Paying for an exit row seat

[ellen10]

I am planning a trip to Europe next year and will be paying for flights. I was wanting to book and pay for an exit row seat.

A few questions for the wise.

Is Qantas the only airline that does this arrangement? How do I go about this? Will this diminish my chances of getting an upgrade, it I apply. I am only QFF bronze. Do you think it is worth paying for exit row seats?

I am not opposed to flying another airline if cheaper but would really like the extra legroom as we are both quite tall people.

Your thoughts and experiences are appreciated.

p.s. flew Premium economy last year and enjoyed it but would rather save the extra money for our trip

 

[kpc]

I am planning a trip to Europe next year and will be paying for flights. I was wanting to book and pay for an exit row seat.

A few questions for the wise.

Is Qantas the only airline that does this arrangement?

Sq allow you to pay for exit row seats:idea:

 

[ellen10]

Yes I vaguely heard that sq did it on some flights.

 

[loudsx]

CX do as well, (I used them for Italy a few months back)

100USD per segment

M

 

[ellen10]

Thanks loudsx

I had not heard about CX, Italy is part of my destination list. Did you book and pay for it when initially buying for your ticket.

 

[loudsx]

Seperate, after the ticket had been issued.

 

[serfty]

As an NB you won't be able to pay for an exit seat until 7 days before the flight - if they have not already been snapped up bf PS/SG/WP/CL who can access said seating upon booking (CL don't have to pay).

It should not affect your upgrade chances - the following indicates you would get a refund on your exit seat if upgraded:

http://www.qantas.com.au/agents/dyn/qf/policies/FAQExitRowSeating211209.pdf

 

[Walloper]

Good luck on an upgrade ... we've paid for exit rows on QF and I have to say it's not all it's cracked up to be - exits are adjacent to galleys or toilets - both mean high traffic past the seats - high traffic means seats being bumped and lots of noise.

We jagged super cattle class on Virgin Atlantic for only a few dollars more than QF cattle class earlier in the year - well worth it.

By the by, jagged super cattle on V Australia for $30 more than QF cattle class for a flight next month - which, of course is actually cheaper than cattle class exit on QF.

Can't say I wouldn't do the "pay for exit" again but I'm not enamored by it anymore.

 

[ellen10]

Thanks serfty and Walloper for your replies

Firstly serfty only 7 days out ooh the travel agent did not mention this little item. Makes me wonder is it worth going with Qantas (yes the points would be nice) and hoping for 2 spare exit row seats Or going with a cheaper airline e.g. Emirates etc. Being a lowly bronze and waiting 7 days out does not give me too much hope.

Walloper we managed to get exit row seats for 1 sector last year with online checkin and definitely liked it better then having a reclining seat in front when trying to get out and stretch.
Flew home from Europe last year Premium Economy and did enjoy the extra room, but do not really want to pay for it this time.

 

[justin23]

It really depends on what you prefer. the leg room, or maybe some peace and quiet. Given the options i always take the legroom. I paid using FF points for both legs on a trip to Buenos aires this year. Both ways the middle seat was free.

Yes the minimum of silver to book in advance is needed. I booked through a travel agent and rang Qantas to book the exit row. Initially they wouldn't let me and said i have to wait for 7 days before departure, but when i pointed out Silver and above could book in adavnce, they said i have to book on the website only.... anyway it was sorted out. 20,000 each way, but i earnt over 20,000 on flights, so it was a decent upgrade for two 16 hour flights.

 

[JohnK]

I would take an exit row over the chances of being stuck behind a chronic recliner any day.

 

[soetes]

I'm a QF Silver FF and pay my own way. Exit row is great value when it's your own money. Toilet proximity is more of an issue on the A380, where the one toilet door opens in a way that's almost designed to bathe you in light during the night. Not so much an issue on the A330.

Exit rows aren't always available to Silvers, even with the advance booking. Flying SFO-SYD next week and the seats were gone weeks ago. My next flight takes me to Gold, so maybe availability will improve too. Or maybe even the odd upgrade! As I pay my own way and my business is still growing and working capital at a premium, I have to buy the cheapest tickets and, as a result, get sweet FA from QF in the upgrade department, despite flying SYD-JFK every couple of months.

 

[soetes]

I would take an exit row over the chances of being stuck behind a chronic recliner any day.

Amen to that. There should be a message in the safety routine "please check with the pax behind you before reclining your seat".

 

[ellen10]

soetes - Yes I would be most happy to pay for an exit row seat as we are both very quite tall. Yes I know we could pay for a higher class ticket but that is a lot of money when it could be used to spend more time away overseas. We have been loyal Qantas customers but as our trips are only personnel it takes a while for points to accumulate.

If you are having trouble getting an exit row seat then I don't like my chances. Oh well I will have to keep my options open

 

[serfty]

The are four exit row seats on the 330's and 10 on the 388's.

 

[justin23]

soetes - Yes I would be most happy to pay for an exit row seat as we are both very quite tall. Yes I know we could pay for a higher class ticket but that is a lot of money when it could be used to spend more time away overseas. We have been loyal Qantas customers but as our trips are only personnel it takes a while for points to accumulate.

If you are having trouble getting an exit row seat then I don't like my chances. Oh well I will have to keep my options open

It will depend on how busy the flight is. SYS-EZE is a flight I know QF are looking at I believe when they get the 787's they'll fly to Rio instead. My flight was not full and all exit row seats where not taken.

But that said I was of the understanding, if you are PS or above, you can upgrade to the exit row when you book and its first in first served there. So if the seats are taken by previous PS members, SG can't request them and get them ahead of the PS. Its a different upgrade, because you can pay with cash as well as points.

If there are some available then everyone else can attampt to upgrade to the seat 7 days before departure. As I found out, more people would rather a window or aisle seat than a middle exit row.