TIP: Want the best seat in the house?

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kbuckham said:
I might throw my 2 cents in re exit rows. I have been very lucky over the years..being 6'4 helps I guess. But with regards to being fit,strong and all that I am not so sure now. Flying NRT-SYD last month I got to my exit row to find a couple in A and B...he was 84,she was around the same...I didn't see them get up once all flight....in an emergency we would have been gone.....it was there first trip OS in 5 years so I doubt they were way up the qantas chain...maybe check in staff at NRT are a bit less strict who knows.

When I was there last Christmas, I requested an eit seat. I was asked if I can understand and speak good english and whether I was over a certain height (can't remember now0. The ground staff explained that it is the essential criteria before an exit seat will be issued.
 
Well for my INTERNATIONAL return flight MLB-LAX I just called up Qantas and changed my seats from 35 B and C to 34 B and C.

http://www.seatexpert.com/QF744-14P65J315Y.html

I checked the return flight and for some reason I was allocated 27 F and G which if you look at the map it is Business but the Qantas lady I spoke to said it was classified as Economy and is pretty much the equivalent of 34 F ang G.

The Airplane type is a Boeing 747-400 (standard name but probably 438 Longreach) but the additional info the Qantas rep told me (as she was curious as well) was the plane type of 362-569.

Anyone know why row 27 is a econ seat?

Regards
Daniel
 
You probably have an aircraft with no F, hence Economy starts at 25 or 26.
 
danielh said:
I checked the return flight and for some reason I was allocated 27 F and G which if you look at the map it is Business but the Qantas lady I spoke to said it was classified as Economy and is pretty much the equivalent of 34 F ang G.
The fact that you have 27 F and G allocated indicates it is standard economy seating. Business class seating on the lower deck is 2x3x2 with AB-DEF-JK. There is no G. Economy seating on the lower deck is 3x4x3 with ABC-DEFG-HJK. So the only way to have a G seat is having an aisle in standard economy seats.

So I assume this is QF104 which is the 2-class LAX-MEL service that only operates once a week, as opposed to QF94 which is the 3-class daily service.
 
Get out of my seat!!!

I'm a 6'7' Silver QFF who gets very irritated at getting lumped at the back of the plane after all exit row seats are taken by regular sized pasengers that wouldn't mind a stretch.

Exit row seats should be for people who actually need the room.
 
Re: Get out of my seat!!!

SilverFlyer said:
I'm a 6'7' Silver QFF who gets very irritated at getting lumped at the back of the plane after all exit row seats are taken by regular sized pasengers that wouldn't mind a stretch.

Exit row seats should be for people who actually need the room.
Noted on Airline USA on Chanel 7 last week, that South West Airlines permit pre-boarding upon request for tall passengers. They do not have reserved seating, so the pre-boarded passengers get first slection of the seats and hence exit rows. Perhaps JQ may have a similar pre-boarding policy for very tall people - and I would put 6'7 into that category!

If you want regular exit rows on QF flights you will likely need more than Silver FF status. On long international flights I pay the diff for business class because I really dislike squashing myself into a Y seats for 14 hours at a time - and I am nowheer near 6'7! Oh yes, and paying for business class also helps to retain the higher status required to get better seats allocated for domestic flights :wink: . But it does cost me quite considerably with the cost of fares like DONE4 ever increasing.
 
Slightly OT, but did anyone else see the woman on 'Airline USA' last week (May 17) who was told to take up two seats on SouthWest? (Because she was considered too fat)

Boy talk about a dummy spit!
 
bambbbam2 said:
Slightly OT, but did anyone else see the woman on 'Airline USA' last week (May 17) who was told to take up two seats on SouthWest? (Because she was considered too fat)

Boy talk about a dummy spit!
Yep, saw that one. Their rule is that if the arm rest can't come down, you have to buy two tickets, and if the flight is not full they will refund the extra one.
 
i have been upgraded twice on syd - lax flights this year. both times from business to first. one time i checked in, rec'd my bus class boarding pass and then was issued a new one for 1st at the gate!

the other time i am unsure as to why it occured. i always where loose fitting t-shirt and shorts as i am in bus class anyway. so i wonder if your apparel makes any difference.

i have been upgraded domestically heaps from econ to bus. only once was i asked by the check in person about my footwear.

i have my thoughts on why these things occur:

1. i am a platinum/emerald member
2. i am always on a changeable fare (not the cheapest ones)
3. i fly from BNE to some where return almost every week (except when o'seas) and sometimes more than once during the week.
4. i travel alone. if you travel with a colleague who has a lower status and your bookings are linked rarely will they separate your bookings/seat allocations.

These are just my experiences.
 
