Two bookings (PNRs) plus an infant plus an upgrade - complicated much?

[simongr]

Hi all

Sort of thinking out loud here and sort of making sure I understand the multitude of problems and challenges I am giving myself.

I have a two day business trip to AKL planned (fly in Wed and out Fri) and mrssimongr said last night that she would like to come with babygr so lets talk through the challenges.

First up I will need to make separate bookings - one through work for me and one through QF for her using a QF travel voucher that I have (that pretty much covers the cost exactly). Then I need to phone QF to link the PNRs and pre-select seats together. Given babygr is only 15 m/o he wont have a seat so I will have to pick a set of three seats at the back and hope the flight isnt full so the middle seat doesnt get taken (can a WP request this?).

Next trip will be to decide whether to try and upgrade and which flights to do so as I don't have the points for both directions. I assume I run the risk that one of the upgrades might come through and not both (in which case obviously mrssimongr gets the big seat up front with the little feller).

Lounge access is all ok - she might even get a spa . Luggage wont be the issue it was for the UK as we are only going for a few days...

Have I missed any pitfalls?

Cheers

Simon

 

[JetLagged]

Simon, don't you think that you have enough issues for one 2-day trip?

Reading through your post I think you have covered all bases: booking 2 different tickets, linking two bookings, hoping and praying. As to the upgrade, depends on whether you want a relaxed traverller before NZ or after a busy 2 days - also on what time of day/s you are flying.

Cheers, and good luck to you all!

 

[MrHyde]

Hi Simon,

You seem to have all bases covered. Picking seats at the back of the airplane is better. I have done exactly the same with my mrs and jnr on numerous occasions. QF does not allow booking at the front of the plane as the mrs does not have any status.

Also, when checking in, even though you have pre-selected seats, its still a good idea to ask for blocked empty middle seats. If the plane has empty seats, QF staff are normally happy enough to block them for the little one. You may have to move to some other block of three seats though.

Also, IME, Wed in flight should not be full (unless there is some sports activity in NZ that day or next). However, the Fri out flight is normally full due to end of week people flying home for the weekend.

Cheers,
MrHyde

 

[simongr]

Thanks both. One point of clarity - the business trip was Thu/Fri in AKL but we will stay Fri/Sat night and fly home Sunday.

 

[docjames]

. Given babygr is only 15 m/o he wont have a seat so I will have to pick a set of three seats at the back and hope the flight isnt full so the middle seat doesnt get taken (can a WP request this?).

You can certainly request this, and they should try (your chances are better down the back).

Note if you get them to request say A+C in the same row, near the back, it'll be unlikely that the B seat will be selected by someone in advance. Then you can ask at checkin if the flight is full. If so, ask for the seats to be put back together (AB or BC). If not full, at this point they'll block for you I would have thought.


Note I've also seen on multiple flights recently the FAs moving a solo traveller away from a family of 2.5 to free up a seat. Better for everyone.

 

[Dave Noble]

Wouldnt there be an issue that the infant will not have been upgraded nor will have paid the infant fare for the business class cabin and so would seem to me to be an issue swapping the upgrade (if granted )

 

[simongr]

There is no infant fare (except taxes) for a QF flight for under 2 as a lap baby.