Qantas Announces Enhancement to Seat Selection Fees

[kangarooflyer88]

Just spotted this earlier today on the Qantas website, an increase in the seat selection fees on flights effective July 17th, 2025:


For those curious, here are the current seat selection fees:



For those curious about what the Qantas flight zones means:

 

[sudoer]

TLDR no difference for most fees, $5 or $10 at the high end.

 

[markis10]

Executive summary:
Qantas increases Sin-LHR sear selection fees
Qantas reduces/increases some preferred Aust-SIN fees
Qantas reduces /increases some Zone 4 seat fees

 

[sudoer]

Qantas reduces some preferred Aust-SIN fees
Qantas reduces some Zone 4 seat fees

I think these are actually increases? But very marginal ones.

 

[markis10]

I think these are actually increases? But very marginal ones.

Mixed bag on closer examination, $5 or so

 

[elanshin]

Wasn't it always free seat selection if you booked direct on QF?

 

[TheInsider]

Wasn't it always free seat selection if you booked direct on QF?

Ex Australia yes.

 

[sudoer]

Ex Australia yes.

My mother in law got stung on this.

Economy sale fare ex Japan booked direct. They wanted $80 each way for a standard seat, even for a OWS

 

[burneracc]

Odd that Singapore gets singled out

 

[sudoer]

Odd that Singapore gets singled out

Yes and no.

I would imagine the AU-SIN and SIN-LHR preferred and bassinet seats have gone up because they'd be in high demand on QF1/2 SYD-LHR.

If someone books these solely on the SYD-SIN or SIN-LHR legs they are preventing Qantas from selling that seat to someone going all the way through from Australia to London. I'm more surprised the extra legroom seats haven't also gone up as I'd imagine these are particularly popular on SYD-LHR.

 

[kangarooflyer88]

Executive summary:
Qantas increases Sin-LHR sear selection fees
Qantas reduces/increases some preferred Aust-SIN fees
Qantas reduces /increases some Zone 4 seat fees

So in other words a true enhancement as some prices gone up and others went down.

My mother in law got stung on this.

Economy sale fare ex Japan booked direct. They wanted $80 each way for a standard seat, even for a OWS

Surely there is complementary standard seat selection on Qantas flights if you are OneWorld Sapphire as I believe one of the benefits of OneWorld status.

-RooFlyer88

 

[sudoer]

others went down.

I can't see what has gone down?

I believe one of the benefits of OneWorld status.

From that link... my bolding.

• Access to preferred or pre-reserved seating*

* In accordance with the individual policy of the oneworld airline operating the flight.

 

[cwd]

I'd have thought it should be free with OWS too:



From: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/seat-selection/seat-selection-conditions.html

The page could be more clearly worded though. It suggests Bronze gets free seat selection on any flight departing Australia if booked directly, but I suspect that's only meant to apply for itineraries originating in Australia.

 

[glasszon]

Interesting, have they removed the complimentary seat offering for QF Bronze member who booked directly with QF? I booked an international flight for a family member last week but she couldn't choose a seat without paying even though it's a QF flight booked directly via QF with a QF FF number attached to the booking.

 

[cwd]

It's worth noting that the prices in the first post are in CAD, not AUD. I can't find any prices in AUD for tickets sold directly by QF, only prices for NDC/GDS. Can anyone else find them?

 

[BenP]

Interesting, have they removed the complimentary seat offering for QF Bronze member who booked directly with QF? I booked an international flight for a family member last week but she couldn't choose a seat without paying even though it's a QF flight booked directly via QF with a QF FF number attached to the booking.

Was the flight departing from Australia or departing internationally, below is the seat selection clause for Bronze and I'm assuming it was a sale fare

 

[glasszon]

Was the flight departing from Australia or departing internationally, below is the seat selection clause for Bronze and I'm assuming it was a sale fare
View attachment 448061

Departing from Australia - it's a SYD-HKG-SYD ticket on QF metal with QF flight number

 

[Mwenenzi]

Just spotted this earlier today on the Qantas website, an increase in the seat selection fees on flights effective July 17th, 2025:

That's a CA Canada page. The pages can be different for individual counties. POS and local laws.
====
QF AU web site

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/seat-selection/seat-selection-conditions.html?int_cam=au%3Aseat-selection%3Aarticle%3Acomplimentary-seat-selection%3Aen%3Ann

Complimentary seat requirements and eligibility

You can select Standard Seat Selection on Qantas operated flights any time after making your booking. The earlier you select your seat, the more choice you have. Simply select your seat at Manage booking or via the Qantas App.

Standard Seat Selection is complimentary when:

• travelling on any Qantas operated domestic service,
• travelling internationally in Economy on a Saver or Flex fare,
• travelling internationally in First, Business or Premium Economy,
• travelling internationally as a Platinum One, Platinum, Gold or Silver Qantas Frequent Flyer or equivalent oneworld and Emirates Skywards Frequent Flyer,
• travelling internationally as a Bronze Qantas Frequent Flyer on any Qantas operated flight departing from Australia when you book directly with Qantas,
• travelling on an Economy Classic Flight Reward, or
• on the same booking and travelling with any of the above mentioned travellers.

Standard seat selection is available for a charge if you're:

• a Bronze Frequent Flyer and your itinerary is originating outside of Australia, or
• travelling on an international Economy sale fare on Qantas operated flights.

You can select your seat on all Qantas operated flights, excluding select regional services.

My red highlight
Another thread

Thread 'Qantas Seat Selection Costs'

Aug 13, 2024

A friend in bronze has booked a sale fare for 4 people via Qantas app and has been charged for seating. I have gone over the conditions and this seems to be incorrect, based on the below link. Am i missing something? $360 for 8 seats for the return trip SYD-MNL.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/ca/en/policy-and-guidelines/seating-inflight-dining-and-cabin-upgrades/select-a-seat.html#seat-selection-fee

• stopthecap
• seat selection
• Replies: 39
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

 

[SYD-YYZ]

That's a CA Canada page. The pages can be different for individual counties. POS and local laws.
====
QF AU web site

https://www.qantas.com/au/en/travel-info/seat-selection/seat-selection-conditions.html?int_cam=au%3Aseat-selection%3Aarticle%3Acomplimentary-seat-selection%3Aen%3Ann

My red highlight
Another thread

Thread 'Qantas Seat Selection Costs'

Aug 13, 2024

A friend in bronze has booked a sale fare for 4 people via Qantas app and has been charged for seating. I have gone over the conditions and this seems to be incorrect, based on the below link. Am i missing something? $360 for 8 seats for the return trip SYD-MNL.

https://www.qantas.com/agencyconnect/ca/en/policy-and-guidelines/seating-inflight-dining-and-cabin-upgrades/select-a-seat.html#seat-selection-fee

• stopthecap
• seat selection
• Replies: 39
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

So is seat complimentary for QF Bronze member on international economy sale fare if flights depart from Australia and booked directly with Qantas? The red highlight seems to contradict each other