Qantas to charge passengers extra for exit row seats

[medhead]

From your description you sound more sturdily built than obese -

Sorry to mislead, I didn't mean to imply I was sturdy per se. I fair bit of flab on me rather than un conditioned muscle.

But I do agree with your other points.

 

[Commuter]

Sorry to mislead, I didn't mean to imply I was sturdy per se. I fair bit of flab on me rather than un conditioned muscle.

But I do agree with your other points.

Maybe stocky then, rather than sturdy , but anyway, I think I clarified what I mean by obese - maybe I should say 'really obese, not 'merely obese by BMI criteria'.

Anyway, I shouldn't let this drift too off-topic, should I. Let's go back to complaining about "Shock horror, Qantas penalising tall passengers by charging them extra!" as per the jounalists...

 

[drron]

I'm hardly the best person to talk about english and puncutation and that type of thing, but, funny as your input is, I think you missed the bit before the comma:

was able to to drag myself and 2 others out* of the vehicle(, and get 12 foot up into a tree,) before we had the chance to** drown

*edit my spelling mistake, hence me not being the best to correct this type of thing.
** Another couple of edits that maybe aid clarity. Maybe "so we didn't drown"

Actually now you've confused me greatly, I have no idea what I was trying to say

Mrsdrron has been known to say my mission in life was to confuse people.Glad to see she is still right.

 

[JohnK]

However, I have seen very, very obese people with limited mobility (it took them a very long time to sit down) in exit row seats with moveable arm rest (not in Australia). That, I have a big problem with. They was no way they could fit through the exit, so they blocked the exit. There was no way they could get up and open the exit promptly, either.

I would be interested to know how these obese people got on the aircraft and in the WHY cabin in the first place.

 

[erasmus99]

wow i started reading this thread and cannot believe that some out there would actually leave QF because they cannot potentially pre-request an exit row in the future.

I say to Mr. Joyce do what you need to do to ensure the existence of Qantas into the future.

Looks Qantas head office chimed in.

 

[Commuter]

I would be interested to know how these obese people got on the aircraft and in the WHY cabin in the first place.

I'm sure you've seen the overwing exits on 737. They're pretty narrow.
The passengers needed the extension seat belt - the belt being extended all the way, and it still could only 'just' be fastened and dug right into them, so they were rather wide.

 

[Evan]

Does QF really think people would not choose an alternative if they did not get special treatment ?
Just today looked to make a reservation for next week, just an example here... My work trips are in whY (My personal are often in a more premium cabin)

QF in a 744 but its QF
SQ in a 773 and i can still use my priority pass for lounge access.

The fare difference was $10 in favor of SQ, i choose QF because i get special treatment, choose my seats (exit rows maybe, but normally i prefer bulkhead) and i may get a hello from the CSM and a special request.

But should the benefits go away why would i not simple choose the more comfortable airline ?

I hope somebody from QF is reading this because it will mean a loss of business to them from some of us WP. If no WP has pre-selected then by all means sell those exit rows at the airport, makes sense.

 

[Commuter]

I think the trouble is that for most routes, QF is the only 'home market carrier' from Australia. QF seem to sometimes have the home market arrogance and forget that people still have choices and if their service level falls below expectation or if they stop treating their loyal customers well, they can lose them quite easily - to non-Australian carriers as well.

 

[Evan]

I think the trouble is that for most routes, QF is the only 'home market carrier' from Australia. QF seem to sometimes have the home market arrogance and forget that people still have choices and if their service level falls below expectation or if they stop treating their loyal customers well, they can lose them quite easily - to non-Australian carriers as well.

I would say that is starting to really seem like a true statement, and of course i have been very well treated by QF, but really i could easily change my preference.

And we all know its much easier and cheaper to keep an existing good customer than find a new one !

 

[Sequel]

Would you still want me there knowing that I've have a condition that effects my mobility.

Thanks for the offer, and while I would prefer you over the 6' 150kg male, I am with JohnK on this one and would go with the 47kg!

 

[JohnK]

Does QF really think people would not choose an alternative if they did not get special treatment ?
Just today looked to make a reservation for next week, just an example here... My work trips are in whY (My personal are often in a more premium cabin)

Personally I feel that people who think Platinums, or anyone else inconvenienced by QFs recent proposed changes to seat allocations and exit rows, are not going to look elsewhere are kidding themselves.

