P1 Gazumping the front row of whY

[medhead]

Managed row 4 for both flights this week. Public holiday in Adelaide on Monday, so that was easy. More surprising is row 4 for next Monday's flight.

 

[MatF]

I managed to get Row 4 for this afternoon BNE-SYD as well. At T-75(ish), rows 4 and 5 were all open. I was quite surprised!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Have done quite a few seat allocations via the QF MMB portal for SO who's SG & travels on fares that could be BFLEX, FlexiSaver or Red-e-Deals depending on the whim of his employer. Out of the 3 return 737-800 flights to CNS & back at about 7-14 days prior or whenever the booking was made I could see row 11 back so would always select an exit window.

At T-80 I would most of the time then be able to get 4A or 4F. One time I could only get row 5 so left him in the exit. As for the 767's on flights to/from PER. At time of booking I could select 33K or similar then at T-80 was able to get 24K or 23J which wasn't too shabby. If the ex-BA 767 with the mini cabin row 23 is good as there's a gap between the bottom of the partition & the floor to stretch out your legs.

24A and 25A yesterday and Wednesday

Strange also on QF409 on Wednesday that on board 23JK, 24DEF, 24B and 25E were all empty...

Those seats would normally be reserved by WP's etc so I'd say it's quite likely a few of them have done ODU's in the QP maybe an hour prior to departure thereby leaving those seats vacant.

 

[richie9x]

Although I am a P1 I have recently done some bookings 24 or 48 hours out from the departure and was surprised to see that each time at least one aisle or window seat in row 4 was still available.

 

[JohnK]

24A and 25A yesterday and Wednesday

Strange also on QF409 on Wednesday that on board 23JK, 24DEF, 24B and 25E were all empty...

It has been my experience on some flights so there must be some sort of blocking going on for Platinum 1 that goes past T-80 hours. I don't mind blocking of seats for Platinum 1 if they are going to be used for Platinum 1's. What I hate is blocking of seats for Platinum 1 and then realeased to all and sundry at a secret point in time and you end up having low status or no status at all sitting in row 23 or row 4. Nothing wrong with that but they should not be there when the rest of the cabin is Platinum or Gold.

Stuck in 5C for todays flight BNE-SYD and only managed on move from 6D to 5C. Have 4A on return flight on Sunday.

 

[simongr]

Those seats would normally be reserved by WP's etc so I'd say it's quite likely a few of them have done ODU's in the QP maybe an hour prior to departure thereby leaving those seats vacant.

This was a 7AM flight - I would be surprised if many were ODUs - I have never ODU'd a morning flight - never seen the benefit really.

 

[JohnK]

I could be a totally bad judge of people and character but people in row 4 did not look like Platinum 1. And yes I know it is not easy to define just exactly what is Platinum 1 and what is not.

I guess this new practice from Qantas is here to stay and I think we will be seeing a lot more people with lower status sitting in first row of economy. I give up trying to improve on seat after the 7th or 8th try....

 

[Kangol]

I could be a totally bad judge of people and character but people in row 4 did not look like Platinum 1. And yes I know it is not easy to define just exactly what is Platinum 1 and what is not.

It is easy, 3600 SCs in a year with at least 2700 on QF flight numbers!

I know where you are coming from though, there are certain stereotypes that exist and if someone doesn't quite fit it, then eyebrows are sure to be raised. Kinda like when FAs address me as "Mr Kangol" instead of Dr when it shows it on my BP.. not that I care, I guess they wouldn't expect it for someone my age anyway

 

[simongr]

I have never bought into the Drs are special thing - they do an amazing thing but to change designation and expect to be called that for me is wrong.

 

[MrJetset]

Managed to score Row 23 on both legs of SYD-MEL-SYD this week at T-80 as a lowly WP...

 

[ozbeachbabe]

It has been my experience on some flights so there must be some sort of blocking going on for Platinum 1 that goes past T-80 hours. I don't mind blocking of seats for Platinum 1 if they are going to be used for Platinum 1's. What I hate is blocking of seats for Platinum 1 and then realeased to all and sundry at a secret point in time and you end up having low status or no status at all sitting in row 23 or row 4. Nothing wrong with that but they should not be there when the rest of the cabin is Platinum or Gold.

Stuck in 5C for todays flight BNE-SYD and only managed on move from 6D to 5C. Have 4A on return flight on Sunday.

If there are WP or SG pax who have not pre-allocated themselves a seat (unlike yourself) those pax would receive one of those seats at the time they checked in.

