Do I have a shadow?

[downgraded]

Is there a way to work out if a seat that appears occupied is a real person or a shadow (aside from calling)? On a recent flight it appeared I had someone next to me and was about to change seat selection, so called QF to confirm (I was otherwise sitting in a sea of empty seats). Luckily for me they confirmed the seat was actually blocked. However, was it for me, or for the person two seats across? Looking at the seat selection it showed an occupied seat, which suggested to me perhaps my WP status had again actually failed to secure a shadow. Presumably shadow's are linked to a specific seat selection? or not? Any learned readers have any insights to this?

 

[blackcat20]

You'd have to look at expert flyer which would show a blocked versus occupied seat.

 

[defurax]

ExpertFlyer will show blocked seats vs occupied seats.

 

[michaele]

Is there a way to work out if a seat that appears occupied is a real person or a shadow (aside from calling)? On a recent flight it appeared I had someone next to me and was about to change seat selection, so called QF to confirm (I was otherwise sitting in a sea of empty seats). Luckily for me they confirmed the seat was actually blocked. However, was it for me, or for the person two seats across? Looking at the seat selection it showed an occupied seat, which suggested to me perhaps my WP status had again actually failed to secure a shadow. Presumably shadow's are linked to a specific seat selection? or not? Any learned readers have any insights to this?

Also remember you won't see your block on MMB as the system will let you choose your blocked seat.

 

[mviy]

Also note that if the plane is full you won't get a shadow. Airlines tend to overbook where they can.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Don't know what date you're travelling or what flight or sector however reservations can only tell you so much based on the seat maps in Amadeus as I don't believe they have access to the Altea checkin system. Even if they did, there's just too many variables that can happen on the day that could affect you getting a shadow.

If there's a flow forward happening due to weather or operational reasons you may have 50 'spare' seats two hours prior to departure and the flight will go out full which only leads to disappointment if you assumed you were getting a shadow. If an inbound international flight is late inbound you may have a number of people who misconnect then need to be transferred to a later flight. Even if flights are on time passengers often get caught up in customs and miss flights.

Then there's the possibility of an aircraft downgrade eg A330 to B737, a flight cancellation if an aircraft is u/s and that flight was full so the airline needs to find 150 seats on other flights for them. Not to mention other airlines cancelling flights and booking those affected pax onto the flight you're on. The possibilities are endless.

 

[anat0l]

Everyone has a shadow.

Shine a light on you - if you can't see it, maybe it's time to do some soul searching.

:mrgreen:

Sorry for the OT post - couldn't help it....


Back on topic, I don't bank on any shadows no matter what your status is or how full the aircraft is going to be.

 

[downgraded]

Thanks for the pointers. Agree on the no expectation of a shadow, more about understanding if it was visible and therefore something that could in anyway be managed. EF shows 3 blocked seats on QF9 for what MMB shows me as 2 free and 1 occupied seat.

 

[Aus ATC]

Thanks for the pointers. Agree on the no expectation of a shadow, more about understanding if it was visible and therefore something that could in anyway be managed. EF shows 3 blocked seats on QF9 for what MMB shows me as 2 free and 1 occupied seat.

Curious - I would have thought EF would show your seat as occupied. Does EF have your QFF number, and therefore provide seat maps based on you being WP?

 

[serfty]

... Does EF have your QFF number, and therefore provide seat maps based on you being WP?

This ... ^

The seat I have been allocated has always shown as such.

I have always seen a better view via Expertflyer than MMB for international QF flights.

 

[serfty]

Is there a way to work out if a seat that appears occupied is a real person or a shadow (aside from calling)? ...

If you private message me your flight details I'll have a closer look.

 

[UP4014]

Even if it shows blocked now there may be someone seated in it by the time you get on.

 

[serfty]

If you private message me your flight details I'll have a closer look.

Thanks for the PM, I'm reviewing ...

 

[serfty]

Even if it shows blocked now there may be someone seated in it by the time you get on.

This can happen at any time - more likely as you get to OLCI time ...

 

[downgraded]

Even more so if you happened to be on the wrong plane. Time to confess to a senior moment - forgot i was traveling via Sydney

 

[serfty]

Thanks for the PM, I'm reviewing ...

Seems strange as your seat is definitely unallocated. I suggest you re-select your seat ASAP to get hte to line up.


