Deciphering Expertflyer Seat Map

[N860CR]

I'm on QF31 SYD-SIN during the first week of Feb and have allocated 50B and 50C. I've been watching the Expert Flyer seat map and it's showing a very very empty cabin:



Does this suggest that it is a really lightly loaded flight, or does it only show those who have paid to or otherwise allocated their seats? Seems to be quite an empty looking map for 3 weeks out.

The good seats in row 80 are taken, however if we end up with 50A empty, I'll be pretty happy.

 

[medhead]

The seat map doesn't tell you anything about the load. IME the solid seats are obviously those that are taken. The X seats are blocked from someone with your status. The open seats are available for someone with your status to select. Do an Availability search on the flight to check the possible loading.

BTW what is your status? I'm on QF1 in May and it won't let me select seats. I just want to check if 50C would be open for me to select (if I could), and hence whether it is worth chasing Qantas about getting the seat map to work for me.

 

[N860CR]

Thanks, thought that might be the case. Was just wondering if Qantas automatically sticks everyone in a random seat for planning or something.

I'm WP. From booking (a few weeks ago) I basically had the whole cabin available to me (except the good seats that were already taken and those X'd out).

 

[medhead]

It has been discussed and as I understand it, the Qantas computer (Altea?) assigns everyone a nominal seat based on things like status, and fare class - basically nominal value. IMO as a platinum you then have the ability to override that nominal seat allocation for lower value passengers but not for people who have made a positive seat selection. The X's are blocked in some way, platinum shadow, allocated to a higher value passenger, bassinets.

I wonder if I can't do seat selection because a TA booked my flight.

 

[N860CR]

Thanks for the info. Fingers crossed I get some form of WP shadow and we have a little room to stretch out (and hopefully a baby doesn't kick us out of the bulkhead!).

I have booked a multi-city ticket through a travel agent for Qantas flights fairly recently (travel October last year) and managed to allocate seats online without any problems. Might be worth a phone call.

I've had a look at the availability and all classes show 9+ except for G and E which are 0. I'm no expert, but I think that's fairly light so I'm happy enough!

 

[Grooba]

The good seats in row 80 are taken, however if we end up with 50A empty, I'll be pretty happy.

To give yourself more of a chance of a spare seat, you should select 50A/C as there will be more chance someone would take a free 50A than a free 50B.

If for some reason you do get someone in 50B, I'm pretty sure they would happily swap over to 50A or C, which ever one you wanted to offer.

 

[simongr]

To give yourself more of a chance of a spare seat, you should select 50A/C as there will be more chance someone would take a free 50A than a free 50B.

If for some reason you do get someone in 50B, I'm pretty sure they would happily swap over to 50A or C, which ever one you wanted to offer.

I do find this quite a cynical approach - because you want space you haven't paid for someone else is potentially forced to pick a middle seat.

 

[serfty]

As posted, the fare bucket loadings give a better idea of how full the flight is. It seems non status people are generally not that willing to fork over $20 for a seat 'down the back'.

It has been discussed and as I understand it, the Qantas computer (Altea?) assigns everyone a nominal seat based on things like status, and fare class - basically nominal value.. ...

This won't happen until maybe a week before the flight or a little after. This will be characterised by a large increase in the number of blocked but not allocated seats.

Who's in 50B? Put your WPness in there with SWMBO in 50C and some might (or might not) happen to 50A.

 

[medhead]

This won't happen until maybe a week before the flight or a little after. This will be characterised by a large increase in the number of blocked but not allocated seats.

Thanks for the correction. I really need to lock that into my brain, as this is probably the third time you've told me that.

 

[arraitch]

To give yourself more of a chance of a spare seat, you should select 50A/C as there will be more chance someone would take a free 50A than a free 50B.

If for some reason you do get someone in 50B, I'm pretty sure they would happily swap over to 50A or C, which ever one you wanted to offer.

I do find this quite a cynical approach - because you want space you haven't paid for someone else is potentially forced to pick a middle seat.

vec's suggestion would enable the pax who was "forced to pick a middle seat" to swap same for either window or aisle. And if there is no such pax, what's cynical about that? Sounds like a win-win to me! Barring, of course, getting a pax who is happy with a middle seat. :shock:

 

[N860CR]

Thanks guys. I might risk the 50A/50C option and see how it fills up. I can always swap it to 50A/B during online checkin to avoid the need for someone to be put inbetween us.

 

[Awesom Andy]

The seat map is basically telling us that most people are reluctant to pay $20 to pick a seat in advance.

