Platinum [benefits]

[esseeeayeenn]

Wish they did those flights as charter flights with no SCs.

 

[737]

Reality check this week on my KTA-PER flight. In her welcome message to One World and FFer's, she made specific mention to the 55 Platinum members on board. Damn FIFO's I thought lol......but incredible that a third of the plane were platinum......no wonder I never get any op-ups!!!

Wish they did those flights as charter flights with no SCs.

A lot of the flights within the Pilbara region have a lot of top tier frequent flyers, with times where the number of platinums may reach into triple digit numbers.

With regards to the provision of SCs for FIFO workers, this may be taken into account when corporate contracts are negotiated so not all FIFO workers regardless of whether on a charter flight or not will get status credits.

Given by the number of top tier frequent flyers onboard it certainly goes to show how much of a contribution they are making to Qantas. A lot of pax travel up to the region for the day (much like a SYD-MEL commute) and its not uncommon for even the highest of management to be in hi-vis as they will be going to site.

 

[samh004]

Time to book a JQ35 visit to the SYD F Lounge. That is my favourite benefit.

I miss JQ35

Haven't received any special treatment so far this year.

 

[Mh4k]

Wish they did those flights as charter flights with no SCs.

I find this absurdly petty and entitled. "Of course I ​deserve status, but these people over here who fly as much or more as I do do not"

 

[BD1959]

Given by the number of top tier frequent flyers onboard it certainly goes to show how much of a contribution they are making to Qantas. A lot of pax travel up to the region for the day (much like a SYD-MEL commute) and its not uncommon for even the highest of management to be in hi-vis as they will be going to site.

I'll hazard a guess that - given the competition for FIFO contracts (especially among the various charter companies out there) - Qantas have been very "competitive" on their pricing. Therefore, just like any other flight, yield does not necessarily provide an insight to profitability of a particular route. Presumably fleets such as Network Aviation operate at a lower cost-base than mainline and QantasLink.

So, Qantas won't be giving these flights away, but I doubt they're as profitable as some may think - and hence why QF are now looking to shift capacity back to the eastern corridor and overseas.

As one who has just requalified WP again - mostly through flying at the back of the bus on the MEL/ADL/SYD triangle - I don't begrudge anyone gaining status through FIFO means.

Regards,

BD

 

[RichardMEL]

I have a friend who works on an oil platform out somewhere north west. She goes in as a FIFO for a month at a time. Anyway her contract only pays her flights ex-PER - it's on her dime to get MEL-PER r/t - she did make WP at one point, but not all paid for out of the FIFO part. Now sure, her example may not fit the way all of them work for sure, but I found that interesting that she was basically responsible to get to PER under her own steam, then they'd fly her to BME or DRW or wherever she had to shove off from.

 

[danny09]

I have a friend who works on an oil platform out somewhere north west. She goes in as a FIFO for a month at a time. Anyway her contract only pays her flights ex-PER - it's on her dime to get MEL-PER r/t - she did make WP at one point, but not all paid for out of the FIFO part. Now sure, her example may not fit the way all of them work for sure, but I found that interesting that she was basically responsible to get to PER under her own steam, then they'd fly her to BME or DRW or wherever she had to shove off from.

I have recently changed jobs, been doing FIFO to PHE for 10 years. Previous employeer paid flight from home town in WA (KGI) to work in PHE via PER, anyways now working for Roy Hill Iron Ore, they only pay ex Perth, same as your friend above, gotta get my self to kal, which is no issue really, as these days companies need to be lean as possible, especially in the iron ore industry.

Flights from PER to GBW (Ginbata Roy Hill Mine) are chartered QF flights, get points but no SC's, at some point they will do that to PHE aswell, chartered QF plane, no points or SC's & that's when they lose me! With any luck this does not happen, but at the moment, its main stream flights so all good there.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I find this absurdly petty and entitled. "Of course I ​deserve status, but these people over here who fly as much or more as I do do not"

I'm quite happy for FIFO workers to have status. They tend to indulge in less of the DYKWIA behaviour than some others (such as the former Speaker, allegedly).
When I've sat next to individual FIFO workers on aircraft they have often been pleasant company and on a few occasions we've even swapped email addresses.

The problem is not that they have status the problem is how some of them behave - when in a crowd - in the PER lounges, to which the status gives them access.
The excessive drinking and the noise and the behaviour which it produces are not figments of my imagination.
They have led both QF and VA to restrict alcohol service in their PER lounges.
Although the effectiveness of the most notable measure - removing the self-serve wine - is questionable.
I'm pretty sure from observing and overhearing orders when queueing at the bar that most of the noisy patrons are tanked up on beer and bourbon, not wine.
So this measure impacts mostly on the patrons who are already inconvenienced, forcing them to queue for a drink along with the patrons causing the problems.
I often sit in the small downstairs area to avoid this but this means less access to food, drinks and toilets.

I had hoped the situation would resolve itself when the PER QF domestic J lounge opens.
However, others have pointed out that many FIFO workers have WP status.
So the new lounge may also come to resemble a wet mess at a mine site at certain times.

There is nothing wrong with a wet mess at a mine site and I've visited a few in the Pilbara in the course of my own work.
However such an environment is not compatible with the needs and the comfort of other passengers.
Any more than it would be appropriate for the lounge to be like a suburban pub or an inner city nightclub.

I don't have anything against FIFO workers in general, and you can be sure that I will be the first to complain when a flash crowd of coke-snorting twinks turns the SYD lounge into an outpost of ARQ.
Although they might be better eye candy ...

To return to the topic, access to the lounges is a great Platinum benefit but it can only be enjoyed properly if we all treat each other with respect.
However we gained our status.

 

[mannej]

However we gained our status.

And how does that make them any less of a WP compared to a self funded WP?

