How likely are Qantas to change Selected Seating?

[RedSMS]

Hey guys and gals,

Bit of a conundrum here, and I suspect this isn't going to work in my favour.

Besides travelling to my end destination (Boston,) I need to ensure a few things are correct before I book the last sector.

In June/July next year I will be travelling mel-syd SYD-LAX LAX-JFK jfk-bos JFK-LAX LAX-SYD syd-mel . ------> All the unbooked sectors are in lower case.

There are a few questions I would really like to ask before I book these legs.


1. I will hit 600 SC (Retain Gold) if/when I book mel-syd . jfk-bos and syd-mel (Prior to this my current bookings will see me at 570 (inclusive of SC Bonus but exclusive of a few 50% extra SC promo's)

So, that being said, the mel-syd and syd-mel won't be a problem as I can book them via the QF website. This will bring me to 590 SC's

The question is as follows (and here within I have the feeling that this isn't going to work in my favour

I am in actual fact flying to Boston, not JFK, but because I assumed it was fairly easy to do so at the time I booked SYD-JFK during a sale (then was planning to add jfk-bos at a later date.)

Now, If I head to the Qantas website (US) and punch in jfk-bos.... nothing comes up. (IE, ex AU, all the domestic legs to Boston all seem to go via LAX,SFO etc NOT JFK.

1A.Do I HAVE to make the booking on the QF website to receive QFF points and (PARTICULARLY) SC'S?

1B. If I make the jfk-bos booking on the AA website by entering my Qantas FF number (I am AA member also,) will I receive QF points and SC's?

1C. QF11 arrives into JFK at 16:40, according to the AA website, the only viable AA flight I could catch leaves JFK at 21:26PM.

1D.How can I make this JFK-BOS booking AND have access to the booking in my QF account?

1D. I notice that QF11/12 arrives/departs from terminal 8 at JFK, and so do AA DOM flights. I am QFF GOLD; Which lounge is better, The AA Flagship or the Admirals Lounge? And if so, what are the differences and what are the entry requirements?) I assume these are both in T8.

1E. Can I access both lounges since I am QFF Gold OW Sapphire?

1F. If I was on AA metal on an AA ticket, could I still access either lounges?

QUESTIONS REGARDING REFURBISHED A380 AND THE NEW PREMIUM ECONOMY SECTION

2A. Although I live in MEL, I decided to book SYD-JFK as at the time, the highly coveted 24A/B/J/K (Extra Legroom seats on non-refurbed A380's) were available for me to select at the time of booking, whereby ex MEL they were not. According to my booking, I have 24J (Aisle + Extra Legroom ) on SYD-LAX and 24A (Mum has 24B and she is Silver) on LAX-SYD, HOWEVER, I am assuming that by mid-late June 2020, most A380s will be refurbed.

My Question Regarding this is as follows, (QF Special Handling couldn't tell me this so I'm hoping that somebody here might have experienced this or actually know what the protocol is..)

If you have selected an extra legroom seat (IE 24A/B/J/K) and a customer service rep from QF has guaranteed you extra legroom seats, what happens when your allocated flight is on one of the refurbished birds with 25 extra people in the PE cabin and only 3 Extra Legroom seats (31D/E/F) IE

Who gets allocated these seats on QF11/12? I made my booking in mid-August and am Gold. At the time I made my booking the flight was basically empty...

I am fairly worried about this as with current config there are 4 Extra Legroom seats.... So this means that with the refurbed cabin, 1 person expecting an Extra Legroom seat will be shafted, and 1 other passenger will be stuck in the middle, with 31D and 31F next to them.....

2B. How do they determine who gets seat 31D (Aisle,) 31E (Middle,) and 31F (Aisle)?

2C. Does it have anything to do with Status? Date of Booking and seat selection? Your seat preferences in your QFF settings? Or whether you originally had 24B (Aisle) or 24J (Aisle)?

2D. Who gets shafted? For what reason? And Finally for anyone who has experienced the refurb in PE....

