6 Years Platinum & Lifetime Gold – Voting With My Wallet After Executive Team Apathy

[elanshin]

I think most people would agree with the fact that QFF is a lot worse now, but VFF is also racing to the bottom just as fast (if not faster). If you want to move, I'd move to a redemption that can do multiple FF (something like Amex MR). The trend is that airlines are keeping their awards for their own programs more and more.

As for QF, just curious but do you use the platinum release? I've released a lot of seats even domestically.

 

[SydneySwan]

BFOD is definitely the way to go.

 

[Pushka]

The grass isn't greener but as others have said, just look for the best option at the time of booking and go with them. We are currently flying Turkish airlines. But would prefer Qatar or Emirates but for the moment, there's the Middle East issue. We broke the status thing with Qantas this year. It's called freedom. Was never able to procure important reward seats with the programme that were significant, but did manage a couple of upgrades. No more movie tickets although I did have to book business flights yesterday but timing of that was random. Laughed at the time.

 

[sevenfourtyseven]

Wasn't one thread enough?

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Thread '6 Years Platinum & Lifetime Gold – Voting With My Wallet After Executive Team Apathy'

Jun 16, 2026

After decades of loyalty, I have officially reached my limit with Qantas and have begun shifting my business and personal transcontinental spend to the Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines ecosystems.

This decision wasn't a knee-jerk reaction to a single delayed flight. It is the culmination of a steady, systemic erosion of value for top-tier flyers. As a Lifetime Gold member, I have watched core program benefits completely evaporate. Forward-cabin seating access is routinely restricted, priority boarding is rarely enforced on the ground, and securing a Classic Flight Reward or a...

• buzz62
• Replies: 117
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

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• 

 

[Pushka]

Wasn't one thread enough?

B

Thread '6 Years Platinum & Lifetime Gold – Voting With My Wallet After Executive Team Apathy'

Jun 16, 2026

After decades of loyalty, I have officially reached my limit with Qantas and have begun shifting my business and personal transcontinental spend to the Virgin Australia and Singapore Airlines ecosystems.

This decision wasn't a knee-jerk reaction to a single delayed flight. It is the culmination of a steady, systemic erosion of value for top-tier flyers. As a Lifetime Gold member, I have watched core program benefits completely evaporate. Forward-cabin seating access is routinely restricted, priority boarding is rarely enforced on the ground, and securing a Classic Flight Reward or a...

• buzz62
• Replies: 117
• Forum: Qantas | Frequent Flyer

• 
• 

It happens. If the mods see fit they will merge. But think the issues are different. This one stems to yesterdays announcement. The other, poor service. I think.

 

[sevenfourtyseven]

OP said their final straw was back in June - and now is saying they 'reached the breaking point' again

 

[Princess Fiona]

OP said their final straw was back in June - and now is saying they 'reached the breaking point' again

Merged

 

[lovestotravel]

Nothing great about either Qantas or Virgin.

P or P1 status on Qantas for long-haul F/J redemptions is really the only highlight

Apart from that, fly either

 

[Pushka]

OP said their final straw was back in June - and now is saying they 'reached the breaking point' again

I missed that!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Yep. “The grass isn’t greener” and as someone who was dual WP for 10+ years, I don’t miss VA after hard landing to Red.

I’m only flying domestically occasionally now and rarely in J (can’t see the point in paying or upgrading - maybe transcon) but the free access to QF Y+ is a game changer TBH.

As a more regular OS flyer, OWE is unmatched by VFF.

Yes, QF still does things to peeve us but better the devil you know - still.

How did you hard land to red? I’ve been soft landing down from platinum, zero flights.

 

[buzz62]

The example shown is a poor comparison. One has regular award seats available, the other doesn't.
And most would never book Points + Pay..
Generally however I do find VA does have slightly better availability closer to the date of travel and lower fees.

Virgin earning has changed a lot with the move to a $ program which will suit some more than others..

If you only travel domestically, book a lot of expensive last minute point to point fares, VA is a great program.

Cheap light multi-segment fares , or overseas partners is not really a strong point however.

This experience time i have compared. I will book with either that has a deal or the best deal. I have lots of points with both programs. If flights are not available on reasonable points i will book the best deal i can get paying for business. I do not fly with either airline internationally. i fly business with who does the best deal and offers top 10 business class in the world i see through skytrax. FF programs do not give me anything a rarely do points

 

[buzz62]

I think most people would agree with the fact that QFF is a lot worse now, but VFF is also racing to the bottom just as fast (if not faster). If you want to move, I'd move to a redemption that can do multiple FF (something like Amex MR). The trend is that airlines are keeping their awards for their own programs more and more.

