The benefits of status across airlines

[adrian]

Personally, I think that AA might affect seating preferences. I am currently AA Platinum and Qantas Platinum. On 2 of my last 3 flights (bkk-syd, syd-bkk, bkk-syd, all on BA in WT+), my preallocated BA seats had mysteriuosly be reallocated, and I ended up with something in the middle, definitely not the better seats I had requested. In all these circumstances, I had put in my AA number instead of my QF number. Maybe I was just unlucky, but in future I'll be quoting my QF number, and changing it to AA at checkin.

I should reach AA Exec Plat soon, so maybe that wil be different....

On the plus side, the AA points I have accumulated are fantastic (much better than QF), so thanks to everyone on this site for their help with changing over.

 

[JohnK]

Really? The oneworld website seems to think it is.

Really. :shock: If I remember correctly most "experts" on FT and AFF were under the impression that preferred seating was not a OneWorld benefit, well not for OneWorld Sapphire's anyway.

If I recall correctly, your issue was that there were four rows unavailable to you (as a oneworld Sapphire), but that you were able to select a row just aft of that.

Actually 7 rows were unavailable. Not being able to allocate my preferred seat prior to boarding was only a minor setback as in the end I managed to sit in the mini cabin behind wt+, with most seats around me empty and not a recliner in sight, for the duration of the flight.

 

[serfty]

The preferred seating was listed when you went into details of a specific status with a carrier. Preferred seating is definately not a new entry to the benefits listed on the OW site

Dave

Yes, you are correct; I've dug a copy of the Qantas Frequent Flyer Publication: "Making the most of your membership" dated 1st jan '04 and it lists "Preferred Seating" as a oneworld privilege for Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald.

(Obviously, BA have a different idea of what "Privilege" means.)

 

[Dave Noble]

Yes, you are correct; I've dug a copy of the Qantas Frequent Flyer Publication: "Making the most of your membership" dated 1st jan '04 and it lists "Preferred Seating" as a oneworld privilege for Ruby, Sapphire and Emerald.

(Obviously, BA have a different idea of what "Privilege" means.)

BA allocate a few rows which can only be pre-selected by Emerald level members

As demonstrated by simongr today, as a Sapphire member, you get access to pre-select seats even when the the seat map is closed for non status members.

Both of these demostrate that BA do provide it and also have a neat MMB seat selection facility which handles it ably

I suspect that the same situation will apply to ruby members as for sapphire members, but I havent had an opportunity to test that

Dave

 

[NM]

I suspect that the same situation will apply to ruby members as for sapphire members, but I havent had an opportunity to test that

Dave

Maybe not for Ruby members since BA does not have a Ruby level FF status within their program. So sometimes they don't recognise Ruby benefits as they have no equivalent.

 

[Dave Noble]

Maybe not for Ruby members since BA does not have a Ruby level FF status within their program. So sometimes they don't recognise Ruby benefits as they have no equivalent.

I suspect that they have set their computers up to handle it even though their staff often forget that there are Ruby members in OW

Dave

 

[serfty]

BA allocate a few rows which can only be pre-selected by Emerald level members

Qantas make these rows available to QP members and all QFF members with status other than Bronze. Expert flyer highights this seating on both QF and BA seatmaps.

... As demonstrated by simongr today, as a Sapphire member, you get access to pre-select seats even when the the seat map is closed for non status members.

Given that it's WT+ it's a different situation.

... Both of these demostrate that BA do provide it and also have a neat MMB seat selection facility which handles it ably ...

Great system! Of course, I did have to call early this year to get a bassinet position at a rear window bulhead.

 

[simongr]

... As demonstrated by simongr today, as a Sapphire member, you get access to pre-select seats even when the the seat map is closed for non status members.

Given that it's WT+ it's a different situation.

Ah but I couldnt access the seats until I had only my QF number where I havd sapphire status. Before that I got nothing on these seats - whereas on the otgoing trip I had been able to choose seats.

 

[serfty]

... Ah but I couldnt access the seats until I had only my QF number where I havd sapphire status. Before that I got nothing on these seats - whereas on the otgoing trip I had been able to choose seats.

I was referring to issues experinced by another QF SG (aka oneWORLD Sapphire) when booked on a BA flight with a QFF award: xx_

 

[Dave Noble]

I was referring to issues experinced by another QF SG (aka oneWORLD Sapphire) when booked on a BA flight with a QFF award: xx_

The issue here was different. The person was able to get a seat, however, being only A OW Sapphire member was not permitted to select a seat in the section restricted for pre-allocation to Emerald members on BA

Dave

 

[JohnK]

I was referring to issues experinced by another QF SG (aka oneWORLD Sapphire) when booked on a BA flight with a QFF award:

In my opinion what made BA look stupid was that I was able to sit in the mini cabin behind wt+, 30 available seats and only 10 people seated there, after boarding yet could not pre-allocate seat in the 24 hours that online check-in had opened. In fact the check-in agent could not even allocate one of those 20 empty seats for me. None available I was told.

What were they thinking? That a whole lot of premium FF'ers or OW Emeralds were going to miraculously appear and ask to be allocated one of those seats. Dumb move! I just wonder why QF flights are full and BA can only fill 50%-75% of economy cabin and are now contemplating pulling out of the Australian route.

 

[NM]

What were they thinking? That a whole lot of premium FF'ers or OW Emeralds were going to miraculously appear and ask to be allocated one of those seats. Dumb move! I just wonder why QF flights are full and BA can only fill 50%-75% of economy cabin and are now contemplating pulling out of the Australian route.

They were thinking that BA Gold and other OneWorld Emerald FF members have severe body odour problems, so they block off the entire mini-cabin and keep them all in the one section together. They can't have the unwashed non-Emeralds mixing with the great British socially distinct aristocrats. And besides, they have a special non-fish menu for their Gold FF members that is served only on that cabin, and if news of that leaked out to the plebeians they would all be demanding the same service enhancements.

 

[serfty]

The issue here was different. The person was able to get a seat, however, being only A OW Sapphire member was not permitted to select a seat in the section restricted for pre-allocation to Emerald members on BA

Dave

There be the difference! In WHY, Qantas reserve a similarly sized/proportioned area for all oneWORLD elites (ruby Upwards) and QP members; BA reserve this for Emerald or higher only.