Qantas will now charge you for all 'extra legroom' economy seats

I am surprised, but really disappointed that Qantas seems to give you the job of breaking the bad news to its high tier and loyal customers.

I am not sure this will work well parpcualry on short ~1hr flights. They need two of the seats occupied in each bank of three, and so will they get 8 people each flight willing to fork out $20 each. I always chose the exit row as Gold flier and even then not all seats were occupied and people were moved to the seats to make up the numbers. I suspect they will move back to allowing Gold et al to select them without a fee, or use maybe 500-1000 FFpoints for them.  As it is 5000 points to updgrade to business on these flights may be a better value proposition.

When will the madness end? Why do they consider Honolulu worth $180 (10 hours) when Dubai (at 14) is considered $90? 

Probably inevitable I guess...  Was always surprised how easy it was to pick exit rows up domestically 48 hours out as a lowly bronze/silver. 

So as a QFF Gold I can get main cabin extra seating for my entire family on AA for free, but would have to be P1 for close to the same deal on QF.

Why should status pax pay for this ?

Status pax are getting less and less all the time, and is fast getting to the point where status means bugger all.

It's getting harder and harder to remain loyal QF.

Time to look at flying more with other OW carriers. 

Qantas must have let one of its Jetstar staffers in that day. I don't know how else they would have come up with such an 'unpremium airline'  decision. Judging by the feedback here I hope that this odd Qantas idea is grounded.

As someone who has been qf plat for 5 years but just attained VA plat this year, this has totally decided my future domestic bookings with be with VA. just as VA increase complimentary legroom for plats through economyX, qf have taken it away 

What a stupid decision and as someone who is 6'5 deem this a absolute insult when they are making money in many other areas!! 

As a QF platinum flyer this is really disappointing. I fly regularly SYD-MEL and are always in row 13 on a 737 offering the extra leg room. I felt as a loyal 

Mightyreds, don't you already pay for the seats, or are you status ?

What happens if you book and pay, and then change your flight where exit is not available? What happens if you change seats on the flight (eg. to row 4) closer to the departure time? What happens if you upgrade to business after paying for it?

best part of the article is the virgin economyX ad right next to it.

The slow but continual slide of Qantas back to the monopoly mindset that had many of us moving to VA 5 years ago continues, it was only when they realised how many pax had left they started to change.

Surprised they didn't follow VA's Economy X and make it free for Plats, or even Golds within the check in window.

Can I make the suggestion that all those status pax who are unhappy with this, send a firm but polite request to QF via their FB page, to have the decision makers revisit this ludicrous decision.

I did, and I hope you do too !! 

I like to see one comment justifying this move (apart from, this is a business decision!)

Baffling that Platinum and Gold aren't given an opportunity for free selection. I don't know that it will turn many off flying QF which probably explains why they did it - bit of extra cash, almost no ramifications. I agree with the above though, complain if you have status. There needs to be more benefits given the intl competition, not less. 

I am not on Facebook so can't send QF my disgust at this decision, but what I did do was send this story to the other dozen or so managers in our company who are all equally appalled at this. We are now going to send an email to our CEO asking him to reconsider the companies QF only policy we have had for a few years and once again allow us discretion on which airlines we use.

Hi Ajstubbs

Individually, we probably thought the same thing a while back, that, "I don't know that it will turn many off flying QF", but as time goes by, and QF continue to make status less and less attractive, the thought process changes to, "look at everything we've lost over the past X amount of time".

Eventually, the bubble bursts and people like me and probably you, and a WHOLE LOT of others, start to question why status is worth it.  

Something to differentiate P1 from P. If you dont drink wine or play golf there is little reason to spend all those thousands to get  those P1 status points!

Good on you GBRGB !!!

As much as we complain in forums, it achieves very little except make us feel good for a few minutes.

The only way change can be effected is for the masses to go direct to the source of our ire.

In this case, QF themselves !! 

As a Platinum with both this just reaffirms my increasing trend to do my flying with Virgin. This management decision is consistent with the absence of a customer focus philosophy that is demonstrated by Qantas cabin crew. At least staff and management are united on one aspect of the business.

