Premium Econ Seats allocated to Econ - How do I get them?

[philflyer]

I am flying:
10/4 SYD - EZE
26/4 EZE - SYD

I have Qantas Silver status. Through Expoert Flyer I can see that the Prem Economy seats are allocated to Economy passengers on both legs (rows 34 to 39). Last year on the same flight to EZE I was able to ring up Qantas before the flight have myself assigned in to one of these seats.

I called today and they say that the seats are blocked and they cannot assign one of them to me. Does anyone know how these particular assignments work now?

 

[MelUser]

Have you tried on line yourself?

If that doesn't work, phone Qantas during the week and ask for them to put through a special request to the seating department for seat ___ (use an unallocated seat within part of aircraft where you want to sit)

 

[Mal]

As a Plat (with my QF number in EF) I can see them on EF as some allocated/some free - I'm curious if you see the same as a Silver or see them all as blocked or something else?

If you see them as allocated/blocked, then I would call Qantas again as has already been suggested but also put a Seat Alert on several of the seats in EF.

It is possible that they are being not allocated at the moment, but will open up for general availability in the future.

 

[NM]

Also keep looking during the OLCI window. There may be some some waitlisted upgrades that are successful, resulting in people being moved to higher cabins and their seats becoming available to you.

 

[wrldtrvllr]

I'm also doing same flights SYD-EZE vv but a month earlier. I managed to snag some prem econ seats online via the seat request function. But it may also be "blocked" to certain status levels. I'm back to Gold, but can't recall if I did the seat requests before my qualification period expired (was WP) or not... If you can't access them now I suspect they will release the "block" closer to the flight dates.

 

[philflyer]

I have tried moving my seat via the online method, but I am only given the choice of Window or Aisle seating. I am currently in 58A on both trips to and from EZE.

This is what I see in Expert Flyer today. I have set an alert for all the seats with the crosses in EF.

 

[garyjohn951]

As a Plat (with my QF number in EF) I can see them on EF as some allocated/some free - I'm curious if you see the same as a Silver or see them all as blocked or something else?

If you see them as allocated/blocked, then I would call Qantas again as has already been suggested but also put a Seat Alert on several of the seats in EF.

It is possible that they are being not allocated at the moment, but will open up for general availability in the future.

From my experience they are only available to WP, then open up to Gold about 48 hours out, not sure after that.

 

[NM]

From my experience they are only available to WP, then open up to Gold about 48 hours out, not sure after that.

I have been able to pre-allocate PE seats sold as Y as an AA EXP status member. This was on QF30 a few months back when they operated such config.

 

[philflyer]

Last year I was able to pre-allocate into the PE seats a couple of weeks prior to flying on the same flights (Qantas Silver here). I hope this allocation of the cabins remains until the aircraft are refitted. It's nice getting the larger seats on an economy ticket.

 

[Mal]

This is what I see in Expert Flyer today. I have set an alert for all the seats with the crosses in EF.

I only checked your first flight, but I have access to every seat marked with an X - except 34DEFG, 36ACK. (36J and 37FGJK are assigned).

So status does seem to matter. I'm interested when they open up for you.

 

[drewbles]

From my experience they are only available to WP, then open up to Gold about 48 hours out, not sure after that.

Was able to pre-allocate at time of booking for myself (then SG) and friend (QP NB) 6 weeks out last October for SYD-SFO.

Who knows what it is now though

 

[philflyer]

I only checked your first flight, but I have access to every seat marked with an X - except 34DEFG, 36ACK. (36J and 37FGJK are assigned).

So status does seem to matter. I'm interested when they open up for you.

Mal. Is that on the Qantas website you are able to access those seats? I think it's fair enough that the higher status members get first crack at those seats. It will be interesting to see when/if they become available for Silver members.

 

[Mal]

Mal. Is that on the Qantas website you are able to access those seats? I think it's fair enough that the higher status members get first crack at those seats. It will be interesting to see when/if they become available for Silver members.

Should have been a little clearer - it's what shows as available to me when I'm in EF with my QF number registered.

 

[MarcB]

I checked those flights on E/F too with my QFF number. I can see availability in rows 37, 38 and 39 as QF Gold. I currently have flights booked SYD-SFO return with PE seats being used in Y and I have been able to allocate row 37 both ways. So status is the determining factor here.

I was booked on BNE-LAX with a 4 class config being used with PE seats for Y but could not allocate them - all blocked. So it must vary between flights even with status. Interestingly, that flight has now been switched back to a 2 class config so I am glad I went down the SYD-SFO route to secure the bigger seats!

 

[drewbles]

Mal. Is that on the Qantas website you are able to access those seats? I think it's fair enough that the higher status members get first crack at those seats. It will be interesting to see when/if they become available for Silver members.

< obvious question >
You have put your QFF number into EF to show the availability that is on offer to you as a PS haven't you?

< /obvious question >

 

[wile_e]

Last year when I was a PS, I was unable to preselect any of the PE seats for QF17/18. However when I turned SG, I was magically able to do so. So... to me, it seems like a QF status thing, however it may be worth while calling the QF call centre to see if you can select those seats.

BTW, those were also the seats that my wife and I flew on (no magical upgrades... :-|).

 

[trippin_the_rift]

You were probably allowed to allocate them as PS last year because the person you spoke to was being very generous.

They appear blocked because you don't have access to those seats, not because they are *actually* blocked/taken.

WP can access any 'blocked' seat, and also a WP will have the seat next to them blocked by default until the flight is over 80% full.

In my experience, ~3days out from the flight seat maps get shuffled so this may be an indication of when you have some hope

 

[philflyer]

< obvious question >
You have put your QFF number into EF to show the availability that is on offer to you as a PS haven't you?

< /obvious question >

This was actually a VERY good question. I only just joined EF and did not know I could register my Frequent Flyer number and have my status considered when the seat maps are shown. So I've put my number in and the results remain the same. It's most definitely a status thing. So this should also be considered when people think about the differences between Silver and Gold.

This has been a very helpful thread. I did not know that SYD-SFO has a similar allocation of cabins. I am heading there in their summer. Does anyone know of this happening on any other routes?

 

[markis10]

< obvious question >
You have put your QFF number into EF to show the availability that is on offer to you as a PS haven't you?

< /obvious question >

I dont think it is an obvious question, that feature is not something that Expertflyer has had for long and it is better to ask than to cough-U-ME

 

[drewbles]

I dont think it is an obvious question, that feature is not something that Expertflyer has had for long and it is better to ask than to cough-U-ME

True And it amazes me the options open to a WP over a NB/PS (not sure about SG as I have no friends that are SG who will lend me a number to try with).

Something to aspire towards for the NB/PS who want better allocations