Any idea how (Qantas) flight seat selection works? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 10:20:11 pm
content: Perhaps someone who knows about, or has connections in the airline industry might be able to answer this one for me.My partner and I are booked on exactly the same flight tomorrow (in fact, we booked them minutes apart). Through the Qantas website/app, we have choice of seating, and you can select from vacant seats anywhere up to the time leading up to the flight.Upon checking, my seat map shows almost all seats are occupied. My partner's app shows many more seats vacant (about 70% booked). I thought it might be a cache thing, but checking again this morning, nothing has changed. Same deal logging in on the Qantas website.We're both Qantas frequent flyers, however we're both of the same membership tier and both in the same "points club" status. The only difference is that my points balance is slightly less, and I've been a member for longer.I know Qantas use an old system built by Amadeus in the backend, so maybe that's glitching (anyone who has experience with the old Telstra Sielbel system would know what I'm talking about), or perhaps there is a specific reason for this behaviour?Perhaps related; I was on a flight last week and elected to move to an earlier flight. I was originally seated in an exit row, but on the new flight, all exit row seats were taken (according to the seat map within the app). I spoke to staff at the airport and they immediately moved me into an exit row, no questions asked.

author: jpanhalt
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 10:26:45 pm
content: https://www.qantas.com/us/en/travel-info/seat-selection.htmlThat's no different than any other airline in the US that I have flown on in the past several years. In other words, there is more than the price of the ticket to consider. Moreover, agents at the airport have a great deal of discretion in re-assigning seats.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 10:35:57 pm
content: Quote from: jpanhalt on October 07, 2025, 10:26:45 pmI understand this, but according to that link it says:"Can I change my seat once I have selected it? Yes. As long as there are seats available, you can change your seat request as many times as you like."How is it that there are "seats available" for one passenger, but not for another? I can understand if one had a higher membership tier, or a frequent flyer vs. a non-frequent flyer, but in this case, we're both equal (even our ticket price was exactly the same).

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 10:56:11 pm
content: Even identical tickets bought together in the same transaction can end up with different seat selection options, it's weird.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 10:57:21 pm
content: If you book together they'd generally give you seats together, since you booked separately they would likely not.As for what you are asking, yeah, doesn't make much sense. Unless you have some filter enabled that is not showing up, like certain price range. One thing which is probably not the case, but I wonder, if you say weighed 100lb and another person was 300lb, would they ever limit where you can sit?AI result:Quote

author: Andy Watson
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 11:00:47 pm
content: Perhaps it's as simple as "encouraging" a balanced weight distribution when the plane is not full. As they say, an individual can request a seat change provided there are seats available - no problem, it's only 80-100kg being moved around. However, if a dozen people decide, on a whim, that they want to sit at the back, that's a ton of ballast to be trimmed out.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 07, 2025, 11:21:10 pm
content: For what it's worth, we booked "together", as in, at the same time, but two different bookings, using two different computers. Of course we want to sit together, which is why we then coordinated and selected our seats after booking (we deliberately left the centre seat vacant as most people won't want to squeeze in between two strangers).Definitely no filters set or anything like that (there are no options for filters on seat selections, it just shows you the entire map of that flight class/aircraft).Quote from: Andy Watson on October 07, 2025, 11:00:47 pmPossibly? This would be the only logical reason I could think of.I've attached screen shots of both. The red squares are our booked seats (I've just blurred out our initials).

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 01:36:34 am
content: Interesting, it could even be some sort of A B testing they've setup as well.Quote from: Halcyon on October 07, 2025, 11:21:10 pmIn the future, buy the two tickets from one account, they'll seat them together 90% of the time.Forcing someone to sit in between two people talking to each other is torture, hopefully no one sits there or you'd swap seats at that point..