As a QF Platinum this is a disappointment. Exit rows are the only glimmer of civilisation on a B737, so now I'll just have to work out how to recoup an extra $20 each way from the Business Class lounges when I travel. You can't have it both ways Mr Qantas...

This is a lot fairer than Virgins Economy X because the front row seats are still reserved for their Platinum members where Virgin sells them to first in. It makes good business sence to be loyal to your loyal clients.

QF screwing the loyal customer base again..Sad

The reason why instopped flying Virgin was that Qf allowed me to choose 13c at no cost.  Now they are charging for this seat I think I'll go back to Virgin as it's the same and they are just gauging where they can.  

Did Qantas seriously just use the word "fairer" again in describing a negative change? Well, at least they didn't also use the word "simpler" like they did when they made their frequent flyer program infinitely more complicated!

Seriously though, what a ridiculous comment: "facilitates a fairer seat selection process, with the allocation of seats which have additional legroom space better reflecting the fee paid".

Before this there was no fee to pay, so now you need to pay more than you did before for the same experience. Yep, sounds fair to me, especially when Virgin Australia now gives platinums 5 rows of extra legroom seats to select for free as Economy X (first few rows of economy plus the exit rows), yet Qantas expects its own platinums to pay for the same privilege and won't even let them sit in the front row where there's also extra legroom, because that's reserved for people more important.

They should have stuck with their usual term, 'enhancement'!

And another kick from Qantas to all you Qantas FF.

And so I look forward to my cash payment when the "Red Tailed Rip Off) (QF) need to fill the emergency row under aviation legislative requirements.  

Until Alan Joyce is gone the madness will continue, he has ruined what was once a good airline, i am in HK at the moment on my way back from London, Cathay are infinitely better than Qantas these days, Seats are wide enough for my shoulders and the food is edible.

QFA really knows how to thank its loyal customers by fleecing them for being loyal notwithstanding the prostitution of its brand.
Alan Joyce knows exactly what he's doing.

Im am finding it harder & harder to justify remaining platinum with QF. Exit row seats on domestic flights were one of the few perks remaining. I am only silver with VA, but may seriously consider redirecting my domestic flying to them as a result. Poor form Qantas.

How very disappointing...

Just submitted a complaint through the Qantas website. Auto response "due to our current high volumes, it might take us longer than we'd like to respond".  Gee, I wonder why?

Question ...... does Qantas monitor these chats? Seems like a really good source of feedback for them .... kind of like a very active focus group .... of actual users !!

Totally get why flyers with status see this a retrograde. But for me with lowly status this is good - I have been avoiding QF and flying VA because anyone can buy the VA exit row seats at the time of booking.    

i have a booking for Firday I had already pre selected my normal exit aisle being LT Gold

QF is one of the world's worse airlines, they regard passengers as "self loading" cargo!. As for loyalty, it is a one way street for them. 

VA good time for status match?

On the website it indicates "from $20 or 3000 points". Why would I spend 3000 points to get 0.67 cents per point value, when I could spend 5000 points (on a flex fare) to upgrade to business and get potentially 3-6 cents per point in value?! Ludicrous!

Because Pete, they bank on peeps NOT doing the sums as you have, and as most FF's would do.

Further indication that QF are treating us like chumps.

Interesting to note that it costs the airline .005 euro cents per transaction and they want to charge you these exorbitant fees to self service. Talk about price gouging!

@deanr each transaction on the booking system costs .005 euro cents. The reason for that is Amadeus is based in Europe! 

2 years ago I did 2,500 status credits in one year with Qantas,  this year I did 20.  Couldn't care less about status with any airline anymore.  This is very LCC ....

Oh give me a break, if Qantas was your business you'd be signing off this new policy quick smart. High demand seats in economy....yep charge em!  You think Virgin wants to not charge for those seats....cmon people only a matter of time for them too....and like their P&L can afford to not charge!!!

AT on short one hour or less flights they may have trouble finding people to fill those seats (which they have to)  at that price.