2E. Are the Extra Legroom Seats any good in comparison to the current (soon to be refurbed seats)?


I know this has been a long post but thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

With much appreciation

RedSMS

Hi guys, I really hope somebody has some recent experience with this as the main purpose of booking this nearly a year out is that I had finally reached Gold status and could see the extra legroom seats (They were always blocked off when Silver and below.) Flying to NYC (Then on to Boston and Providence RI for a conference in JUN 2020. Anyway, on the SYD-LAX leg, I am in 24J (Aisle) and am travelling alone, on the return QF12, I am in 24A (Mum is 24B - Silver.)

I have recently had 3 operations to remove a relatively deep Melanoma on my calf, which due to a skin graft failure has resulted in an awful wound that is causing me grief. (At least the surgeons completely removed all invasive cancer and as a further plus, I caught it early and the Melanoma did not spread.)

I also have an extremely rare, severe and painful genetic skin disorder which is caused by the same genetic mutation as Psoriasis. In the air,my skin becomes unbearably dry and extremely uncomfortable. I cannot afford the 8 or 9 Thousand that it costs to fly J to the east coast of the USA and back, but I can afford PE. Every 2 years, I travel to the USA for a conference organised by the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (firstskinfoundation.org). It gives me the opportunity to participate in research into new treatments and studies. The best part about it is meeting others who have similar conditions to me.

I attended this conference (Hence flying QF A380 PE) in 2014 (Indianapolis,) 2016, San Diego and 2018 (Nashville) and also travelled to Europe last year on the A380 in PE. I was so relieved when I achieved Gold Status as I could finally grab one of the coveted extra Legroom seats. I was finally relieved that unlike In 2014, 2016 and last year, I wouldn't have to write to Qantas Special Handling explaining my case and hoping for the best. Note, they granted me and my mother 24A/B/J/K from MEL-LAX and LAX-MEL in 2014, the same for LAX-MEL in 2016 and also last year from MEL-SIN-LHR, but not on the return, unfortunately.

I booked these flights nearly a year out so I didn't have to go through all this trouble... and now Qantas has added 25 extra seats and taken away 1 extra Legroom seat from their PE cabin on the A380. I really need extra Legroom, ESPECIALLY on long haul flights. It makes me feel so much less uncomfortable and allows me to feel better more quickly upon arrival.

I have scoured the web for information on how the new Extra Legroom seats are allocated but to no avail.

My questions are below.


QUESTIONS REGARDING REFURBISHED A380 AND THE NEW PREMIUM ECONOMY SECTION

2A. Although I live in MEL, I decided to book SYD-JFK as at the time, the highly coveted 24A/B/J/K (Extra Legroom seats on non-refurbed A380's) were available for me to select at the time of booking, whereby ex MEL they were not. According to my current booking, I have 24J (Aisle + Extra Legroom ) on SYD-LAX and 24A (Mum has 24B and she is Silver) on LAX-SYD, HOWEVER, I am assuming that by mid-late June 2020, most A380s will be refurbed.

My Question Regarding this is as follows, (QF Special Handling couldn't tell me this so I'm hoping that somebody here might have experienced this or actually know what the protocol is..)

If you have selected an extra legroom seat (IE 24A/B/J/K) and a customer service rep from QF has guaranteed you extra legroom seats, what happens when your allocated flight is on one of the refurbished birds with 25 extra people in the PE cabin and only 3 Extra Legroom seats (31D/E/F) IE

Who gets allocated these seats on QF11/12? I made my booking in mid-August and am Gold. At the time I made my booking the flight was basically empty...

I am fairly worried about this as with current config there are 4 Extra Legroom seats.... So this means that with the refurbed cabin, 1 person expecting an Extra Legroom seat will be shafted, and 1 other passenger will be stuck in the middle, with 31D and 31F next to them.....

2B. How do they determine who gets seat 31D (Aisle,) 31E (Middle,) and 31F (Aisle)?

