AA Platinum (OW Sapphire) privileges on Qantas...

[$CJ]

Hi all,

I've received quite inconsistent treatment when checking in on Qantas as a Sapphire. I was under the impression that I am entitled to at least some privileges, but I sometimes receive dirty looks that imply I'm in the wrong queue and am not given priority tags. But then other times I get big smiles and business tags, leading me to more recently supply both my AA card and the QP card (to at least get priority tags) despite feeling a little odd doing so. Also, on some occassions my AA or QFF card is pushed aside without a look and a grumpy request for photo ID is given. This is mainly in ADL funnily enough.

Can you clarify

1) Which check-in queue is correct - Qantas club or Business?

2) Which tag should I recieve - Priority, Business or none?

3) Is a the AA/QFF card alone adequate ID for a domestic flight?

Thanks
CJ

 

[simongr]

From the oneworld site:

Business Class priority check-in

Priority standby and waitlisting

Boarding at convenience

Lounge access

Pre-reserved preferential seating

Baggage handling is not a OW benefit.

 

[oz_mark]

Usually it would be the Business Class check-in. There are often signs indicatiing which queue a sapphire can use.

For domestic flights, the QFF card alone should be sufficient according to the ID rules on Qantas e-ticket receipts:

For domestic flights in Australia and New Zealand (flights QF400 and above), you must be able to produce identification, such as your driver’s licence, Qantas booking reference, Qantas Frequent Flyer card, Qantas Club card or credit card used for the ticket purchased.

 

[tscharke]

from my experience being OWS I too found mixed responses!

but my understanding is:

1) Business queue
2) Priority tags
3) I've never shown my danky pleb bronze card...I've always just handed the AA card!

Funny that you should mention ADL - they would have to be the most grumpiest check in staff around! Sometimes I wonder if they actually are aware of OW and the associated privileges![FONT=&quot][/FONT] I just put it down to the little ol Adelaide syndrome (i can say that because I am originally from there!)

 

[Keith009]

Priority tags aren't a published benefit of OW sapphire status and as such don't expect getting them all the time. It's very much up to the discretion of the check in agent you get. It's just a nice bonus when it happens. I believe you're entitled to them as a QP member?

If it makes you feel better, AA PLTs don't even get them on AA itself, unless actually flying international J or F or domestic J/F on 3 class flights.

 

[openseat]

I must say that as a AA PLT seating on QF domestic has been strange. Sometimes ending waaay down the back, other times close to the front and this on the same flight number & day two weeks apart.
Yesterday I flew BNE to MEL late evening, it was a full flight, and I would have thought a flight full of mainly infrequent flyers, yet I was in row 21. As an aside we had a quite humorous captain (Taylor?).

 

[$CJ]

I must say that as a AA PLT seating on QF domestic has been strange. Sometimes ending waaay down the back, other times close to the front

This matches my observations. A check-in agent once told me to use the QP number in bookings as it gets first allocation (which doesn't sound right, surely QFF Platinum would be first).

I'm quite careful with the QP card as they (check-in and QP agents) have a strange tendency to overwrite my AA number in the reservation without being asked.

Thanks for everyones reply. I'm aware of the OW rules but Qantas appear(ed) to have their own interpretation, but I guess it's down to the individual operator.

 

[moa999]

QF seating will vary considerably based on when you book / change your flight as seats are pre-allocated approx 24 hrs out.

eg as a QF WP I will almost always be in the first few rows on SYD-MEL,
but on the way back (on fully flex tickets) where I almost always juggle my flight booking in the cab back to the airport or just go to the gate of the next flight and ask to get on that flight instead I just get whatever is available (although they will try for window/ aisle prefs)

 

[openseat]

This matches my observations. A check-in agent once told me to use the QP number in bookings as it gets first allocation (which doesn't sound right, surely QFF Platinum would be first).

I'm quite careful with the QP card as they (check-in and QP agents) have a strange tendency to overwrite my AA number in the reservation without being asked.

Thanks for everyones reply. I'm aware of the OW rules but Qantas appear(ed) to have their own interpretation, but I guess it's down to the individual operator.

I have also learnt the hard way about 'helpful' QF staff overriding my AA number.

I can understand the situation about changing a booking at the last minute, however my flights were all booked with more than 24 hours notice. I just wondered if QF fiddled with the seating system so it would match a passenger who has AA status with their own records and send them to the back. But that is probably being too paranoid.