 

[simongr]

vec's suggestion would enable the pax who was "forced to pick a middle seat" to swap same for either window or aisle. And if there is no such pax, what's cynical about that? Sounds like a win-win to me! Barring, of course, getting a pax who is happy with a middle seat. :shock:

For the sake of argument 20 couples did this and a single person didnt want a middle seat but wanted to ensure they had a window. Now the first 10 rows of whY are not available to the single person because the couples have grabbed the A - C seats. Now if our single pax wanted to be further forward he grudgingly takes the middle seat not knowing that he might get the window anyway.

I just think you should take the seats that you plan to sit in.

Similarly it is like the people who book seats not together hoping then sit together expecting the other person to move further back swapping seats...

 

[extracta]

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I just think you should take the seats that you plan to sit in.

Similarly it is like the people who book seats not together hoping then sit together expecting the other person to move further back swapping seats...

The idea here is to increase the possibility of getting all three seats. As pretty much nobody is going to select a middle seat at check in the seat will only be allocated if the flight is fairly full. If somebody on that flight is going to have spare seats next to them it might as well be you.

You are not asking somebody to go and find a random seat somewhere else. If somebody does get allocated the middle seat at check in that person will be very disappointed. However on arriving at the seat they will be incredibly relieved and happy to be offered either the window or aisle seat. I would be anyway.

 

[Grooba]

For the sake of argument 20 couples did this and a single person didnt want a middle seat but wanted to ensure they had a window. Now the first 10 rows of whY are not available to the single person because the couples have grabbed the A - C seats. Now if our single pax wanted to be further forward he grudgingly takes the middle seat not knowing that he might get the window anyway.

I just think you should take the seats that you plan to sit in.

Myself and a mate have done exactly this on QF11 in a couple of months. We both "want" a spare seat so he selected 50A and I selected 50C (unfortunately 80A/K are already occupied however we have secured them on QF94 coming back a few days later) hoping to keep 50B free (currently it is blocked).

In your example, if those 20 couples were all WP and the single person was also WP then the single person (IMHO) would just grab 61A/K, or wherever the next available window is. If those 20 couples are not WP and the single is, then the single would get a window seat further forward.

The system allows us to do this, so as someone with the knowledge that this is possible (and the fact that it works) I will continue to do it. I mean hey, wouldn't you be happy if you were allocated 50B but then offered A/C?

The idea here is to increase the possibility of getting all three seats. As pretty much nobody is going to select a middle seat at check in the seat will only be allocated if the flight is fairly full. If somebody on that flight is going to have spare seats next to them it might as well be you.

Precisely my point. As WP, why would you not try and do this?

Similarly it is like the people who book seats not together hoping then sit together expecting the other person to move further back swapping seats...

Personally I think that is a completely different issue.

 

[medhead]

In your example, if those 20 couples were all WP and the single person was also WP then the single person (IMHO) would just grab 61A/K, or wherever the next available window is. If those 20 couples are not WP and the single is, then the single would get a window seat further forward.

How do they get a window seat further forward when 20 couples have taken the first 20 window and aisle seats?


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.

 

[pagingjoan]

I wonder if I can't do seat selection because a TA booked my flight.

Often, our flights do have to be booked through a TA. (Where possible, I prefer to book them myself.)
Have never had a problem selecting - or changing - seats when the TA has done the booking.

 

[dfcatch]

Simongr - it's no different a situation than if QF provides a shadow.

You're just having a plan b in case the shadow doesn't work

 

[Grooba]

In your example, if those 20 couples were all WP and the single person was also WP then the single person (IMHO) would just grab 61A/K, or wherever the next available window is. If those 20 couples are not WP and the single is, then the single would get a window seat further forward.

How do they get a window seat further forward when 20 couples have taken the first 20 window and aisle seats?

As I said, if both the 20 couples and the single are WP then whoever made their booking and selected the seats first. If the 20 couples were not WP/SG then the single traveler (being WP as stated in the example) would have no problem securing 50A/C as these seats would not be available for the 20 couples to choose.

 

[medhead]

As I said, if both the 20 couples and the single are WP then whoever made their booking and selected the seats first. If the 20 couples were not WP/SG then the single traveler (being WP as stated in the example) would have no problem securing 50A/C as these seats would not be available for the 20 couples to choose.

Actually, you didn't say that last little bit and it also revises the example that was put forward significantly. The original said if 20 couple grab the first 10 rows then their is nothing available besides middle seats. Regardless of status if 20 couples grab the first 10 rows as suggested the next person to try to select seats cannot get a window (or aisle).

Personally, if I was confronted with only middle seats to choose and then was offered a swap on board by the window and aisle seat occupants, I would refuse the swap.


Sent from my iPhone using Aust Freq Fly app so please excuse the lack of links.