Aircraft Change (QF): My selected seat no longer exists

[OverrideServlet]

Hi,

I think my SYD-NRT flight this week has been changed.

I originally selected 38G on this aircraft:

The QANTAS Source - QANTAS 3 Class Boeing 747-400 Seat Map.

The flight is now on this aircraft, there is no 38G:

The QANTAS Source - QANTAS Boeing 747-400 4 Class Kangaroo Seat Map.

My booking summary on the qantas web site still has me sitting in 38G, but I get a blank white page when I try to use the seat selection tool.

I presume calling the platinum number is my next course of action.

What would you guys do here? Try to secure an equivalent seat in the new cabin (40G?)

Operational upgrades don't typically happen in this scenario do they? Since my current seat number is forward of the economy cabin?

 

[harvyk]

Op-up's may or may not happen in this case, however if they have sold the flight as a 3 class and it's now a 4 class A/C, it's more likely that you'll find that higher class of seats are now available in Y (eg you may nab yourself a Y+ seat in it's place)...

 

[medhead]

I would suggest calling to get them to put you into a seat, especially with the white screen thing happening.

 

[serfty]

Assuming your flight is tomorrow, you are correct in that E/F is showing a 4 class Kangaroo route.

However, they are simply selling First class sets for business with no other redefinition.

Loadings are: J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0 X9 E0 so the flight is very lightly loaded.

No chance of a loadings based op-up.

Here's the current seat map. I'd call and request a seat.
(- are allocated; as a WP, look for +, P & maybe X or H)

Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Seat Map Search:
Departing SYD on 14/07/11 for NRT 
Flying QF flight 21 in Economy

        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K   
40      -   X   -       +   +   +   +                       
41      -   X   X                           X   X   +       
46  E   X   -   -                           -   X   X   E   
47  W   X   -   -       X   X   X   -       X   X   X   W   
48  W   +   +   +       X   X   X   X       +   +   +   W   
49  W   X   X   -       H   +   +   -       -   -   X   W   
50  W   +   +   -       X   X   X   X       -   -   -   W   
51      -   -   -       -   -   -   -       -   -   X       
52      +   +   -       -   X   X   -       -   -   -       
53      X   -   -       H   +   +   -       X   -   -       
54      -   +   -       -   X   X   -       -   -   -       
55      X   X   -       H   +   +   +       -   X   X       
56      X   +   +                           +   -   -       
        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K   


        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K   
58  E   X   X   X                           X   X   X   E   
59      X   X   -                           X   X   -       
60      +   +   -                           -   +   +       
61      -   X   X                           X   -   -       
62      -   -   +                           +   +   +       
63      X   X   X       X   X   X   X       -   X   X       
64      +   +   +       X   X   X   X       +   +   +       
65      X   X   X       +   +   +   +       X   X   X       
66      +   +   +       X   X   X   X       +   +   +       
67      X   X   X       +   +   +   +       X   X   X       
68      +   +   +       X   X   X   X       +   +   +       
69      X   X   X       +   +   +   +       -   X   X       
70      -   -           X   X   X   X           -   +       
71      +   -           +   +   -   -           -   -       
72      +   -           X   X   X   X           -   -       
73      +   +           +   +   +   +           +   +       
74                      +   +   +   +                       
75  E                   -   +   +   +                   E   
        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K   




Seats
Premium Only             P                        
Available                +                        
Handicap-Accessible      H                        
Occupied                 -                        
Blocked                  X                        
Lavatory                 L                        

Location
Exit Row                 E                        
Wing                     W                        
Upper Deck               U

 

[NM]

I would be on the blower asking for 40G!

 

[OverrideServlet]

Thanks guys. I got on the phone and asked them to put me in 40G.

Incidentally, since the flight is lightly loaded would it be better to try to get a row of 3 seats to myself towards the rear of the aircraft?

Perhaps I can ask the staff when I get to the lounge in SYD to sort it out for me? Do they have any ability to block seats?

 

[NM]

Thanks guys. I got on the phone and asked them to put me in 40G.

Incidentally, since the flight is lightly loaded would it be better to try to get a row of 3 seats to myself towards the rear of the aircraft?

Perhaps I can ask the staff when I get to the lounge in SYD to sort it out for me? Do they have any ability to block seats?

That comes down to your own personal preference. Personally I would stick with 40G and hope that 40F remains free giving me somewhere to put things during the flight. At least them I have the 40G assigned and reasonably certain of getting it. If allocating to a row that shows empty now, there is a significant risk that someone will be assigned to another seat in that row. It is my understanding that with the Altea software check-in and lounge agents are not able to "block" the seats next to you. A Platinum member may have their Platinum Shadow but that will only keep a single seat next to you (including 40F).

 

[serfty]

Wow!

This flight is nearly empty.

In Business Class, 18 of a possible 66 J/F seats allocated (10 of 14 F in zone A), 5 of 32 PE seats and you can see the empty seats in Y below (X's and +'s).

