Unlock Better Seats on Qantas: How the T80 and T24 Rules Can Upgrade Your Next Flight
What Are the T80 and T24 Rules?
Airlines like Qantas follow internal scheduling policies that impact when specific seats are made available to travellers. Two of the most valuable windows are the T80 (80 hours before departure) and T24 (24 hours before departure) timeframes.
T80 Rule Explained
At around T80, or 80 hours before your flight, airlines may begin releasing premium or previously held seats. These include:
Exit rows.
Extra legroom seats.
Preferred window/aisle seats.
Many of these are either offered at a premium price or reserved for elite frequent flyers (e.g. Qantas Gold, Platinum). But if they remain unsold or unassigned, they often become available to general passengers at this point — sometimes even for free during seat selection.
T24 Rule Explained
Exactly 24 hours before your flight, when check-in opens, Qantas (and most OneWorld partners) often reshuffle seating assignments. If high-status flyers didn’t claim their reserved seats or aircraft changes occurred, new options appear. This is your last best chance to lock in a better spot — especially when flying Economy.
Why Airlines Hold Back the Best Seats Until the Last Minute
It’s not a glitch — it’s a strategy. Airlines withhold prime seats for several reasons:
Flexibility for elite flyers making late bookings or changes.
Capitalism.
Accommodation for families or travellers with specific needs.
Potential aircraft swaps that could disrupt seat layouts.
Understanding this helps you play the game smarter, not harder.
How to Use These Rules to Your Advantage
Timing is everything — and a little planning goes a long way. Here’s how to make the most of T80 and T24.
Set Seat Alerts and Reminders
Automated tools like ExpertFlyer and SeatGuru can notify you when a specific seat becomes available. But you don’t need paid tools to stay on top of your seat game:
Use your phone’s Reminders or Alarm app to alert you when you reach T80 and T24.
Visit timeanddate.com to convert the flight’s local departure time to your time zone.
Track your preferred seat using Qantas’ seat selection portal and refresh frequently.
Check In the Moment It Opens
At exactly T24, check in through the Qantas app or website. This moment may unlock:
Access to unclaimed premium seats.
Better Economy options - closer to the front or a bulkhead seat.
Upgrades if you’ve placed a bid or qualify for a status-based upgrade.
Stay Flexible — and Refresh Often
Seats can reappear at random, especially:
After cancellations.
During aircraft swaps.
When passengers are upgraded at the gate.
Travelling solo or open to aisle/window swaps? You’re more likely to benefit.
Real-World Example: Using T80 and T24 with a Business Class Bid
In my recent post about bidding for Business Class on Qantas, I was waiting to use the T80 rule to check available Economy seats before placing a bid. It didn’t end up working because it was a full flight but I did use some other tricks to score the best seat I could.
Even if you don’t end up in Business, knowing how T80 and T24 work means you can often score front-of-cabin seats, extra legroom, or a full row — without paying extra.
Final Tips for Smarter Seat Selection
Set calendar reminders based on the departure city’s time zone.
Don’t rely on Qantas to notify you — be proactive, I’ve changed my seats the day before a flight most likely because of last-minute cancellations.
If you miss out at T80, don’t give up — T24 might surprise you.
Use airline apps to monitor changes live, especially at check-in.
Bonus: Combine With These Travel Tools for Maximum Benefit
To fully maximise your chances of better seats or upgrades, combine your T80/T24 strategy with these:
SeatGuru — see aircraft-specific seat maps.
ExpertFlyer — track availability or upgrades.
Google Flights — preview seat layout before you book.
Qantas Bid Now Upgrades — monitor upgrade chances against seat map changes.