T-80 - Discussion and Questions

[Conrad_S]

I jump on at t-80 to select a better seat for our daughter (bronze) for domestic flights. About 2 or 3 months ago I noticed that instead of being released immediately the seat availability seems to trickle through. Random seats seem to open up over a period of hours. I can see from EF that the seat maps are still largely open.
Has anyone else noticed this as a change or is my memory playing tricks on me?

 

[opusman]

I think bronze only get to choose from seats that haven't been selected by or auto-assigned to higher status members. So you'll see seats open up as silvers and above pick their seats, but you never get access to a vast swathe of seats like they do.

 

[mannej]

T-80 isn't set in concrete as a rule as such.

 

[pauly7]

Results often vary depending on the load factors and number of status pax

 

[Pushka]

T80 wasnt open for us (WP and SG) a few months ago. We had to call.

 

[blackcat20]

I've watched different seats open and close (without actually being occupied) on flights within the T-80 time period. It's all a bit of a mystery.

 

[love_the_life]

I've watched different seats open and close (without actually being occupied) on flights within the T-80 time period. It's all a bit of a mystery.

Part of the rich tapestry of life that is Qantas.

 

[Buzzard]

As an SG I find seat selection hit and miss. For a 07:00 flight this Saturday I can still only select any Row 3 seat. OK, it's not T80 yet.
I too have had to ring sometimes and never had a problem selecting a seat. Might even try calling later tonight, just hope the wait isn't long.

 

[serfty]

If they don't open at T-80 or maybe T-23:30, wait a an hour or and try again.

I use Expert Flyer and so have a reasonable view of what seats are blocked and what seats are actually allocated (those pesky P1, Cl, etc.).

I also set seat alerts.

 

[JohnK]

T80 wasnt open for us (WP and SG) a few months ago. We had to call.

Sometimes it takes a little longer to open up.

I just moved to 4D at T-76 hours for a SYD-OOL flight. Most of the cabin is wide open. In my experience not many people are aware of the T-80 hours glitch or bother using it.

 

[Conrad_S]

Thanks for all the comments. Glad I'm not the only one that finds it a mystery. Here are the seat maps for the flight from QF and EF. I can select an exit row so it doesn't seem to be just status related. It is about t-75 now.

 

[serfty]

... In my experience not many people are aware of the T-80 hours glitch or bother using it.

"Glitch" implies inadvertent system issue.

This is not such - it's a policy decision in relation to system processing by Qantas in for their Domestic services.

It is true that not many are aware of this policy.

 

[kermatu]

Those are very odd seatmaps! A mystery as others have said.

 

[JohnK]

"Glitch" implies inadvertent system issue.

This is not such - it's a policy decision in relation to system processing by Qantas in for their Domestic services.

It is true that not many are aware of this policy.

Policy decision would suggest that all staff are trained and aware? That's not the case in my experience.

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

A general query re international seat selection using the T-80 rule.
Firstly, I am bronze. Don't fly much.

Am going on OWA round the world trip July 2017 (140,000 points deal in Y). Over the course of the bookings, each time I speak to the consultant they always say the seat selection opens 24 hours prior to flight departure.

So, Q1 - is online check-in the same as seat selection?
Q2. I can pick my seat right now, but I pay for the seat. That is well in advance of T-80. So is the T-80 seat selection for paid selections, or free?
Q3. As a bronze, will I actually get to see any available seats or do I just need to wait until check-in (T-24)?
Q4. Do the seat selections apply for every segment? I assume not as the aircraft would be different each leg & someone else may randomly have chosen that seat.

Cheers all

 

[blackcat20]

A general query re international seat selection using the T-80 rule.
Firstly, I am bronze. Don't fly much.

Am going on OWA round the world trip July 2017 (140,000 points deal in Y). Over the course of the bookings, each time I speak to the consultant they always say the seat selection opens 24 hours prior to flight departure.

So, Q1 - is online check-in the same as seat selection?
Q2. I can pick my seat right now, but I pay for the seat. That is well in advance of T-80. So is the T-80 seat selection for paid selections, or free?
Q3. As a bronze, will I actually get to see any available seats or do I just need to wait until check-in (T-24)?
Q4. Do the seat selections apply for every segment? I assume not as the aircraft would be different each leg & someone else may randomly have chosen that seat.

Cheers all

If you select seats before check-in opens (iet T-24) then you will have to pay.
As bronze you will see some seats available, but they will usually be down the back/
Yes seat selection will apply for each segment; there are different costs depending on the length of flight. Domestic flights in Aus will be free to select a seat.

 

[Youfah Mizzum]

If you select seats before check-in opens (iet T-24) then you will have to pay.

I see. So really, the only advantage of T-80 seat selection is I may see a greater selection, but I'm still out of pocket. As a budget traveler, think I'll just chance it at T-24!
Thx for the prompt reply blackcat.

 

[sudoer]

As I was reading this thread I got a seat alert for a SYD-MEL flight, at T-103. Weird, didn't realise it was so variable.

 

[sudoer]

Had another alert come through overnight for my connecting flight, also at T-103.. hmm..

 

[doctork]

T-80 seats opened up right on time for QF domestic today