Qantas Code Share Extortion

[Vic]

Isn't another option to call and ask to have your seat allocation removed? that would probably be free.

 

[mannej]

Obviously something went wrong during the booking process as your membership benefit extends to all parties on the same ticketed booking.

If you remained calm and relaxed, took some time to discuss the issue you would have saved yourself $272. Why post here, get a few differing answers then just go ahead and pay the fee?

Not on EK as a PS member

 

[JohnK]

My recent experience with VA codeshare on SQ flights is somewhat related.

I could allocate seats as VA Gold and wife couldn't. A few days before flight I called and allocated bassinet for myself and daughter. Wife still no seats allocated.

Tried fixing this at OLCI and still couldn't allocate seats for wife but found that she was now automatically allocated seat next to me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

yes but i am pre-allocated and my family isnt. i would prefer then to not have any pre-allocation so we can all sit together (my child is devastated). at the moment unless i pay the extortion amount then in all likely hood we wont be sit together

I agree the $272 charge hurts. I don't like that airlines do it, but it's becoming more common.

However, as others have said, you could have used advance checkin online, sat everyone together, and avoided the fee. Had you chosen to leave checkin until the airport, yes, you may have been sealed apart. But you have to be quick, many passengers don't allocate seats until online checkin opens, so you need to allocate seats early. (just to be clear, even if you removed your pre-allocation, it doesn't automatically mean you'll all be sat together automatically by the airline. Online checkin is the way to achieve this)

I'm not sure if your child has special needs... but if that is the case you could also have asked for allocation on that basis, free of of charge. That may not have been prime seats, but at least together.

 

[Spongbob]

I have had no alternative but to pay the ransom / extortion to Emirates.

You do have an alternative, but you don't like it. Next airlines will be charging extra for business class seats. One the brighter side, you did not have to pay the QF Award booking fees.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

Why did you put your child through trauma by telling them they won't be sitting with you before you knew that was the case? How unbelievably unnecessary.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

What Emirates is doing to me equates to Extortion, pure and simple. if i dont pay an additional $272 then my family in all probability wont be travelling with me to Europe.

As i stated to Qantas Rep - then what is the point of me maintaining my silver membership and lounge membership when i am now being extorted? if i had no memberships then we would simply be all sitting together.

Qantas / Emirates - i am seriously upset at how i have been treated. My loyalty with Qantas is doubtful for any future flights and i will be reviewing the qantas lounge membership also.

I think you're being just a little dramatic as you make it sound like if you don't pay $272.00 your family won't be going with you to Europe but somewhere else entirely. I wouldn't be paying $272.00 for seating - just get EK to remove your pre-allocated seat then wait until OLCI opens to try and get seats together. It's quite possible that EK airport staff may pre-allocate some seats ahead of time for family groups or passengers requiring assistance. If you still can't get seats together at OLCI get to the airport early and ask EK staff to seat you together. They always seem to block off seats in the exit row so whilst you wouldn't be able to sit there (with a child) it's possible EK could move pax from further back into the exit row thereby freeing up 3 seats for you to sit together.

Unfortunately what is now evident more than ever is the value of Qantas Silver. it really isnt worth anything at all if your travelling as a family. With Gold you can pre-select your whole family, with Bronze nothing & with silver your only good for yourself. Qantas Club Staff etc all provide differing answers / opinions which also adds to the confusion, so clearly the rules arent easy to follow, nor are they given adequate training.

QF don't have any control over whether another airline makes a change to the seating policies even if they do have a marketing agreement so it's pointless saying QF Silver membership isn't worth anything because EK have changed the rules.

The best people to talk to are EK as they are the airline who you're flying with and have control over the seating. I doubt EK Lounge staff would know QF's rules about the cost of pre-allocating seats so I wouldn't necessarily expect QF to know all of EK's rules on pre-allocated seating.

Why did you put your child through trauma by telling them they won't be sitting with you before you knew that was the case? How unbelievably unnecessary.

They were my thoughts too. If a parent freaks out all that does is project unnecessary panic onto the child.

 

[OATEK]

...
QF don't have any control over whether another airline makes a change to the seating policies even if they do have a marketing agreement so it's pointless saying QF Silver membership isn't worth anything because EK have changed the rules.

The best people to talk to are EK as they are the airline who you're flying with and have control over the seating. I doubt EK Lounge staff would know QF's rules about the cost of pre-allocating seats so I wouldn't necessarily expect QF to know all of EK's rules on pre-allocated seating.

Perhaps the OP could put it all in a submission to the ACCC when the partnership renewal is next being considered?

 

[ross11]

Didn't realise EK started charging to select seats. The missus and I just flew EK in October 2016 and I didn't pay anything over and above the fare.

 

[serfty]

Didn't realise EK started charging to select seats. The missus and I just flew EK in October 2016 and I didn't pay anything over and above the fare.

It was about then, maybe a bit before or after.

Anyone who had selected seats kept them at no charge.

 

[ross11]

It was about then, maybe a bit before or after.

Anyone who had selected seats kept them at no charge.

We got lucky then. I certainly hope with the introduction of this new ancillary fee that corresponding fares have gone down!