Seat selection

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Isochronous

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Can't seem to do this online even as a OWS in Y - or can it be done by phone only?
 
Seat selection can only be done online at the time of booking. You have to call them after that.
 
I've always called in for seat selection, as I've often forgotten during booking (it's not a mandatory, but additional screen in the online purchase checkout). Never taken longer than 5-10 mins.
 
With their new booking system I now have access to seat selection, even though I booked through Expedia.

However, it wants to charge me (about $15 for regular seats and $50ish for exit row), this is despite having my QF Gold number on the booking. This is supposed to be free right, for OWS? Even exit rows?

its a step in the right direction though.
 
MH don't offer free seating for elites.

Shouldn't that be a oneworld benefit? I know the ow terms say "where offered" - but in this case it is offered, they're just charging for it.

I'm starting to understand why QF and BA won't codeshare with them.
 
There are many considerations affecting codesharing but seat selection wouldn't be one of them.

There has actually been recent speculation about future MH codesharing with QF and/or BA, though no explicit statements yet. (Plus MH availability in Qantas online reward bookings is planned from September 1.)

Obviously not just seat selection, but you can hardly call them an enthusiastic member of the alliance. I'm not sure why they joined.

I'm only flying with them because I have to (direct to KUL) after this experience (and I haven't even departed yet) I wouldn't use them to fly to Europe or elsewhere in Asia.
 
Obviously not just seat selection, but you can hardly call them an enthusiastic member of the alliance. I'm not sure why they joined.

I'm only flying with them because I have to (direct to KUL) after this experience (and I haven't even departed yet) I wouldn't use them to fly to Europe or elsewhere in Asia.

Not enthusiastic? Unlike other OW members, they still interline baggage on separate tickets do they not?
 
Not enthusiastic? Unlike other OW members, they still interline baggage on separate tickets do they not?

Kind of essential when you don't have codeshares with two of the major airlines (QF and BA).
 
Kind of essential when you don't have codeshares with two of the major airlines (QF and BA).

On the flip side those two airlines don't stray from the official OW policy (except for a few stated exceptions), so what is the difference there?

Most of the OW airlines do stray from the OW benefits so it's hardly limited to MH.
 
On the flip side those two airlines don't stray from the official OW policy (except for a few stated exceptions), so what is the difference there?

Most of the OW airlines do stray from the OW benefits so it's hardly limited to MH.

And that right there is the problem with ow these days. The core founding members (QF, AA and BA) have a close alliance - but as the alliance expanded rapidly in the last decade, these airlines have diluted the alliance and I believe is one of the reasons for changes such as the separate ticket interlining.

Now, I don't believe the ticket interlining issue is a big deal - it's pretty easy to book connecting flights through a travel agent. And if you don't, for connecting flights in USA and Australia you need to take your bags through customs anyway. The one world benefits are modest and should be provided by every airline.
 
And that right there is the problem with ow these days. The core founding members (QF, AA and BA) have a close alliance - but as the alliance expanded rapidly in the last decade, these airlines have diluted the alliance and I believe is one of the reasons for changes such as the separate ticket interlining.

Now, I don't believe the ticket interlining issue is a big deal - it's pretty easy to book connecting flights through a travel agent. And if you don't, for connecting flights in USA and Australia you need to take your bags through customs anyway. The one world benefits are modest and should be provided by every airline.

I'd suggest that it's a fairly big issue going by the commentary on here. Not everyone wants to use a TA and with that not everything can be booked easily online.
 
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I'd suggest that it's a fairly big issue going by the commentary on here. Not everyone wants to use a TA and with that not everything can be booked easily online.

Well Expedia counts as a travel agent.

While I am flying direct SYD-KUL, my travelling companion is flying from BNE. Neither MH or QF websites will let you book BNE-SYD-KUL (codeshare or otherwise). She booked with Expedia and the cost was less than two one way tickets on respective websites.

Obviously this is a simple trip - but I still think the vast majority of ordinary travellers (not travel geeks such as members here) will be on single tickets or book through Expedia or a TA.

Not saying I agree with the move - it was a simple thing that added value to the alliance. As I said I think this is probably due to some of the newer members to the alliance that has made the juice not worth the squeeze.
 
