Can you book a comfort seat as a Classic Flight Reward?

[Mattg]

Just curious as to whether anyone has tried to book a comfort seat as part of a Classic Flight Reward booking using Qantas points?

E.g. instead of paying 8,000 points + taxes for 1 person to book one award seat from SYD-MEL, you pay 16,000 points + taxes for 1 person to book two seats for yourself. Is this possible?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Good question... although I suppose with domestic the price of two economy tickets would be getting close to business class. For international the small supplement to get to business would be worth it for the bed.

Will be interested to see the answer on this.

 

[mrsterryn]

Yep I have definitely done this. Done it a few times actually. Lol I thought this was my post from a couple of years ago.
All comfort seats are booked through the call centre.

 

[Mattg]

Yep I have definitely done this. Done it a few times actually. Lol I thought this was my post from a couple of years ago.
All comfort seats are booked through the call centre.

Good to know! And you only paid taxes/carrier charges for one seat, right?

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

Yes, you only pay one seat of taxes, levies, and security charges.
One time a while back, I first booked online, MEL - WLG (I think, quite a while back now), and then decided to go and try and buy the comfort seat request.
I did ask the CSA if I could just buy the seat next to me, but he said no, he had to cancel the PNR, refund in a few days, but he could do the comfort seat, ie +1 booking.
I was then able to be rebook with the comfort seat.
Different from the OP's case, but definitely have to ring up to make any comfort seat bookings, with either of the Aust domestic carriers.
Have not ever tried to make a booking online for 2 seats for 1 person, ie, create a "pseudo +1".
Have also done it with VA1.
If you did try to create 2 for 1 in a creative DIY way. there is a chance the whole booking might be cancelled, negated, due to non appearance of the other party in the booking.
Truthfully though, for that short a flight, is it worth using the QFF points like that?
I would, as I am "trying" to do, is not burn QFF points, but have a plan to use the points to get up to Japan, once international flights come back.
Also, comfort seat bookings do not get you lounge access, unless you already have that.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Can you book a comfort seat in J and if so, do DSCs apply to the comfort seat?

Asking for a friend for when the status freebies dry up.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Can you book a comfort seat in J and if so, do DSCs apply to the comfort seat?

Asking for a friend for when the status freebies dry up.

Yes, a comfort seat can be booked in all classes. Commonly you might book an extra seat in a premium cabin for a musical instrument.

 

[Captain Halliday]

Yes, a comfort seat can be booked in all classes. Commonly you might book an extra seat in a premium cabin for a musical instrument.

GTK. My friend and his ukulele will be pleased to hear it.

 

[henrus]

It's no secret that some routes (and carriers... ZL) have got quite a few spare seats on board so I'm surprised the airlines haven't monetised this yet. Just like Qantas offering the ability to upgrade your cabin during the booking process they could also offer comfort seats as an upgrade as well?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

It's no secret that some routes (and carriers... ZL) have got quite a few spare seats on board so I'm surprised the airlines haven't monetised this yet. Just like Qantas offering the ability to upgrade your cabin during the booking process they could also offer comfort seats as an upgrade as well?

Unofficially QF used to do that on the DFW-SYD flights - IIRC you could purchase a whole row at check-in at the airport.

But agree - don't know why they don't roll it out more formally.

I suspect part of the reason is that for lightly loaded flights they'd rather keep their top tier FFers happy. For example the MEL-DPS flights have the middle seats blocked for the first few rows... they might want platinums to enjoy that rather than sell them to someone else?

 

[mrsterryn]

Good to know! And you only paid taxes/carrier charges for one seat, right?

Sure did
But as someone said above they are linked seats. Also check where you are sitting as I was not able to change my seats either call centre or online.
So if you get a seat , some economy front rows, where the arm rest doesn't go up...waste of a second seat (yep been there done that lol)
Funny side note , had comfort seat on a USA flight, both legs I ended up with three seats lol I think the platinum status helped with that .

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Sure did
But as someone said above they are linked seats. Also check where you are sitting as I was not able to change my seats either call centre or online.
So if you get a seat , some economy front rows, where the arm rest doesn't go up...waste of a second seat (yep been there done that lol)
Funny side note , had comfort seat on a USA flight, both legs I ended up with three seats lol I think the platinum status helped with that .

Just curious, was it through necessity you had to book the seat + comfort seat as economy awards? Two times economy is higher than a premium economy award, and almost a business class award!

 

[Vic]

Just curious, was it through necessity you had to book the seat + comfort seat as economy awards? Two times economy is higher than a premium economy award, and almost a business class award!

I suspect this is a points club earning related question.

so MEL-SYD is 8000 points +$39 for economy and 18400 points +$39 for business. An economy comfort seat would be 16000 +$39. Points club status credit earn is 7 SC for economy, 14 sc with a comfort seat and 16 SC for business. 16000 +$39 for 14 SC versus 18400+$39 for 16 SC

If you look at SYD-LAX economy awards earn 33 SC (41900 points), with comfort seat 66 SC (83800 points) and 45 for premium economy(81300 points), 72 for business (108400 points)
points per SC are 1270, 1270, 1800 and 1500 respectively. If you're looking for status credits economy+comfort seat would be a pretty good option compared to premium economy awards.

I suspect the OP has found some way to benefit in points club earning with domestic economy +comfort seat awards.

Also to answer your question economy awards have better availability.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I suspect this is a points club earning related question.

so MEL-SYD is 8000 points +$39 for economy and 18400 points +$39 for business. An economy comfort seat would be 16000 +$39. Points club status credit earn is 7 SC for economy, 14 sc with a comfort seat and 16 SC for business. 16000 +$39 for 14 SC versus 18400+$39 for 16 SC

If you look at SYD-LAX economy awards earn 33 SC (41900 points), with comfort seat 66 SC (83800 points) and 45 for premium economy(81300 points), 72 for business (108400 points)
points per SC are 1270, 1270, 1800 and 1500 respectively. If you're looking for status credits economy+comfort seat would be a pretty good option compared to premium economy awards.

I suspect the OP has found some way to benefit in points club earning with domestic economy +comfort seat awards.

Also to answer your question economy awards have better availability.

I'm not sure points club was even a thing when the OP referred to her earlier trips with comfort seat?

TBH I'd be flying the 'long way' via HKG or TYO in business class rather than getting two comfort seats in economy to LAX. CX often released premium inventory in the couple of days prior to departure. Paid seats are different - depending on the carrier charges there can be some really good points and SC earning opportunities.

 

[Vic]

I'm not sure points club was even a thing when the OP referred to her earlier trips with comfort seat?

TBH I'd be flying the 'long way' via HKG or TYO in business class rather than getting two comfort seats in economy to LAX. CX often released premium inventory in the couple of days prior to departure. Paid seats are different - depending on the carrier charges there can be some really good points and SC earning opportunities.

The OP is Mattg

In mrsterryn's example, economy+comfort seat is probably about equal to premium economy, imo.

Clearly there is a trade off between earning and comfort when it comes to awards. Usually people use awards when they don't or can't buy a paid seat. Anyway the OP asked about domestic, so this is getting a bit off topic.