2C. Does it have anything to do with Status? Date of Booking and seat selection? Your seat preferences in your QFF settings? Or whether you originally had 24B (Aisle) or 24J (Aisle)?

2D. Who gets shafted? For what reason? And Finally for anyone who has experienced the refurb in PE....

2E. Are the Extra Legroom Seats any good in comparison to the current (soon to be refurbed seats)?





I know this has been a long post but thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

With much appreciation

RedSMS

 

[RedSMS]

Ok this is FISHY.

If you have booked extra legroom seats 10 months out you should get them. I would THINK that this seating assignment system would be sorted out and fine tuned AS each refurbed bird comes into service.... I have decided that the best possible thing to do is take the advice here and keep an eye on my booking. I am also going to email QF every month or so, and more frequently as June next year approaches. I am going to arm myself with as much correspondence as I can.

On another note. When I was at University studying my Tech degree in Air Transport Mgmt we visited QF OPS Control adjacent to green sq station in syd. SURELY there are personnel who use a computer program to assign seats according to whatever the unknown rules are.

Perhaps I need to chase down some colleagues of mine in the industry and find out how this process works.


Thanks once again guys and gals.

Please keep sending through your experience/s with the A380 refurb seat allocation stories.
If you can please mention status,class,flight, initial seating assignment and final seating assignment.

Thank You

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Since you are flying to new york, travelling via Asia becomes an option. Out of interest, how much is your fare in premium economy?

 

[Lynda2475]

AA bookings with AA only flights have not shown up in Qantas

This is not my experience. I booked AA flights from AA.com website DFW-SJO + BOG-DFW and they were visible in my Qantas my bookings, although I couldnt select seats from Qantas site.

 

[RedSMS]

Since you are flying to new york, travelling via Asia becomes an option. Out of interest, how much is your fare in premium economy?

$3750 Return + unbooked mel-syd return

 

[MEL_Traveller]

$3750 Return + unbooked mel-syd return

That's a fairly competitive price for Qantas premium economy. For future flights another option, for around the same price, would be three seats in economy (still on Qantas) - 1 seat + 2 comfort seats (no taxes fees or charges on the additional seats). This would give you guaranteed space of around 51 inches, and the ability to sleep.

 

[p--and--t]

Not such thing as a guaranteed seat, no matter what someone in call centre tells you months out from the flight.

Equipment changes, strikes, planes going techo, and being moved to another flight or airline for a myriad of reasons.

Earlier this year I had booked, confirmed and paid (extra) for exit row seats on BA. The flight was delayed 14 hours, I was transferred to a QF flight and dumped in the middle seat half back in the plane. BA even refused to refund the extra amount paid for the exit row.

 

[serfty]

This is not my experience. I booked AA flights from AA.com website DFW-SJO + BOG-DFW and they were visible in my Qantas my bookings, although I couldnt select seats from Qantas site.

You probably booked using the Australian AA portal which does use Amadeus (and shows higher fares generally, so I rarely use it).

 

[Lynda2475]

No i booked on the US site, paid in US$ because it was cheaper, just added my QFF. From memory i couldnt see one of the flights from the Aus site, i wanted the direct flights.

 

[ferntree]

My Question Regarding this is as follows, (QF Special Handling couldn't tell me this so I'm hoping that somebody here might have experienced this or actually know what the protocol is..)

If you have selected an extra legroom seat (IE 24A/B/J/K) and a customer service rep from QF has guaranteed you extra legroom seats, what happens when your allocated flight is on one of the refurbished birds with 25 extra people in the PE cabin and only 3 Extra Legroom seats (31D/E/F) IE

With much appreciation

RedSMS

You need to be extremely vigilant here.

I had a very similar situation to you a few years ago - as a platinum member we had selected the two front row seats J and K (aisle and window) in the PE cabiin.

Happily, I check these things now and again - to discover that the metal had been changed (either to or from a 747, can't remember which). Not only had we lost our prized front row seats but we had been allocated seats in the middle block of four - in two different rows !!! Presumably, this was done randomly by computer.

