Swapping Classes

[kamchatsky]

I have 4 * J HKG-SYD award ticket on QF at end of January next year. Now I have found that my parent-in-laws will be joining us. Given they are very old and need wheelchair support, they would need J class. However there are no more Y or J awards for that flight. Moving dates/flights is not an option due to lack of availability around those period.

So is it OK to just buy 2 Y tickets for them, and then myself and my daughter swap seats with them when on-boarding, i.e. they will be on J and we will be on Y? I don't expect to go back to J at all, and will stay in Y for the full duration of the flight. Would QF FAs throw a tantrum on this?

Or do I need to get my award ticket reissued to their name, and then buy our own Y ticket? I am worried to get tickets re-issued I will lose my existing J awards ... Also our tickets were ticketed prior to the points increase by QF.

NOTE: A few years ago I did it for SQ once where I swapped my J seat with my better half (Y seat) without problems. Just not sure about QF.

 

[Flying Fox]

Its fine to swap at the start of the flight.

Normally I go up and talk to the CSM and explain the situation at the start of the flight. CSM's are generally fine with this esp when husbands swap their wives into J or swapping for elderly passenger.

Never had any problems.

 

[Denali]

I hope you telling the FAs that youre moving your elderly inlaws to your J seats and you will be sitting in Y will earn you an extra nice drink.

 

[Cruiser Elite]

NOTE: A few years ago I did it for SQ once where I swapped my J seat with my better half (Y seat) without problems. Just not sure about QF.

Just about sums up the world of flying doesn’t it?

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The only potential fly in the ointment will be that swapping adult/child seats is not usually allowed as child fares can be less than an adult's. This shouldn't be an issue for award seats which are the same price, but if your daughter is obviously a child and potentially travelling on a child fare, the crew may question the swap (the crew won't know you have used points rather than cash).

You should be able to explain this away if it becomes an issue.

other than that there will be no issues in the swap. No need to do anything in advance. Just do it as you enter the aircraft. (Tyring to arrange it in advance, or at check-in will likely lead to more problems than it's worth.)

 

[Mattg]

FWIW, the guy sitting next to me on a QF J flight last week was told by the CSM he couldn't swap with his partner (who was in Y) during the flight. I assume the outcome might have been different if the swap was done during boarding.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

FWIW, the guy sitting next to me on a QF J flight last week was told by the CSM he couldn't swap with his partner (who was in Y) during the flight. I assume the outcome might have been different if the swap was done during boarding.

Agree. Swapping during the flight is different in that you're getting 2 x the benefit, rather than just the one, for the fare(s) paid.