How likely are Qantas to change Selected Seating?

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RedSMS

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Hey guys and gals,

Bit of a conundrum here, and I suspect this isn't going to work in my favour.

Besides travelling to my end destination (Boston,) I need to ensure a few things are correct before I book the last sector.

In June/July next year I will be travelling mel-syd SYD-LAX LAX-JFK jfk-bos JFK-LAX LAX-SYD syd-mel . ------> All the unbooked sectors are in lower case.

There are a few questions I would really like to ask before I book these legs.


1. I will hit 600 SC (Retain Gold) if/when I book mel-syd . jfk-bos and syd-mel (Prior to this my current bookings will see me at 570 (inclusive of SC Bonus but exclusive of a few 50% extra SC promo's)

So, that being said, the mel-syd and syd-mel won't be a problem as I can book them via the QF website. This will bring me to 590 SC's

The question is as follows (and here within I have the feeling that this isn't going to work in my favour:)

I am in actual fact flying to Boston, not JFK, but because I assumed it was fairly easy to do so at the time I booked SYD-JFK during a sale (then was planning to add jfk-bos at a later date.)

Now, If I head to the Qantas website (US) and punch in jfk-bos.... nothing comes up. (IE, ex AU, all the domestic legs to Boston all seem to go via LAX,SFO etc NOT JFK.

1A.Do I HAVE to make the booking on the QF website to receive QFF points and (PARTICULARLY) SC'S?

1B. If I make the jfk-bos booking on the AA website by entering my Qantas FF number (I am AA member also,) will I receive QF points and SC's?

1C. QF11 arrives into JFK at 16:40, according to the AA website, the only viable AA flight I could catch leaves JFK at 21:26PM.

1D.How can I make this JFK-BOS booking AND have access to the booking in my QF account?

1D. I notice that QF11/12 arrives/departs from terminal 8 at JFK, and so do AA DOM flights. I am QFF GOLD; Which lounge is better, The AA Flagship or the Admirals Lounge? And if so, what are the differences and what are the entry requirements?) I assume these are both in T8.

1E. Can I access both lounges since I am QFF Gold OW Sapphire?

1F. If I was on AA metal on an AA ticket, could I still access either lounges?

QUESTIONS REGARDING REFURBISHED A380 AND THE NEW PREMIUM ECONOMY SECTION

2A. Although I live in MEL, I decided to book SYD-JFK as at the time, the highly coveted 24A/B/J/K (Extra Legroom seats on non-refurbed A380's) were available for me to select at the time of booking, whereby ex MEL they were not. According to my booking, I have 24J (Aisle + Extra Legroom ) on SYD-LAX and 24A (Mum has 24B and she is Silver) on LAX-SYD, HOWEVER, I am assuming that by mid-late June 2020, most A380s will be refurbed.

My Question Regarding this is as follows, (QF Special Handling couldn't tell me this so I'm hoping that somebody here might have experienced this or actually know what the protocol is..)

If you have selected an extra legroom seat (IE 24A/B/J/K) and a customer service rep from QF has guaranteed you extra legroom seats, what happens when your allocated flight is on one of the refurbished birds with 25 extra people in the PE cabin and only 3 Extra Legroom seats (31D/E/F) IE

Who gets allocated these seats on QF11/12? I made my booking in mid-August and am Gold. At the time I made my booking the flight was basically empty...

I am fairly worried about this as with current config there are 4 Extra Legroom seats.... So this means that with the refurbed cabin, 1 person expecting an Extra Legroom seat will be shafted, and 1 other passenger will be stuck in the middle, with 31D and 31F next to them.....

2B. How do they determine who gets seat 31D (Aisle,) 31E (Middle,) and 31F (Aisle)?

2C. Does it have anything to do with Status? Date of Booking and seat selection? Your seat preferences in your QFF settings? Or whether you originally had 24B (Aisle) or 24J (Aisle)?

2D. Who gets shafted? For what reason? And Finally for anyone who has experienced the refurb in PE....

2E. Are the Extra Legroom Seats any good in comparison to the current (soon to be refurbed seats)?


I know this has been a long post but thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

With much appreciation

RedSMS
Hi guys, I really hope somebody has some recent experience with this as the main purpose of booking this nearly a year out is that I had finally reached Gold status and could see the extra legroom seats (They were always blocked off when Silver and below.) Flying to NYC (Then on to Boston and Providence RI for a conference in JUN 2020. Anyway, on the SYD-LAX leg, I am in 24J (Aisle) and am travelling alone, on the return QF12, I am in 24A (Mum is 24B - Silver.)

