Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[aus_flyer]

To all the newly-minted Platinum One frequent flyers out there... I'm curious to hear... what's been your experience so far?

Anything different?

Free upgrades?

... or all hype?

 

[danielt25]

Just received a survey from Qantas with many questions about platinum one and it's benefits and how it can be improved. Probably sent to all Platinum Ones. Probably the new CEO of loyalty giving it a genuine go at improving it. I think it's a step in the right direction and hopefully they will implement some improvements as mentioned in this forum.

 

[mviy]

They should not only add P1 benefits but also improve the stretch goals beyond P1.

 

[danielt25]

Yes, anyway there's ample space in every single question to add comments about individual expectations.

 

[kevrosmith]

Interesting that they list Guaranteed Seat on Qantas flight as a potential option for P1. It is already a benefit offered to VA Platinum.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

That survey took much longer than the suggested 10-15 minutes.

 

[juddles]

Haven't received survey yet so may be targeted - or maybe will appear over the next few days.......

In any case, interesting.

 

[Happy Trails]

Interesting that they list Guaranteed Seat on Qantas flight as a potential option for P1. It is already a benefit offered to VA Platinum.

I thought it was already a benefit for QF P1.
Or am I misreading this?

Priority Economy seat purchase for up to two passengers
Priority Economy seat purchase is available on eligible flights1 when holding or purchasing a Full Economy ticket for up to two people, including the Platinum One member. It is available on any Qantas operated flight with a Qantas flight number (excluding non-jet QantasLink services) for bookings made before midday on the day before travel12


Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas and Partner Airlines - Status Credits and Tier Benefits - Tier Benefits

 

[RichardMEL]

I am filling this in too

I am sure it will mean nothing but.. at least the question is being asked....

 

[Brettmcg]

Have not received the survey thus far :/

 

[Matt_01]

I also got a survey from QFF around mid day "We'd appreciate your feedback" said would take 10-15 minutes but have not started it due to work then flying. Is this the same message as others on this thread received?

 

[kermatu]

I also got a survey from QFF around mid day "We'd appreciate your feedback" said would take 10-15 minutes but have not started it due to work then flying. Is this the same message other on this thread received?

That's what I've received but also yet to complete. Will tackle tomorrow.

 

[Happy Trails]

I also got a survey from QFF around mid day "We'd appreciate your feedback" said would take 10-15 minutes but have not started it due to work then flying. Is this the same message other on this thread received?

Yes, the same as shown upthread in post #3241.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Curious to know how people went with the final question: have the answers recorded against your profile or aggregated anonymously. I had them recorded against my profile so when we get my suggestions of anytime access and/or CL passes then the QF bean counters will know who to hate but you can all love me

 

[Chalkie]

I got the survey and had my answers recorded against my profile. Anytime access was one of my suggestions too! I did not think of CL passes. Dammit.

I was hard pressed to get excited about any of the "potential benefits" being considered.

 

[Matt_01]

I filled it in lets see what happens. For my wish list I suggested consideration be given to:

• Complementary international long haul upgrades.
• Immediate international upgrade confirmation when using points, including family. No more of the QF upgrade lottery.
• Possible access to the CL lounge.
• Developing a portal where we could register and interest in attending events based on what is on offer and the location. Not sure about other but it seems like if I get an invite I am away travelling.
• A general over haul of the program with benefits that are commensurate with the x3 higher level of SC required over WP.

I was not interested in what they were already considering personally there was nothing that would make want to strive for P1 either retention or gaining.

• I am not interested in ground support, an airport is an airport not too hard to work things out yourself. If you are P1 it is fair to suggest you have been to 1 or 2 airports.
• Rewards for achieving milestones – what like the loyalty offers 2400,5000,7000 SC for a lousy amount of points.
• Amenities in international economy, well for starters I don’t do that. I am sure there are some P1s who travel international Y (outside of NZ) but I suspect it is not the majority or the norm. The current QF J and F amenities are not that flash so I wonder what economy would be like.
• Offers from program partners – would most likely turn into a marketing grab and more emails I do not need.
• Access to discounted airfares on the surface it sound good, however I suspect that first time I need to make a change there will likely be a large sticker shock.

In answering the survey I was pretty blunt and detailed that as soon as I retain I start using other carriers both domestically and internationally. I mentioned that I think the rewards redemption tax and the quantity of points required for redemption's is high and it is one of the contributing factors in choosing to use other carriers in order to build up status and points in their programs. A side note, I have never really bothered with the VA joining *A debate but as I have LTG if VA went done this path I would seriously think about switching.

Finally I indicated that there seems to have been a general decline in the overall level of service during the past couple of years.

Sorry, I have started to rant. I am just over the whole travel thing at the moment.

 

[kermatu]

Doing the survey right now. Very cathartic.

 

[juddles]

I filled it let see what happens. For my wish list I suggested consideration be given to:

• Complementary international long haul upgrades.
• Immediate international upgrade confirmation when using points, including family. No more of the QF upgrade lottery.
• Possible access to the CL lounge.
• Developing a portal where we could register and interest in attending events based on what is on offer and the location. Not sure about other but it seems like if I get an invite I am away travelling.
• A general over haul of the program with benefits that are commensurate with the x3 higher level of SC required over WP.

I was not interested in what they were already considering personally there was nothing that would make want to strive for P1 either retention or gaining.

