Please define: "T-80"

[travellerqff]

Merry Christmas everyone!

Currently sitting in the Melbourne Business Lounge on my way to Auckland for Christmas with the family!



I've seen the term 'T-80' used plenty on here.. but what does it actually mean, and what are the other abbreviations surrounding it?


Help!

 

[dfcatch]

It's the type of aircraft you hope you never fly



No - it just means 80 hours prior to scheduled departure time (usually the time that QF seat allocation opens up restrictions).

 

[Deleted member 26544]

T-80 = Departure time minus 80 hours. Normally at this time you may be able to select seats further forward in the aircraft.

 

[serfty]

At or shortly after 3 days and 8 hours before a flight's scheduled departure time (3x24+8=80) Qantas systems automatically change the seating pre-allocation limitations for that flight. (Other thing also occur, but lets keep it simple.)

More often than not, this makes more seating available for pre-selection.

For example, in Business class domestically, WP are generally unable to select seats in row 1, only having row two and back available. At "T-80" some bulk head seating in row 1 often becomes available.

 

[travellerqff]

Thankyou everyone! I'm now in the know

 

[wilco]

Thankyou everyone! I'm now in the know

but don't tell ANYONE. its secret AFF business! lol

 

[Sifor]

80 hours till blast off!

 

[Kangol]

Is this for domestic flights only?

 

[serfty]

International flight seat availability appears to open up in stages and it often pays to keep checking.

Having posted that, T-80 appears to be when automated seat allocation process commence and much of the previously unallocated seating becomes allocated.

This seems to be the case for both domestic and international.

 

[Sifor]

My friend's BNE-SIN QF51 on 4/1/12 (ie closer to T-65) per EF attached below.

Prior to T-80, almost the entire plane was open up to row 28 for my friend (NB paid seat selection) - now everything is blocked. It appears to be a very lightly loaded flight or are the blocked seats for all other passengers who haven't selected seats?

http://u.filepak.com/7ElJ_bnesin.jpg

 

[serfty]

My friend's BNE-SIN QF51 on 4/1/12 (ie closer to T-65) per EF attached below.

Prior to T-80, almost the entire plane was open up to row 28 for my friend (NB paid seat selection) - now everything is blocked. It appears to be a very lightly loaded flight ...

This flight is chokers in economy - sold out even:

Flight Availability Search
Departing BNE on 04/01/12 12:00 AM for SIN
Flying QF  
                                                                     Frequency
Flight        Stops  Depart             Arrive             Aircraft  Reliability     Available Classes
0 Connections
QF 51         0      BNE                SIN                333       Unavailable     J5 C4 D4 I4 U1 Y1 B1 H0 K0 M0 L0 S0 G0 X1 E0 
                     04/01/12 1:40 PM   04/01/12 7:25 PM             63% / 38m
...

This is Upgrade season; given I4/U1, I would expect quite a few WP points upgrade requests are likely to be granted; even some op ups perhaps.

... or are the blocked seats for all other passengers who haven't selected seats? ...

That is probably the case.

 

[Kangol]

International flight seat availability appears to open up in stages and it often pays to keep checking.

Having posted that, T-80 appears to be when automated seat allocation process commence and much of the previously unallocated seating becomes allocated.

This seems to be the case for both domestic and international.

Checked my upcoming return flight MEL-SIN-LHR (in A380 Y+) at about T-75, no further seats were made available (actually less were) I guess it's due to the small cabin and more people may have selected their seats.

In saying that, two of the legs are in exit row 38 and I get the "Your flight is not eligible for Advance Seat Selection however you can nominate aisle or window seat preference" for both of them. I remember seeing this for one of the preselected exit row seat legs a few weeks ago, hoping that it was some sort of error and that a CL/WP1 didn't bump me out of my seat.

I read something about if you have an international exit row seat, you can't check in and print your BP online? Something about having to do it at the airport so they can assess you...?

 

[ozbeachbabe]

My friend's BNE-SIN QF51 on 4/1/12 (ie closer to T-65) per EF attached below.

Prior to T-80, almost the entire plane was open up to row 28 for my friend (NB paid seat selection) - now everything is blocked. It appears to be a very lightly loaded flight or are the blocked seats for all other passengers who haven't selected seats?

http://u.filepak.com/7ElJ_bnesin.jpg

Keep in mind that viewing a seat map does not in itself give you an accurate account of whether the flight is wide open or chockers as many of the unoccupied seats will be allocated to passengers who are confirmed on the flight but don't have seat allocation. These 'empty' seat will be allocated to the pax when they checkin at the airport about 3 hours prior to travel.

 

[JohnK]

Having posted that, T-80 appears to be when automated seat allocation process commence and much of the previously unallocated seating becomes allocated.

Interesting that some premium desk consultants are not aware that the first 2 rows open up to most statuses at T-80 hours. I managed to get 2 consultants who almost laughed at me for making the suggestion.

It is scary when one calls for help but ends up knowing more than the person on the phone!

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Interesting that some premium desk consultants are not aware that the first 2 rows open up to most statuses at T-80 hours. I managed to get 2 consultants who almost laughed at me for making the suggestion.

It is scary when one calls for help but ends up knowing more than the person on the phone!

It goes to show how valuable some of the information is here because people here have had first hand experience whereas airline people have not. Anyway knowledge is power.

I wouldn't even bother telling them next time, just use the know how to your advantage.

 

[travelislife]

I only found out about T-80 on AFF and it has been brilliant. I have always managed to get exit row (down around rows 11/12 on the 737) seating through using this on all of my flights even when NB (now PS).

 

[oz_mark]

It goes to show how valuable some of the information is here because people here have had first hand experience whereas airline people have not. Anyway knowledge is power.

I wouldn't even bother telling them next time, just use the know how to your advantage.

From an airline employee perspective, what happens at T-80 is that the flight goes under airport control. What we see with seating choices seems to be a side effect of that, rather than something that was explicitily done.

I would doubt that these side effects are something that are documented for them.

 

[JohnK]

It goes to show how valuable some of the information is here because people here have had first hand experience whereas airline people have not. Anyway knowledge is power.

Agree but it would not hurt to train the consultants better unless high staff turnover is a concern. Does Qantas have casual positions available in the call centre?

I wouldn't even bother telling them next time, just use the know how to your advantage.

Unfortunately I needed their help as this was one of the bookings with issues and I was simply trying to see if I can move further forward.