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 02:03:54 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on October 08, 2025, 01:36:34 amThe only reason we didn't book together was we both had flight credits to use up. I am definitely not one to be chit-chatting all throughout a flight. I'm happy just to switch off, put my headphones on and watch YouTube (I have plenty to catch up on).The reason why I started looking into the seating was because I noticed that the middle seat was "taken" and I was looking for alternatives to move to. Might just pay a bit extra for one of the exit row seats up the front. We normally fly business class, but that was fully booked at the time we wanted to fly.EDIT: I actually called Qantas (as I had an unrelated question) and asked them about this. She said that differences in frequent flyer tier will influence this (as suspected) however since there is no difference between our "status", she couldn't provide a direct explanation but did confirm that the seat between us is indeed vacant and I could be manually moved if desired. My query has been sent through to the frequent flyer team, so hopefully I'll be able to get some kind of answer. I'm just curious now.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 04:50:55 am
content: As far as I know, airlines sometimes have to consider weight distribution when assigning or displaying available seats, so depending on the current load balance — and even passengers body build — you might see a different seat map. They also take physique into account for exit-row seats, since those passengers must be able to open the emergency door if needed. I’m quite tall, and legroom in modern aircraft is often limited, so I usually ask for a seat with a bit more space and once I’ve even been offered such seats myself, with the staff explicitly asking “We can give you a good seat near the emergency exit, but in case of an emergency you’d have to open the exit — is that okay?”

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 05:30:46 am
content: Quote from: radiolistener on October 08, 2025, 04:50:55 amYeah I get that, but how will they know your weight when you book? None of that data is requested or stored anywhere.When you book an exit row, you have to agree to the list of conditions before you pay. (You also get the "special" briefing once you're actually on the aircraft.)

author: kite31
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 06:13:17 am
content: Did you try clearing browser caches on each machine then looking at the seats? Just wondering.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 08, 2025, 06:22:41 am
content: Quote from: kite31 on October 08, 2025, 06:13:17 amI haven't but the results are consistent across 4 devices.

author: u666sa
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2025, 12:13:36 pm
content: OP. You need to consider airplane layout in your airline. You need to look up seat map on google and choose from there. Different layouts have different good and bad sits. Important thing is leg room, and shoulder room, if you like to take pictures out of window, then also get a sit next to window. Some people like to be sited in the isle.The fact that you two booked your flights minutes apart account for discrepancy in availability.Now, 24 hours prior to flight opens online registration. You need to do online registration first in order to get good sits. Unless it's one of those airlines which lets you pay four your sit in advance.Once you are on your flight, keep an eye out for unoccupied sits.Often times you might have a row of unoccupied sits right in front of you. Don't ask for permission. If you see those, just go ahead and sit there, especially if there is no shoulder room next to you, if let's say there are two big frame guys. Keep in mind, other passengers also looking for unoccupied sits. So long as those sits are in same class as yours, and so long as airline isn't "modern"they won't say anything. Some airlines have signs, only sit in your own sit, etc.. You can safely ignore that.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 09, 2025, 03:25:52 pm
content: Yes, sometimes the plane is half-empty, and you can really stretch out — take a nap or read a newspaper across three seats like it’s a little sofaI remember once being in that situation — there was just me and a woman in my row, and the row opposite was completely empty. So we took six seats, stretched out, read, and just enjoyed the flight.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 12:18:25 am
content: Quote from: u666sa on October 09, 2025, 12:13:36 pmI do consult seat maps occasionally but I fly often enough and usually stick to the same seats, not just because of physical space, but also due to boarding group. In Australia, it's the norm (with Qantas anyway) to be placed into 1 of 6 groups. This group is shown on your boarding pass. Group 1 boards first, group 6 boards last. Group 1 and 2 are for priority customers (like those with high status, business class, or those who booked exit row seating). Groups 3 to 6 is everyone else. (And no, you can't sneak in before your group is called, when you scan your boarding pass at the gate, it will be rejected if your group is not "open" yet.)Certain seats will ensure you get into boarding group 3. The "rules" are different between carriers, however on Qantas, boarding group 3 is usually for those seated at the rear of the aircraft. Personally, I think the rear of the plane is the "sweet spot" if you aren't in the first two groups, because:You'll board before most others so there is plenty of space in the overhead lockers. This ensures your carry-on bag will fly with you, and not on another flight.In many cases, you will be among the first to disembark, if the airport uses both front and rear doors.Most people prefer to sit at the front, so there is more choice of seating and more chance you'll have a vacant seat next to you.My only exception is I avoid the very last row as I don't want to be seated next to the bathroom.On this particular flight I posted about (which was yesterday), I wasn't able to get business class seats as the flight was almost full, however, the middle seat between myself and my partner remained vacant, so we had the whole row to ourselves. (When the seat next to me is vacant, I've dubbed this "EconomyX" or "Premium Economy".)Quote from: u666sa on October 09, 2025, 12:13:36 pmI haven't flown on American airlines before but I know the "etiquette" differs between certain countries and even certain carriers. Being a frequent passenger with Qantas, my advice would be the opposite. DO ask permission to change seats. They will usually say yes unless there is a good reason otherwise. Cabin crew will generally notice people swapping seats and you could be told to move back to your original seat. Just ask permission, at the very least, it's the polite thing to do and I'm sure the crew will appreciate it.

