Non-reclining J seat: what compo should I ask for?

[whughes3]

Yesterday 27/8 on QF19 SYD-MNL travelling in J on a 333, I made the unpleasant discovery after takeoff that my seat (1A) was stuck in the fully upright position and all the FA's best efforts would not shift it. J was full, so I could not be moved, and spent the whole 8 hour (daytime) flight fully upright. This was on a fairly expensive paid fare so I am more than a little miffed; what do people think should be asking for as compo?

 

[justinbrett]

Yesterday 27/8 on QF19 SYD-MNL travelling in J on a 333, I made the unpleasant discovery after takeoff that my seat (1A) was stuck in the fully upright position and all the FA's best efforts would not shift it. J was full, so I could not be moved, and spent the whole 8 hour (daytime) flight fully upright. This was on a fairly expensive paid fare so I am more than a little miffed; what do people think should be asking for as compo?

Because of stories like this I always make a point now to test the recline as soon as I get to my seat.

Here's a thread which might give you some idea. Have a think about it carefully before you suggest or agree to a figure (or points).

W

Thread 'What is reasonable compensation for a broken Qantas seat?'

Jul 3, 2019

Hi,

What is a fair amount of compensation for the following?

I flew from Melbourne to Bali via Sydney return on a Airbus A330. I paid full fare for my seat.

Going over had no issues.

On the way back as I was at the gate I was told by a member of staff as they were checking my ticket that the business seat couldn't be reclined automatically, it would have to be manually moved by a staff member. Annoying but if the seat goes flat I don't really care. CSM was helpful but said it was a booked out flight and they couldn't move me to an operating seat.

I am sitting in my fully upright seat...

• wannabe_wp
• complaints & resolution
• Replies: 9
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

 

[elanshin]

Yesterday 27/8 on QF19 SYD-MNL travelling in J on a 333, I made the unpleasant discovery after takeoff that my seat (1A) was stuck in the fully upright position and all the FA's best efforts would not shift it. J was full, so I could not be moved, and spent the whole 8 hour (daytime) flight fully upright. This was on a fairly expensive paid fare so I am more than a little miffed; what do people think should be asking for as compo?

I got a $400 voucher and my full upgrade points refunded on QF2 last time. I think the ground staff offered 75% refund before realising I was an upgrade.

But I was on the ground when I discovered the problem and it was the Singapore station manager that provided the offer, so not sure how indicative it would be of normal offers.

 

[whughes3]

Because of stories like this I always make a point now to test the recline as soon as I get to my seat.

Here's a thread which might give you some idea. Have a think about it carefully before you suggest or agree to a figure (or points).

W

Thread 'What is reasonable compensation for a broken Qantas seat?'

Jul 3, 2019

Hi,

What is a fair amount of compensation for the following?

I flew from Melbourne to Bali via Sydney return on a Airbus A330. I paid full fare for my seat.

Going over had no issues.

On the way back as I was at the gate I was told by a member of staff as they were checking my ticket that the business seat couldn't be reclined automatically, it would have to be manually moved by a staff member. Annoying but if the seat goes flat I don't really care. CSM was helpful but said it was a booked out flight and they couldn't move me to an operating seat.

I am sitting in my fully upright seat...

• wannabe_wp
• complaints & resolution
• Replies: 9
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

Indeed, I SHOULD have checked the seat before takeoff, but after very many fairly trouble-free similar flights I have been getting a bit complacent.

 

[opusman]

I got 10K for non-functioning IFE in J recently, would not have accepted less than 30K for non-functioning seat.

 

[AIRwin]

Because of stories like this I always make a point now to test the recline as soon as I get to my seat.

But what if all other seats have already been allocated?

 

[justinbrett]

But what if all other seats have already been allocated?

At least you have options. Including getting off and being rebooked on a later flight. Or engineering coming onboard (I've seen that quite a few times).

Or if someone is on a non-rev ticket they might get bumped. I think once the doors are closed, the options are very limited.

