T-80: how the rule works and how to use it to book the best seats on the plane

By TravelWiseSep 20, 2023 09:27 AMNews
Share:
A Qantas airplane
A Qantas airplane. Source: CNN

The Australian airline Qantas is known for applying the "T-80" function to almost all flights. This means that the airline reserves a certain number of seats on the plane for its own needs, and then, 80 hours before departure, some of the seats are canceled and become available to passengers.

For adventurous travelers who are willing to buy tickets 80 hours before departure on vacation, this option may be ideal. This way, you can snatch the best seats. This life hack was shared by travel blogger Ben, who often shares his best travel tips on TikTok.

"Quite often, a lot of seats that were blocked by the airline are opened up. This way, you can still choose a seat even if it seems that it is not available if you log in," he explained.

T-80: how the rule works and how to use it to book the best seats on the plane
Travel blogger Ben. Source: Screenshot from the video

Ben warned that you need to act quickly because you are not the only ones who know about this feature.

When asked why airlines block seats, he added that it "allows them to offer the advantage of better seats to frequent flyers [and] manage the balance of the aircraft if it is not full."

The seats that are most often reserved by the airline and open to passengers 80 hours before departure are the first row of economy class, which have extra legroom.

Ben's subscribers tried this trick and confirmed that it really works.

Top Articles
Top 10 reasons for flight cancelation by airlines: a clear algorithm of actions to get compensation

Top 10 reasons for flight cancelation by airlines: a clear algorithm of actions to get compensation

Oct 16, 2025 16:22 PM
Smartphone with eSIM logo surrounded by travel essentials like flowers, map, camera, and sunglasses

Where to Buy eSIM at the Best Price: A Full Review of Tariffs and Options

Aug 8, 2025 10:54 AM

No More SIM Swaps: The eSIM Travel Solution You’ll Actually Use

Aug 4, 2025 16:51 PM

Not Just a Suitcase: My Personal Checklist for Smart Travelers in 2025

Mar 3, 2025 18:00 PM
More News
Train passing through a British railway station

This Railcard Change Could Save Teenagers £175 a Year

Aug 5, 2026 23:27 PM
Passengers board a Ryanair aircraft on the apron

Technical Fault Delays Ryanair Flight for 16 Hours

Aug 5, 2026 23:14 PM

Newquay Airport Warns of Boardmasters Traffic Delays

Aug 5, 2026 23:01 PM

Condor Restores Daily Frankfurt–Tel Aviv Flights

Aug 5, 2026 22:58 PM
Cornish harbour village overlooking a sheltered bay

Rising Costs Push Britons Towards UK Breaks

Aug 5, 2026 22:45 PM
Tallinn skyline with historic churches and red-roofed buildings

Estonia Takes the Top Spot in 2026 Relocation Ranking

Aug 5, 2026 22:32 PM
Fire crews monitoring smoke near a mountain road

Greece Fires Spread Across Several Tourist Areas

Aug 4, 2026 22:09 PM
Guest working in a Radisson long-stay suite

Radisson Launches Global Long-Stay Programme

Aug 4, 2026 21:56 PM
Discover Airlines aircraft taking off

Discover Airlines Adds Two Routes from Frankfurt to Eastern Finland

Aug 4, 2026 21:43 PM

Milan Passante Closes for Most of August

Aug 4, 2026 21:37 PM

Headphone Case Forces SWISS Flight to Divert

Aug 4, 2026 21:24 PM
Air Europa Boeing 787 Dreamliner taking off

Air Europa Expands in Central America

Aug 4, 2026 21:11 PM
London bus passing the Houses of Parliament

Children Get Free Bus Travel Across England This August

Aug 4, 2026 01:48 AM
Deutsche Bahn ICE train at a German station

Ten European Routes Where Trains Beat Flying

Aug 4, 2026 01:35 AM
IndiGo aircraft taxiing at an airport

IndiGo Suspends Two Heathrow Routes This October

Aug 3, 2026 22:52 PM

Is Morocco Still Safe After the Ceuta Crisis?

Aug 2, 2026 19:39 PM

Spain–Italy Flights Face New Border Checks

Aug 2, 2026 19:26 PM
Aircraft parked at Lisbon Airport

Portugal Reveals Plans for Lisbon’s New Airport

Aug 1, 2026 23:33 PM
Mountain lake surrounded by rocky peaks and pine trees

Tourist Boats Grounded as Swiss Border Lake Shrinks

Jul 31, 2026 23:57 PM
easyJet aircraft wing above clouds at sunset

More Mediterranean and Red Sea Flights Launch From Glasgow

Jul 31, 2026 23:54 PM
Chicago skyline beside Lake Michigan at sunset

Frankfurt–Chicago Flights Go Daily in 2027

Jul 31, 2026 23:41 PM
LOT Boeing 787 Dreamliner in flight

LOT Opens Sales for Warsaw–Hanoi Route

Jul 31, 2026 23:38 PM

From Singapore to Nice, Finnair Spotlights Autumn Escapes

Jul 31, 2026 23:35 PM

Three August Saturdays Hit by EMR Strikes

Jul 31, 2026 23:02 PM
Greater Anglia trains at a railway station

Additional Trains Scheduled for Newmarket Nights Visitors

Jul 31, 2026 22:59 PM
Passenger waiting beside a ScotRail train

Glasgow Rail Network Braces for Concert and Games Crowds

Jul 31, 2026 22:36 PM