That comment alone doesn't do anything to shake the entitlement tag from your previous post sorry.

 

[Mark3000]

Isn't status to reward those who have a choice of airlines for choosing Qantas. Those gaining status on employer funded FIFO are not necessarily being loyal to Qantas if that is their only option on an employer funded bus. Very different to the self funded retiree who has a choice of lots of airlines and pays extra to be loyal to Qantas.
I can understand his point though, it must be very annoying trying to relax in the lounge over there when it is that noisy and full of intoxicated groups

 

[SeatBackForward]

Most missed benefits since downgrade:

1. F Lounges. Especially in SYD/MEL but also DXB/HKG/NRT/KUL/LHR.
2. Arrivals lounge access domestically and in HKG/LHR.
3. Extra award availability.
4. WP Shadow.
5. Better status matches.

Can WP's access the LHR arrivals lounge? I thought you had to be flying in J or F, status alone wasn't enough..?

 

[madrooster]

Can WP's access the LHR arrivals lounge? I thought you had to be flying in J or F, status alone wasn't enough..?

It used to be the case for a short while if I recall correctly but hasn't been the case for a while.

 

[mannej]

Isn't status to reward those who have a choice of airlines for choosing Qantas. Those gaining status on employer funded FIFO are not necessarily being loyal to Qantas if that is their only option on an employer funded bus. Very different to the self funded retiree who has a choice of lots of airlines and pays extra to be loyal to Qantas.
I can understand his point though, it must be very annoying trying to relax in the lounge over there when it is that noisy and full of intoxicated groups

Does it rewards those loyal to QF? To a degree yes but simply put, it rewards those who attain the necessary SC's to achieve a status level. Only P1 has a % required of QF flights as a requirement.

Put it another way, QF won't punish a SFSC if they have status in another program will they? By definition the loyalty has been breached no?

 

[samh004]

Can WP's access the LHR arrivals lounge? I thought you had to be flying in J or F, status alone wasn't enough..?

It used to be the case for a short while if I recall correctly but hasn't been the case for a while.

Off topic I know, but that's something I really think OneWorld could use to differentiate themselves again. If an Arrivals Lounge was built in Sydney/Melbourne and a few other key cities around the world, with access granted for even just the top level, it would add that extra touch 'world class alliance' to the program.

 

[RichardMEL]

Status is a reward for revenue gained from whoever is paying - be it the employer or the pax travelling. Why would QF care?

As noted above, on some contract routes where a company is contracting QF (or QFlink) to fly to specific sites, it's done on a charter basis with no points etc and that makes a lot of sense to me, but that would be part of the contract conditions between the carrier and company.

If an operation pays a commercial fare (even with corporate discount) to fly their workers on a route like PER-BME or PER-KGI, how is this any different to your self funded tpe doing the same (except they wouldn't get the discount)? At least in the eyes of QF. It's all revenue to them.

While I agree with the post about how the FIFO crowd can be "bothersome" at times in PER specially as a crowd, and some coming directly from site onto flights in dirty gear etc are not great, some are fantastic and it's unfair to tarnish the lot with the actions of a few, I think suggestions of creating an elite "underclass" or WP-Lite, just because they're not self funded is ridiculous.

You can bet your self manager super fund dollar that well over 90% of QF WP+ pax are there on their company (or government) dime, and not self funded.

I'm a self funded flyer but I don't have an issue with those who have status via employer paid trips. If they're working hard and their bum is on the seat then really I don't see the issue. Sure, I wouldn't mind a job that paid for me to fly all over in J or F (hmm maybe I should become a pollie ) but then again, when I fly I don't have to get off and go to some high powered meeting, or work on the flight or have stress of work stuff to deal with. So there is a trade off.

I also think thank goodness I don't have to get off my flights to PER and then beyond and spend a month on a rig or down a mine. That work isn't exactly sitting on your backside living it up. It's tough hard yakka. Sure, they get paid $$$$ for it, but I reckon they deserve every cent in many cases.

Just my 2 cents.

 

[JohnK]

Status is a reward for revenue gained from whoever is paying - be it the employer or the pax travelling. Why would QF care?

Status should be seen as a reward but not when airlines hand out status matches, comp status short of qualifying, double SC offers or even 50% SC offers. Then it's no longer a reward but a lottery and can get people offside.

Yes I have also played the game but it still leaves sour taste in mouth when you see people gifted status.

And you see I have intentionally left out the biggest debacle in history. One of the main reasons you may see Gold/Platinum merging at some point in the near future.

 

[Mark3000]

That sounds interesting! What's the biggest debacle and why might platinum and gold merge?

 

[snabbu]

Isn't status to reward those who have a choice of airlines for choosing Qantas. Those gaining status on employer funded FIFO are not necessarily being loyal to Qantas if that is their only option on an employer funded bus. Very different to the self funded retiree who has a choice of lots of airlines and pays extra to be loyal to Qantas.

Regarding commercial fares, do you think QF care where the $$ comes from?

And how does that make them any less of a WP compared to a self funded WP?

Status is a reward for revenue gained from whoever is paying - be it the employer or the pax travelling. Why would QF care?

Correct.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Regarding commercial fares, do you think QF care where the $$ comes from?

the source of cash is extremely important for many reasons. In fact today - most airlines will have you in a demographic that defines who you are. By doing this the airline and FFP are able to extract more revenue from you by understanding many factors about your life. You probably won't ever notice but it's live and happening right now.

 

[OzEire]

the source of cash is extremely important for many reasons. In fact today - most airlines will have you in a demographic that defines who you are. By doing this the airline and FFP are able to extract more revenue from you by understanding many factors about your life. You probably won't ever notice but it's live and happening right now.

I would like to hear more about this. It's probably off topic for this thread, maybe worth its own.