How much of a step up is platinum from gold?

[Cessna 180]

I have been silver for many years and gold last year courtesy of some Qantas status crossover. I cannot say I noticed much difference between gold and Silver.

This year, I am now close to gold already courtesy of an unexpected couple of weeks in Perth.

Most of my stays are Ibis/Mantra/Sebel. Some of them do not have restaurant and I am not aware of any that have a lounge, so I am undecided if the benefit of paying $360 is worth it for me as yet. Sebel Perth for example, has no bar or restaurant, so welcome drink is a bottle of water or coke etc......

Are the free breakfast any good?

Anyway, main point of confusion is:
If I decided to go for platinum courtesy of the ALL explorer, is the best time to buy that sometime between gold being achieved and year end? That way the 30 nights would take my tally to 60+ and then I have platinum until the end of next year?

 

[Seat0B]

Yes that's right. Your status is assessed each year on 31 December and whatever you have achieved by then, you get for the following year. If you achieve platinum any earlier than 31 December, you have it from the date of achievement to 31 December (assessment date) and then for the following year. So the earlier in the calendar year you reach platinum, the better for you.

The free breakfasts vary a little but are generally excellent - being literally "go to breakfast in the restaurant like everyone else, eat whatever you want, but don't pay" in places with no lounge. If there is a lounge, sometimes they let you choose between the restaurant and the lounge, and sometimes they require you to eat in the lounge. Lounge breakfasts are the biggest wild card in my experience. Some are terrific - special dishes not on the standard menu, bubbles in the cooler and a pretty decent buffet, some are a bit more limited than the standard restaurant buffet but still generally good enough for free.

Another benefit of platinum at breakfast is that you will often get barista coffee for free with your breakfast, although some places are apparently starting to charge - has not yet happened to me.