 

[MelUser]

Adelaide is a difficult airport to cheque in - only 1 bus and 1 club check in counter and I think one person does both.

THe Qantas Club arrival staff are very painful wanting to triple check eligibility to enter.

Perhaps because they are in such a public part of the airport - ie its not hidden in a corner or up some stairs or down an elevator etc.

 

[tscharke]

they are dropping their guard tho at the ADL QPub- last month I walked through 4 guests (2 non flying) with no questions asked!

 

[aus_flyer]

Although the published OW rules say business checkin, from memory the Qantas Business checkin line says:
Business Class
Qantas Platinum / CL
Oneworld Emerald

not OW Saphire

 

[Travel Guru]

Adelaide is a difficult airport to cheque in - only 1 bus and 1 club check in counter and I think one person does both.

THe Qantas Club arrival staff are very painful wanting to triple check eligibility to enter.

Perhaps because they are in such a public part of the airport - ie its not hidden in a corner or up some stairs or down an elevator etc.

I fly through Adelaide at least 3x a month, and i've never had a problem with either checking in or the QP staff, one quick flash of the boarding pass and they're fine, and they seem to be the most helpful QP staff as far as seat reallocation or upgrades, nothings too much trouble for them, which isn't always the case in other states.

TG

 

[dajop]

Priority tags aren't a published benefit of OW sapphire status and as such don't expect getting them all the time. It's very much up to the discretion of the check in agent you get. It's just a nice bonus when it happens.

As you point out priority tags are a published benefit for QP and QF tier members only, not for OW members. However priority baggage handling, particularly on domestic flights is a benefit randomly provided on any given flight at any given time.

If you have a priority tag - it increases your chances of priority baggage handling but certainly does not guarantee it. Domestically, it is probably one of the less consistent benefits of the QF program, and I wouldn't be too concerned if I were an AA OW sapphire and didn't get the benefit.

 

[$CJ]

I wouldn't be too concerned if I were an AA OW sapphire and didn't get the benefit.

Of course though, whenever I don't get the tags the priority and business bags do come out first.......

 

[dajop]

Of course though, whenever I don't get the tags the priority and business bags do come out first.......

Yep ain't that the truth. And when the check in agent doesn't automatically put a tag on ... but you remind them to ... they come out last anyway ...

 

[JohnK]

I have never been refused check-in via the business class queues on any Oneworld airline even when I was QF Silver, Oneworld Ruby.

As you point out priority tags are a published benefit for QP and QF tier members only, not for OW members. However priority baggage handling, particularly on domestic flights is a benefit randomly provided on any given flight at any given time.

I know that it is not a published benefit but in my experience BA and CX have put first class priority tags on my luggage most of the time.

 

[v8Statesman]

I have never been refused check-in via the business class queues on any Oneworld airline even when I was QF Silver, Oneworld Ruby.


I know that it is not a published benefit but in my experience BA and CX have put first class priority tags on my luggage most of the time.

It is a strech, but I think it could be a published benefit.

Reading

To see how your own programme's tier status equates to oneworld status, and the benefits that you will receive, please select the appropriate airline programme from the list below.

Then follow the links to CX and you get

Priority baggage handling Y(First Priority)

for OWE

 

[simongr]

From the oneworld site:

Business Class priority check-in

Priority standby and waitlisting

Boarding at convenience

Lounge access

Pre-reserved preferential seating

If you go to the OW site and check out the FF section the above is the list of published benefits.

I think it is a little tenuous following links to the member sites and extracting benefits.

Similarly if you go to the Partner FF programs page on the CX site -> Cathay Pacific - Frequent Flyers : Partner Frequent Flyer Programmes

Priority baggage is not listed as a benefit.

I am sure that CX have tagged people's bags for them but it is not a published benefit.

 

[v8Statesman]

If you go to the OW site and check out the FF section the above is the list of published benefits.

I think it is a little tenuous following links to the member sites and extracting benefits.

Similarly if you go to the Partner FF programs page on the CX site -> Cathay Pacific - Frequent Flyers : Partner Frequent Flyer Programmes

Priority baggage is not listed as a benefit.

I am sure that CX have tagged people's bags for them but it is not a published benefit.

Both my quotes came from oneworld.com and cathaypacific.com. I guess this proves that there is no clear answer.