The WP shadow has appeared:
Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Seat Map Search:
Departing SYD on 14/07/11 for NRT
Flying QF flight 21 in Business, Premium Economy, Economy

        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K   
40      -   X   -       +   +   [highlight]X[/highlight]   -                       
41      -   X   X                           X   X   +       
46  E   X   X   X                           -   X   X   E   
47  W   X   -   -       X   X   X   -       X   X   X   W   
48  W   +   +   +       X   X   X   X       +   +   +   W   
49  W   X   X   X       H   +   +   -       -   -   X   W   
50  W   +   +   -       X   X   X   X       -   -   -   W   
51      -   -   -       -   -   -   -       -   -   X       
52      +   +   -       -   X   X   -       -   -   -       
53      X   -   -       H   +   +   -       X   -   -       
54      -   +   -       -   X   X   -       -   -   -       
55      X   X   -       H   +   +   +       -   X   X       
56      X   +   +                           +   -   -       
        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K   


        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K   
58  E   X   X   X                           X   X   X   E   
59      X   X   -                           X   X   -       
60      +   +   -                           -   +   -       
61      -   X   X                           X   -   -       
62      -   -   +                           +   +   +       
63      X   X   X       X   X   X   X       -   X   X       
64      +   +   +       X   X   X   X       +   +   +       
65      X   X   X       +   +   +   +       X   X   X       
66      +   +   +       X   X   X   X       +   +   +       
67      X   X   X       +   +   +   +       X   X   X       
68      +   +   +       X   X   X   X       -   +   +       
69      X   X   X       +   +   +   -       -   X   X       
70      -   -           X   X   X   -           -   +       
71      +   -           +   +   -   -           -   -       
72      +   -           X   X   X   X           -   -       
73      -   +           +   +   +   -           +   +       
74                      +   +   +   +                       
75  E                   -   +   +   +                   E

 

[OverrideServlet]

OK, thanks for the replies guys.

What is the latest I can leave it before asking the lounge staff for a seat re-assignment? 1hr before departure?

Oh I wish they'd let platinum's sneak forward in the cabin on an empty plane.

 

[OverrideServlet]

Well, I can't do anything until I get to the airport I guess. The seat selection tool is still broken for me. Less broken, but still broken.

We are not able to display the seat map. Contact us or you can select an aisle or window seat preference. Selecting a seat preference will cause previously requested seats to be lost.

 

[serfty]

I'm guessing that could be because it is so lightly loaded.

J9 C9 D9 I9 U0 W9 R9 T9 Z0 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0 X9 E9

E9 is rare enough.

 

[OverrideServlet]

The staff in the first lounge are looking after me. Put me in an empty row of 3 and told me to check back at the desk before I leave to see if there was a better spot.

Incidentally I understand why you guys all love the salt & pepper squid. Amazing. I think the Bollinger is my pick of the bubbles.

 

[froggerADL]

Incidentally, since the flight is lightly loaded would it be better to try to get a row of 3 seats to myself towards the rear of the aircraft?

I was on DFW-BNE-SYD in May. I was pre-assigned 36J, a Y+ exit row seat on a very cheap Y ticket. I had the same seat SYD-DFW and it was very nice. However,the return flight was very lightly loaded. When I went for a walk I found that almost every block of seats in the Y cabin was occupied by just one passenger, including the middle 4 seats. Everyone was asleep, fully streched out, and I had to go back to my coughpy 36J!

 

[serfty]

In the past on lightly loaded flights I've nee allocated the C or the H seat with the others blocked - it's easier to 'defend' from the aisle.

In any case, here's the latest map; someone (non WP as no shadow) has usurped 40G.Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Seat Map Search:
Departing SYD on 14/07/11 for NRT
Flying QF flight 21 in Business, Premium Economy, Economy

        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K   
40      +   X   -       -   -   +   -                       
41      -   X   -                           -   X   +       
46  E   X   X   X                           -   X   X   E   
47  W   X   -   -       X   X   -   -       -   X   -   W   
48  W   -   +   -       -   X   X   -       -   +   -   W   
49  W   -   X   -       -   +   +   -       -   X   -   W   
50  W   -   +   -       -   X   X   -       -   -   -   W   
51      -   -   -       -   -   -   -       -   -   X       
52      -   +   -       -   X   X   -       -   -   -       
53      -   -   -       -   +   +   -       -   X   -       
54      -   +   -       -   -   X   -       -   +   +       
55      X   X   -       -   +   +   -       -   X   -       
56      -   +   -                           +   -   -       
        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K   


        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K   
58  E   X   X   X                           X   X   X   E   
59      -   -   -                           -   X   -       
60      -   -   X                           -   +   -       
61      -   X   X                           -   X   -       
62      -   +   -                           -   +   -       
63      -   -   -       X   X   X   X       -   X   -       
64      -   +   -       -   X   X   -       -   +   -       
65      -   X   -       -   +   +   -       X   X   -       
66      -   +   -       -   -   X   -       +   +   -       
67      -   X   -       -   +   +   -       -   -   -       
68      +   X   -       -   X   X   -       -   +   +       
69      X   X   -       -   X   +   -       -   X   X       
70      -   -           -   X   X   -           -   -       
71      +   -           +   +   -   -           -   -       
72      +   -           -   X   X   -           -   -       
73      -   +           +   +   +   -           -   -       
74                      -   +   +   -                       
75  E                   -   +   +   +                   E   
        A   B   C       D   E   F   G       H   J   K