Upper Deck Y A380 now available to all?

[madrooster]

It appears QF is now allowing anyone to pick seats from the upper deck in Y, albeit with a $25 fee for non-status pax:

32A/32B/32D/32G/32J/32K/33F/33G/33J/33K are actually taken and not just blocked.

 

[Flying mermaid]

How long before the flight? I tried to book upper deck for Master FM last week (he is PS) and only 36 F was open to him. This was on QF12. At T-80 it opened up and I could select Row 35 (although I didn't as I had paid for 71D for him). I was a bit miffed, but I didn't want to take a chance on waiting to T-80. Is this now prior to T-80?

 

[madrooster]

Is this now prior to T-80?

Yes, this particular screenshot is for QF11 on 09 Dec 2015.

 

[Flying mermaid]

Yes, this particular screenshot is for QF11 on 09 Dec 2015.

Interesting - seems odd, but will be good for Master FM!

 

[ChasingDaylight]

FWIW (and possibly on a related note) I've got a J class Aadvantage rewards booking coming up involving QF9. Seat selection put me in 12K automatically, possibly due to my profile preferences of upper deck/front/window. The kicker is that I'm only QFF silver at the moment..

 

[madrooster]

Sounds like another QF enhancement™ for platinums/golds.

 

[under the radar]

Sounds like another QF enhancement™ for platinums/golds.

status pax are still quite welcome to choose U/D seats at no extra cost

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Seems (to me) to be A380 centred as 738's in both J and Y still restrict seats. Of note is that whilst 12K was pre-selected, I can't select anywhere else in the mini cabin (despite availability in EF) and nothing forward of row 18 in the main cabin either - blocked to me. So I think it's probably just a gremlin in the system as opposed to the hoi poloi having blanket access.

 

[under the radar]

seems (to me) to be a380 centred as 738's in both j and y still restrict seats. Of note is that whilst 12k was pre-selected, i can't select anywhere else in the mini cabin (despite availability in ef) and nothing forward of row 18 in the main cabin either - blocked to me. So i think it's probably just a gremlin in the system as opposed to the hoi poloi having blanket access.

oh geez...the op thread specifically states economy class!! 12k is j/c and there are different criteria for the j/c cabins

 

[ChasingDaylight]

oh geez...the op thread specifically states economy class!! 12k is j/c and there are different criteria for the j/c cabins

I'm glad you've been able to figure out the difference between Y & J.

FWIW (and possibly on a related note) I've got a J class Aadvantage rewards booking coming up involving QF9. Seat selection put me in 12K automatically, possibly due to my profile preferences of upper deck/front/window. The kicker is that I'm only QFF silver at the moment..

Bolding is mine. Given that QF appears like they may have made changes allowing anyone without status to select the upper deck Y seats (albeit at a premium) on the A830 it's not out of the realms of possiblity that they did something with the J restrictions at the same time.

 

[madrooster]

status pax are still quite welcome to choose U/D seats at no extra cost

It's an enhancement™ in that these seats were previously blocked for status pax.

 

[Flying mermaid]

oh geez...the op thread specifically states economy class!! 12k is j/c and there are different criteria for the j/c cabins

Seems a fairly reasonable segue to me. Previously silver couldn't select the J mini cabin until T-80. I know because I tried for Master FM when he came home for Christmas.

 

[ajw373]

Seems (to me) to be A380 centred as 738's in both J and Y still restrict seats. Of note is that whilst 12K was pre-selected, I can't select anywhere else in the mini cabin (despite availability in EF) and nothing forward of row 18 in the main cabin either - blocked to me. So I think it's probably just a gremlin in the system as opposed to the hoi poloi having blanket access.

A330 still blocks seats the forward seats for J and Y too. I have a J flight on Wednesday this week, old cabin unfortunately and a Y on Sunday on the A330. As a Gold, with the J flight, only today (T-80) has the first two rows opened up for me, same too with my connecting 717 flight in J. Prior to today I could only select row 3, but now 1 and 2 also. With the Y flight on Sunday and a flight in Y later in the month the furtherest forward I can choose is row 26, but check on EF and the first few rows are available. So clearly still blocking those rows for platinum's.

Also on the flight later in the month my non status son is flying with me in Y (separate booking) but can only choose seats from row 30 back on the A330 (at cost of $25), and row 18 on the 717. That said called Qantas.

So still very much blocking in Y and J.

 

[serfty]

Maybe a difference between international and domestic ....

 

[ChasingDaylight]

Apologies - the 738 flights I referred to previously are Y Int and J Dom, so the 738 seems fine to me.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I can confirm 'emerald city' was open to non-status members three weeks before departure. Was surprising.

 

[defurax]

It appears QF is now allowing anyone to pick seats from the upper deck in Y, albeit with a $25 fee for non-status pax:

32A/32B/32D/32G/32J/32K/33F/33G/33J/33K are actually taken and not just blocked.

I just checked the booking of a colleague who is PS and he can't select any of the three remaining seats available to me (WP) on the upper deck. Maybe your flight in December is almost empty and the algorithm takes that into account.
On a related note, it has been mentioned here a few times that some non-status PAX in rows 32 and 33 may have a QF connection (e.g family of staff, etc). I had a chat with a girl the other day seated in 32A and it was her first international flight, after a while I mentioned that the upper deck is quieter and that a lot of frequent flyer prefer to be seated there. That's when she mentioned that a relative with a good job at QF had picked her seat. I don't know if I care or not, just reporting a fact.

 

[JohnK]

I have never been on upper deck on A380 in economy.

I had 32B and 32G pre-allocated but didn't get to try either. Sitting in 5A both times. I will have to wait for another opportunity to try out upper deck economy.

 

[mannej]

I have never been on upper deck on A380 in economy.

I had 32B and 32G pre-allocated but didn't get to try either. Sitting in 5A both times. I will have to wait for another opportunity to try out upper deck economy.

The upper deck is good for those traveling in a party of two. 3-4-3 doesn't really have the same appeal.

 

[slc767338]

I'm not sure if it's anything particularly new.

A while ago on QF9, I was in 32A. Got into conversation with my seat neighbour and, knowing that most of the upper deck was ordinarily blocked off I asked if he flew frequently and he said regularly. Then he mentioned that he had to pay $25 for the seat allocation.

Thought this was peculiar and perhaps just a TA add on cost but perhaps not.