QF Upgrading J-F Seat Allocations

[MelUser]

We have 2 flights coming up in QF J - SYD to SFO and HKG to MEL. It is 2 adults plus infant. At the moment we are in 11JK [ie with baby bassinet] for both flights.

If we request and get a points upgrade to 1st, where will they seat us? Will QF:

(1) split us into whatever spare seats are in the cabin and disregard bassinet request; or

(2) put us into 2,3or4EF and disregard bassinet request

(3) give us the bassinet seat [4Aor K] and then seat on other side of the aisle

(4) give us the bassinet seat [4Aor K] and then seat infront

(5) give us the bassinet seat [4Aor K] and then a seat somewhere separately in the cabin?

What have others experiences been in upgrading 2 passengers from J-F? Has anyone done this with 2 plus infant?

thanks,

 

[NM]

Qantas generally tries to keep 4A and 4K unallocated until the day of the flight. These can be requested by a Platinum member before flight day, but there is no certainty they will allocate them. I have often been able to snag 4A or 4K with a upgrade.

My preference if travelling as a couple with an infant would be 4A+4E or 4F+4K. But of course you will be limited to whatever is left unallocated at the time the upgrade is processed.

I have no idea how an infant attached to the booking may influence an upgrade opportunity.

 

[MelUser]

Domestically the infant hasn't affected the upgrade request - points are only taken for the adults.

We did get all previous international upgrade requests Y-J - infant didn't seem to affect them, again points only taken for adults. Business cabin had 5 bassinets [will only be 3 after Premium Economy is introduced] so no problem with bassinet for those requests.

Can one easily have a conversation across the ailse from 4A to 4E or 4F to 4K?

If being seated together and having the bassinet is important to us, perhaps we should not lodge an upgrade request? Is there any way to ask QF in the days leading up to 24 hours before what seats are taken?

thanks,

 

[milehighclub]

Business cabin had 5 bassinets [will only be 3 after Premium Economy is introduced]
,

Why would there only be 3 after PE??

I would recommend calling, if your upgrade is successful, requesting those seats. If 2 people happened to be in 4A/K I'm sure they are probably well aware of the risk of picking a seat with a bassinet and QF will move them to give you priority.

Conversation is easy between the two seats. (Obviously not as good as next to each other) You can always use the IFE and do a seat to seat call!!

 

[NM]

Can one easily have a conversation across the ailse from 4A to 4E or 4F to 4K?

Yes, you can. Not quite as close as EF seats, but not too bad. Easier for 4A/E to converse than 3A/E as the aisle is widest at row 3.

If being seated together and having the bassinet is important to us, perhaps we should not lodge an upgrade request? Is there any way to ask QF in the days leading up to 24 hours before what seats are taken?

You can see the seat map using tools like ExpertFlyer. But the 4A and 4K are often shown as "Blocked" and some systems report "Blocked" in the same manner as "Allocated". In fact, many QF reservations agents looking at the seat map will tell you they are allocated when in fact they just remain blocked.

The trick is to watch the upgrade status from 24-hour out and very regularly. And as soon as you note a successful upgrade, call QF and request seat allocation before anyone else does.

 

[MelUser]

When we got the Y-J upgrade last time out of US - about T-18, when I phoned Qantas in USA, the reservations person advised that seat allocation stops at T-24 and that all remaining allocations are done at airport. IE, she said she couldn't touch or look at seats.

Is this correct?

Also, FYI only: flying from MEL to PER domestically this month, we were offered a points upgrade in the QC lounge but declined it because they would not shift person in 1A/B. So we stayed with bassinet at front of Y. The QC woman looked at system and said that normally they would ask the other passenger to move and give us the bassinet but the passenger in 1A/B was too important - she was an "Honorable" in title and also Chairmans lounge member. I looked at the woman on board and thought that she was a Federal Court Judge!

 

[MelUser]

Why would there only be 3 after PE??


Because the rear 2 bassinets are in a "mini cabin" that will become the PE cabin.


I would recommend calling, if your upgrade is successful, requesting those seats. If 2 people happened to be in 4A/K I'm sure they are probably well aware of the risk of picking a seat with a bassinet and QF will move them to give you priority.

Yes, but will they also move 4E or 4F so that we can sit next to each other?

 

[NM]

When we got the Y-J upgrade last time out of US - about T-18, when I phoned Qantas in USA, the reservations person advised that seat allocation stops at T-24 and that all remaining allocations are done at airport. IE, she said she couldn't touch or look at seats.

