How to get a good seat on QLink flights? T-24?

[QPProletarian]

Hi All,

I've got my first QantasLink flight coming up on a 717 and was just wondering what the best approach to seat selection is? It appears that it is not possible to select from more than 24hrs out. Do they block off/preallocate seats as per PCV like the Mainline?

If you log in at T-24, is it possible to snag the front row? I notice ExpertFlyer doesn't work on these either.


Cheers,

QPP.

 

[Cat207]

I do most of my flying on QLink and have only recently learned of T24 (and T80), but have managed to get rows 2, 3, or 4 as a PS or SG at OLCI (at T24). I haven't seen row 1 available at T24 though, so maybe it is blocked for higher status pax.

 

[JohnK]

If you log in at T-24, is it possible to snag the front row? I notice ExpertFlyer doesn't work on these either.

With Qantaslink everyone gets a seat allocated automatically based on customer value sometime before OLCI is available. Using OLCI you will have a good chance of having first choice of available seats.

Be very careful what you perceive to be the best seats. The 717s are OK but if you are on a Q400 then row 1 is not the best row as it has restricted legroom in window seat. The best rows on Q400 would be row 2, 3 and 4.

 

[ajw373]

Interesting I have booked my first Qantas Link 717 flight (CBR-SYD) in April 2014 and I can choose my own seat now. I am gold (lifetime) and flying J, all seats except row 1 are available to me now. Never been able to do that on a Dash-8/Q400 flight though, so had assumed the 717's were different.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Interesting I have booked my first Qantas Link 717 flight (CBR-SYD) in April 2014 and I can choose my own seat now. I am gold (lifetime) and flying J, all seats except row 1 are available to me now. Never been able to do that on a Dash-8/Q400 flight though, so had assumed the 717's were different.

I think weight distribution is more important on the Q400 aircraft than 717, hence the restrictive seating policy. I coulld always get any seat though if I called up as a WP1.

BTW I have told QF in a survey they need to look at the LTG status with a bit more enlightenment!!!

 

[serfty]

If have 2 x 717 flights booked. One is SYD-CBR and can select a seat, the other is ASP-AYQ and I cannot select a seat.

 

[QPProletarian]

If have 2 x 717 flights booked. One is SYD-CBR and can select a seat, the other is ASP-AYQ and I cannot select a seat.

Seems like it is only available for the new 2-class service, which is only one plane at present.

 

[JohnK]

I am unable to select a seat on a 717 CNS-ASP in May 2014.

 

[eric2011]

Be very careful what you perceive to be the best seats. The 717s are OK but if you are on a Q400 then row 1 is not the best row as it has restricted legroom in window seat. The best rows on Q400 would be row 2, 3 and 4.

Thanks for this info John, are you suggesting that 2,3,4 all have better leg room than anything else on the plane.

 

[samh004]

Thanks for this info John, are you suggesting that 2,3,4 all have better leg room than anything else on the plane.

1A has a small bulkhead in front of it, but isn't that bad, 1B look at FA and you can stretch out and probably still not reach the FA, both exit row. 2A/B I would say are the same as any on the plane with a seat in front, but you're not as close to the engines so there's perceivably less noise. 2C/D are exit row and have a bit of leg room, though I'd say not much better than 1A.

When I fly Q400's I'm usually allocated to 2C/D, even if row 1 is vacant completely. I attribute this to status, and hardly get row 1, but was once pipped for row 1 by the local member who I'd imagine was a CL.

 

[QPProletarian]

The refurb 717 flights to CBR have seatmap visible on ExpertFlyer.

 

[JohnK]

Thanks for this info John, are you suggesting that 2,3,4 all have better leg room than anything else on the plane.

More to do with 2, 3 and 4 being closer to the front.

In my experience most seats on the Q400s have better legroom as my legs go straight under the seat in front and I can stretch out.

 

[Isochronous]

I've got my first Qantaslink Dash 8 flight CBR-SYD coming up and only just discovered doing online seat selection that I can't select seats. So what is this T-24 and T-80 talk? i.e. T-80 just over 3 days out I can select, or is it 24hrs?

 

[samh004]

I've got my first Qantaslink Dash 8 flight CBR-SYD coming up and only just discovered doing online seat selection that I can't select seats. So what is this T-24 and T-80 talk? i.e. T-80 just over 3 days out I can select, or is it 24hrs?

You can select when you checkin at the usual time.

 

[eric2011]

I've got my first Qantaslink Dash 8 flight CBR-SYD coming up and only just discovered doing online seat selection that I can't select seats. So what is this T-24 and T-80 talk? i.e. T-80 just over 3 days out I can select, or is it 24hrs?

As I have learn't, seat selection becomes available when OLCI opens 24 hours prior to departure ( T24 )

 

[ajw373]

I've got my first Qantaslink Dash 8 flight CBR-SYD coming up and only just discovered doing online seat selection that I can't select seats. So what is this T-24 and T-80 talk? i.e. T-80 just over 3 days out I can select, or is it 24hrs?

Just to clarify what samh004 wrote, as you are flying on a dash-8 the only time you can choose (other than calling Qantas) is when on-line check-in opens. The talk of T-24 and T-80 applies to Qantas mainline, and it seems 2 class Qantaslink 717 services only. The T-24 and T-80 refers to when certain seats become available to certain customers, as Qantas uses a system where certain seats can only be selected by certain frequent flyers, though as the time of the flight nears these start to open up. But as mentioned doesn't really apply to a Dash-8 flight, except T-24 which is when on-line check-in opens.

 

[QPProletarian]

Just to clarify what samh004 wrote, as you are flying on a dash-8 the only time you can choose (other than calling Qantas) is when on-line check-in opens. The talk of T-24 and T-80 applies to Qantas mainline, and it seems 2 class Qantaslink 717 services only. The T-24 and T-80 refers to when certain seats become available to certain customers, as Qantas uses a system where certain seats can only be selected by certain frequent flyers, though as the time of the flight nears these start to open up. But as mentioned doesn't really apply to a Dash-8 flight, except T-24 which is when on-line check-in opens.

I called up about this but FF said they couldn't help on these flights. My question was more to the effect, for a SG what options may be available for me at T-24 when seat selection opens.

 

[samh004]

I called up about this but FF said they couldn't help on these flights. My question was more to the effect, for a SG what options may be available for me at T-24 when seat selection opens.

All but exit row I'd imagine, same as me as a plat. Think of it like when checkin opens instead if simply preselection. There's no block on seats... other than exit rows in my experience it seems.

 

[JohnK]

I called up about this but FF said they couldn't help on these flights. My question was more to the effect, for a SG what options may be available for me at T-24 when seat selection opens.

As I posted earlier you will be assigned a seat automatically before OLCI opens. This is the way it used to happen in the past for most QF domestic but still occurs for Qantaslink.

Note the seats assigned will be based on status and you will only be able to select those seats not already allocated.

 

[pauly7]

. There's no block on seats... other than exit rows in my experience it seems.

QFLink have be known to block random seats for balance and weight as well.