Researching and selecting your preferred seat is definitely the way to go!
Having said that, I once booked a very last-minute ticket on a Qantas Jetconnect Boeing 737 flight (as in, arrived, booked at the sales desk and wandered over to the Qantas check-in area just in time), and even with status, I was offered 9A.
(Don't fret, I knew there was no window and asked for a seat elsewhere, but passengers with status can still be allocated less desirable seats.)
I was alluding to status for its ability to allow better seat selection in advance (upon a quick check of seatguru).
But if the system automatically assigns you 9A (or any other seats that is deceptively not a seat that matches its profile i.e. a window seat that has no windows or an emergency exit seat with little legroom) then I would say it's a design flaw of the seat allocation system.
I think airlines haven't bothered to fix it because true frequent traveller know in advance what the good seats are and are aware of the resources out there to confirm and corroborate.
But then always without fail flight attendance would ask passengers to close the blinds not long after take off, which always baffles me. So 9A is blind permanently down!! What is the problem with natural light??
charlieg
charlieg
QantasFF Platinum
Member since 16 Feb 2012
Total posts 133
Why is the window missing at seat 9A on Qantas B737's?. I have noticed this seems standard across the fleet.
As an AusBT reader, how would feel if you preferred window seat and got allocated to 9A?
IflyQF
IflyQF
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 03 Apr 2013
Total posts 11
It seems to be on all 738's. I was on Air Vanuatu the other day. Asked for a window was given 9a. No window!
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
I believe there's an air conditioning duct where the window should be, but could be mistaken of course...
stevo1702
stevo1702
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 09 Oct 2014
Total posts 36
Ducts for air conditioning recirculation.
TheRealBabushka
TheRealBabushka
Member since 21 Apr 2012
Total posts 2,058
I'd feel really silly for flying with an airline, which I have no status rights with and therefore have no way of preventing a poor seat allocation?
Chris C.
Chris C.
Member since 24 Apr 2012
Total posts 1,116
Researching and selecting your preferred seat is definitely the way to go!
Having said that, I once booked a very last-minute ticket on a Qantas Jetconnect Boeing 737 flight (as in, arrived, booked at the sales desk and wandered over to the Qantas check-in area just in time), and even with status, I was offered 9A.
(Don't fret, I knew there was no window and asked for a seat elsewhere, but passengers with status can still be allocated less desirable seats.)
TheRealBabushka
TheRealBabushka
Member since 21 Apr 2012
Total posts 2,058
I was alluding to status for its ability to allow better seat selection in advance (upon a quick check of seatguru).
But if the system automatically assigns you 9A (or any other seats that is deceptively not a seat that matches its profile i.e. a window seat that has no windows or an emergency exit seat with little legroom) then I would say it's a design flaw of the seat allocation system.
I think airlines haven't bothered to fix it because true frequent traveller know in advance what the good seats are and are aware of the resources out there to confirm and corroborate.
_andrewgunn_
_andrewgunn_
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 11 Aug 2014
Total posts 25
Im Gold status and was allocated 9A on a flight to christchurch with qf so not surprising
rob1984
rob1984
Member since 23 May 2011
Total posts 33
All aircraft will have a 'missing window', its used for ducting for air and cables.
akw
akw
QF
Member since 27 Feb 2013
Total posts 2
But then always without fail flight attendance would ask passengers to close the blinds not long after take off, which always baffles me. So 9A is blind permanently down!! What is the problem with natural light??
Andrew Barkery
Andrew Barkery
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 21 Mar 2011
Total posts 433
Row 10A has a misaligned window... this was so when I took JetConnect, cant complain, better I guess than no window.
One advantage with no window is that you will never have a window view nut trying to look out over your shoulder.
On SeatGuru though, some of the planes on there does give a red, this row does not have a window.