I have recently had 3 operations to remove a relatively deep Melanoma on my calf, which due to a skin graft failure has resulted in an awful wound that is causing me grief. (At least the surgeons completely removed all invasive cancer and as a further plus, I caught it early and the Melanoma did not spread.)

I also have an extremely rare, severe and painful genetic skin disorder which is caused by the same genetic mutation as Psoriasis. In the air,my skin becomes unbearably dry and extremely uncomfortable. I cannot afford the 8 or 9 Thousand that it costs to fly J to the east coast of the USA and back, but I can afford PE. Every 2 years, I travel to the USA for a conference organised by the Foundation for Ichthyosis and Related Skin Types (firstskinfoundation.org). It gives me the opportunity to participate in research into new treatments and studies. The best part about it is meeting others who have similar conditions to me.

I attended this conference (Hence flying QF A380 PE) in 2014 (Indianapolis,) 2016, San Diego and 2018 (Nashville) and also travelled to Europe last year on the A380 in PE. I was so relieved when I achieved Gold Status as I could finally grab one of the coveted extra Legroom seats. I was finally relieved that unlike In 2014, 2016 and last year, I wouldn't have to write to Qantas Special Handling explaining my case and hoping for the best. Note, they granted me and my mother 24A/B/J/K from MEL-LAX and LAX-MEL in 2014, the same for LAX-MEL in 2016 and also last year from MEL-SIN-LHR, but not on the return, unfortunately.

I booked these flights nearly a year out so I didn't have to go through all this trouble... and now Qantas has added 25 extra seats and taken away 1 extra Legroom seat from their PE cabin on the A380. I really need extra Legroom, ESPECIALLY on long haul flights. It makes me feel so much less uncomfortable and allows me to feel better more quickly upon arrival.

I have scoured the web for information on how the new Extra Legroom seats are allocated but to no avail.

My questions are below.


QUESTIONS REGARDING REFURBISHED A380 AND THE NEW PREMIUM ECONOMY SECTION

2A. Although I live in MEL, I decided to book SYD-JFK as at the time, the highly coveted 24A/B/J/K (Extra Legroom seats on non-refurbed A380's) were available for me to select at the time of booking, whereby ex MEL they were not. According to my current booking, I have 24J (Aisle + Extra Legroom ) on SYD-LAX and 24A (Mum has 24B and she is Silver) on LAX-SYD, HOWEVER, I am assuming that by mid-late June 2020, most A380s will be refurbed.

My Question Regarding this is as follows, (QF Special Handling couldn't tell me this so I'm hoping that somebody here might have experienced this or actually know what the protocol is..)

If you have selected an extra legroom seat (IE 24A/B/J/K) and a customer service rep from QF has guaranteed you extra legroom seats, what happens when your allocated flight is on one of the refurbished birds with 25 extra people in the PE cabin and only 3 Extra Legroom seats (31D/E/F) IE

Who gets allocated these seats on QF11/12? I made my booking in mid-August and am Gold. At the time I made my booking the flight was basically empty...

I am fairly worried about this as with current config there are 4 Extra Legroom seats.... So this means that with the refurbed cabin, 1 person expecting an Extra Legroom seat will be shafted, and 1 other passenger will be stuck in the middle, with 31D and 31F next to them.....

2B. How do they determine who gets seat 31D (Aisle,) 31E (Middle,) and 31F (Aisle)?

2C. Does it have anything to do with Status? Date of Booking and seat selection? Your seat preferences in your QFF settings? Or whether you originally had 24B (Aisle) or 24J (Aisle)?

2D. Who gets shafted? For what reason? And Finally for anyone who has experienced the refurb in PE....

2E. Are the Extra Legroom Seats any good in comparison to the current (soon to be refurbed seats)?





I know this has been a long post but thank you so much for taking the time to read this!

With much appreciation

RedSMS
 
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1A.Do I HAVE to make the booking on the QF website to receive QFF points and (PARTICULARLY) SC'S?
You can’t book an AA domestic sector on the QF website unless it’s a classic award. You have to book on AA.com

1B. If I make the jfk-bos booking on the AA website by entering my Qantas FF number (I am AA member also,) will I receive QF points and SC's?
Yes.

1C. QF11 arrives into JFK at 16:40, according to the AA website, the only viable AA flight I could catch leaves JFK at 21:26PM.
Is this a question?

1D.How can I make this JFK-BOS booking AND have access to the booking in my QF account?

Book via AA and add your QFF number when booking. It should appear under MMB in your QF account. Mine always have.

