Auctioning off airline seats ?

[Bodie]

Mrs Bodie and I just returned from 6 days in Sinapore.
Flight over was EK433 from Brisbane to Dubai via Singapore. That flight was about 50% passenger load. We were at the back of plane -we could all have 3 or 4 seats to ourselves. Spoke to staff about moving prior to take off and the light load - they indicated we were lucky as flights looking forward were almost full running into xmas. Return flight was Qantas 52 - it was full - 90% plus - again we were at back of plane - dont think spare seat avaiable at back of plane. I think airlines do release cheaper flights but through third party like last minute etc but as others have said, they then can take more cargo if the passenger load just isnt there. So if they know they arent going to sell 100 + tickets - 72 hrs out - they could take that weight in cargo to singapore or dubai. Conversely - full flight back - could only take normal a cargo load.

 

[ozfflyer]

Mrs Bodie and I just returned from 6 days in Sinapore.
Flight over was EK433 from Brisbane to Dubai via Singapore. That flight was about 50% passenger load. We were at the back of plane -we could all have 3 or 4 seats to ourselves. Spoke to staff about moving prior to take off and the light load - they indicated we were lucky as flights looking forward were almost full running into xmas. Return flight was Qantas 52 - it was full - 90% plus - again we were at back of plane - dont think spare seat avaiable at back of plane. I think airlines do release cheaper flights but through third party like last minute etc but as others have said, they then can take more cargo if the passenger load just isnt there. So if they know they arent going to sell 100 + tickets - 72 hrs out - they could take that weight in cargo to singapore or dubai. Conversely - full flight back - could only take normal a cargo load.

1stly October is low season. 2ndly staff on board have no idea what loads are like looking forward, but they are told to say that for obvious reasons. Peak season mid-DEC to mid JAN flights should be close to full already & many nowhere near that.

 

[jb747]

...... they could take that weight in cargo to singapore or dubai. Conversely - full flight back - could only take normal a cargo load.

Most flights aren't weight limited for either the take off or landing.

 

[ozfflyer]

Most flights aren't weight limited for either the take off or landing.

most flights from USA west coast to Australia are weigh restricted & probably vice versa.

Boarded a flight from Fiji to LAX late once (a 747-400 ex Ansett) & there were some airline staff trying to get on the flight (they were standby I think).

Heard check in person say there were 50 empty seats & few minutes later she burst their bubble to say captain was taking more freight instead.

 

[Bodie]

The person that told us re the flight loads was the emirates check in person at the counter who also checked passengers in at the gate. I'm only retelling what he said. Its pretty obvious heading toward xmas flight loads will increase. But if flight is 50% full and the airline has seats available on its own website, travel agents, third party websites and cant sell them - I see little value in auctioning off seats - where cargo freight increase is easiest option for airline to optimise cost recovery.

 

[jb747]

most flights from USA west coast to Australia are weigh restricted & probably vice versa.

If you want to pick a specific route, then yes, there are some that are always limited. Generally by take off weight. Some flights from the USA depart at max weight, but not all. The A380 operating LAX to MEL is normally at the take off limit, but the flight to Sydney often has some margin. Even on the 747, only the Melbourne flight was always at the limit. Going the other way, there is substantial margin, no matter what type.

But, my comment is correct. The vast majority of flights are not limited, operating substantially below max take off and max landing weight.

Boarded a flight from Fiji to LAX late once (a 747-400 ex Ansett) & there were some airline staff trying to get on the flight (they were standby I think).

Heard check in person say there were 50 empty seats & few minutes later she burst their bubble to say captain was taking more freight instead.

To be honest, it sounds like the check in person simply didn't want to put them on the flight. Fiji to LAX is unlikely to be anywhere near limiting.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

2ndly staff on board have no idea what loads are like looking forward...

...and neither do prospective passengers, or journalists. You are saying pax sitting at home now 'know about empty flights', but cabin crew or check-in staff have no idea?

 

[jb747]

The vast majority of flights are not limited, operating substantially below max take off and max landing weight.

Just looking at a snapshot of flights. All from the same day, and all across the Pacific.

QF7 A380 Weight Margin: 11 tonnes
QF8 A380 Weight Margin: Zero

QF11 A380 Weight Margin: 21 tonnes
QF12 A380 Weight Margin: 5 tonnes

QF15 B787 Weight Margin: 14 tonnes
QF16 B787 Weight Margin: 16 tonnes

QF73 B747 Weight Margin: 33 tonnes
QF74 B747 Weight Margin: 9 tonnes

QF93 A380 Weight Margin: 24 tonnes
QF94 A380 Weight Margin: 5 tonnes

 

[Austman]

QF8 A380 Weight Margin: Zero

A few QF cabin crew have told me that QF8 (DFW-SYD, A380) never operates with a full pax load. Is that actually the case?

 

[jb747]

A few QF cabin crew have told me that QF8 (DFW-SYD, A380) never operates with a full pax load. Is that actually the case?

I think they leave a passenger load margin in the bookings, but that may allow standby passengers to get on if the weight works out. I only did that flight once, but we took everyone, and still had 10 or so tonnes spare.

Fuel loadings vary, so there has to be a margin somewhere.