A funny thing happened with my boarding passes over the past year...

[significance]

At the end of May 2015, I dropped down from Gold to Silver. I was not comped Gold: my frequent flyer login page showed Silver and my frequent flyer emails all had the silver banner. Yet my boarding passes kept coming out marked "Gold"! This continued for almost a full year . I kept very quiet about it while it lasted, as I figured it was probably down to a bug in the system. My trip to Darwin last week (May 2016) was the first time it didn't happen. It perhaps didn't make a huge difference, as I have paid QC membership, but while it lasted, it got me better seats, priority boarding and a slightly warmer greeting on boarding.

Has this happened to anyone else?

Happily, the trip last week was also the one that finally earned me enough status credits to tip me over 700 points and bring me back up to Gold for this year. (That took a lot of discount Y flying!)

 

[mviy]

You were very fortunate. It must have been a bug in the system. From what I can gather within a week or so (or even less) the system should have been updated worldwide to reflect the new status.

Were your flights booked back when you were SG or after you dropped?

 

[medhead]

That's interesting. I would have thought the only benefit possible would be lounge access based on the printed BP. Seating and greetings I expected to be based on what the computer says...

 

[significance]

Were your flights booked back when you were SG or after you dropped?

Mostly after I dropped.

 

[significance]

That's interesting. I would have thought the only benefit possible would be lounge access based on the printed BP. Seating and greetings I expected to be based on what the computer says...

The electronic versions of my boarding passes also said Gold.

 

[mviy]

With PS it's possible sometimes to get front row economy seats on domestic within about a day of departure if flying at off peak times. So PS can get you as good seats as you would get as SG (or even WP) sometimes. You just have to wait a bit more before you can select them and hope they're not gone by then and that a high status traveller doesn't snatch that seat off you if you do happen to be able to pick it.

The lounge pass and the ability to get better seats than NB are the key benefits of PS in my opinion.

 

[ric_melb]

Were you getting extra FF points from being "Gold" also?

 

[eminere]

Did you accrue points as a Gold or Silver member?

 

[significance]

Did you accrue points as a Gold or Silver member?

Neither. I'm a federal government employee, so I don't get FF points (only status credits).

 

[mviy]

Neither. I'm a federal government employee, so I don't get FF points (only status credits).

I wonder if the bug may relate to something to do with that special arrangement.

 

[Altair]

Well my QF Android app keeps saying I am Platinum 2 years after I dropped to Gold! Only shows Gold straight after I log in but reverts to Platinum whenever I move to another page.
BP and everything else correctly shows SG.

 

[PaulST]

With PS it's possible sometimes to get front row economy seats on domestic within about a day of departure if flying at off peak times. So PS can get you as good seats as you would get as SG (or even WP) sometimes. You just have to wait a bit more before you can select them and hope they're not gone by then and that a high status traveller doesn't snatch that seat off you if you do happen to be able to pick it.

The lounge pass and the ability to get better seats than NB are the key benefits of PS in my opinion.

I believe that everyone gets access to the front rows within 24hrs so that's no benefit of PS or SG. I'm SG now and don't get access to the front rows of economy (or the front of the J cabin) until shortly before departure.

 

[marki]

Ex now
This used to happen on all economy flights Mel to Kta. the Business seats were always released a little later.(on Boeing 737's)

I believe that everyone gets access to the front rows within 24hrs so that's no benefit of PS or SG. I'm SG now and don't get access to the front rows of economy (or the front of the J cabin) until shortly before departure.

 

[kermatu]

As far as I'm aware government employees still travel as individuals using their own QF status / number (if relevant). The fares are special (though not always cheaper!) and earn SCs for personal benefit, and no points. Shouldn't be the cause of the glitch, but who knows? A glitch to WP would be sweet!

 

[AKnowledgeableBear]

This issue happens when Qantas' system downgrades you correctly, but does not update the ticketing system (used to populate your details on your boarding pass, in your booking, etc).

This is supposed to happen automatically, but can occasionally not go through correctly.

Lucky you!

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to AFF AKnowledgeableBear We can share lots of insights here. Why not head across to the Introductions page so we can greet you properly.

 

[AKnowledgeableBear]

Cheers mate, will do.