1D. I notice that QF11/12 arrives/departs from terminal 8 at JFK, and so do AA DOM flights. I am QFF GOLD; Which lounge is better, The AA Flagship or the Admirals Lounge? And if so, what are the differences and what are the entry requirements?) I assume these are both in T8.
Flagship is better but as a QF Gold you’ll only have access to Admirals.
EDIT: You’ll have access to both if on an AA or Oneworld marketed flight. My bad. see here

1E. Can I access both lounges since I am QFF Gold OW Sapphire?
See 1D above.

1F. If I was on AA metal on an AA ticket, could I still access either lounges?
Yes, but only Admirals as per 1D.

I don’t know the answers to your seating questions, but search for the “seating configuration helpdesk” thread. It might have the answers you are looking for.
 
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You can’t book an AA domestic sector on the QF website unless it’s a classic award. You have to book on AA.com


Yes.


Is this a question?



Book via AA and add your QFF number when booking. It should appear under MMB in your QF account. Mine always have.


Flagship is better but as a QF Gold you’ll only have access to Admirals.


See 1D above.


Yes, but only Admirals as per 1D.

I don’t know the answers to your seating questions, but search for the “seating configuration helpdesk” thread. It might have the answers you are looking for.

Thanks for your response.

I have conflicting information here....

Lounge Access | oneworld ..... says that Sapphire and Emerald have access to the flagship lounge. It says that Qantas Club members only have access to the Admirals Club



americanairlines.com.au/i18n/travel-info/clubs/flagship-lounge.jsp ..... says the following about entry requirements regarding OW Sapphire:

Get access if you’re departing on or connecting to any flight marketed and operated by American or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin). AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum customers traveling solely on North American itineraries do not qualify for Flagship Lounge access.**

So maybe not on the way to Boston... But according to the Qantas lounge guide, Gold members can access "partner lounges," which includes the AA Flagship at JFK if GOLD.




New York - AA Flagship Lounge (partner)

Partner Lounges

Partner lounges are operated by, or on behalf of, other airlines in selected ports to which Qantas operates. Associated lounges may only be open to Qantas members two hours before Qantas departures. The use of complimentary invitations is not permitted in Associated Lounges.
Lounge eligibility for Qantas Frequent Flyer and Qantas Club members
Qantas members Qantas flight numberEmirates flight numberoneworld® flight number#
Platinum One Qantas Frequent FlyerYes2Yes2Yes2
Platinum Qantas Frequent FlyerYes2Yes2Yes2
Gold Qantas Frequent FlyerYes2Yes2Yes2

I will take that as a NO however..... as you have the experience.


However, I should be entitled to enter the Flagship loune on QF12 JFK-SYD as per

Flagship Lounge − Travel information − American Airlines

oneworld® Emerald and Sapphire
Get access if you’re departing on or connecting to any flight marketed and operated by American or a oneworld® airline (regardless of cabin). AAdvantage® Executive Platinum, Platinum Pro and Platinum customers travelling solely on North American itineraries do not qualify for Flagship Lounge access.**

As there is no Qantas operated lounge at JFK and QF12 is an International flight, would this not grant you entry?


ANYWAY

To what you said about the seating arrangements with QF.... You mentioned a "seating configuration helpdesk thread. Is that in Qantas or is it more general in relation to AFF.


THANK YOU
 
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Anecdotally, you will need to keep an eye on your bookings to ensure you keep the extra legroom seats. As seat requests are never guaranteed, a config change will likely see you put into a random seat allocation.

The disclaimer re American lounge access is for AA status members only, not QF gold.
 
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Anecdotally, you will need to keep an eye on your bookings to ensure you keep the extra legroom seats. As swat requests are never guaranteed, a config change will likely see you put into a random seat allocation.

The disclaimer re American lounge access is for AA status members only, not QF gold.

When I made the booking, I did it through QF customer service. The rep ASSURED me that I would get an extra leg room seat.

Beleive me, I know about swat requests.

What do you mean by keeping an eye on my bookings? Where are these anecdotes coming from, do you have any sources?
 
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Unfortunately no seat is ever guaranteed. No qantas rep can guarantee a seat either. There could be an aircraft change, or your flight could be cancelled and you are put on an alternative flight. Or they can change the configuration. In all those cases you could lose your seat and never get it back. Or the seat could be inoperable meaning a last minute change.

Status does have a lot to do with the ‘best’ seats. A gold is third or fourth down the pecking order.

If you book early and can grab a seat, it should stick in theory. But if anything changes, those with higher status are likely to trump you.