Here's the E/F export of that flight for a WP: (Note the unallocated seats are +,H&X, allocated are -)

Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Seat Map Search:
Departing MEL <in October> for LHR, Flying QF flight 9 in Economyin Economy

      AB DEFG JK      Seats
32 U  -- --+- +-  U   Premium Only        P
33 U  -+ +++- --  U   Available           +
34 U     -++-     U   Handicap-Accessible H
35 U E   ---  --E U   Paid & Premium      #
36 U     XX-  --  U   Occupied            -
      AB DEFG JK      Blocked             X
                      Lavatory            L
                      Paid                $
     ABC DEFG HJK     
48 E ---          E   Location
49   ---              Exit Row            E
50   +++              Wing                W
51 W +++      --- W   Upper Deck          U
52 W ++- ---- --+ W   
53 W +++ H+-- +++ W   
54 W -++ -+++ --+ W   
55 W +-- H+++ ++- W   
56 W -+- -++- --+ W   
57 W --+ --+- --- W   
58 W -+- -+++ +++ W   
59 W +++ H+++ +-- W   
60 W +++ H+++ +++ W   
61 W +++ H+++ +++ W   
62 W +++ H+++ +++ W   
63 W +++ ++++ +++ W   
64 W +++      +++ W   
65 W +++          W   
66 E --- -X-- --- E   
67 W +++ H+++ +++ W   
68 W +++ H+++ +++ W   
69 W +++ H+++ +++ W   
70 W --+  -++ +++ W   
71   +++ --++ +++     
72   -+- H+++ +++     
73   +++ H+++ +++     
74   ++- H+++ +++     
75   +++ H+++ +++     
76   +++ H+++ +++     
77   +++ ++++ +++     
79 E  --      --  E   
80   --+      ++-     
81   xx_ -xx_ -XX     
82   --X H+++ -XX     
83   xx_ H+++ xx_     
84   XX- H+++ xx_     
85   -XX -+++ xx_     
86   +++ -+++ -+-     
87       H+++         
88       ++++         
     ABC DEFG HJK

 

[serfty]

Even more so if you happened to be on the wrong plane. Time to confess to a senior moment - forgot i was traveling via Sydney

... :shock: ... !!

OK ...
Results from ExpertFlyer.com

Seat Map Search:
Departing SYD <in October> for LHR, Flying QF flight 1 in Economy

       AB  DEFG JK     Seats
32  U  -+  -+++ --  U  Premium Only        P
33  U  --  ++++ ++  U  Available           +
34  U      -++-     U  Handicap-Accessible H
35  U E    ---  --E U  Paid & Premium      #
36  U      XX-  --  U  Occupied            -
       AB  DEFG JK     Blocked             X
                       Lavatory            L
                       Paid                $
      ABC  DEFG HJK    
48  E ---           E  Location
49    ---              Exit Row            E
50    ---              Wing                W
51  W ++-       XX+ W  Upper Deck          U
52  W ++-  --XX +-- W   
53  W -+-  H+++ +++ W   
54  W +--  H++- --- W   
55  W ---  -+++ +++ W   
56  W --+  HXX- -+- W   
57  W X+-  --++ --- W   
58  W --+  -++- ++- W   
59  W ++-  HXX+ +++ W   
60  W -+-  xx_X ++- W   
61  W +++  H+++ +++ W   
62  W +++  H+++ +++ W   
63  W +++  ++++ +++ W   
64  W +++       +++ W   
65  W +++           W   
66  E -X-  -xx_ -X- E   
67  W +++  H+++ +++ W   
68  W ++-  -+++ ++- W   
69  W +++  --+- +++ W   
70  W +++   +++ +-- W   
71    +++  --+- -++     
72    +++  xx_X -++     
73    +++  HXX+ +++     
74    xx_  XX-- ---     
75    +XX  xx_X +++     
76    +++  H+-- +++     
77    +--  ++++ --+     
79  E  --       --  E   
80    -++       ++-     
81    xx_  xx_X xx_     
82    xx_  --++ -X-     
83    xx_  H+++ xx_     
84    xx_  H+++ xx_     
85    xx_  H+++ xx_     
86    +++  H+++ +++     
87         H+++         
88         ++++         
      ABC  DEFG HJK