 

[AIRwin]

At least you have options. Including getting off and being rebooked on a later flight. Or engineering coming onboard (I've seen that quite a few times).

Or if someone is on a non-rev ticket they might get bumped. I think once the doors are closed, the options are very limited.

You need to add this here if you haven't already:

Thread 'What's your golden travel rule?'

Jun 21, 2025

Do you have a golden rule that you always apply to your travels? If so, what is it?

• Mattg
• Replies: 280
• Forum: Open Discussion

• 

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Being generous… a non-reclining business class seat is pretty much akin to a functioning premium economy seat. I’d be basing the request for compensation on the difference between business and premium eco? So fare difference etc.

Appreciate they’re not directly comparable (non recline business to PEY), so you could ask for a bit more?

But didn’t I read somewhere there was now a specific compensation policy for seat problems such as this? Or maybe imagined?

 

[dylarr]

This was on a fairly expensive paid fare so I am more than a little miffed; what do people think should be asking for as compo?

As a baseline you are eligible to have 75% of the value of that flight refunded and this is documented here:

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnec...issues-and-refunds/involuntary-downgrade.html

Customers who are involuntarily downgraded on Qantas international and Australian domestic operated and marketed flights are eligible for 75% of the value of the ticketed coupon to be refunded.

Customers booked in premium cabins who travel in an inoperable seat are also entitled to the same fare adjustment. Please include the inoperable seat number in the refund request.

They also tend to provide a $400 customer care voucher for involuntary downgrades on flights to Asia, I'd assume this would be similar for an inoperable seat.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

As a baseline you are eligible to have 75% of the value of that flight refunded and this is documented here:

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnec...issues-and-refunds/involuntary-downgrade.html

They also tend to provide a $400 customer care voucher for involuntary downgrades on flights to Asia, I'd assume this would be similar for an inoperable seat.

Oh yes! that’s it! i wasn’t dreaming!

 

[elanshin]

As a baseline you are eligible to have 75% of the value of that flight refunded and this is documented here:

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnec...issues-and-refunds/involuntary-downgrade.html

They also tend to provide a $400 customer care voucher for involuntary downgrades on flights to Asia, I'd assume this would be similar for an inoperable seat.

Ah this would be exactly in line with the offer i received last year then.

 

[whughes3]

Well, quite promptly I have received a very apologetic note and 20K points. I can live with that.

As it happens, on my MEL-SYD connecting flight QF420., I also had seat 1A and 1C was occupied by a lady nursing a very boisterous toddler. Just not my day!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Well, quite promptly I have received a very apologetic note and 20K points. I can live with that.

As it happens, on my MEL-SYD connecting flight QF420., I also had seat 1A and 1C was occupied by a lady nursing a very boisterous toddler. Just not my day!

You should be getting 75% of the cash fare as compensation, as per the above policy. 20k points is worth maybe $400?

 

[justinbrett]

You should be getting 75% of the cash fare as compensation, as per the above policy. 20k points is worth maybe $400?

It wasn't a downgrade of cabin. A downgrade of experience, yes, but that policy doesn't strictly apply.

I think most would take a broken J seat for a day flight, with all the food and entertainment, vs a Y seat.

Not saying compensation shouldn't be offered, but I don't think it's the same situation.

 

[dylarr]

It wasn't a downgrade of cabin. A downgrade of experience, yes, but that policy doesn't strictly apply.

I think most would take a broken J seat for a day flight, with all the food and entertainment, vs a Y seat.

Not saying compensation shouldn't be offered, but I don't think it's the same situation.

The downgrade policy on the Qantas site linked above explicitly covers inoperable seats (bolding mine):

Customers who are involuntarily downgraded on Qantas international and Australian domestic operated and marketed flights are eligible for 75% of the value of the ticketed coupon to be refunded.

Customers booked in premium cabins who travel in an inoperable seat are also entitled to the same fare adjustment. Please include the inoperable seat number in the refund request.