Classic example is researching a trip to Thailand for Christmas/New Year. I have ended up using a KrisFlyer award but was initially looking to pay for the trip. With the recent sales I could get an Emirates flight for ~$1170 or I can get a QF/BA flight for ~$1650. Now if I am going to be sitting 10-12 rows back with QF WHY and cannot get a complimentary pre-allocated exit row as a Platinum why would I be stupid and not go with Emirates and sit 10-12 rows back in WHY and save ~$480?

• Lounge access? Who cares? I can have a nice tender rump steak or lamb chops at home and buy a couple of Pure Blondes at Wagamana for ~$12.
• Priority check-in? I will miss it but I can wait in line an extra hour or so.
• Express immigraton/arrivals? Again I will miss it but at Sydney it will mean an extra 5-10 minutes wait.
• Extra baggage allowance? Hardly ever use it and will just have to take less with me on the trip
• The status? Tough luck! It is not worth paying extra and I still have domestic QF flights to maintain Gold/Silver. Probably end up with better domestic seating allocations than I get now anyway.
• FF points? Nothing special about the QFF program and I can still accumulate FF points/miles with another airline.

Have I missed any other benefits of Platinum status? Why would anyone think that people are not going to change their choice of airline if QF takes away benefits, written or unwritten from high status frequent flyers?

 

[dajop]

why would I be stupid and not go with Emirates and sit 10-12 rows back in WHY and save ~$480?

• Lounge access? Who cares? I can have a nice tender rump steak or lamb chops at home and buy a couple of Pure Blondes at Wagamana for ~$12.
• Priority check-in? I will miss it but I can wait in line an extra hour or so.
• Express immigraton/arrivals? Again I will miss it but at Sydney it will mean an extra 5-10 minutes wait.
• Extra baggage allowance? Hardly ever use it and will just have to take less with me on the trip
• The status? Tough luck! It is not worth paying extra and I still have domestic QF flights to maintain Gold/Silver. Probably end up with better domestic seating allocations than I get now anyway.
• FF points? Nothing special about the QFF program and I can still accumulate FF points/miles with another airline.

1) Good point.
2) Don't know what EK is like in SYD, but in MEL, if you checkin after the initial wave of punters (say 60-75 mins before departure) queues are short and you can web check/drop bags as well IIRC.
3) Yes the extra wait isn't that long
4) EK actually have just increased their baggage allowance to 30 kg (Baggage | Essential Information | Plan & Book | Emirates)
5) Other ways of doing this
6) Allocate to EK, UA, or DJ (or others)

I think flying QF in the Y cabin internationally isn't as compelling as travelling in J or travelling domestic Y. Agree with your thrust, personally, I couldn't justify spending $800 SGD for QF for SIN-MEL-SIN when EK were offering flights on same day for $406 SGD..... (and I have snared a good seat already on EK on front row of Y, my feet will be travelling in J class )

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Personally I feel that people who think Platinums, or anyone else inconvenienced by QFs recent proposed changes to seat allocations and exit rows, are not going to look elsewhere are kidding themselves.

I think most platinums don't know about pre-allocating exit row seats (just the passenger manifest if you can next time you're in a 747 and you'll see WPs all over the place)

And I think a fair proportion of WPs travel in J/F for long haul - consultants, lawyers, finance types - their companies pay for J/F.

Classic example is researching a trip to Thailand for Christmas/New Year. I have ended up using a KrisFlyer award but was initially looking to pay for the trip. With the recent sales I could get an Emirates flight for ~$1170 or I can get a QF/BA flight for ~$1650. Now if I am going to be sitting 10-12 rows back with QF WHY and cannot get a complimentary pre-allocated exit row as a Platinum why would I be stupid and not go with Emirates and sit 10-12 rows back in WHY and save ~$480?

• Lounge access? Who cares? I can have a nice tender rump steak or lamb chops at home and buy a couple of Pure Blondes at Wagamana for ~$12.
• Priority check-in? I will miss it but I can wait in line an extra hour or so.
• Express immigraton/arrivals? Again I will miss it but at Sydney it will mean an extra 5-10 minutes wait.
• Extra baggage allowance? Hardly ever use it and will just have to take less with me on the trip
• The status? Tough luck! It is not worth paying extra and I still have domestic QF flights to maintain Gold/Silver. Probably end up with better domestic seating allocations than I get now anyway.
• FF points? Nothing special about the QFF program and I can still accumulate FF points/miles with another airline.

