Shadow as Silver?

[encryptededdy]

Travelling SYD to MEL on a 737 in a few days with 2 friends. We booked separate tickets (which, in hindsight, we should've booked together, but whatever). We're at seat select (post-booking) now and trying to select a row together. We were having issues selecting seats together and it turns out that if I (PS QC) select a seat in a row, my adjacent seat automatically becomes blocked and my friends (NB and PS) can't select it, therefore stopping us from all getting into the same row.

This adjacent seat was automatically blocked regardless of if I sat Asile or Window, and regardless of what row I sat in.

Eventually we managed to do it by having me move my seat away, have PS and NB select seats next to each other (i.e. such that there was only 1 seat left in the row), and have me take the final seat.

But that leaves me wondering... aren't shadows only an official P1 benefit and a unofficial WP benefit? Why do I, as a PS QC, have a shadow (and why does my PS friend not have one?)? Is it a glitch? Is it because the plane is relatively lightly loaded? Or is it only a "shadow" to other PS/NB fliers, and Gold/Platinum can take that seat next to me?

I'm thinking back now and I'm wondering if this is the reason I had a row to myself on a very full SYD-CBR 717 flight a few weeks ago.

Curious to hear any insights.

 

[Stevo.1702]

Thanks for sharing. That is quite interesting and I wish it were more common.

Perhaps loading management but the way you resolved it implies not.

It isn't official as a P1 (although did seem to happen in my one year). Definitely not something I've experienced as a WP since.

 

[MrJetset]

It may have appeared blocked to you, but unblocked to higher status members.

It is possible SG, WP or P1 may have been able select that seat.

The hypothesis here may be that PS QC is > than PS which would be interesting.

 

[encryptededdy]

It may have appeared blocked to you, but unblocked to higher status members.

I think this is likely, I'm just a bit surprised since I've never seen any suggestion that anyone under WP would have any sort of shadow at all.

The hypothesis here may be that PS QC is > than PS which would be interesting.

I suppose this makes sense, since classic upgrades are already processed in that order (PS QC, PS, NB QC, NB)

 

[MrJetset]

To be clear: It’s not a shadow, rather lower level pax could not select that seat. It’s Altea seating according to status.

A shadow means it remains unoccupied and unavailable to others.

 

[encryptededdy]

To be clear: It’s not a shadow, rather lower level pax could not select that seat. It’s Altea seating according to status.

A shadow means it remains unoccupied and unavailable to others.

To be clear; you mean there could be more seating restrictions beyond the usual Silver row X and above, Gold row Y, Platinum row Z thing?

As I noted, once I moved myself, my Bronze & Silver (non-QC) friends were able to select that row. Also, it's <80 hours from departure so I don't think there would be limits anyway.

 

[MrJetset]

At T-80 it's a free for all.

Prior, everyone is offered available seats by the system, Altea. It very much includes status, but fare class also plays a part.

 

[oz_mark]

At T-80 it's a free for all.

Not necessarily.