Platinum shadow seat

[mrsterryn]

I have an economy seat booked international . Still Platinum however previously aka pre covid I would have had a shadow seat beside me. This particular route I have done quite a few times with the shadow.
Anyone has the benefit of the shadow since the border opened for holiday travels ?
*Note there are previous discussions but threads are closed

 

[ChrisMars]

I was wondering the same. On LHR SYD in May, I didnt have a Y shadow seat display on EF. I wasn t sure if that was because I was traveling with my partner gold, or just a new thing. Ended up having 3 seats for 2 pax anyway.
Curious to hear others experience

 

[Daver6]

I've got some upcoming international Y flights as a WP. No blocked seats next to me. From memory though, doesn't that shadow only appear at T-80?

 

[mrsterryn]

I've got some upcoming international Y flights as a WP. No blocked seats next to me. From memory though, doesn't that shadow only appear at T-80?

Nope mine used to appear as soon as I booked.

 

[SYD]

Nope mine used to appear as soon as I booked.

Perhaps shadows have been enhanced?

I have three whY flights in late July SYD-SIN//SIN-PER-SYD and I’m invisible - casting no shadow. Nor are the handful of WPs also seated nearby.

But TBH, I’ve not seen many of my own shadows outside T-80. I have noticed others but assumed that they’re P1/CL.

 

[mrsterryn]

Perhaps shadows been enhanced?

I have three whY flights in late July SYD-SIN//SIN-PER-SYD and I’m invisible - casting no shadow. Nor are the handful of WPs also seated nearby.

But TBH, I’ve not seen many of my own shadows outside T-80. I have noticed others but assumed that they’re P1/CL.

Probably. Darn I liked that perk

 

[Anna]

I as WP have had nobody sitting next to me on my last 6 QF sectors. But whether that is a fluke, or due to a block, due to load requirements, due to most people not knowing about T80 or due to my personal hygiene I have no idea. Mix of dom and int sectors.

 

[SYD]

We have an upcoming flight ZQN-SYD in whY. Normally we would have gone for C/D aisle seats but 4C was already taken so tried 4D/F. Both WP, same booking and neither casting a shadow… It’s been like that since booking .

There was another PAX in the row behind with what appeared to be a shadow - so I assume CL/P1? - but they have since been spirited away.

 

[Hampton Mike]

We have an upcoming flight ZQN-SYD in whY. Normally we would have gone for C/D aisle seats but 4C was already taken so tried 4D/F. Both WP, same booking and neither casting a shadow… It’s been like that since booking .

There was another PAX in the row behind with what appeared to be a shadow - so I assume CL/P1? - but they have since been spirited away.

Are the NZ flights treated the same as domestic - ie Row 4 blocked out until t-80 except for tiered people who can see the empty seat? If a P1 wanted to sit in 4 E, can probably book it. Shadow might appear at t-80 to stop lower tiers moving into it if still empty?

 

[mrsterryn]

We have an upcoming flight ZQN-SYD in whY. Normally we would have gone for C/D aisle seats but 4C was already taken so tried 4D/F. Both WP, same booking and neither casting a shadow… It’s been like that since booking .

There was another PAX in the row behind with what appeared to be a shadow - so I assume CL/P1? - but they have since been spirited away.

My last two flights have not had the platinum shadow

 

[SYD]

Are the NZ flights treated the same as domestic - ie Row 4 blocked out until t-80 except for tiered people who can see the empty seat? If a P1 wanted to sit in 4 E, can probably book it. Shadow might appear at t-80 to stop lower tiers moving into it if still empty?

No, I meant to mention that we had access to Row 4 at booking. That might be a narrow body thing?

Recent A330 whY bookings had to wait until T-80 for manual upgrade to bulkhead.

 

[Daver6]

No WP shadow for me in Y post Covid on international flights

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Seems like just a P1/CL benefit these days. I note on EF I get a seat block at booking across all classes. EF would be proof of any actual blocking.

 

[CaptJCool]

There’s no doubt a (baby) formula to fill the plane. My last several Y domestic flights have seen the an empty seat.

window and aisles first

then middle seats filled from back of the plane to front - stands to reason WP would be good odds of a shadow empty!

 

[sudoer]

I think my wife had a shadow on a relatively full DPS-SYD 737 flight last weekend.

She was 5D, 5E was blocked according to EF, and 5F was an older lady nervous about flying so unlikely to hold status (unless gifted)

 

[Ade]

Anyone has the benefit of the shadow since the border opened for holiday travels ?

My experiences

1. QF International Y 3 times this year - no shadow, none-what-so-ever. In one of the QF81 legs, had a shadow until boarding, later someone was allocated the seat ...
2. Partner QF International Y 3 times this yea - always had a shadow - doesn't mean that there is a shadow, it was not full flights ... so cannot use this data point
3. QF Domestic Y - over 10 times this year - had shadow 2 times - again, not full flights, so cannot use this data point

As per your experience @mrsterryn - pre-CoVID - 4/5 times I have always had a shadow allocated as WP when booking is finalised. But not anymore

 

[SeatBackForward]

My experiences

1. QF International Y 3 times this year - no shadow, none-what-so-ever. In one of the QF81 legs, had a shadow until boarding, later someone was allocated the seat ...
2. Partner QF International Y 3 times this yea - always had a shadow - doesn't mean that there is a shadow, it was not full flights ... so cannot use this data point
3. QF Domestic Y - over 10 times this year - had shadow 2 times - again, not full flights, so cannot use this data point

As per your experience @mrsterryn - pre-CoVID - 4/5 times I have always had a shadow allocated as WP when booking is finalised. But not anymore

Ditto, same experience across all My QF flights this year. Shadow existing up until boarding, then gone. Flights all at 100% capacity so no wonder.

Shadow is a nice to have, but cannot be expected.

 

[Ade]

Shadow existing up until boarding, then gone.

That feeling when someone rocks up next to you, when you were able to, by the virtue of your status (WP), select a bulkhead, imagining drawing down the shades, put on your comfy eye mask to get some shut-eye, on a 8 hour flight to SIN, is shattered... you'd sink to the lowest of low of the fictional abyss, trying to claw your way up to surface, by telling to yourself, this is the new normal ... #Ces'tLaVie ... #NewNormal ... #WPIsTheNewBronze

 

[SYD]

We have an upcoming flight ZQN-SYD in whY. Normally we would have gone for C/D aisle seats but 4C was already taken so tried 4D/F. Both WP, same booking and neither casting a shadow… It’s been like that since booking .

Somewhat academic now. Y -> J upgrade came thru earlier. So now in 1A/C. Happy WPs again….

There was another PAX in the row behind with what appeared to be a shadow - so I assume CL/P1? - but they have since been spirited away.

Looking at the earlier flight out, I suspect this person moved from our flight to the earlier. Someone in 4F with two(!) shadows on that flight.

 

[Ade]

Another data point.

Upcoming booking - as you can see the seat next to me is blocked. However, when I selected this seat 2 days back, there was no one on the window seat. Does this mean the shadow is applied ?


As a contrast - the J seat has no one next to me .. so no shadow applied? Agree this is J and shadow may not apply at all.