Can QF tell you if you're next to a family with baby?

[dodgeyhack]

I'm currently allocated 50A on QF1 on Sunday, with B & C also taken - presumably by WPs?
C is a bassinet position.
Rang up Qantas to see if they could tell me if it's a family with a bub, but apparently they can't see that information.

Prepared to take the gamble, but if I can find out for sure I might change seats.
So I'm wondering if, at the airport, whether the check in agents able to tell you if you're next to a family with a baby?

 

[TheInsider]

Check-in wont be able to see this information either, unless they go into the customers seat number. More than likely there will be a baby in the BSCT.

 

[dodgeyhack]

Thanks TheInsider. I'm a bit torn on what to do now!
To gamble or not to gamble...

 

[Awesom Andy]

Nobody can be absolutely certain until the said pax have checked-in anyhow.

 

[harvyk]

I strongly suspect that even if they could get that information, they would not divulge it to another pax.

 

[dodgeyhack]

I strongly suspect that even if they could get that information, they would not divulge it to another pax.

I did consider that and gave it some thought.
You're not actually asking for very much information.
They have no problem answering, on check in, if the seat next to you is empty.

Perhaps the request to be moved if there is a baby in the row might be more acceptable?

My concern isn't the proximity, it's the fact that if the bassinet is down, you're trapped.

I'll probably move back a couple of rows to an aise.
I have such good memories of 10 hours sleep on the way back from DFW in the equivalent seat on the 747 though.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Once the pax name list appears in the checkin system approx 72 hours prior to departure any airline who uses Altea for checkin can view the seat map then click on the seat number which will display the pax name & whether they are an adult, child or infant.

Just because a family isn't in a bassinet row at the time of booking doesn't mean they won't ask for one when they checkin though.

The airline can always display a list of infants booked which will help you gauge how in demand the bassinet rows will be.

AFAIK reservations don't have access to Altea so wouldn't be able to perform these functions.

 

[Alanslegal]

Perhaps the request to be moved if there is a baby in the row might be more acceptable?

My concern isn't the proximity, it's the fact that if the bassinet is down, you're trapped.

I'll probably move back a couple of rows to an aise.

If you are prepared to move to an aisle anyway, I would stick to 50A and if B/C is indeed a couple with a child, then kindly ask them to swap your A seat, to their aisle C seat At least you still get the nice bulkhead, and with an aisle in the worse case.

 

[medhead]

Except the bassinet is marked against the C seat. You must be going all the way to LHR. Because 71D and 80A appear available to SIN.


Sent from the Throne

 

[dodgeyhack]

Yeh, from photos I think the bassinet would be accessible from the A and B seats, but again it's a gamble and a bit of a big ask.

I'm going QF5 to SIN and then QF1 to LHR - the extra 10 SC will get me to SG before the trip home.
I hadn't looked at the SYD-SIN leg seat map - amazing that those seats are available a few days out.

Cheers for all your replies everyone! I'm now in 54A. The risk vs reward just didn't pan out.
Shame a lot of the good seats are ruined with a bassinet, though I wouldn't be saying that if I had kids
I was actually hoping for a change to the reconfigured A380, the upper deck bulkhead would be nice.
In the end, hopefully my upgrade request will come through and this will all be academic...

 

[medhead]

Well if it is only sin-LHR leg. The front 3 seats on the other side had Xs in the when I looked yesterday. It might be worth keeping an eye on those seats.


Sent from the Throne

 

[serfty]

WE flew 50B/C between SIN & LHR with mother and bub in 50A, so it is not always a specific seat assignment.

Posted on a wing and a prayer ...

 

[JohnK]

The risk of losing a good seat at the last minute is one reason I hardly ever pre-allocate a bassinet seat on an international flight.

 

[dodgeyhack]

And just for the record - there was a bub in the bassinet. So glad I swapped out =) Ended up in 51K which is the bulkhead on the other side - figured since 51 aisle was a sole traveller the baby chance was low. Good seat, very easy to get out. But leaning on the wall to sleep isn't as good on the A380 as the 747 - the wall is a bit far away, it's hard to keep the pillow in place.