Trap for young players

If you want an exit row automatically don't go through the electronic check-in.
A person has to ask you & also see if you are physically able to sit in one of those seats.
 
bigjobs said:
i have my thoughts on why these things occur:

1. i am a platinum/emerald member
2. i am always on a changeable fare (not the cheapest ones)
3. i fly from BNE to some where return almost every week (except when o'seas) and sometimes more than once during the week.
4. i travel alone. if you travel with a colleague who has a lower status and your bookings are linked rarely will they separate your bookings/seat allocations.

These are just my experiences.
My experience differ. I match all your criteria above except point 3. I don't fly weekly, but will do well over 3000 SCs this membership year. Most international traval is in paid business class, domestic is generally B or Y with the occasional K. I have not had an op-up in several years, and never from business to first. All my first class upgrades have cost me UCs or points.

I always dress well when I travel, finding that I am more comfortable in a pair of Dockers and a non-iron button short-sleve shirt than in jeans and T-shirt.

And I never had an op-up from any other OneWorld airline. Then again, I get what I pay for - a business class seat for a business class fare.
 
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NM said:
And I never had an op-up from any other OneWorld airline. Then again, I get what I pay for - a business class seat for a business class fare.
Maybe I should post this more often :D . That post was made from the CX First Class Lounge (The Wing) at HKG while I was holding my 15H business class boarding pass for CX882 to LAX. When I went to board that flight the scanner rejected my BP and I mentioned to the agent that the machine doesn't like me. The she crossed out my 15H seat and wrote on 4A. I said that it really does like me!

So my first op-up in several years was on a CX flight. I think I will have to fly that sector more often! Last time my TA mistakenly booked it as A instead of D, this time I get an op-up from D to F. I can certainly attest to the fine quality of CX F on their long-haul services. The Balik Salmon is superb, and the free flowing Krug helps to wash it down :D .
 
Benny Wrote: "MOST IMPORTANT - Be POLITE and FRIENDLY"

This has been my experience in numerous cases ! I have never asked much less ever DEMANDED preferential treatment. However, I have been given favor in the form of vouchers, upgrades & even free tickets on several trips with different airlines in both the USA and NZ.

One example was when I was seated next to a newlywed bride who was upset because she was not seated next to her beloved hubby ! I had a great seat but figured 'hey they are Honeymooners' ( searching my brain to remember what that was like LOL). I told a flight attendent that I was traveling alone and would gladly let the bummed out groom have my seat. The couple and the flight attendent were very pleased and thanked me prefusely. Then to my SURPRISE instead of being given his old seat in the middle of a back row I was given an Upgrade :)
 
Benny said:
Hi All,

Just a tip from an ex-employee for increasing your chances of getting a decent seat:

1) For domestic flights - Turn up early! Check-in can re-allocate your seat easy enough

2) For international flights - Seats are pre-allocated. Your travel manager should be able to grab you the best seat available.

3) NEVER EVER state that your hurt or injured and required more space so can you have an exit row. The answer will definitely be NO and they have the right to refuse to board you on the aircraft.

4) One of the rules for an exit row is that you must not be travel with a dependent. So leave the kids, pregnant wife and your 100 year old aunty at home.

5) Certain titles will also help your chance of ending up in the exit row. If you're a police officer or fireman or the like, make sure that's clearly on your profile. Use "Detective David Jones" when booking your ticket. The airline wants to ensure that you're fit enough to pull a 20kg door out of the aircraft and throw it. Chances are a member of the services will be fit enough to do it, whereas the fat teen who works at Macca's probably can't.

6) MOST IMPORTANT - Be POLITE and FRIENDLY. The amount of egotisical wankers who demand that they get the best seat and use the classic line "do you know who i am" will never get it. Chances are they'll get NSR (Not Suitable for Regrade) on their booking.

I hope this helps!

Benny

Hey... when I was younger (like 8 years old) I used to fly on my own or with my sister (2 yrs older) they always gave us the exit row!!... If you say no kiddies are allowed... y did we get those seats???

The moody angel
 
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Benny said:
3) NEVER EVER state that your hurt or injured and required more space so can you have an exit row. The answer will definitely be NO and they have the right to refuse to board you on the aircraft.


Lets say you've got a broken leg with a cast up to your waist and you're booked in Y... if an exit row is not an option.... where is?
 
little_moody_angel said:
Hey... when I was younger (like 8 years old) I used to fly on my own or with my sister (2 yrs older) they always gave us the exit row!!... If you say no kiddies are allowed... y did we get those seats???

The moody angel

I'm not sure they cared about kids in exit rows 40 years ago?
 
d00t said:
little_moody_angel said:
Hey... when I was younger (like 8 years old) I used to fly on my own or with my sister (2 yrs older) they always gave us the exit row!!... If you say no kiddies are allowed... y did we get those seats???

The moody angel

I'm not sure they cared about kids in exit rows 40 years ago?

Well that wasn't 40 years ago... more like 12 years ago!!

the moody angel
 
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