Blocked seats for P1 - how reliable

[simongr]

Hi all

Just wondering how reliable the blocking of seats for P1 is.

I have two flights domestic in whY this week - the usual SYD-MEL-SYD.

Currently the seat maps are showing:

I am in 4D - looks like two blocked seats - EF



I am in 23J - looks like 23K is blocked



What I am wondering is if I move to 4F and 23K will the seat blocks stay with me. I would prefer a window only if the seat next to me was empty. Or do I just stick to these seats and move to the window if no-one sits there?

These are both evening flights rather than my usual afternoon flights and I am hoping they aren't as full as my usual flights...

 

[Ewing]

Think about it from a psychological point of view especially as the seat block can be overridden by someone with equal or higher status...

If you were selecting a seat and noticed that 23J was available you'd take it. If 23K was available but 23J was taken you might look elsewhere.

I also prefer 23K if J is empty, but if I select it then almost invariably someone else will pop themselves into 23J. If on the other hand I stay in 23J, then 23K can quite often stay empty.

(speaking as a WP, who still hasn't had a problem getting rows 4 and 23).

 

[simongr]

Yeah - I agree - I will stick with what I have.

I had great trouble getting row 4/23 as a WP - a problem that has gone away since P1.

 

[serfty]

...
What I am wondering is if I move to 4F and 23K will the seat blocks stay with me. I would prefer a window only if the seat next to me was empty. Or do I just stick to these seats and move to the window if no-one sits there? ...

Give it a go and see what happens.

For best shadow analysis, your need to work with a P1 on the same flight and cabin with a different booking.

 

[simongr]

I am guessing 4C is a P1 or CL as well given they have two blocked seats.

Actually I can see this as doing something nice for someone - if at least the single seat block stays on the 73x then as a result of my status someone else gets an empty seat next to them...

 

[medhead]

I wouldn't interpret yourself or 4C as having 2 blocked seats.


Sent from the Throne

 

[simongr]

Why not - they are blocked on EF but (and this is a slight change) 4AB and 4EF are available for me to select. We are within T-80. Slight update though I am actually in 4C not 4D.

Interestingly 23K is now occupied

 

[medhead]

That you can select the seats on the opposite side is why I wouldn't consider them blocked. Just saying that they might very well end up occupied. The X in E/F doesn't neccessarily mean the seat is blocked.


Sent from the Throne

 

[simongr]

I certainly havent seen any empty seats in those rows for a while...

 

[TonyHancock]

I have moved myself out of row 4, when I was the only person in that row, and checked ExpertFlyer. It came back with all seats blocked.

 

[richie9x]

I think there is just a quirk on EF that for domestic 737 flights that row 4 and exit row seats are often shown as blocked, but aren't really blocked as they are available for selection via Qantas seat selection. This doesn't seem to happen to other rows.

So to test if you really have a shadow move to another row and see if it follows you.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I've never had a shadow since being P1.

Some bronze newbie always insists on being a seat buddy. So I have zero faith in blocked seat reliability.

 

[simongr]

Looks like I will just be happy with the front row of whY. I might experiment with some future bookings as knowing my luck I will pick another seat and before I can go and check on EF if the block moves with me some SG (with an EF seat notification set up) will nab my seat

Thanks as ever for the input guys.

 

[TonyHancock]

I've never had a shadow since being P1.

Some bronze newbie always insists on being a seat buddy. So I have zero faith in blocked seat reliability.

It costs me a fortune to track your travel and have that NB sit next to you!

 

[danny09]

As a WP1 and my wife a WP i have found that she can select a seat next to me in any row (both being seperate PNR's) so WP1 shadow is a no go when a WP can sit next to a WP1. Which sux.

 

[JohnK]

I think people read, and hope, too much into Platinum shadows. They are a myth. You may have a blocked seat ocassionally that sticks. Other than that it would appear to be a free for all at T-80 hours.

 

[serfty]

I think people read, and hope, too much into Platinum shadows. They are a myth. You may have a blocked seat ocassionally that sticks. Other than that it would appear to be a free for all at T-80 hours.

I guess that you have not been able to observe one means the do not exist? To you this may be correct, but to me and others you are incorrect.

As I have posted previously on this very topic I have been able to observe 'shadows' accompanying WP moving their preselected seats about the cabin. This has been on more than one occasion when comparing seat maps for a flight I am booked on both with Qantas.com and expertflyer in conjunction with another WP booked with a separate booking on the same flight.

These were generally reasonable lightly loaded domestic flights on weekends.

It may be your observations are skewed given that you generally travel the golden triangle at peak Friday/Sunday times.

 

[TonyHancock]

I seem to consistently have a Plat Shadow. On SYD-PVG 35 of the 36 J seats were filled. The seat next to me was empty.

 

[serfty]

... The seat next to me was empty.

They KWYA!


(Knew Who You are)

 

[TonyHancock]

They KWYA!


(Knew Who You are)

I have to make the most of it...I'm about a year and 10 months away from them not caring who I was!!!!!!