Happily, I was able to get on the phone in time to Qantas to resolve this, and get our preferred seats reinstated.

 

[Beano]

Lots of good advice in the forum. I've only been bumped once from my pre-selected seating and that was to not such bad seat with a free seat beside. Best thing is to stay vigilant as expressed by several posts and keep checking. Lounge access will be what it will be . You can always try your luck. Was refused entry to the Concorde lounge at Heatrow. Had to make do with the F lounge!!!!

 

[RedSMS]

Flagship is better but as a QF Gold you’ll only have access to Admirals.
EDIT: You’ll have access to both if on an AA or Oneworld marketed flight. My bad. see here


See 1D above.


Yes, but only Admirals as per 1D.

Not related to Seating and apologies as this post doesn't quite belong in here (couldn't find OP.)

Just had a look at the booking through the QF Mobile App and saw this for Return Leg/ QF 12.




I guess what I want to try and find out now is if I would be eligible for access after QF11 but before AA1278 (JFK-BOS,) which I haven't booked yet.

Is there a way I can ring QF and attach this the AA flight to my booking?

The AA website outlines access eligibility as follows and if you read it carefully, a passenger flying JFK-BOS would presumably be travelling "solely on a North American Itinerary hence they would be ineligible no?

The caveat, taken from the AA website is as follows (I have emboldened the line that is relevant):
Get access if you’re departing on or connecting to any flight marketed and operated by American or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin). AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum customers traveling solely on North American itineraries do not qualify for Flagship Lounge access.**

Guest access
1 guest (children over 2 count as a guest).

**North America is defined as the United States (including Hawaii and Alaska), Canada, Mexico (except MEX), Bermuda, the Bahamas and the Caribbean.


The big question is that since I haven't booked AA1278 (JFK-BOS dep 21:26), how do I do it in such a way that this sector is LINKED with my QF11, ie SYD-LAX-JFK as a flight which allows eligibilty to access this lounge after my long haul SYD-LAX-JFK flights? (IE becomes QF1278 etc?)

Anyone who might be able to assist?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Just had a look at the booking through the QF Mobile App and saw this for Return Leg/ QF 12. I wonder if Flagship Lounge eligibility would still apply If I booked and attached the AA flight from JFK-BOS to the inbound QF11 (Since it is a connecting International AND Transcontinental flight.)

Your flights are irrelevant. As a Qantas gold or higher, or a connecting OneWorld business class passenger you can access the AA Flagship lounges before ANY AA operated flight. The flight could be standalone, separate ticket, purchased through a travel agent, purchased through AA, or QF, flying 200 miles rather than trans-con. It doesn't matter.

The only inconvenience you will have is that the flagship lounge may not be in the same terminal as your departing flight, which may mean a bit of a walk, and sometimes extra security. Sometimes the closest and most convenient lounge will be a regular AAdmiral's Club lounge. They are way behind the flagship lounges in terms of amenities, but sometimes connections simply aren't long enough to make the trek to the Flagship lounge.

The restrictions on lounge access only apply to AA's own status members. They are restricted from accessing lounges based on status (and need a paid membership).

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I guess what I want to try and find out now is if I would be eligible for access after QF11 but before AA1278 (JFK-BOS,) which I haven't booked yet.

Is there a way I can ring QF and attach this the AA flight to my booking?


The big question is that since I haven't booked AA1278 (JFK-BOS dep 21:26), how do I do it in such a way that this sector is LINKED with my QF11, ie SYD-LAX-JFK as a flight which allows eligibilty to access this lounge after my long haul SYD-LAX-JFK flights? (IE becomes QF1278 etc?)

Anyone who might be able to assist?

I see you have edited your post since I replied... so i will add the following...

You do NOT need to link your tickets, at least not for purposes of lounge access (and the tickets will be linked automatically at the airport at checkin anyway as they tag your bags all the way to BOS on the connecting flight).

