Exit row seats no longer complimentry to Gold Frequent Flyers

[simonrus]

Very disappointed and getting more and more disillusioned with the "enhancements" of the QFF.
I just booked a muti-city flight BNE-SYD-PER-BNE. As a taller person I select the exit row seats and have done for many a year, and that is one of the benefits I see of being a Gold FF. I need the extra leg room that exit rows offer. Especially on the east-west flights of 5 hours. I selected all my exit rows except Perth to Brisbane as $60 payment was requested.
Thinking this was an error I rang up and was told that it is a new policy that exit row seats are charged at $60 for all West to East flights. This is a total rort. QF is totally devaluing any benefits of the program. Unless Red Roo can tell me this is an error. I seriously think its time to let my Gold lapse and start working towards VA Gold. There is no value in my loyalty any more, and it gets worse every couple of months.:evil::shock:

 

[love_the_life]

They have been 'enhanced' (to the tune of $60 obviously). I had a colleague who found the same thing recently when making seat choices.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Qantas: Your money is more important than your loyalty.

Its been like for at least 3 months.

Lucky it hasn't hit on the flights in the east.

 

[TomVexille]

VA charge golds for exit rows too...

 

[Daver6]

Didn't QF try sell this one as "something passengers wanted"?

 

[blackcat20]

Didn't QF try sell this one as "something passengers wanted"?

Sure did. They really need to look at the AA model of premium seating being free for status members.

 

[JohnK]

Don't Platinum also have to pay for exit rows?

 

[love_the_life]

I think only P1 have complimentary exit rows but according to the website, they have to phone and have one allocated. I may be wrong though and in practice it may be different.

 

[footy99]

I don't think Exit Row selection is a status privilege anyway, unless that has changed recently. Can't everyone select them on East Coast routes? I recall a few trips with non-status pax last year where we all selected exit row in advance.

 

[Quickstatus]

Don't Platinum also have to pay for exit rows?

Only WP1 do not have to pay for "extra leg room seating" and is available to them only by request to the P1 customer care line.
WP and below have to pay up.

Have never heard it to be free on east to West but not West to East. learn something new everyday.

 

[opusman]

WP1 can have pretty much anything they want if they ask nicely. Everyone else is unimportant.

 

[Quickstatus]

Sure did. They really need to look at the AA model of premium seating being free for status members.

But I would prefer QF in flight premium service and lounges over any USDom airline. Premium seating does not get you lounge access in the US. Quid pro quo?

 

[TomVexille]

But I would prefer QF in flight premium service and lounges over any USDom airline. Premium seating does not get you lounge access in the US. Quid pro quo?

She means in Y. Like exit rows and in AA's case extra legroom seats.

 

[wandering_fred]

I have never been a real fan of exit row seats unless you get to some the size of an A330 or 777. However, as a SG I do find it somewhat disconcerting that on an A330 when I go to select a seat, the first ten (or thereabouts) rows are blocked ( ie greyed out and unavailable). Where does the grey stop for a WP?

OTOH, checking back into MMB at T-79 hours to reassign the seat(s) isn't that big a deal...

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Quickstatus]

I have never been a real fan of exit row seats unless you get to some the size of an A330 or 777. However, as a SG I do find it somewhat disconcerting that on an A330 when I go to select a seat, the first ten (or thereabouts) rows are blocked ( ie greyed out and unavailable). Where does the grey stop for a WP?

OTOH, checking back into MMB at T-79 hours to reassign the seat(s) isn't that big a deal...

Happy wandering

Fred

WP - only row 1 in domestic flights is greyed out. First row of J (row 11) on A380 is available from time of booking.

 

[asg29e]

I think only P1 have complimentary exit rows but according to the website, they have to phone and have one allocated. I may be wrong though and in practice it may be different.

In practice as a P1 you just select your preferred seat; if it is an exit row or other "extra leg room" seat the fee is announced at that point but if you click "continue" no payment is requested and the seat is allocated.

 

[Mr_Orange]

I have never been a real fan of exit row seats unless you get to some the size of an A330 or 777. However, as a SG I do find it somewhat disconcerting that on an A330 when I go to select a seat, the first ten (or thereabouts) rows are blocked ( ie greyed out and unavailable). Where does the grey stop for a WP?

OTOH, checking back into MMB at T-79 hours to reassign the seat(s) isn't that big a deal...

Happy wandering

Fred

On an A330 I think WP can select up to row 25 in whY (I could be confusing the from when I was SG though).

 

[bullerdude]

Only WP1 do not have to pay for "extra leg room seating" and is available to them only by request to the P1 customer care line.
WP and below have to pay up.

Have never heard it to be free on east to West but not West to East. learn something new everyday.

VA Plat/Gold cannot get free exit row seat online or via call centre, but they can get allocated for free at the airport in the lounge if available.

 

[JohnK]

I don't think Exit Row selection is a status privilege anyway, unless that has changed recently. Can't everyone select them on East Coast routes? I recall a few trips with non-status pax last year where we all selected exit row in advance.

There has been a recent change regarding Coast to Coast routes.

A few years back Platinums had an written/unwritten benefit to be able to request exit rows on international flights when everyone had to pay for the exit rows. Then that benefit was diluted.

Platinums have always been able to select bulkhead seats without charge. Now some bulkhead seats have been redefined as exit rows/extra legroom seat and incur a charge. Another benefit diluted.

Funny enough these benefits have been added to the Platinum One benefits.

And I am now really struggling to book a Qantas international A330 flight.

 

[Mr_Orange]

Now some bulkhead seats have been redefined as exit rows/extra legroom seat and incur a charge.

This is the biggest joke of all since, IME, no bulkhead seat on a QF aircraft has extra legroom. They all have restricted headroom if you are over about 5'10". Has anyone in the QF bean counters department ever actually sat in one of the seats, I wonder.

Part of me wants to book and pay for one of the seats and then sue QF for mis-selling, false advertising and anything else I can think of. Enhancements are enhancements, but just plain lying about something does not fly with me!