EK flight seat selection and experience

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Potentially looking at a EK operated QF coded flight in Y . I've never had much to do with the EK tie up previously. Upon doing some dummy bookings I noted seat selection was not possible. As such questions are:

1. Can I see seat selection before payment stage without EF?
2. What are the EK experiences in Y of late as no semi-recent reviews

 

[Bundy Bear]

Potentially looking at a EK operated QF coded flight in Y . I've never had much to do with the EK tie up previously. Upon doing some dummy bookings I noted seat selection was not possible. As such questions are:

1. Can I see seat selection before payment stage without EF?
2. What are the EK experiences in Y of late as no semi-recent reviews

I just flew Emirates Y yesterday; SIN-BNE; 7 hour flight hot meal then light snack before arrival, food not too bad, but unlike in Qantas you don't get a drink refill.

ICE good,

On the seating, you can book online with Qantas then you have to ring Qantas to get the EK booking reference to select your own seat. [This is incorrect. Updated by request] I didn't and ended up with an aisle(my preference) in the back of the plane. well 10 rows from the back.

A380 better than 777 seat pitch better than a Qantas 737-800 and about on par with a A330, although I think the 777 with 10 across means its a little narrow, kind of like the Qantas 787.

 

[dajop]

IIRC, you can enter the QF booking reference on the EK website and it will allow you to manage seat selection from there.

 

[TheInsider]

The Qantas booking reference will work on the EK site after booking.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Thanks so no way to actually see seat availability like you can on a QF booking. I wonder if doing an EK booking with QF number works?

 

[clifford]

....then you have to ring Qantas to get the EK booking reference....

It's actually displayed in the QF Manage Booking

 

[dajop]

You can check using EF, they used to have a 7 day free trial if you haven’t used it already.


Also are you looking for a specific seat, or just to see how full the plane is? If the latter seeing the seat map won’t help unless close to departure. As EK charges considerably for seat selection on saver and sale fares (except if holding EK or QF status) the seat maps remain quite empty until they run a seat allocation a couple of days prior to departure.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

I was anticipating that as a WP I might see a fair chunk of actually available seats. Also given quite a few frequencies, choosing the best seat in Y is a fairly significant driver for a flight of length.

 

[dajop]

I was anticipating that as a WP I might see a fair chunk of actually available seats. Also given quite a few frequencies, choosing the best seat in Y is a fairly significant driver for a flight of length.

I think what you will see is no different to what a non status member will see, just that you will have more options to choose seats free of charge (standard seats, premium seats, couples seats, but not extra legroom seats). Emirates does not seem to block out seats for higher tier pax - just charges more for certain banks of seats than normal, that higher tier get for free.

On the app you can bring up an Emirates seating map during the booking process (prior to payment), you just have to enter a name (just some random letters) and a phone number (again random numbers) to be able to look at seat map.

The map will also give no indication of loadings. was looking at a map for travel SIN-MEL on Saturday, and it showing only about 10% of the seats occupied, whereas the reality is that they aren't even selling economy seats on that flight (Y0).

 

[albatross710]

2. What are the EK experiences in Y of late as no semi-recent reviews

Have just completed a European long haul with Emirates. I last flew with them when they just started services in Brisbane 12 years ago.

As a QF Gold I was happy with the way EK accommodated wife and I. Seat selection gave us access into to forward area of the economy cabin, not available via seat selection on Q Manage Booking. The BNE airport experience was good with J checin and the Emirates lounge is excellent. Love the dedicated J boarding direct from the lounge.

In-flight meals were good. Cabin crew vibrant and friendly.

In Dubai the lounge is very busy both on our outbound and inbound. It was good to have but a busy lounge, not relaxing.

Priority baggage worked on all of our legs.

We had booked QF flight number for the EK flights the points ad SC posted within 3 days of each leg.

Will be booking them for the European summer trip.

Alby

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

In terms of seat selection, I see for a sale fare it has a X next to seats but fine print seems to state you can select seats after completing booking on MMB.

So to confirm, if i book a saver fare I can go onto QF MMB and select EK seats or best to get some type of EK identifier and go onto the EK site to select seats?

