Criteria for complimentary seat selection

[kpro]

Made a booking for a family member with no status, international flight departing Australia. I'm trying to select a seat, and am being requested to pay $40 for a standard seat. Family member has bronze status, QFF number is in booking and reservation was made directly with Qantas.

QF website on seat selection lists seat selection criteria as below, of which I thought the blue highlighted would apply. Am I correct that seat selection should be complimentary, and should I attempt a call to request a seat assignment?

Standard seat selection is complimentary when:

• travelling on any Qantas operated domestic service,
• travelling internationally in Economy on a Saver or Flex fare,
• travelling internationally in First, Business or Premium Economy,
• travelling internationally as a Platinum One, Platinum, Gold or Silver Qantas Frequent Flyer or equivalent oneworld and Emirates Skywards Frequent Flyer,
• travelling internationally as a Bronze Qantas Frequent Flyer on any Qantas operated flight departing from Australia when you book directly with Qantas,
• travelling on an Economy Classic Flight Reward, or
• on the same booking and travelling with any of the above mentioned travellers.

Standard seat selection is available for a charge if you're:

• a Bronze Frequent Flyer and your itinerary is originating outside of Australia, or
• travelling on an international Economy sale fare on Qantas operated flights.

 

[dylarr]

If the flight is operated by Qantas it definitely should be free. You might need to call.

 

[logicallysynced]

Just to double check, was the Qantas booking made directly on the Qantas website and is a QF number?

I’m not 100% sure but you might also need to be logged in on that family member’s FF account to access the complimentary seat selection?

 

[oz_mark]

Just to double check, was the Qantas booking made directly on the Qantas website and is a QF number?

I’m not 100% sure but you might also need to be logged in on that family member’s FF account to access the complimentary seat selection?

Pretty sure you do need to be logged in on the FF account.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Made a booking for a family member with no status, international flight departing Australia. I'm trying to select a seat, and am being requested to pay $40 for a standard seat. Family member has bronze status, QFF number is in booking and reservation was made directly with Qantas.

QF website on seat selection lists seat selection criteria as below, of which I thought the blue highlighted would apply. Am I correct that seat selection should be complimentary, and should I attempt a call to request a seat assignment?

Was the international fare booked in Economy on a Saver or Flex fare, or was it a Premium Economy, Business or First class ticket? I know that seems like every possible fare imaginable but it isn't! Certain deep discount economy Sale fares won't get the free reservation!

-RooFlyer88

 

[tdimdad]

Certain deep discount economy Sale fares won't get the free reservation!

That caught my eye, as well, on the list of a free seat selection being not available:

• travelling on an international Economy sale fare on Qantas operated flights.

Could this be the case?

 

[kpro]

That caught my eye, as well, on the list of a free seat selection being not available:

• travelling on an international Economy sale fare on Qantas operated flights.

Could this be the case?

Yes I did wonder. But I assumed that the 'bronze' status statement above this took priority over this one.

I'll try and call up today.

Just to double check, was the Qantas booking made directly on the Qantas website and is a QF number?

I’m not 100% sure but you might also need to be logged in on that family member’s FF account to access the complimentary seat selection?

QF number and booking made through the call centre. Perhaps that's what tripped the system. The booking is ticketed already as well.

 

[encryptededdy]

Yes I did wonder. But I assumed that the 'bronze' status statement above this took priority over this one.

It does, and it should be free if booked online on qantas.com. I think it's something to do with booking through the call centre.

I'm unsure if you're eligible for free seat selection if booked through the call centre.

 

[logicallysynced]

QF number and booking made through the call centre. Perhaps that's what tripped the system. The booking is ticketed already as well.

This is most likely the issue then, complimentary seat selection at the basic level only applies to online bookings.

Free Qantas Seat Selection (With a Catch)

All Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now select a seat for free when booking any Qantas domestic or international flight departing from Australia - but

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[kpro]

It does, and it should be free if booked online on qantas.com. I think it's something to do with booking through the call centre.

I'm unsure if you're eligible for free seat selection if booked through the call centre.

This is most likely the issue then, complimentary seat selection at the basic level only applies to online bookings.

Free Qantas Seat Selection (With a Catch)

All Qantas Frequent Flyer members can now select a seat for free when booking any Qantas domestic or international flight departing from Australia - but

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Ah right that would make sense. Except that although the AFF article says "directly on Qantas.com", the Qantas website itself only says "directly with Qantas" without a distinction as to the website or call centre. I'd expect the QF site to be the definitive source of truth.

I'll try my luck calling anyway. It's an interesting way to double charge people with no status who can't book online. Once for a call centre booking fee, and again for seat selection.

 

[kpro]

Okay called up.
The call centre confirmed that yes it should be free, but there's likely a system issue. Allocated the seat for me, no issues.