All that glitters is not Gold

[jono88888]

I've been back in travel mode for the last 18 months flying QF about 50 times. Due to my QF year not syncning up with my travel it meant I just missed out on SG last year, but I've now reached SG.

In all the flights I've taken over this period never have I felt like a second class PS traveler (or third/fourth class if you take into account WP or WP1). With a few minor exceptions I always find QF staff friendly and helpful, and as long as I can get my second bottle of wine on the longer flights I'm pretty much a happy puppy.

On Friday evening I took my first flight as SG from PER to SYD, and I assume becuase of my new status I was able to get a seat only 5 rows from the front in Y. Normally with all the high status flyers on this route I'm way further back. So SG was looking good until just after takeoff. That's when the FA came around and chatted to each person in the front 7 or 8 rows and offered a newspaper to each person, but treated me as if I was invisible. Now I realise the personal treatment is considered one of the perks of the higher status and if I'd wanted a paper I would have simply picked one up after going through the check in, or if I asked the FA I can only assume I would have been given one.

So it's not a big deal, but I just found it ironic that my first feeling of being treated by QF as a second class citizen comes after finally reaching SG. With plenty of travel still to come this year I'm on track to reach WP, I won't want the newspaper but at least I won't feel I'm being snubbed

I also noticed that just about everybody that was offered a paper took one, but very few actually open it up and read it

 

[medhead]

What you experienced is called the platinum welcome. It is extremely rare. Not sure why you feel like a second class citizen, you got the standard full service. Those platinums got something extra to standard service.

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....er-program/opt-out-of-csm-greeting-38630.html

 

[cove]

Jono keep reading up on how to make Frequent Flyer points so you can move up to the pointy end without a high cost.
That will get you satisfied!

 

[samh004]

I've yet to have a WP greeting, but been offered a paper as an SG. Also, for my penultimate flight to WP I was allocated row 1 in a dash-8, but since then I haven't got closer than row 3, so it's all a bit of a mystery. I wouldn't rate anything on the one experience




 

[Pleb Status]

The WP welcome is the only thing different on board between WP and SG. It is pretty rare domestically as well.

So I would not get too cut about being snubbed. You will have plenty of time for that when you ascend to WP status.

 

[Boris spatsky]

I have always been underwhelmed by QF 'personal services'. There is no such thing IMHO.

Never once been greeted by the CSM on a domestic flight; only get it on Intl in J, but that is usually when they are handing out immigration cards and have the entire passenger list in their hand.

That is QF for you.

 

[Boris spatsky]

Oh and i omitted that my experience is WP for 5 years.

 

[ashleyn]

Expect nothing and you won't be disappointed.

 

[Moody]

Ignorance is bliss. Whilst you were far enough away from the demi-gods you were able to appreciate the standard Qantas service. Now you are at the penultimate step (and definitely drinking the kool-aid), the emphasis is now on appealing to your envy.

My advice - don't get sucked in.

 

[haydensydney]

My advice - don't get sucked in.

+1

Because I'm being provocative, give your business Virgin - they treat top tier travellers very well... most of us get Row 3 with the occasional opup

 

[greenfish]

+1

Because I'm being provocative, give your business Virgin - they treat top tier travellers very well... most of us get Row 3 with the occasional opup

Yes, last Tuesday I flew DJ on a 737-700 and was given row 2A -awesome leg room (vh-vby has no row 1). Was then offered a free newspaper - which I gratefully accepted - but it was from the Monday. Never had that on QF!

Seriously, if flying out of CBR, there are now sufficient DJ Plats that at peak hours you may get pushed out of row 3 too. On QF, the problem is even worse, with CLs and WP1s vying for those precious front seats...

 

[Simo]

I haven't noticed a lot between SG and WP...

The only real thing is the CSM greeting sometimes...

And the business lounge.

 

[Stephen65]

Never once been greeted by the CSM on a domestic flight; only get it on Intl in J, but that is usually when they are handing out immigration cards and have the entire passenger list in their hand.

I'm SG and when flying on a 737 in domestic J I cannot think of a recent instance where I haven't been greeted by name. I'm usually but not always greeted when flying in dom J on larger aircraft. The FA's have a printed list of the passengers with status or who are otherwise notable.

In dom J of course you get newspapers and occasionally if there is a surplus of them I've seen them offered to the passengers in the very first few rows of Y.

 

[Ausbt]

I can't see any value whatsoever in a personal greeting or a newspaper (aren't they available in the QP? - just pick one up before you board). I'm with you on the second bottle of rosso-vino. Hell, make it three.

 

[Travel Guru]

+1

Because I'm being provocative, give your business Virgin - they treat top tier travellers very well... most of us get Row 3 with the occasional opup

Totally agree, the highest i've been with either airline is Gold, but love the treatment as a DJ Gold (both before and after the introduction of Platinum tier)....have only had one flight in the last 30 where I didn't get 3C and that was coz I was bumped from it to make room for one of Seal's entourage (which I was ok with, beats being bumped for a Status Matched Platinum DYKWIA'er)

TG

 

[drewbles]

I haven't noticed a lot between SG and WP...

The only real thing is the CSM greeting sometimes...

And the business lounge.

The real value of WP on QF becomes obvious in the case of irrops, and really really obvious in LOTFAP on AA.

Having had various mis-connects over the years on AA, OW Emerald is a godsend. I've never ever not been re-accommodated on the next flight in my originally booked fare class. And usually, I get paged upon arrival to see the service desk for my new boarding passes.

Fortunately, i've not had any real bad situations arise in AU so can't comment there (but they were stunning for WP's during the grounding in 2011).

 

[Justinf]

I would rather be snubbed than thrown my 'evening snack' and told to 'catch'. Not a playful 'catch' either. A serious 'catch'.

 

[Stephen65]

I can't see any value whatsoever in a personal greeting or a newspaper (aren't they available in the QP? - just pick one up before you board).

Not always - sometimes they have papers on board that aren't in the QP for whatever reason.

 

[JohnK]

That's when the FA came around and chatted to each person in the front 7 or 8 rows and offered a newspaper to each person, but treated me as if I was invisible. Now I realise the personal treatment is considered one of the perks of the higher status and if I'd wanted a paper I would have simply picked one up after going through the check in, or if I asked the FA I can only assume I would have been given one.

I find the personal greetings very rare on domestic flights.

And most times the cabin crew offering newspapers will offer them to business and then continue on down the aisle to economy passengers.

- Some will stop at business
- Some will offer them to what appears to be Platinum status and above

Because I'm being provocative, give your business Virgin - they treat top tier travellers very well... most of us get Row 3 with the occasional opup

I am glad you said "most of us".

If I am reading correctly "a lot of us Platinums" are having their pre-allocated seats in row 3, or even row 2 business, changed without good enough explanation.