• I am not interested in ground support, an airport is an airport not too hard to work things out yourself. If you are P1 it is fair to suggest you have been to 1 or 2 airports.
• Rewards for achieving milestones – what like the loyalty offers 2400,5000,7000 SC for a lousy amount of points.
• Amenities in international economy, well for starters I don’t do that. I am sure there are some P1s who travel international Y (outside of NZ) but I suspect it is not the majority or the norm. The current QF J and F amenities are not that flash so I wonder what economy would be like.
• Offers from program partners – would most likely turn into a marketing grab and more emails I do not need.
• Access to discounted airfares on the surface it sound good, however I suspect that first time I need to make a change there will likely be a large sticker shock.

In answering the survey I was pretty blunt and detailed that as soon as I retain I start using other carriers both domestically and internationally. I mentioned that I think the rewards redemption tax and the quantity of points required for redemption's is high and it is one of the contributing factors in choosing to use other carriers in order to build up status and points in their programs. A side note, I have never really bothered with the VA joining *A debate but as I have LTG if VA went done this path I would seriously think about switching.

Finally I indicated that there seems to have been a general decline in the overall level of service during the past couple of years.

Sorry, I have started to rant. I am just over the whole travel thing at the moment.

Excellent post - have not received the email yet, but you have done all the hard work - will just copy all your stuff - agree on pretty much everything

 

[kermatu]

So you can also put me in the camp of unbelievably underwhelmed by their proposed enhancements.

Maybe I had a lot to say, but it also took me way over the suggested time.

But that's fine, and I appreciate the chance to comment. I indicated several positives: service is generally really good, I am well looked after on the essentials, and almost every interaction is friendly and professional.

But also many of the 'basics' are fails - eg, priority boarding, baggage, and (while not a prescribed benefit) failure to allow F and J pax to disembark before the Y masses.

Also got stuck into the F food and beverage experience, and the F lounge alcohol offerings. But stated the F flight and lounge service and staff are excellent.

Re P1, my main comments were: it is underwhelming, not commensurate with the costs ($ and time) to obtain, and the proposed additions are frankly pathetic. I also noted the SST seem ill-informed and often ineffective (but always very nice).

My ideas for new benefits (or at minimum alternatives to Partner Platinum) included:
- A number of guaranteed, free upgrades at point of booking for domestic and/or international flights. Could be X domestic Y to J upgrades and X international. Or - and in my view better - a number of points (say 200,000 for a membership period) that could be used to upgrade flights at any time (guaranteed and immediately accepted at point of selection). So you could use them for multiple domestic Y to J flights, or just a couple of long haul Y to F flights.
- Chairman's Lounge access - a guaranteed 5 passes per year, plus access whenever either the regular or business class lounges are closed (eg, over Christmas), and the possibility of access at other times when the J lounge is full / the CL is quiet. I thought a bit about this latter suggestion as I think more 'possible' benefits are risky as everyone's experience will differ. Also gave some suggestions for culling their CL list too...
- Ability for P1s to book spa treatments in the first class lounges up to 24 hours before travel (after first class passengers have been looked after).
- Any time access to regular and business class lounges.
- Say 5-10 Qantas chauffeur vouchers per year.
- Year-round discounts - eg, 10 per cent off any price in the QF store.
- Definite onboard benefits if travelling in domestic Y (eg, no charge for beer or wine when offered)
- Multiple years as a P1 recognised through a lifetime platinum status. I said 10 years would be a fair number.

On their possible enhancements, I too was rather dismissive:
- Discounted airfares - when, where, what conditions? Probably won't suit most people.
- Offers from program partners will be perceived as marketing (though I don't mind the idea personally).
- A $5 amenity kit in economy - really?
- No idea what a guaranteed commercial seat means - are my bookings now not guaranteed?
- The current additional rewards for reaching 5000 or 7000 SCs are laughable, so what would 'additional rewards' do?
- Most of us have more points than we can use so a multiplier also feels cheap.
- And if the F Hosts are a guide, the additional ground staff for P1s will be scoffed at (and to be honest, are largely unnecessary as we can generally look after ourselves - as Matt_01 noted).

I hope they take the feedback seriously.

 

[kermatu]

Curious to know how people went with the final question: have the answers recorded against your profile or aggregated anonymously. I had them recorded against my profile so when we get my suggestions of anytime access and/or CL passes then the QF bean counters will know who to hate but you can all love me

Yes, I'm happy for them to know. Some of my answers were very specific to my recent experiences, so if the survey was actually passed on to the SST and the regional manager, they'd know it was me anyway.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

My comments and suggestions run along the lines of what's been posted here. That's not unexpected from the group of people who are at the pointy end (no pun intended) of QF travellers.

I certainly did mention how crew have been friendly and engaging and the service always professional. Of course this was the case before I reached P1 but now I find small things such as, on mid to long haul at least, receiving your after-take off drink before the drinks cart does the rounds more the norm.

A selection of my suggestions:

• Domestic anytime access to J/QP lounges
• 3 to 5 annual CL passes for member and travelling companion
• A loosening of the Partner Platinum granting rights or allowing a 100-200k FFP bonus to be taken instead
• Ability to reserve a table in the restaurant in SYD F/MEL F/LAX F 24 hours ahead of time (I don't know if this can be done anyway by emailing the SST - I've never tried)

As with other members I found the QF prompted suggestions underwhelming. The concept of dedicated P1 ground staff is a noble idea but I can't see it working in practice: I'd foresee confusion between the P1 ground staff, the front desk lounge staff and QF Premium Res as to the triaging and ownership of issues. Extra services in Economy? Moot point for me as, aside from a minority of my trans-Tasman flying, the last time I flew internationally with QF not in J or F was February 2001.

Kudos to the new Loyalty team for sending a survey though. How often is the new P1 newsletter delivered? If it's quarterly then maybe we'll see an acknowledgement of responses in the next edition due early March?