As for QF, just curious but do you use the platinum release? I've released a lot of seats even domestically.

Thanks for the feedback and perspective.

You make a fair point about multi-program cards like Amex MR—keeping options flexible is definitely worth considering if Velocity starts sliding down the same slope.

Regarding Platinum release: I’m actually not familiar with how that works or what the process involves. How does it work in practice, and what are the rules/success rates for getting domestic Business seats opened up?

Even if it works, it raises a bigger question for me: why should a top-tier status member have to ring up and jump through manual hoops just to find a reasonably priced redemption seat, when other programs make reward seats available online straight away?

Curious to hear how consistent the release process is for you, but for now, I'm still keen to see how the PER–MEL run plays out on Virgin.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Thanks for the feedback and perspective.

You make a fair point about multi-program cards like Amex MR—keeping options flexible is definitely worth considering if Velocity starts sliding down the same slope.

Regarding Platinum release: I’m actually not familiar with how that works or what the process involves. How does it work in practice, and what are the rules/success rates for getting domestic Business seats opened up?

Even if it works, it raises a bigger question for me: why should a top-tier status member have to ring up and jump through manual hoops just to find a reasonably priced redemption seat, when other programs make reward seats available online straight away?

Curious to hear how consistent the release process is for you, but for now, I'm still keen to see how the PER–MEL run plays out on Virgin.

There’s a whole thread here on AFF discussing the platinum seat request benefit.

Plenty of success stories. Including multiple seats for whole families. Also some unsuccessful requests, but those can be due to peak periods.

It’s a simple call to ask for a seat to be released. Answer is usually instant.

It’s a shame you haven’t been taking full advantage of the program!

 

[Vic]

It happens. If the mods see fit they will merge. But think the issues are different. This one stems to yesterdays announcement. The other, poor service. I think.

I guess you had to book earlier and did turkish due to the uncertainty.
I flew emirate to/from europe last week and back from europe in March.

As feedback, I see no reason to avoid the middle east at this stage.

In March, the Emirates route was over Greece, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
This time over Saudi Arabia, then Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, romania etc.
Europe flights were very empty on the returns.

 

[RooFlyer]

Regarding Platinum release: I’m actually not familiar with how that works or what the process involves. How does it work in practice, and what are the rules/success rates for getting domestic Business seats opened up?

Its an 'unpublished benefit'. A good reason to be on AFF

 

[Pushka]

I guess you had to book earlier and did turkish due to the uncertainty.
I flew emirate to/from europe last week and back from europe in March.

As feedback, I see no reason to avoid the middle east at this stage.

In March, the Emirates route was over Greece, Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
This time over Saudi Arabia, then Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, romania etc.
Europe flights were very empty on the returns.

Yes. Was so tempted though. In the end TK offered the night leg of 12 hours (leaving from Bali) and was slightly cheaper. Maybe next time. I know son and DIL have booked Qatar for their next trip.

 

[drron]

I am just a little amused reading this thread. It seems that those supporting QFF don’t try other programs.
My journey away from QFF began in 2000 when I joined Aadvantage but only because I could earn points on JAL which was not a OW member then. Our son moved to the USA then and JAL had more convenient times and you didn’t have to do Immigration at LAX. Besides their J fares to the USA were half of QF’s price.
After a couple of years I had accumulated enough points to redeem 2 J seats NRT - DFW on AAEven though it was an award we were upgraded to F. From there on it was a no-brainer. We flew regularly on AA on J awards and using their SWUs were always able to fly F.
Their SWUs allowed you to upgrade 3 consecutive segments so on occasions we were able to fly on to LHR or FRA in F as well. Just so much better than QFF. The service in F was excellent and some amazing FAs.

So try another program for International flights. Domestic flights are another thing. I use VA because I can transfer those points to SQ.

 

[Mrsfefe]

Nothing great about either Qantas or Virgin.

P or P1 status on Qantas for long-haul F/J redemptions is really the only highlight

Apart from that, fly either

My experience since becoming P1 this year is that even being WP is not that reliable for J classic reward releases any more. I can only recall x2 “ yes” to reward release request as 9 years WP, and so far as P1 have only had a “No” to requests on QF1/2. Even checking on expert flyer there is very often D availability when there is no I availability, even to NZ and well in advance. Making hay while the sun shines!