Strange seat selection

[Daver6]

I'm flying on QF9 PER-LHR next week in Y as a WP. At the time off booking (several months ago) I selected 41D. I'm an aisle kinda guy. I figure a centre aisle is my best option as if there is someone in the middle seat there is a good chance they'll be travelling with someone in the other aisle seat and bother their travel companion rather than me to get out. Worst case its only a 50% chance and only one person. Selecting a window based aisle seats means up to two people with need to get out.

When I sleected 41D both 41E and 41F were empty. So a nice empty row. A few days ago I logged on and noticed the seat next to me 41E was taken and 41F empty. Initially I thought perhaps a WP shadow. Logging on to EF I see this


Has someone really decided they want 41E and to sit in a middle seat?! Seems a bit odd.

Now the dilemma of what do I do? I'm expecting a light load in Y due to QF needing to drop numbers to avoid Iran/Iraq airspace. Do I wait it out? Hope my J upgrades comes through? Row 43 in front of the toilets doesn't seem very desirable. I could move to 53 but I like the mini cabin.

I could risk 42C and hope I get the to myself. Or do I play it safe and go 42F knowing that 42E is likely to remain empty, but then no chance of a row of 3 to myself. I wonder if a call to QF to see if they are able to block a couple of seats might be an option given we know the Y cabin won't be full?

Yes, tackling the big issues today....but at least folkds on AFF understand this

 

[pjm99au]

I’d go 42F. 42A and B could be filled by a couple. Better chance of 42E staying vacant

it would hurt me enormously though if 41D and F stays vacant and the 41E middle seat interloper gets a whole row to themselves

 

[Daver6]

I’d go 42F. 42A and B could be filled by a couple. Better chance of 42E staying vacant

it would hurt me enormously though if 41D and F stays vacant and the 41E middle seat interloper gets a whole row to themselves

MrsDaver6 did wonder if Mr 42E did that delibratly to try squeeze me out. In some ways, selecting the middle on a flight you know will be relatively empty isn't a bad ploy.

As for a couple choosing 42A and B, normally I'd agree. But given how wide open the aircraft is, more likely they'd select one of the vacant blocks of 3.

Another option is I select 42B making A and C less desirable.

 

[Anna]

Personally I would never select a middle seat no matter what I thought the flight load was. Too much downside if I was wrong. It would only take one cancelled flight and consequent reshuffling of pax loads and then suddenly I'd be stuck in a middle seat on a full flight.

 

[tdimdad]

Same here on QF domestic. When I selected 32D, the whole centre row was free. The flight is later this week and they are still selling 9+ Y tickets. Why would someone plant themselves in 32E when there are so many better seats free, especially in the rear half of the cabin?

 

[craven morehead]

Surely the lunatic who selected 41E would move across to 41F if it wasn't taken on the day. Mind you there are some strange cats out there

 

[p--and--t]

Surely the lunatic who selected 41E would move across to 41F if wasn't taken on the day. Mind you there are some strange cats out there

Stalker

 

[theblank]

perhaps automated selection, someone who just didnt know what they were doing or made a mistake.
Me, I would wait a few days and only panic once the alternative options are shrinking

 

[pjm99au]

A positive view could be that you’ve been upgraded and a couple has then taken your free seat and the one adjoining.

 

[Daver6]

Personally I would never select a middle seat no matter what I thought the flight load was. Too much downside if I was wrong. It would only take one cancelled flight and consequent reshuffling of pax loads and then suddenly I'd be stuck in a middle seat on a full flight.

Unless QF decides flying over Iran/Iraq is back on the cards, they can't take a full Y load. So that's very unlikely.

A positive view could be that you’ve been upgraded and a couple has then taken your free seat and the one adjoining.

Not upgraded. QF website still has me in my original seat.

 

[pjm99au]

Not upgraded. QF website still has me in my original seat.

I’ll stay positive for you.

Early op ups for me still show my original seat selection in the QF App etc and it’s only when I checkin on line 24 hrs out that the seat number changes. I think they like to keep their powder dry incase they want to rescind it.

For example I knew yesterday I’d been op up’d (P1) for my flight to perth tomorrow night as I received a seat alert notification that my Y seat had become vacant but the QF app still has me in 24G.

Changing your Y seat selection now won’t impact on the op up if indeed that is what has hopefully happened.

 

[Daver6]

I’ll stay positive for you.

Early op ups for me still show my original seat selection in the QF App etc and it’s only when I checkin on line 24 hrs out that the seat number changes. I think they like to keep their powder dry incase they want to rescind it.

For example I knew yesterday I’d been op up’d (P1) for my flight to perth tomorrow night as I received a seat alert notification that my Y seat had become vacant but the QF app still has me in 24G.

Changing your Y seat selection now won’t impact on the op up if indeed that is what has hopefully happened.

I'd be super happy if this is the case. Flight is next Wednesday, so still a way out.

If this is the case, it still begs the question why someone would choose the middle seat next to me. I believe those seats are probably block to PS and maybe even SG. In other words, selected by someone who isn't exactly a flying newbie. Curious really.

 

[pjm99au]

It is weird with an open seat map that someone would chose 41E and thats what made me wonder if it could be an opup because if so your seat (41D) would show as vacant on the seat map and then a couple could select 41DE.

Not to lose the positive vibe but some people just want to be as far forward as the seat selection will allow.

You could try changing your selection and see if 41D becomes available on the seat map on EF. If it does then that throws the op up option out the window.

 

[Vic]

Lower status, can only select middle seats that close to the front?

 

[Daver6]

Lower status, can only select middle seats that close to the front?

I believe status restriction is by row, not column.

 

[Vic]

I believe status restriction is by row, not column.

I've seen examples where only random middle seats were available for someone without high status.

 

[offshore171]

There may be no weird antics behind the mystery person in 41E

Remember guys, not everyone is an AFF user jumping on and fastidiously selecting seats! In many cases these assignments are automated.

For example, at my workplace, when we book business travel flights via the corporate travel agent, a seat is randomly assigned when the booking is made.

Of course we can then jump onto the MMB tool of the relevant airline and change it (in most cases) but if you don’t, you end up in a completely random seat.

 

[Wanderlust_tim]

Could Qantas have proactively blocked it based on your status?

 

[serfty]

Could Qantas have proactively blocked it based on your status?

ExpertFlyer shows it as allocated,not blocked. This is generally consistent for Qantas. Available->Blocked->Allocated.

Contrast that with VA expert flyer seat maps which show blocked seating as allocated. Available->Blocked/Allocated.

 

[MickC32]

Please stay where you are and embrace this weirdo. If you could please grill them for their motivation and report back for us I think we would all be appreciative.

# But still hoping you get upgraded!