 

[TheInsider]

In terms of seat selection, I see for a sale fare it has a X next to seats but fine print seems to state you can select seats after completing booking on MMB.

So to confirm, if i book a saver fare I can go onto QF MMB and select EK seats or best to get some type of EK identifier and go onto the EK site to select seats?

No, the 'X' next to the saver fare means you don't get to choose seating for free, it comes at a cost.

Also as I've and other posters have stated previously, use the Qantas booking number on the Emirates website to select your seating after the booking has been completed. It will cost you though.

 

[dajop]

So to confirm, if i book a saver fare I can go onto QF MMB and select EK seats or best to get some type of EK identifier and go onto the EK site to select seats?

You can go to the EK website, use the QF identifier to manage your booking there. Double check that your QF FF number is in the booking, and then go into seat selection. nb: At times, I've had difficulty getting seat selections to stick on the website, but then went to EK app and they did stick.

 

[dajop]

...select your seating after the booking has been completed. It will cost you though.

OP indicated they are WP. Only extra leg room seats should cost, other seats should be available for selection free of charge.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Thanks above. I've never tried any EK bookings so all a new experience and like to be fully informed on what is possible especially when flying in Y.

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

On balance, if a QF WP would you take QF2 or EK via DXB?

From reading, if you take EK, it looks you only get access to EK or QF lounge access at LHR as not on OW airline operating the flight. Is my understanding correct?

 

[rock86]

On balance, if a QF WP would you take QF2 or EK via DXB?

From reading, if you take EK, it looks you only get access to EK or QF lounge access at LHR as not on OW airline operating the flight. Is my understanding correct?

You'll should also get access to EK lounge in DXB as a WP

 

[jase05]

On balance, if a QF WP would you take QF2 or EK via DXB?

From reading, if you take EK, it looks you only get access to EK or QF lounge access at LHR as not on OW airline operating the flight. Is my understanding correct?

You get acccess to their First class lounges in DXB

 

[AustraliaPoochie]

You can log into the EK MMB, and type in your QF provided PNR.
Of course, EK will issue you a separate PNR from their side, but in the EK MMB, your seat selection will stick.
I had made choices when I flew Au - NZ with EK, always with the QF flight number, went to EK's website, typed in my QF PNR, and the request of/for the J or F seatings, were always there.
Never changed from the option I had made with QF where the booking originated.
I would not dare now try EK Y even SYD - CHC, will pay J/F, but I do realise in your position, OP, that it would too pricey to go J/F on the way to Europe.
No upgrades guaranteed, and when I flew, there were sometimes only me in F!, and sometimes there were empties in J, and there were also times when F was full, and J was a well, but EK "might" do an op up, as mentioned by the others, they are very accommodating when it comes to being on board.
Check in can be hit and miss, I dared to ask for an upgrade in from J to F at AKL, and got rebuffed, but on board was plied with "if I wanted the wines" while on the flight in J.
Maybe without asking, they might give you both J... best of luck though.
Edit: this was when EK still flew between SYD/MEL and AKL.

 

[Pushka]

You can log into the EK MMB, and type in your QF provided PNR.
Of course, EK will issue you a separate PNR from their side, but in the EK MMB, your seat selection will stick.
I had made choices when I flew Au - NZ with EK, always with the QF flight number, went to EK's website, typed in my QF PNR, and the request of/for the J or F seatings, were always there.
Never changed from the option I had made with QF where the booking originated.
I would not dare now try EK Y even SYD - CHC, will pay J/F, but I do realise in your position, OP, that it would too pricey to go J/F on the way to Europe.
No upgrades guaranteed, and when I flew, there were sometimes only me in F!, and sometimes there were empties in J, and there were also times when F was full, and J was a well, but EK "might" do an op up, as mentioned by the others, they are very accommodating when it comes to being on board.
Check in can be hit and miss, I dared to ask for an upgrade in from J to F at AKL, and got rebuffed, but on board was plied with "if I wanted the wines" while on the flight in J.
Maybe without asking, they might give you both J... best of luck though.
Edit: this was when EK still flew between SYD/MEL and AKL.

Well currently for 2 people I seem to have four seats according to Qantas app! That’ll do nicely.