Are airline seats big enough?

[gronk]

We asked for & got Exit Asile seats for the other 3 sectors.
Be early, Be Nice to the Checkin staff, and don't be a short bastard who doesn't need it!

I wonder how it all works ??........

You pre book seats on a plane ( might be down the back somewhere ), then you turn up at check in and ask for exit seats ....

Aren't they already booked as well ??......so to get exit seats, they then tell whoever was booked in them to change seats as well ??

BUT, you can't book exit seats.....so how does the airline fill the plane ??.........do they double book some seats knowing that someone will have to go in the exit seats ??

Confusing.....I rang and said I wanted to book exit seats cause I was tall ( 6'5" )......no, we don't book those seats.......I said how come, cause I was tall and wanted to make sure I got comfy seats to USA.........no, thats just the way it is.......you can ask at checkin.......but what if they are gone before or before I get there ??.....aahh, that's just the way it is .....

So, if I get to checkin early and they say all the exit seats are gone.......who got them   is it a thing that some people in the know, know how to get them or is it all above board ??

[doc evil]

Flew from Perth to Melbourne for my boy's 21st on the weekend. Now, for those who know me, I'm not a small fellow and to make matters worse, I've had my knee done 3 weeks ago and am in a hip to ankle rigid brace and on crutches. QANTAS went out of their way to ensure no one was seated next to me so I had room to put my leg into that seat's leg space. I was also put onto the plane 1st to ensure I had no hindrance nor hindered other passengers.
The return flight, they ensured I was seated behind the bulkhead but ended up next row back as there was a disabled lad who had to be winched into his seat, in that bulkhead row. I had the entire 4 seat row to myself. Again, myself and the disabled lad (Oliver) were put onto the plane 1st.
All I did was check in an hour early, explain the reason (which was visibly obvious) and they looked after me however, they did advise me to see the QANTAS staff when I landed in Melbourne to secure the bulkhead seat for my return flight.
Awesome service from QANTAS and a non aggressive attitude also helps.
Doubt I would have had the same service from a cheaper carrier tho and the words, "you get what you pay for" rings very true.

[ATC]

I wonder how it all works ??........

You pre book seats on a plane ( might be down the back somewhere ), then you turn up at check in and ask for exit seats ....

Aren't they already booked as well ??......so to get exit seats, they then tell whoever was booked in them to change seats as well ??

BUT, you can't book exit seats.....so how does the airline fill the plane ??.........do they double book some seats knowing that someone will have to go in the exit seats ??

Confusing.....I rang and said I wanted to book exit seats cause I was tall ( 6'5" )......no, we don't book those seats.......I said how come, cause I was tall and wanted to make sure I got comfy seats to USA.........no, thats just the way it is.......you can ask at checkin.......but what if they are gone before or before I get there ??.....aahh, that's just the way it is .....

So, if I get to checkin early and they say all the exit seats are gone.......who got them   is it a thing that some people in the know, know how to get them or is it all above board ??

Generally Exit Asile seats can't be prebooked.
Virgin will sell you an Exit Asile seat, but if you aren't fit between chain age brackets etc... They will refund you and seat you elsewhere.

The only reliable way of getting an Exit Asile seat is to turn up early & ask nicely.
Or fly Virgin & pay extra, but there is no guarantee.

[Oldandslow]

I always book and pay extra for either an exit seat or a bulkhead seat preferably where there are only two seats together. Only airline that would not pre book them for me was Etihad and they were the worst airline I have traveled on.

[achjimmy]

Generally Exit Asile seats can't be prebooked.
Virgin will sell you an Exit Asile seat, but if you aren't fit between chain age brackets etc... They will refund you and seat you elsewhere.

The only reliable way of getting an Exit Asile seat is to turn up early & ask nicely.
Or fly Virgin & pay extra, but there is no guarantee.

You can prebook exit isles on Qantas at time of making a booking if your a high enough tier. On domestic it costs nothing

[gronk]

You can prebook exit isles on Qantas at time of making a booking if your a high enough tier. On domestic it costs nothing

What's a high enough tier ?? Does that mean some people get preferential treatment ??

I'm going to USA on a Virgin flight....with a Delta plane....flying cattle class..

If I could afford Qantas, I would have gone with them..

[achjimmy]

What's a high enough tier ?? Does that mean some people get preferential treatment ??

I'm going to USA on a Virgin flight....with a Delta plane....flying cattle class..

If I could afford Qantas, I would have gone with them..

Dunno what level you can start to do it. But you can do it as a platinum . Funny thing though I haven't done it in yonks as the front rows of economy are reserved for plats and they also shadow the seat next to you until the aircraft fills up. Where's as the exit seats are always booked by big burly blokes and you have no elbow room.

[Garfish]

I wonder how it all works ??........

You pre book seats on a plane ( might be down the back somewhere ), then you turn up at check in and ask for exit seats ....