author: Electrodynamic
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 02:08:04 am
content: Airlines are weird.Ever notice how most have this really FU glazed over look in their eyes in the airline industry?. Like people in the cattle industry sending animals down the shute. I get it, a shit job with shit pay dealing with countless people day after day. They have this FU zombie look in their eyes I can spot a mile away as a rural person raised in the country. We call it dead behind the eyes like many hard core business people and it's easy to spot. As if they had the life and empathy sucked out of them. The term zombie comes to mind.

author: radiolistener
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 02:32:55 am
content: Quote from: Electrodynamic on October 10, 2025, 02:08:04 amI can’t really agree with that. Sure, some staff might look tired or distant at times, but flight attendants often respond quite warmly and genuinely when you interact with them. You can tell they appreciate it when passengers notice their small acts of care and say thank you — it clearly makes them happy and they tend to go about their duties with even more enthusiasm. Of course, it’s not always the case, but in my experience, that’s how it is most of the time when I’ve paid attention.

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 02:44:52 am
content: I haven't set foot on a plane in, lessee: about 8 years now. So I have no idea from actual experience what the state of airline employees is these days. And I may never again experience that.However, since I watch a lot ofMentour Pilot's videosover there on YooToob, I come away with the overall feeling that at leastsomeof those people working in that industry actually care about their responsibilities and carry them out diligently.Well, at least that's the hoped-for outcome; otherwise we're well and truly fucked.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 02:59:19 am
content: Quote from: radiolistener on October 10, 2025, 02:32:55 amThat tends to be my experience too. It's the little things. I try to put myself in their position. For example, I religiously listen to and pay attention to the safety brief, even though I have heard it countless times before. It's not about receiving new information, it's about giving them some respect and acknowledgement. All it takes is a few moments of your time, rather than burying your head in your phone and completely ignoring them.It's the same with hospitality workers, it's a demanding, low-paying job, yet we all rely on them so much.

author: tooki
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: October 10, 2025, 02:31:20 pm
content: I suspect there could be some little difference in the fare code your tickets are booked under. Since you booked separately (ordered “practically at the same time but not on the same booking” means you’re booked separately), it’s possible you got slightly different fare codes, even within the same class. And those fare codes may have different conditions associated with them.

author: vad
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 06:47:57 pm
content: If your partner is of the opposite sex, there is a chance that Qantas may be reverting to its old bad habit of discriminating against men traveling alone, as it did in the past. Whatever the reason, you can file a complaint with Qantas Customer Relations or Airline Industry Ombudsman.

author: Halcyon
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: October 11, 2025, 09:30:52 pm
content: Quote from: vad on October 11, 2025, 06:47:57 pmWe are both men.