Have you considered other options aside for the 9-10k to travel qantas business class? You can fly full flats for as little as 5500 to the USA these days... certainly via Asia - although that is a long flight. But sometimes via Air New Zealand, or Fiji Airways.

An alternative might be Jetstar. Their ‘business’ class is the same as qantas’ PE, and with jetstar the aircraft is unlikely to change. If you book early you can snag the bulkheads (1AB or HK) and you have plenty of legroom in front of you... enough to put a large carry on case on the floor and use it as a fully horizontal leg rest. You could fly to Hawaii on Jetstar and then pick up first class on American or another carrier to Los Angeles. I have not heard of jetstar changing business class seats.
 
Unfortunately no seat is ever guaranteed. No qantas rep can guarantee a seat either. There could be an aircraft change, or your flight could be cancelled and you are put on an alternative flight. Or they can change the configuration. In all those cases you could lose your seat and never get it back. Or the seat could be inoperable meaning a last minute change.

Status does have a lot to do with the ‘best’ seats. A gold is third or fourth down the pecking order.

If you book early and can grab a seat, it should stick in theory. But if anything changes, those with higher status are likely to trump you.

I am aware of last minute changes, cancellations etc. However, I am specifically wondering if anybody has any experience on how the seats are allocated. To be honest, I would never fly QF again if they flicked me from the extra legroom seats. I booked them so bloody far in advance AND made a Special Handling Request. If they were to dishonour it, there is plenty of competition both domestically and Internationally and I would give QF the flick without a 2nd thought.
 
so since you are surely, just kidding, can you offer me any assistance or not?

Who, me kidding? As per my post keep an eye on your reservation and I wouldn’t trust the advice you have been given.If you don’t and there is a config change chances are you will end up in a random seat whatever is left. That is serious
 
I am aware of last minute changes, cancellations etc. However, I am specifically wondering if anybody has any experience on how the seats are allocated. To be honest, I would never fly QF again if they flicked me from the extra legroom seats. I booked them so bloody far in advance AND made a Special Handling Request. If they were to dishonour it, there is plenty of competition both domestically and Internationally and I would give QF the flick without a 2nd thought.

Seats are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Seats you choose at the time of booking generally hold. Until they don’t. And that’s the problem.

If you select a seat, but they change the aircraft (even if they change it back again), your original seat could be allocated automatically to someone with higher status than you. And the chances of getting it back can sometimes be slim. This could happen months or weeks in advance... not just last minute.

In fact the further in advance you select your seat, the greater the potential that something might intervene to knock you out of that seat :(

Even if you pay for extra legroom seats, they aren’t guaranteed. But you have a better chance of retaining the seat. If they swap the aircraft, you should be allocated to a similar seat (but it might be a different location).
 
What do you mean by keeping an eye on my bookings? Where are these anecdotes coming from, do you have any sources?
(1) Go into manage my booking and check your seats every so often. Watch out for a change to another seat or simply to "window" or "aisle".
(2) There are posts in this forum about this exact situation. I could find them but I don't do unpaid research.
 
(1) Go into manage my booking and check your seats every so often. Watch out for a change to another seat or simply to "window" or "aisle".
(2) There are posts in this forum about this exact situation. I could find them but I don't do unpaid research.

Thanks,

I am looking for people whom this exact situation has happened to.

Any info would be amazing
 
2B. How do they determine who gets seat 31D (Aisle,) 31E (Middle,) and 31F (Aisle)?

2C. Does it have anything to do with Status? Date of Booking and seat selection? Your seat preferences in your QFF settings? Or whether you originally had 24B (Aisle) or 24J (Aisle)?

2D. Who gets shafted? For what reason? And Finally for anyone who has experienced the refurb in PE....

2E. Are the Extra Legroom Seats any good in comparison to the current (soon to be refurbed seats)?

2B, C, D: Randomness. The booking system doesn't seem to have any sort of preference of one person over another. As can be seen above Platinum, etc FFyers have been moved to the centre of the economy cabin downstairs when a refurb'd bird is swapped in. Given none of the seat numbers align then it is anyone's guess which seat you will get. If it is so important then setting up ExpertFlyer or a similar service with a seat change alert so that you can see if the flight changes in advance, and get the seat quickly before it disappears, if it is even available.

2E: If you look at the seatmap there is a bulkhead wall between the PE cabin and the galley. None of the seats along the front row seem to be 'extra legroom' or at least not as much as the old PE row 24. There are a scattering of news articles on the internet, some hopefully with pictures. You will be loosing legroom though by the looks of things
 
You’ve given some bogus information here:

Book via AA and add your QFF number when booking. It should appear under MMB in your QF account. Mine always have.
No, AA use Sabre and their bookings will not show up on Qantas (even with a Qantas FFN) unless a Qantas flight is included.