What will not happen is moving a WP or SG pax out of their already pre-allocated seat into a seat more forward so if JohnK allocates 27J at OLCI or earlier, nobody is going to move him out of that seat into 23J if that suddenly becomes available a couple of hours before departure.

From time to time if an aircraft is lightly loaded eg a B767 with maybe 80 to 100 spare seats, on the day of departure load control will often block the first few rows of whY eg rows 23 to 30 however if you have preallocated a seat in advance (eg 7 days prior) they will more than likely leave you there & just block what seats they can around that area.

I could be a totally bad judge of people and character but people in row 4 did not look like Platinum 1. And yes I know it is not easy to define just exactly what is Platinum 1 and what is not.

I guess this new practice from Qantas is here to stay and I think we will be seeing a lot more people with lower status sitting in first row of economy. I give up trying to improve on seat after the 7th or 8th try....

If there is a 'flow forward' on the flight and pax are moved from another flight to your flight using the 'force transfer' function, that will override the theoretical seating preferences which is how a NB or nil status pax can end up in a coveted seat. If the flight is full & you have commercial standby pax they will be onloaded into whatever seats are left over followed by any standby staff.

It's not unsual to have premium pax in 23JK noshow for that flight so those seat numbers would be released at flight close then allocated to above standby pax.

I know it's tempting to think that there are conspiracy theories trying to deprive lowly WPs of their coveted row 4 but I would just keep checking the seat map from your netbook, IPAD or your gizmo of preference from the QP or JL - it only takes a few seconds & you might have some luck.

 

[quark]

It has been my experience on some flights so there must be some sort of blocking going on for Platinum 1 that goes past T-80 hours. I don't mind blocking of seats for Platinum 1 if they are going to be used for Platinum 1's. What I hate is blocking of seats for Platinum 1 and then realeased to all and sundry at a secret point in time and you end up having low status or no status at all sitting in row 23 or row 4. Nothing wrong with that but they should not be there when the rest of the cabin is Platinum or Gold.

Stuck in 5C for todays flight BNE-SYD and only managed on move from 6D to 5C. Have 4A on return flight on Sunday.

I am only a WP but pretty much always get first row economy - and usually a shadow. But unless I have a meeting directly after my flight I'm sure I would be one of those people that you may be assuming has no status

I agree that the front rows should only be released to Golds and above at T-80 though.

 

[JohnK]

What will not happen is moving a WP or SG pax out of their already pre-allocated seat into a seat more forward so if JohnK allocates 27J at OLCI or earlier, nobody is going to move him out of that seat into 23J if that suddenly becomes available a couple of hours before departure.

I have had a good run with seats for a few years now but it has become clear to me that Qantas are now blocking the front row of whY well past T-80 hours. Well at least it looks like that to me anyway. At some point in time just before OLCI or just after these seats are then released as it looks like a light Platinum 1 load and the opportunistic low status end up with those seats.

By the way it does not matter who ends up in these seats as long as they understand the responsibility that comes with sitting in row 23 or row 4....

 

[ozbeachbabe]

I have had a good run with seats for a few years now but it has become clear to me that Qantas are now blocking the front row of whY well past T-80 hours. Well at least it looks like that to me anyway. At some point in time just before OLCI or just after these seats are then released as it looks like a light Platinum 1 load and the opportunistic low status end up with those seats.

By the way it does not matter who ends up in these seats as long as they understand the responsibility that comes with sitting in row 23 or row 4....

What responsibility are you referring to?

 

[Carlous Moochous]

When I make a booking I just select an exit row, and then wait until T-80 and move up to the front if its free.. Generally it works (normally on 737's ex or to CBR). Need to be quick on the -80 tho, -20 doesn't seem to work as well On my last success I had all of row 4 to myself ( all 6 seats ) - was great.

 

[Jkyn]

4D for my flight BNE CBR tonight a lot to do with non peak time. I'm WP and rarely do much about seat allocation usually take what they give me but check in on mobile early. Usually get 4,5 or 6 which are all ok to me. Mostly vacant B or E unless flight is full.

 

[Gremlin]

What responsibility are you referring to?

The responsibility to behave like a DYKWIA?!?

 

[NM]

Of my last 8 domestic flights (all 737) I have been able to select row 4 on 3 occasions. All other flights I have been able to select exit row, which is my second choice if Row 4 aisle is not available to me.

 

[JohnK]

What responsibility are you referring to?

To behave like a frequent flyer and not someone on their first ever flight....

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I like being able to pre-select row 4, weeks or months out from the flight. Saves logging on at T-80 to beat the WP landrush.

There do tend to be low status members who select row 4 (still), and to be fair to Platinums I think this row should be blocked from non-emeralds right up until boarding.