To get lounge access to the flagship lounge all you need to do is present your boarding pass at the lounge entrance. Your qantas status will be on the boarding pass (you add this in to the AA booking at the time you make the booking).

Even if you didn’t have status with Qantas, you’d simply show your inbound Qantas boarding pass together with your onward boarding pass to BOS and you’d be granted entry.

 

[RedSMS]

Your flights are irrelevant. As a Qantas gold or higher, or a connecting OneWorld business class passenger you can access the AA Flagship lounges before ANY AA operated flight. The flight could be standalone, separate ticket, purchased through a travel agent, purchased through AA, or QF, flying 200 miles rather than trans-con. It doesn't matter.

The only inconvenience you will have is that the flagship lounge may not be in the same terminal as your departing flight, which may mean a bit of a walk, and sometimes extra security. Sometimes the closest and most convenient lounge will be a regular AAdmiral's Club lounge. They are way behind the flagship lounges in terms of amenities, but sometimes connections simply aren't long enough to make the trek to the Flagship lounge.

The restrictions on lounge access only apply to AA's own status members. They are restricted from accessing lounges based on status (and need a paid membership).

Fortunately, QF and AA operate out of Terminal 8 at JFK now.

Found a review on executivetraveller on the QF lounge access in the USA from may 2017 which states :

Once a lounge becomes an ‘American Airlines Flagship Lounge’, such as at JFK, the following guests are welcome to visit:

• American Airlines business class and first class flyers on qualifying international flights (excluding to Canada and Central America except to Mexico City) and qualifying transcontinental flights (New York-Los Angeles, New York-San Francisco and Los Angeles-Miami routes only, and vice versa)
• Business class and first class passengers travelling with any other Oneworld airline to any destination
• Non-AA Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members (including Qantas Platinum & Gold), plus American Airlines ConciergeKey members, prior to any American Airlines or Oneworld flight to any destination (including before domestic flights)
• American Airlines Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum frequent flyers prior to qualifying international flights operated by American Airlines or another Oneworld airline (excludes journeys to Canada and Central America unless to Mexico City)

And also this from executivetraveller in may 2017 regarding AA Flagship lounge at JFK review:

Along with a brand new look and feel, the space also broadens its door list – now welcoming AA’s international and transcontinental business class passengers plus Qantas Gold cardholders prior to any AA or Oneworld flight – reiterating the unique ‘Flagship Lounge’ brand as being the best facility for high flyers rather than a first-class-only lounge.

 

[RedSMS]

Even if you didn’t have status with Qantas, you’d simply show your inbound Qantas boarding pass together with your onward boarding pass to BOS and you’d be granted entry.

Why would you be granted entry if you had no status with QF?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Fortunately, QF and AA operate out of Terminal 8 at JFK now.

Found a review on executivetraveller on the QF lounge access in the USA from may 2017 which states :

Once a lounge becomes an ‘American Airlines Flagship Lounge’, such as at JFK, the following guests are welcome to visit:

• American Airlines business class and first class flyers on qualifying international flights (excluding to Canada and Central America except to Mexico City) and qualifying transcontinental flights (New York-Los Angeles, New York-San Francisco and Los Angeles-Miami routes only, and vice versa)
• Business class and first class passengers travelling with any other Oneworld airline to any destination
• Non-AA Oneworld Emerald and Sapphire members (including Qantas Platinum & Gold), plus American Airlines ConciergeKey members, prior to any American Airlines or Oneworld flight to any destination (including before domestic flights)
• American Airlines Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum frequent flyers prior to qualifying international flights operated by American Airlines or another Oneworld airline (excludes journeys to Canada and Central America unless to Mexico City)

And also this from executivetraveller in may 2017 regarding AA Flagship lounge at JFK review:

Along with a brand new look and feel, the space also broadens its door list – now welcoming AA’s international and transcontinental business class passengers plus Qantas Gold cardholders prior to any AA or Oneworld flight – reiterating the unique ‘Flagship Lounge’ brand as being the best facility for high flyers rather than a first-class-only lounge.