I'm not understanding the outrage here. VA introduces Econ-X and people go "Wow", QF responds by initially applying the same logic to the exit row seats and gets beaten to death? 

Well, they just killed one of the last worthwhile QFF platinum benefits. What do I care about? Mostly lounge access and legroom. Comparing Australia's two main programs (velocity and QF): 

Just so I'm sure I'm understanding this correctly, is the article saying Qantas will (now) reserve the front rows in economy for CL and P1 passengers only? They won't even open to other passengers at T-80?

It has come to the point where being Platinum really counts for nothing with Qantas, the planes are dirty, service lacking, food unpalatable, there is nothing glamorous or luxurious about QF, I do my minimum  prerequisite 4 flights to retain the status and then all other flights with CX where Im treated 100 times better and like a real VIP even in economy. QF is going down the low cost carrier model when it comes to product and services but senior management really don't seem to care, this latest decision being the perfect example, would someone really have a chat with Alan Joyce? Perhaps through this forum or all of its members we should start thinking of putting a long list of issues and send it as a group to QF senior management, esp Mr Joyce as it really is getting worse and how can they expect loyalty where they do not value it?

Well done QF! (sarcasm off) - other OW airlines provide Platinum level flyers with: free premium economy seating, free long-haul upgrades from any fare-bucket (including the lowest) at any time when there is availability (which is plenty), free OW Gold membership for a family member,  e-mails being responded to between 2 and 10 hours etc etc).  Why would one stay with QF I wonder when privileges (such as the free exit row seats) are continuously 'enhanced' so that 'status' and loyalty do not really mean much any more.

Further to my earlier comment I don't value the exit rows that much. If I want to work the tray tables flex too much to make it comfortable and for short hops or even ADL-BNE at 6ft I don't have a problem with the legroom in the first 4-5 rows. 

I think I can feel some economy X flights coming on!  Exit row seats were important to me & if I have to pay for them I might as well get the full deal. I have this years Qantas  Gold locked away already so why not have a dance with Virgin to see how good they are. Sadly this appears to be a race to the bottom!

I'm sorry, but all I can do is laugh. QF has been on the nose for years and is simply on a one way flight to oblivion. I detest their disdain of people who hang out and remain loyal to them. I have not flown QF for years and never will again. If I fly domestically, it's always VA. Clean cabins, pleasant staff and real benefits for plat and gold. Internationally, I would never ever touch them. Emirates is alway superlative and remains my carrier of choice. I spend north of 50K a year with them and the thought of giving one cent of it to QF is abhorrent. The ONLY way to make them listen is to vote wit your feet. C'mon Qantas FFs! Leave and see how good it is without them. Alan Joyce, you continue to put a cream pie in your own face. Haaaa haaa!

😢

I don't have a problem with this at all. Although this takes away something that was free, it gives a fairer seat selection process for everyone (there are people outside our little bubble) 

I think the main issue is that the once published benefit for Gold and Platinum FF's who spend up to thousands of dollars and stay loyal is now being taken away by someone who is willing to maybe pay an extra few $'s for an emergency exit row with extra leg room.  Short term, it may seem to add a bit more revenue, but pissing off Frequent Flyers who may now go to VA and pay the same amount for the Extra X Seat with more leg room, will be a longer term effect.  Bad short term accounting from the bean counters who have no clue once again.

So disappointing to see Qantas treating its platinum members this way. Infuriating however are the Facebook comments being made by Qantas in reply to their FF members complaining about this decision!  

as someone who spends $30+K per annum with QF, I will now be seriously looking at VA.  Personally, I placed a lot of value of the ability to choose an exit row seat without it being a "premium" due to my height (over 6'4") or any other seat when flying with my family.  Have 4 flights booked with them over the next 2 months, but from then on will look at moving over to VA.  I'm sure Qantas's accountants won't factor in the loss of ~$30K of revenue for the ability to charge about $500 extra in this seat selection strategy over the next 12 months (and multiple that over a few years) ... 

I am only a Lifetime Silver Member, dropped from 3 years at Gold last year. I was looking forward to getting back to Gold this year (and probably Platinum for the first time), because of the chance to secure the better seating and exit row at that level. Becoming clear that Qantas don't value loyalty AT ALL!!