Aren't they already booked as well ??......

BUT, you can't book exit seats.....so how does the airline fill the plane ??.........do they double book some seats knowing that someone will have to go in the exit seats ??

Generally they will oversell seats to around 7% over depending on historical no shows! for the sector! it's annoying when everyone turns up and there isn't enough seats for everyone

Most seats aren't allocated until check in.   

[FlyingBushPig]

I fly international every 3 weeks, primarily on Singapore Airlines. Whilst many would view us frequent flyers as snobs, reality is I spend a lot of my life in planes so a bit of comfort goes a long way. I can almost always get an exit row by checking in in person rather than online, and always if I have to buy excess luggage.

On the issue of seat sizes, you get what you pay for. SQ has ample leg room, and while the width isn't enough for overweight people (my wife has a purely medical condition causing extra weight), the seats are far less wide on budget airlines. Not everyone has the luxury of expensive flights (my company pays), but, there are options out there.

What frustrates me is when Jokester charges an extra seat worth for 10Kg of extra luggage when I'd already bought the max available online, full flex fare, and upgrade to exit row, and the flight had just 30 people on it (A320).

[gronk]

When you say check in in person, even if you check in online the day before , don't you still check in on the day as well ??

[DaveR]

Just back from Austria.
Flew Emirates, haven't had a problem with them in the 4-5 international flights I've had with them.

We scored an upgrade to Business on the Dubai - Vienna sector - very nice.

We asked for & got Exit Asile seats for the other 3 sectors.
Be early, Be Nice to the Checkin staff, and don't be a short bastard who doesn't need it!

I'll bet you weren't in a 777 with the narrow seats.
We got better flights, out of singapore for Houston, on Delta via Japan. Same 777 plane, but as they have 9 seats across, the seat was comfy.
So folks, watch out for the crap 777's out there, Emerites and Thai are the airlines I know of who have it this way.

[Murph]

Never have flown much but when I do it's usually to Europe so I save a bit here and there and always make sure I turn left as I enter the plane !  ? you know it makes sense!   

[Jeepers Creepers]

If you want an experience, fly from Efate to the island of Tanner.

Little 12 odd seater and wedged in with heap of islanders, "tight and hot"..... which I don't mind, but not on a plane.

[scarps]

Haven't flown for 4 weeks and heading back to the airport today. Hope my Q club membership hasn't expired. Melbourne to Cairns, then Cairns to Horn Island. New territory.

[scarps]

We were required to de-board yesterday as the fuel system couldn't pressurise. An interesting little experience.

[muzza01]

Haven't flown for 4 weeks and heading back to the airport today. Hope my Q club membership hasn't expired. Melbourne to Cairns, then Cairns to Horn Island. New territory.

I fly up to Horn quite often

[Pipeliner]

When you say check in in person, even if you check in online the day before , don't you still check in on the day as well ??

No.  If you've checked in online you just print out your boarding pass and go straight to the departure gate.  If you have a Qantas Frequent Flyer card you don't even have to print out a boarding pass - just take your card to the gate and they scan it and issue a little paper pass to show the crew on board.

This assumes you aren't checking in any baggage, but even that is all electronic these days.

[scarps]

I fly up to Horn quite often

noice place

[scarpsD40]

Wow row 25, wtf?  I'd forgotten what the rear seats on a Q flight look like.  Think I've been screwed by Q online checkin. Lulled me with the pretence of thinking it was a big plane and then dumped me down the back of a small one.

[Garfish]

Wow row 25, wtf?  I'd forgotten what the rear seats on a Q flight look like.  Think I've been screwed by Q online checkin. Lulled me with the pretence of thinking it was a big plane and then dumped me down the back of a small one.

Was it middle seat?   I love row 29, with you head against the toilet.   And the 10 mins to de board....   

[fuji]

Fortunately we flew most of our North America trip with average size people next to us. But on one occasion we had this huge bloke on the window seat and I was left with 3/4 of a seat. Luckily it was only an hours flight. Not good enough though.

[D4D]

I've got one up on him as I have flown on Nancy Bird Walton
http://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/year-old-john-martin-has-clocked-up-three-million-miles-in-the-air-with-qantas/story-e6frfq80-1227139159720

[duggie]

I've got one up on him as I have flown on Nancy Bird Wallton [/url]

I lived with Nancy Bird Walton's niece for 7 years and I watched her ( the niece ) fly off the handle, or fly on her broom every day. 

[JCOJ]

For those that frequently fly - is it worth spending the extra $5k on a business ticket over economy for a round trip to Europe flying Emirates?

It seems like a lot of potential spending money just in the plane flights, so is it really worth it?

[D4D]

For those that frequently fly - is it worth spending the extra $5k on a business ticket over economy for a round trip to Europe flying Emirates?

Absofrickenlutely, premium economy at a minimum, you'll enjoy your holiday rather than spending the time wondering what time zone and planet you're in.