upgrades have been processed. In particular, my class - L - is no where near full now. So it looks like it will be a long ride in the back across the Indian!

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