Have I missed any other benefits of Platinum status? Why would anyone think that people are not going to change their choice of airline if QF takes away benefits, written or unwritten from high status frequent flyers?

You have one data point. Hardly statistically significant.

Lounge and checkin lines are most important to me.

As for QANTAS caring: you were looking at a cheap QF flight and comparing that to the cheap alternate flights. I doubt QF makes that much money off you to care either way on this particular flight. Not meaning to say anything about you personally, but from a business sense I really can't see QF caring...

 

[JohnK]

As for QANTAS caring: you were looking at a cheap QF flight and comparing that to the cheap alternate flights. I doubt QF makes that much money off you to care either way on this particular flight. Not meaning to say anything about you personally, but from a business sense I really can't see QF caring...

For what it is worth QF means nothing to me as well. If I am not a useful customer to QF as a Platinum who does 80-100 flights a year with QF then obviously they do not value my business enough to keep me.

As I mentioned a number of times if QF decides to inconvenience me then I will look elsewhere. Plenty of full service carriers around who are more than happy to accept my money and provide cheaper airfares. I have lived without the frills for most of my life and as long as there is a bar somewhere in the airport where I can sit and have some alcohol then I don't have any issues living without the frills.

I must be the only one noticing Platinum benefits slowly eroding with the leprechaun in charge....

 

[NM]

I must be the only one noticing Platinum benefits slowly eroding with the leprechaun in charge....

Some of us noticed a long time ago and have already made the jump .

 

[JohnK]

Some of us noticed a long time ago and have already made the jump .

And 2 of your biggest converts have jumped back to the sinking ship.

I was referring to the recent changes with pre-allocating seats for international flights, charging for exit rows and now pre-allocating seats for domestic flights months in advance....

 

[NM]

And 2 of your biggest converts have jumped back to the sinking ship.

Each to their own

I was referring to the recent changes with pre-allocating seats for international flights, charging for exit rows and now pre-allocating seats for domestic flights months in advance....

None of which are of major concern to me. As an ex-Platinum (QF FF that is) member, I don't feel ripped-off by these changes and I can understand the business reasons behind them. So I am happy to walk around outside safe in the knowledge that for me the sky is still firmly nailed high above the horizon.

But if current Qantas Platinum members feel they are disadvantaged by these changes, then they have a choice. This similar to the choice I was able to make yesterday after receiving a very disappointing Whopper Burger from my local HJ store. While many people will continue to buy meals from that store, I will not be doing so again. I am exercising my choice to go somewhere else.

 

[oz_mark]

I was referring to the recent changes with pre-allocating seats for international flights,

Wasn't this basically a webification of what already existed?

 

[docjames]

.......... Whopper Burger from my local HJ store. While many people will continue to buy meals from that store, I will not be doing so again. I am exercising my choice to go somewhere else.

Your cholesterol level thanks you

 

[JohnK]

None of which are of major concern to me. As an ex-Platinum (QF FF that is) member, I don't feel ripped-off by these changes and I can understand the business reasons behind them. So I am happy to walk around outside safe in the knowledge that for me the sky is still firmly nailed high above the horizon.

And from memory you do most of your travel in business class. Personally I think anyone that travels mainly in business class or first class would not be affected with these changes and really should stay out of this debate as it does not concern them.

As someone who travels predominantly in WHY I feel these changes are significant to warrant concern on my part and I will need to make a judgement call at some stage. So as a Platinum do I accept being treated like a nobody from QF or should I go where my business is appreciated? We shall wait and see what the changes bring before making that decision....

Wasn't this basically a webification of what already existed?

Is the change that simple? The way I see it is now QF on international flights will reserve the 1st row for Platinums, the 2nd row for Golds and the rest is a free for all. As a Platinum I have been able to get the 1st or 2nd row of WHY when booking close to departure and then switching to exit row seat. I can't see that happening with the new system.

Your cholesterol level thanks you

He said he was not going back to that store not giving up Hungry Jack's for good.