Exit row seat allocation.
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I've just returned from a Melbourne - Sydney - LA - Torronto - LA - Melbourne FF trip with Qantas and the seating allocation drove me insane.
Arrive at Melbourne airport at 0445 to be told that ALL exit row seats are gone between Melbourne and Sydney on the international flight and also from Sydney to LA.
Board plane and find that not a single exit row seat was taken. A count of heads revealed 85 people in cattle class.
By the time we get to the QC in Sydney it was supposedly too late for the exit rows and my complaint about the Melbourne checkin fell on deaf ears!
AA gave us exit rows from LA to Toronto and return which was nice for a 4.5hr flight.
At LA we are again told that there are no exit rows available but a quick complaint and it turns out that not only are there some vacant, but we can get 3 together as requested.
I fly international cattle class on a monthly basis and with Qantas NEVER manage to get an exit row, even as a Gold FF, but if I fly with Cathay or BA I can get one quite easily. Why is this so? Have just fired off an emai lto Qantas to find out but am not expecting any decent reply from them.
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Member of: Qantas FF, American Airlines AAdv, NW WorldPerks
Posts: 3,860
Welcome to AFF, millesm. Websites like Check My Trip give you a free for view seat map which shows the seat availability. That can then be used in conjunction with QF Reservations to secure your preferred seating request in your FF profile.
Yes, exit row seats are generally pre-allocated or held back by the airlines for two distinct groups - premium pax (Chairman Lounge would get first option, then QF Platinums, then OW Emeralds, etc) or pax they feel can perform (and are willing to do) the emergency procedure.
They usually like to sight you at check-in first to ensure that you are aware of the responsibilities and can perform the duties directed to you by the FA's (must be able to perfom the emergency exit drill, which I'm sure you're aware entails you having to release the door and heave it out the opening - unless there are obstructions, smoke or flame - on instruction by the FA's). It's usually about 45 pounds, around 20kgs).
My understanding is that usually there is around 30% of seating allocated to a flight, then it is closed until flight date. Add to that the preferred seating of all FF's on the flight. They then release the remaining seating to the TA's who do a final allocation at check-in for those non-FF's.
Therefore, your QF flight seat allocation was already done (I'll bet you were outranked by Plats on the MEL/SYD/LAX flight and vv, as it's one of their overall highest yielding sectors, notwithstanding your flight wasn't so busy).
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Arrive at Melbourne airport at 0445 to be told that ALL exit row seats are gone between Melbourne and Sydney on the international flight and also from Sydney to LA.
Board plane and find that not a single exit row seat was taken. A count of heads revealed 85 people in cattle class.
As Lindsay Wilson posted, all exit rows were probably already allocated to SYD-LAX passengers.
As for obtaining an exit row MEL-SYD your booking was almost certainly MEL-LAX. It is a lot more complicated to give you two different seats "on the one flight rather than the same seat all the way.
You may have been the victim of the approach that seems to take place quite a bit in my experience. The exit seats are held back by airport control people so appear initially as unavailable. Speaking to the F/QP lounge staff and magically they are able to obtain them. Alternatively, at check in, get them to check whether they are really gone or have been blocked and you may have better luck next time
Dave
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Yes, exit row seats are generally pre-allocated or held back by the airlines for two distinct groups - premium pax (Chairman Lounge would get first option, then QF Platinums, then OW Emeralds, etc) or pax they feel can perform (and are willing to do) the emergency procedure.
They usually like to sight you at check-in first to ensure that you are aware of the responsibilities and can perform the duties directed to you by the FA's (must be able to perfom the emergency exit drill, which I'm sure you're aware entails you having to release the door and heave it out the opening - unless there are obstructions, smoke or flame - on instruction by the FA's). It's usually about 45 pounds, around 20kgs).
Quote:
Originally Posted by Dave Noble
You may have been the victim of the approach that seems to take place quite a bit in my experience. The exit seats are held back by airport control people so appear initially as unavailable. Speaking to the F/QP lounge staff and magically they are able to obtain them. Alternatively, at check in, get them to check whether they are really gone or have been blocked and you may have better luck next time.
millesm,
The two answers/quotes above summarise the the answer you are looking for. The exit rows are held back from us mere mortals (CL's & Plat FF's are able to get pre allocated) and you need to be seen as suitable to operate the exits if needed. Mix this with only pre allocating approx 30% of seats and probably all exit rows being pre allocated to SYD - LAX pax and you were always going to be fresh out of luck. Probably the only part of this you have any control over is getting the message through that you are a suitable candidate for an exit row. (or make Plat status).
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