Grades of Platinum

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rpmsol

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Jun 11, 2006
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Apart from the obvious benefits of invitation only CL membership, I would like to know if all Platinum members treated the same (e.g. with seat allocation), of if there is some sort of 'seniority' (e.g. 3 years better than 1 year…)

Also, if many Platinum FF do much more than 1200 or 1400 SCs each year, then it seems there might as well be a ‘super platinum’, with no real additional value other then seating preference and STATUS.

Cheers,
Paul.
 
Welcome to AFF rpmsol :)

There is a benefit beyond Platinum and that is Partner Gold at 2100 SCs.

I don't think there is any grading of Platinums by length held, unlike some airlines like SQ's PPS status (and PPS Solitaire) which definitely is graded by years.

Anecdotally there may be a slight seating benefit from having a low alphabet surname (or a low QFF number?).

Extra SCs beyond 1200 or 1400 do not go to waste with QFF due to the accumulation towards lifetime status. I wish 2 of my main FFPs also had lifetime status. I sometimes think the lack of lifetime status accrual with either of my main *A programs may lead me to another program that does (eg SAA Voyager).
 
Kiwi Flyer said:
Anecdotally there may be a slight seating benefit from having a low alphabet surname (or a low QFF number?).

Having a surname starting with 'B', I don't notice any particular benefits with seating. My perceptions is that I'm just as likely to be several rows from the front as any one else.
 
While I wouldn't swear its done alphabetically it does seem that way when I consistently get seated several rows ahead of colleagues (and we're all WPs) - my surname also early in the alphabet. I seem to recall posts from others with late surnames complaining of seats well back.

Of course if I make a late booking or change of flights (after the preallocation has been done) then can get a seat forward or rear depending on availability.
 
To the best of my knowledge, QF has 6 sub-levels for each level of status.

Though I don't know how people are "sorted" among sub-levels, or whether these sub-levels are actually used for anything.
 
Kiwi Flyer said:
While I wouldn't swear its done alphabetically it does seem that way when I consistently get seated several rows ahead of colleagues (and we're all WPs) - my surname also early in the alphabet. I seem to recall posts from others with late surnames complaining of seats well back.

I think I am the only Plat out of my work collegues, so I can't compare. But from my experience fare basis seems to have more effect on how far back I am than anything else. On an 'O' I seem more likely to be further back than on a 'K' or 'B' fare.
 
The PPS system is more transparent in the ranking, but still has disadvantages. A year ago I was PPS almost qualified Solitaire but few years - thus rank well behind other PPS who had much lower lifetime contribution (as measured by PPS sectors or PPS miles) with longer duration. Now that I'm Solitaire I'm ranked ahead of all PPS regardless of duration, but behind all other Solitaires (longer duration) and Lifetime Solitaires. This is most visible in the number of op-ups. Before Solitaire I had none in a hundred or so flights. Since Solitaire I have had several in just six months. Other factors could have come into play but the contrast is striking.
 
All very interesting....thanks for the replies....

I usually travel MELSYD return same day, and collect my return boarding pass very early in the morning. When I was silver and issued with sequence number 1 or 2 and I usually got my window pref, but in row 44, eg 44A in 767/300. Now I'm gold, with sequence 1 or 2, I usually end up with 32A or 33A in a 767/300, ie about 12 rows closer to the front. (Note that my return flight is a 'K' fare)

When platinum, and paying 'K' and holding a ticket with a sequence number of 1, I wonder if I'll get right up the front of economy, of if those rows are 'reserved' for more senior platinum pax.

Cheers,
Paul.

 
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There is a real difference on surnames alphabetically on busy flights, especially busy routes. I am QF Platinum and find myself a long way back on most flights with a lot of people in front with the forward aisle.

With a surname starting with S this is expected. But the frustrating thing is when you see people in front of you with lesser status!
 
I travel domestically on red-edeals, have a mid-range surname, and always get front or second row...
 
Looks like we all manage to experience slightly different things. Maybe it is just random.
 
Random my A#$@

It is done alphabetically for all the CLs, then Platinum's, then Gold etc........

The only reason you are at the front with a surname of S is if there are no other Platinum's with a surname earlier in the alphabet.

Regards
Steven
 
Well, I hate to rain on the party, however being a WP with a surname of W, I generally get in the first 4 rows of Economy (and I never check-in with more than an hour to go). However, it seems to fluctuate as to whether I check-in downstairs or in the QP.

If I'm in a hurry (connections, etc) or it's a short flight, I always go for those front seats assignments...if I'm not in a hurry or it's a flight over 2 hours, then I'll always ask for an exit row - only missed out once in the last 2 years for either of these options (and that was due to a check-in right before flight closure and I had to select from what few seats were available - middle centre :oops: ).

Now this was my experience..now that I'm crediting to AA, it's been worse unless I've been successful in getting a points upgrade.
 
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My surname is around the middle of the alphabet, and on a 73H I tend to get Row 6 or 8 C/D by default.

On a 763, I tend to get in the 2nd row of econ.

Interesting to see Row 4 open when I check in through quickcheck a lot of the time, or people with no status in Row 4/5/6. People who take earlier flights have something to do with this, but so often, especially on the first flight out of towns?
 
Mal said:
Interesting to see Row 4 open when I check in through quickcheck a lot of the time, or people with no status in Row 4/5/6. People who take earlier flights have something to do with this, but so often, especially on the first flight out of towns?

I have noticed that row 4 is often open when I check in. And since with Quick Check it is easy to move myself there, I have been getting row 4 much more regularly.

I was told it was kept open for late booking CL's, but I wouldn't think there are many late bookings for 6a.m. flights on Sundays!
 
Perhaps the quick check in and advance check ins (eg for pax connecting from overseas) clouds things a bit.

Domestic flights within NZ have no quick check in, and limited connecting international pax. It is very rare for me not to get the first row automatically on QF.
 
As Gold, or Plat I am yet to not receive Row 1 on a domestic NZ Qantas flight out of around 6-8 over the last couple of years.

I put it down to a big difference in the profiles of Qantas FF'ers in NZ vs Qantas FF'ers in Australia.
 
There is a difference sure, but on many of the flights I fly there are plenty of plats and I also know colleagues who rarely get the front row. It could be coincidence but I've had too many flights to think that any more.
 
I still don't buy into any of this discussion that there is structure involved to the seating allocation. Yes sure Platinums have preference over Golds and Golds over Silver and so on but it must also have to do with what is in your profile and some randomness as well. Until you speak to the designer/programmer of the application all will just be speculation.

Since becoming Gold I have not noticed that I receive better seating than I did when I was Silver.

When returning BNE-SYD after OzFest III on the 19:30 Sunday night flight kpc and I, both Gold's, received seat allocaton 21C and 22C respectively. That is not a very forward aisle at all on a 30 row plane. At quick check-in we noticed that 20C and 20D were available so we changed our seat allocation to these seats. Oh and by the way we were at the airport well over 2 hours before our flight.
 
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