The Qantas Newbie Questions Thread

[SJF211]

Can anyone hazard a guess at why middle seat 8E is a preferred seat attracting a charge for lower status I think, versus identical seats behind and in front of it?

All of row 8 is a preferred row. It use to be row 9 on the 737 but someone must have figured that charging for 9A with no window wasn’t winning any favours. It’s simply sold to make money from PS and NB that want to sit closer to the front for a “faster exit.” A money grab from those who don’t know understand T-80 or check in.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

No, it’s just a row closer to the front that you can pay extra for, if you want to get off the plane quicker.

Might be useful if everything else was full, but in this case, not much point.

 

[SJF211]

I will just note that it’s only recently started showing up as free for platinums (and I assume SG). It use to not display as preferred at all if you were eligible to select it for free.

 

[SYD]

Can anyone hazard a guess at why middle seat 8E is a preferred seat attracting a charge for lower status I think, versus identical seats behind and in front of it?



View attachment 482387

No idea, but notice the entire row 8 on a flight next year now showing “preferred”…

I’m assuming it’s some system change in advance of Y+. Maybe row 8 will be as far as some lower status PAX will see?

 

[RooFlyer]

All of row 8 is a preferred row.

No, it’s just a row closer to the front that you can pay extra for, if you want to get off the plane quicker.

Any yet the middle seat in front, row 7, isn't 'preferred', just standard? Or even the ones further forward?

 

[SJF211]

Any yet the middle seat in front, row 7, isn't 'preferred', just standard? Or even the ones further forward?

That’s correct. Though if you can select row 7 or forward before T-80 this isn’t meant for you. It’s just to catch out people who aren’t in the know and assume that rows 4-12 are completely full when in reality they’re reserved for status flyers and offering row 8 may add the intangible carrot of “sitting at the front.” That people are willing to pay for.

 

[RooFlyer]

That’s correct. Though if you can select row 7 or forward before T-80 this isn’t meant for you. It’s just to catch out people who aren’t in the know and assume that rows 4-12 are completely full when in reality they’re reserved for status flyers and offering row 8 may add the intangible carrot of “sitting at the front.” That people are willing to pay for.

Sorry - can you explain that a bit more?

It shows 8E as a preferred seat and I'm not logged in. So if Row 8 is better than rows behind, why isn't row 7 better than row 8? Wouldn't it be juicier bait?

 

[SYD]

Sorry - can you explain that a bit more?

It shows 8E as a preferred seat and I'm not logged in. So if Row 8 is better than rows behind, why isn't row 7 better than row 8? Wouldn't it be juicier bait?

It’s “better” because it might allow no/low status PAX to sit further forward. But it looks strange to WPs.


As above I’m speculating that “preferred seating” will evolve with Y+ rollout.

 

[SJF211]

It is only row 8 on the 737 that is sold as a preferred seat. If you’re not logged in and it’s offering you row 7 on a domestic flight then I would assume it is within 80 hours of departure and hence they aren’t charging as other further forward seats are available for free. However prior to that it would look like this with no status:
Or this when logged in as WP

Back to what I was saying before. Preferred seating is designed to allow people who want to sit towards the front to pay to do so. I would assume they choose row 8 as it is the front row the SG can select for free. P1 = gets access to 4&5, WP 6&7 and gold I’m not sure but 8 and beyond. Whilst yes row 4,5,6 and 7 are “better,” in that sense this is just offering the ability to for a low status to sit at the front, while still keeping the front rows clear for P1 and WP bookings made closer to departure.

This is also not a new thing. It was introduced in 2019 Qantas 'preferred seating'
But use to be hidden if you were SG or above as you could already select the row of preferred seats for free as part of your status perks. I don’t know why it’s now being displayed to people that can select it for free but as indicated above I’d assume it has something to do with economy plus rollout.

 

[RooFlyer]

Thanks both for that What a crock. First time I think I've noticed (I usually try to be in front of the 'curtain' ).

 

[SYD]

Thanks both for that What a crock. First time I think I've noticed (I usually try to be in front of the 'curtain' ).

I don’t recall seeing it before. Just had a flight change for next year and saw it for the first time only a couple of days ago.

 

[PineappleSkip]

If you are chinese, 8 is a lucky number, so that's why they charge for lucky seats. I read that on a FB page, so it must be true.

 

[SYD]

If you are chinese, 8 is a lucky number, so that's why they charge for lucky seats. I read that on a FB page, so it must be true.

But Row 4 would be unlucky in that case. But works for me!