The knowledge here on AFF is at least equal to, and in most cases, far superior than anything you will read on general travel sites. Those simply don't have the input and depth of experience that AFF members have in their daily travels around the world. What you are quoting is the same information already shared by AFFers, and stated on AA's website.

Why would you be granted entry if you had no status with QF?

My bad! I forgot you were flying premium economy. If you were in business class (which I thought you were), you'd get access, without status, by virtue of Oneworld connecting rules. If you fly longhaul first or business class you are entitled to lounge access at any connecting airport either from or to a short-haul international flight or domestic flight(s). So if you were connecting from longhaul business class to AA domestic economy, you automatically get lounge access at all connecting airport the same day.

The bottom line is that your Qantas gold gets you access to any AA Lounge prior to any flight on either AA or Qantas. You don't need any linking, and there's no exceptions or other rules or exclusions. AA lounge staff are all over it and know the rules. Your Qantas membership will be on your boarding passes which are scanned on entry and you'll be welcomed in.

 

[RedSMS]

Just had a thought. Last year I flew Discount PE on QF MEL-SIN-LHR-TXL AND PE QF LHR-SIN-MEL all with the same booking number with MUC-LHR (Discount Economy BA) on a separate booking Number. If I hadn't booked the LHR-TXL leg with the same QF booking number, I would have fell 10 SC short of 700 (Gold) as for some reason, the MUC-LHR leg wasn't on the same Booking Number.

This leads into the Question...

Is there any way I can ring Qantas and Book JFK-BOS under the same booking number so that it will be a QF flight number and hence count towards the loyalty bonus?

Note, The LHR-TXL leg reverted from Discount Premium Economy to Flexible economy earning me 20 Status Credits and 1200 Points, When normally that leg would just be 10 if not booked with the same booking number.

This year, I need to make it to 600 to retain Gold, I will do pretty much all of my flying with QF. The LAX-SYD leg will see me go from 440SC's-530 SC's assuming I can't Codeshare my JFK-BOS leg. I assume once I hit 530 I will accept the loyalty bonus of 50 SC's which will take me to 580 + 10 for the AA JFK-BOS leg, then to 600 for the SYD-MEL leg.

1. Does this make sense?
2. What are my chances of calling QF and adding in JFK-BOS under the same booking?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I think if you need to add the JFK-BOS to the existing ticket it will need to be repriced as a SYD-BOS fare, at the current fare that is being offered (as of today). This may be significantly more than the $3500 you paid.

If you need lots of status credits, you could always book the JFK-BOS in AA first class. Fares on AA are as low as AUD228 dollars in F and will earn you 40 status credits.

 

[bPeteb]

We flew AA this year booked direct with them. Was not able to access flight details on QF app/website.

When I booked our flights to USA I had to contact QF to link our bookings, one was revenue and one was points. I had chosen exit row upper deck window and partner moved to seat beside me. I’m a ‘checker’ and at some point noticed I’d been moved to an aisle seat, row 12, partner hadn’t been moved, seat I was in empty. I moved my self back! Im

A few years back we had aircraft change on another flight across to the US. We were in y+ and had the exit front row. Can’t remember where they moved us but def not together. Called, and moved back to where we were. At the time SG.

They can and do move you. Despite you being ‘assured’ you’re seat isn’t guaranteed until you sit in it.

Loyalty bonus is only Qantas group metal. Having a QF flight number on AA flight will not make any difference.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Worth noting for redSMS that ‘linking’ separate bookings has very little, if any effect when doing it in advance. The only benefit is that it might save some time at checkin as your bags can be checked right through to the final destination... but only if the checkin agent sees the link.

Just as effective, and will save an hour on the phone to the call centre, is to present the onward ticket at checkin, where the agent will link them then and there. And tag the bags all the way through (although you still need to collect them at both LAX and JFK iirc).

Linking won’t offer automatic rebooking or protection if they are separate tickets.