Automatic Seating Allocation

[mgalbraith]

Hi Guys,

I'm QF Gold and would like to know how the system pre allocates seating preferences within a status tier...ie after plats/cl, in what order do gold's get their preferences??

Cheers

[Mal]

I don't know the answer, and I'm not sure others do either.

It could really only be based on one of a few things:

1. Fare class of ticket.
2. Time of purchase of ticket.
3. Your "ranking" with Qantas (if they rank). [This could be lifetime SC's, or YTD SC's etc]
3. Alphabetical based on either surname, firstname or a combination of both.
4. Random based on lucky draw.
5. Length of time in the FF scheme/FF Number.

It would be good fun for one day to organise a FF "flyout" from somewhere, and see where we are put on the plane, and try and work the seating allocation out.

[oz_mark]

I don't know the answer, and I'm not sure others do either.

It could really only be based on one of a few things:

1. Fare class of ticket.
2. Time of purchase of ticket.
3. Your "ranking" with Qantas (if they rank). [This could be lifetime SC's, or YTD SC's etc]
3. Alphabetical based on either surname, firstname or a combination of both.
4. Random based on lucky draw.
5. Length of time in the FF scheme/FF Number.

It would be good fun for one day to organise a FF "flyout" from somewhere, and see where we are put on the plane, and try and work the seating allocation out.

I vote for number 5, although that is based solely on my experience. I don't think anyone on this board actually knows how QF undertakes "tie-breakers" and if they do they aren't saying anything

[NM]

Within the various status levels, I do not believe that the fare paid has any influence. My understanding is that it comes down to when the ticket was purchased.

[Tooner]

My vote is with NM too, although Surname has been suggested as a factor too, though without knowing the surname of everyone else as well, how can you tell.

The FF Flyout would be interesting - imagine the reaction of QF to a whole plane-load of AFF members!

[TonyD]

Hi,
I'm a real newbie at this and posted a reply elsewhere?? So at risk of getting it wrong - here it is again.

I flew Melbourne to Brisbane last wed. arvo, with my wife (also in QC) and 3 kids. On the way to melb. 6 days earlier I did online boarding passes and found we were automatically in row 8 - (fine by me!) So without a computer, I figured we'd be cool on way back. We checked in an hour before to find we were in row 25! When we tried for better we were told sorry bad luck!! full etc. It was confirmed (as I have been told in the past) Platinums then gold then silver get their preferred seating and there are 45 ahead of you etc etc. So QC membership makes no difference in seating -just status.
Many times though I have found that this system is fallable and on ringing QC told "the system has problems" etc.
Anyway the plot thickened! On board - ANYBODY with kids was seated from row 23 back! - I have since been told this is common practice.
cheers
Tony

[NM]

Hi,
I'm a real newbie at this and posted a reply elsewhere?? So at risk of getting it wrong - here it is again.

I flew Melbourne to Brisbane last wed. arvo, with my wife (also in QC) and 3 kids. On the way to melb. 6 days earlier I did online boarding passes and found we were automatically in row 8 - (fine by me!) So without a computer, I figured we'd be cool on way back. We checked in an hour before to find we were in row 25! When we tried for better we were told sorry bad luck!! full etc. It was confirmed (as I have been told in the past) Platinums then gold then silver get their preferred seating and there are 45 ahead of you etc etc. So QC membership makes no difference in seating -just status.
Many times though I have found that this system is fallable and on ringing QC told "the system has problems" etc.
Anyway the plot thickened! On board - ANYBODY with kids was seated from row 23 back! - I have since been told this is common practice.
cheers
Tony

I think it more to do with the fact that you needed 5 seats together for your group, rather than the fact that you have children in your group, that resulted in the rear allocation. Your Silver FF preference has to also fit with the ability to find 4 other adjacent seats to seat your group together.

And the Qantas Club status comes in below Silver FF status for seating allocations. The order for Qantas FF membership is Chairmans Lounge, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Qantas Club. FF Silver and QC Silver are both Silver as far as seating allocations are concerned.

[acampbel]

Sort of in the same theme .... I have noticed a couple of times that the return leg of a journey seems to sometimes fall through the cracks. Most of the time I check-in online at about T - 23:59, and again at around T - 2:00 if I can. This normally results in the gain of a few rows from a forwardish aisle seat to a proper forward aisle seat (as per my profile).

It is also common for me to be flat-chat at the destination and often don't have the time or energy to check-in online. I assumed that I would get the standard forwardish aisle seat as befits my rank, but at least twice I have turned up at the QC desk to find myself in a middle seat. Once was in row 4 with the window seat vacant (which was OK), but the other time I was allocated to a seat down the back so I got the QCC to sort out a better option.

Has anyone else noticed quirks in the auto-allocation system for return legs?


Cheers,


Andrew

[serfty]

Twice when checking in for an outbound leg, the return has been available for check-in as well; this outside the 24 hour window for the return journey (~40hours & ~32 Hours IIRC).

Both times I have found the resultant seat not as good or to be in line with what I normally get. The seating is more comparable with what one gets for an inbound domestic segment of an international flight. (e.g. Checking in at LHR for QF2, when travelling to MEL via SYD)

Since than I have resolved NOT to check in at > 24 hours in these cases.

[TonyD]

I think it more to do with the fact that you needed 5 seats together for your group, rather than the fact that you have children in your group, that resulted in the rear allocation. Your Silver FF preference has to also fit with the ability to find 4 other adjacent seats to seat your group together.

And the Qantas Club status comes in below Silver FF status for seating allocations. The order for Qantas FF membership is Chairmans Lounge, Platinum, Gold, Silver, Qantas Club. FF Silver and QC Silver are both Silver as far as seating allocations are concerned.

Mmmm. Possibly but we sat together in Row 9 going down to mel. - no problem, prior to school holidays. Bingo school holidays and EVERY child on board was in the rear. Someone who should be in the know confirmed that this is policy to seperate kids from business
cheers
tony