Flagship is better but as a QF Gold you’ll only have access to Admirals.

Gold / OWS absolutely do have access to the flagship lounge.

For the OP, you have access to both lounges regardless of metal and ticket. The difference is the flagship lounge is closer to a Qantas International lounge - self serve complimentary alcohol and large buffet of food (usually better and more options than what you’d get in a QF INT lounge). The Admirals Club is closer to a Qantas Club on a bad day, staffed bar (you’re expected to tip) and very limited food options.
 
No, AA use Sabre and their bookings will not show up on Qantas (even with a Qantas FFN) unless a Qantas flight is included.
Mine always have. But I haven’t flown AA for around 2 years. So if that’s no longer the case, fair enough.

And I’ve updated my response re: lounge access. Good pickup. Thanks.
 
Thanks, guys, keep em coming!

2B, C, D: Randomness. The booking system doesn't seem to have any sort of preference of one person over another. As can be seen above Platinum, etc FFyers have been moved to the centre of the economy cabin downstairs when a refurb'd bird is swapped in. Given none of the seat numbers align then it is anyone's guess which seat you will get. If it is so important then setting up ExpertFlyer or a similar service with a seat change alert so that you can see if the flight changes in advance, and get the seat quickly before it disappears, if it is even available.

2E: If you look at the seatmap there is a bulkhead wall between the PE cabin and the galley. None of the seats along the front row seem to be 'extra legroom' or at least not as much as the old PE row 24. There are a scattering of news articles on the internet, some hopefully with pictures. You will be loosing legroom though by the looks of things

Do you see this changing once the refurbed is nearly completed? I don't fly this leg until mid June.
 
I am aware of last minute changes, cancellations etc. However, I am specifically wondering if anybody has any experience on how the seats are allocated. To be honest, I would never fly QF again if they flicked me from the extra legroom seats. I booked them so bloody far in advance AND made a Special Handling Request. If they were to dishonour it, there is plenty of competition both domestically and Internationally and I would give QF the flick without a 2nd thought.
If they can bump a J paid fare passenger into Y then really anything goes.

I think I might meet the criteria mentioned above. I had two J seats booked months out as a couple and stayed that way (I checked every month or so) until I checked into the airport and had the seats changed by ‘someone’ at the last minute. I was travelling with my blind aged mother and the Qantas service rep (who picked up the change - seats were fine two hours earlier) took one look at my mum and changed them back again.

Another anecdote. We had an equipment change last minute. Booked as husband and wife on an award flight a year out across to Europe I think. I received an alert on the phone through an app that our seats had changed. We had been pushed from two window seats one behind the other (for sleep) to two bulkhead seats - we loathe bulkhead. Went to the F lounge host who said we’d been put together. I showed her the seats - the new ones were completely separate and on opposite sides of the plane with other people in the middle seats. So that excuse was bollocks. So this seat change happened while we were in the lounge awaiting departure with BP in hand.
 
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2B, C, D: Randomness. The booking system doesn't seem to have any sort of preference of one person over another. As can be seen above Platinum, etc FFyers have been moved to the centre of the economy cabin downstairs when a refurb'd bird is swapped in. Given none of the seat numbers align then it is anyone's guess which seat you will get. If it is so important then setting up ExpertFlyer or a similar service with a seat change alert so that you can see if the flight changes in advance, and get the seat quickly before it disappears, if it is even available.
I am flying on QF93 MEL-LAX this coming Saturday and they keep changing the aircraft from one with mini-Y to a new one without.... which is really annoying. But, each time they change it to the new aircraft, I get re-assigned to the 2nd row of Y on the main deck Still a window. I don't know if I am lucky or whatever, but it seems to me unlikely that those seats would normally be empty this close to departure, so I am guessing they have the first few rows blocked for status holders.... I am assuming that everyone with status on that flight was in the mini-Y cabin anyway, so we just all get moved to the first few rows down stairs..... anyway I am really dreading this flight. The mini-Y was the only reason I fly the A380. #sad
 
Mine always have. But I haven’t flown AA for around 2 years. So if that’s no longer the case, fair enough.

And I’ve updated my response re: lounge access. Good pickup. Thanks.

Your booking must have had a Qantas/Amadeus reference for some reason. For as long as I can remember, AA bookings with AA only flights have not shown up in Qantas. They would need an Amadeus reference to do that (Qantas, BA, some travel agents etc).
 
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