Is this correct?

That is not correct in my experience. I have always called for seat allocated after an upgrade has been processed. I call QF reservations in Australia and most times it was actioned by the Qantas Premium Desk.

 

[MelUser]

How does one get the Qantas Premium Desk to action something?

Is flying J and being a QC member enough or do you need to be QFF gold/plat etc?

 

[NM]

How does one get the Qantas Premium Desk to action something?

You call the Qantas Australian reservations number and enter your Qantas Platinum FF number which will route you to the premium desk if there is an available agent. They generally answer the called with the words "Qantas Premium" or similar. If you don't hear that then ask the agent if they are at the Premium Desk and if not politely ask to be put through to the premium desk noting that you are quite willing to wait for an available premium desk agent.

Then politely ask for seating allocation for your flight. If requesting a blocked seat (like an exit row, bassinet position etc, let them know that you would like to submit a "request" for the seat to the seating department and that you understand this is just a request and may or may not be provided by the seating department.

Is flying J and being a QC member enough or do you need to be QFF gold/plat etc?

You need to be QF Platinum FF status. Gold does not get to the Premium desk by default. I have not tried asking for premium desk as a Gold member.

 

[NM]

Yes, but will they also move 4E or 4F so that we can sit next to each other?

If 4E and 4F are not travelling together, there is a good chance they would be wiling to move. But if they are travelling together, then they have as much right to be together as you have. In fact, if they have purchased F seats then they probably have more right to be together than upgrades from J.

 

[MelUser]

With all the seating uncertainties of a 14 seat cabin and the fact that F paying pax get priority over seats, perhaps we are better off in 11
JK in J where we are:

(1) seated together; and
(2) have baby bassinet directly in front of us.

Are the F seats/beds much bigger than J ones?

 

[serfty]

As an SG, the premium desk often answered after entering my QFF number.

 

[NM]

With all the seating uncertainties of a 14 seat cabin and the fact that F paying pax get priority over seats, perhaps we are better off in 11
JK in J where we are:

(1) seated together; and
(2) have baby bassinet directly in front of us.

Are the F seats/beds much bigger than J ones?

The biggest advantages are:

• All aisle seats
• Horizontal in bed position
• Duvet and large pillow provided
• Better meal, beverage and service

Personally I would be sticking with J when travelling with an infant and save the points for other redemptions.

 

[MelUser]

If 4E and 4F are not travelling together, there is a good chance they would be wiling to move. But if they are travelling together, then they have as much right to be together as you have. In fact, if they have purchased F seats then they probably have more right to be together than upgrades from J.

Agree totally - I would be mortified if our seating and/or bassinet request was displaced by a passenger(s) upgrading on points from Y or PE!

 

[MelUser]

The biggest advantages are:

• All aisle seats
• Horizontal in bed position
• Duvet and large pillow provided
• Better meal, beverage and service

Personally I would be sticking with J when travelling with an infant and save the points for other redemptions.

Are the QF F seats like the ANZ J seats in that passengers can dine facing each other? IE the footrest in ANZ J becomes a stool for you to face other person in seat.

 

[serfty]

Yes. This has long been a feature of the Qantas international First class seats.

(Although there are reports of some FAs not liking it when you do this, preferring PAX to be nicely seat belted in)

Photos: Boeing 747-438/ER Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Photos: Boeing 747-438/ER Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

Photos: Boeing 747-438 Aircraft Pictures | Airliners.net

 

[docjames]

Agree totally - I would be mortified if our seating and/or bassinet request was displaced by a passenger(s) upgrading on points from Y or PE!

Agree i'd prob stay in Business if you want to be together and already have front row allocation.

Not worth the upgrade - travelling with small child, you're unlikely to reap huge benefits by upgrading J --> F.

 

[milehighclub]

Because the rear 2 bassinets are in a "mini cabin" that will become the PE cabin.

I highly doubt QF will remove C zone. Those aircraft are packed nearly everyday in J class, I don't think they will reduce capacity. I think you'll find the economy section will become smaller.

Yes. This has long been a feature of the Qantas international First class seats. (Although there are reports of some FAs not liking it when you do this, preferring PAX to be nicely seat belted in)

It may of been a feature in the past, but you are not allowed to sit at the ottoman for any meal.

 

[MelUser]

I am going by seat maps. The number of J seats in a 747 is shrinking from 66/64 to 50/52 to make way for PE.

In my view this will seriously reduce the number of seats available for Y-J points upgrades.

Perhaps PE will become the Y upgraders cabin?