AnthonyvB, I don't need to fly QF to know how bad it is. Firstly I experienced their shoddy efforts  when I did fly with them. Secondly, the torrent of complaints I see here continuously, their well publicised and continuing actions to annoy their customer base and the constant complants I hear from family and friends is more than enough to tell me what their attitude is to genuine service for its loyal customers.
I suspect you are not happy also and being embarrassed by your misplaced loyalty, you choose to defend QF rather than do something about their behaviour

Qantas are telling you "go for the cheapest possible fare whether it be QF or VA, status really means little to us.  A person on a red fare $100 fare paying $20 more is worth more to us than you buying Flexi fare or flying 50+ flights with us each year."

I have 3 bookings in the next couple of weeks all with exit rows seat selected, when I go to seat selection page it doesn't allow me to do anything, it annotates I am in a extra legroom seat 13C on all sectors and has a tab below to indicate exit rows can be purchased for $30. When I go to select seat button it doesn't allow me to progress any further, very confusing, so I don't know if my exit row seats are still valid or if I have to pay extra. I haven't got hours to spare waiting on hold at the call centre so I guess I will have to wait to online check in to see what has actually happened, very confusing. 

I really hope someone high up in Qantas reads the feedback on this site and takes it on board. Virgin did with their changes and full credit to them for admitting they got it wrong.

My question to qantas which remains unanswered since overnight :

Very dissapointing. This comes at a convidient time as Vigin add their new seating arrangements. I went to get my seat and now have to pay. Ah well it is proof that that Virgin and Qantas know each others moves and sit around a table to discuss their options

Once again it seems that Darwin is getting jipped... seems Qantas want not just an arm and a leg for my base airfare, but now the rest of my limbs as well. Just checked my booking for the red eye next Monday night to Sydney - $60 one way for an exit row on a 737. Think I'll take my chances in the lounge and request 2-3 standard seats to stretch out

Had to book a trip to Hong Kong for 2 weeks time. Would always have chosen  qantas up to now but have chosen VA as a result of this change and putting me as a qf platinum offside. That's $4000 less in qantas coffers and by my reckoning they need to sell 160 emergency exit seats from Melbourne to Sydney to make that up not to mind the future goodwill they have lost from me

I have just registered my disgust to Qantas via the QF Facebook page as well as a letter which I will put in Australia Post tomorrow.  If enough of us do this they might at least reinstate the no-cost exit row selection for Gold FF and up...

I have been sharing my disappointment on Qantas's new exit row $$$ policy with service desks in all of the Qantas lounges I've been in since decision was made. Maybe if enough FF's do this they might actually listen! Nothing to lose anyway.  Hope they might see sense and waive fee for Gold FF and up...

Hmmm - I just booked (domestic on a Sunday - I'm platinum on qantas) and it didn't charge me to pick an exit row seat - very welcome but how's other's experiences? Are you being charged?

Looks like you have to be at least Platinum - this "perk" was previously available to Gold also :(  Really want them to reinstate it for that level FF...

I also spoke to numerous Qantas staff and wrote to Qantas about this retrospective change. I'm a Platinum FF and I just went through all my future bookings and I can now select exit row seats for free not just on domestic flights but international as well. DBX-SYD and MEL-LAX exit row seats in economy for both myself and my wife (who is not Platinum) confirmed. It seems giving feedback had the desired effect.

Just booked an exit row for me (platinum) and my wife (gold) and neither of us was charged - excellent! Well done Qantas!

Qantas has not reversed its decision as far as I can see. They are wanting $30 from BNE to MEL. When I called the call centre the staff member said they have had thousands of complaints and that management are considering changing this back.

Qantas are still charging for this. I'm Platinum FF and just booked Sydney-Brisbane - asking $20 for an exit seat per flight. To reach Platinum One would need to spend close to $80,000 on flights in 12 months - apparently the threshold Qantas deems fit for 'free' exit row seats. Disappointing.

Adding my voice to this.