Obviously not just seat selection, but you can hardly call them an enthusiastic member of the alliance. I'm not sure why they joined.

I am not sure how this has gone from seat selection to enthusiasm about the alliance. In any event, is the perceived lack of enthusiasm from the seat selection issue only or are there additional issues?

BA also doesn't deliver every alliance benefit (e.g. no priority baggage, even for Emerald), and can be expected to further enhance (QF style) its enthusiasm as it continues to remodel itself like a LCC. I recall it was thought that BA instigated the negative interlining change, which has undermined the alliance.

The IAG CEO has said "alliances add value today but I would question whether they will continue that in the future. There was a need and there still is a role for them to play but I would be surprised and question whether they will exist in 10 years from now." That may be an objective observation, but coming from IAG (parent of BA) it is also a form of public messaging and not an enthusiastic one.

QF's level of enthusiasm for the alliance may also be questioned. They ended the close relationship with BA (apparently acrimoniously) by turning to Emirates outside the alliance, even though QR may have been a more appropriate partner. Simpler & Fairer saw slashing of partner earn rates, which led to much criticism on AFF and speculation about leaving oneworld.
 
The priority luggage thing is not a great example, it was only added a few years ago (2014?) and BA had stopped offering this service in 2012. And that really is the difference, not offering a ow benefit is one thing, but offering it for a fee when it should be free is quite another. Priority luggage is useless anyway, it rarely works (which was the reason BA canceled it)

In this case MH do offer seat selection, so they could easily provide this benifit, except they demand a paltry $15ish per seat.

As as for the wider business deals airlines make, that is beyond the scope of this discussion. If an alliance prevents airlines making deals with non-allied airlines (such as EK), I'd suggest that alliance has grown too powerful and hurt the economic interests of its members. The QF/BA deal wasn't working for either airline because neither could compete with the gulf carrier so. They still offer plenty of codeshare services and both airlines have stated the other is an important partner.

Also if you read further into Willy Walsh's comments, he is actually suggesting mergers of airlines. This is even more cooperation and integration between airlines, but probably a smaller scope.
 
The priority luggage thing is not a great example, it was only added a few years ago (2014?) and BA had stopped offering this service in 2012. And that really is the difference, not offering a ow benefit is one thing, but offering it for a fee when it should be free is quite another.

Not offering an alliance benefit is at least as significant as offering it for a fee. While obviously far from ideal, at least a paid option is available should it be desperately needed, or if the additional cost is tolerable because the fare was well-priced (or was a good redemption). A benefit that's not offered at all is obviously inaccessible.

It highlights BA's enthusiasm or lack thereof. An enthusiastic founding member would naturally be assumed to offer all alliance benefits. Instead BA is the only airline explicitly named on oneworld's Sapphire privileges and Emerald privileges pages as not offering a particular benefit.

Priority luggage is useless anyway, it rarely works

When not travelling HLO I definitely want priority baggage, even if there's a chance it won't be honoured. (A bit like priority boarding on QFd ...)

Outside of Australia, my priority baggage experience has actually been good on different continents. (Domestic doesn't bother me.) Although of course it is variable, it has been either satisfactory or very satisfactory (e.g. first bag out) in the majority of times, potentially avoiding 30+ minutes at the carousel.

(which was the reason BA canceled it)

While the other oneworld airlines continue to offer it.

As as for the wider business deals airlines make, that is beyond the scope of this discussion.

Ok.

In any event I hope that you have a comfortable flight and are assigned a good seat. I've been in the same situation, staring down the barrel of the abominable 2-5-2 B777 and dreading anywhere in the centre section. Fortunately I ended up in a window pair with a shadow (whether coincidental or deliberate), which was obviously fine. Though in retrospect I did feel bad for not offering the unoccupied seat to any pax sandwiched in the middle of the centre 5.
 
Gday

So if i book a MH fight as a Qantas reward flight in J will i still have to pay for seat selection?

Pele.
 
Update: OWE can select any seat for free except for exit row and premium rows (only a few rows) on MH flights.

Just booked and selected seats afterwards
 
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