Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[aus_flyer]

To all the newly-minted Platinum One frequent flyers out there... I'm curious to hear... what's been your experience so far?

Anything different?

Free upgrades?

... or all hype?

 

[RichardMEL]

So for S&G I've been mucking around with this 20% P1 discount thing.

for me, anyway, I've found some weirdness(there's a shock - NOT!) but semi consistent.

eg:
domestic sectors like MEL-CNS, MEL-OOL the discount is applied to the lowest Y fare but not to Flex or Business
int sectors like MEL-SIN, I was seeing discount on the discounted Y fare, but not flex, but yes to J saver and even a F sale fare on the dates I put in, that does not actually show on the regular site (!), but not Full F.

so basically it seems to be a bit hit and miss (I won't use the usual catchphrase )

fun times!

 

[shuuy]

Just got a P1 feedback survey (around the same time as a "we welcome you to a P1 event" email).

Interesting the enhancements they're considering. What would you select?

 

[RichardMEL]

Increased ground staff?! What? That seems just silly.
Lounge angels and CS agents all do pretty well if you ask me. Sometimes they mention P1, other times they just fix whatever the issue is with zero fuss. I don't need some dedicated flunky to do...what exactly?! Am I wrong here? it seems a bit bizarre to me.

sadly no mention of confirmed space upgrades which would be a brilliant addition. As The Donald would tweet: "Sad"

 

[shuuy]

For Air Canada P1 equivalents, they have concierges at the airport (print out boarding passes in case you're late, get bag tags ready, walk you through security if you have a tight cnx). They were helpful for sure, (but no P1 customer care team)

Increased ground staff?! What? That seems just silly.
Lounge angels and CS agents all do pretty well if you ask me. Sometimes they mention P1, other times they just fix whatever the issue is with zero fuss. I don't need some dedicated flunky to do...what exactly?! Am I wrong here? it seems a bit bizarre to me.

sadly no mention of confirmed space upgrades which would be a brilliant addition. As The Donald would tweet: "Sad"

 

[RichardMEL]

For Air Canada P1 equivalents, they have concierges at the airport (print out boarding passes in case you're late, get bag tags ready, walk you through security if you have a tight cnx). They were helpful for sure, (but no P1 customer care team)

I've just never had issues, even when late, getting that stuff done. OK not an escort through security, but it never usually takes that long at MEL, even during busy times (unless you get stuck behind some idiot who has never flown before or similar).

I know one time I just missed cut off for an international connection went to the agent saying I know flight's closing but I'm connecting to LAX (or wherever) can you help? She saw P1 and was like sure, no problem we'll sort this for you.

And honestly that's what I'd expect tbh

 

[RichardMEL]

At any rate I doubt QF would spend the $$$ to employ dedicated staff for P1 in the major airports. If it happened they may become like the F hosts.... sometimes they're everywhere..sometimes never to be seen or heard from

 

[mviy]

What would really make P1 more attractive would not just be confirmed space available upgrades but also things like an additional Partner Gold to give away to family/friends.

 

[RichardMEL]

What would really make P1 more attractive would not just be confirmed space available upgrades but also things like an additional Partner Gold to give away to family/friends.

What, the Plat not enough for you?

Of course they should just make that at say 6000SC's (P1+25400) or something. That would be a reasonable reward option.

And given all the bonus SC's no longer count towards these things that would be a LOT of QF flying (even if it was all Paid F).

 

[Matt_01]

@shuuy - from memory these are the same questions that were asked in the last P1 survey.

@mviy - you either do not get the P1 briefing or yours has been delayed. The P1 WP family benefit was not put forward as an option to extend to others in last years survey however if you go back through many pages you will most likely read that a number of P1's suggested softening of the family WP rules under the "any additional comments section" in the survey. This has now been implemented and communicated in the latest P1 briefing.

 

[juddles]

My number one ask would be confirmed upgrades, as many other airlines manage. All the options they gave above are just fluff. Not very encouraging if this is all they are considering.

 

[juddles]

What would really make P1 more attractive would not just be confirmed space available upgrades but also things like an additional Partner Gold to give away to family/friends.

mviy,

I actually do not rate the value of an "additional Partner Gold" very highly - IMHO the couple of lounge passes are perfect for gifts to those who do not fly enough to get lounge access on their own. For the last couple of years I have actually selected the option of 50k points rather than gift Gold to someone. (That thingy at 2400 SC?)

And now with the changes to the Platinum status gift - this actually works amazingly for me! I have always thought giving plat status to the partner of a P1 was normally pointless, but in my personal situation I can now give it to my daughter who is off to uni in Canberra next year - so she and her boyfriend can use that on what will be quite a few trips back and forth during the year. That is a fantastic thing for me - but as always, everyone's circumstances are different.

 

[kermatu]

I’m utterly dismayed these same dismal ‘enhancements’ are being trotted out in more surveys months later. Surely they got enough feedback last time. Perhaps they are still trying to get their first positive response?

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Werem't these questions, or at least a subset of them, posed in a survey earlier this year? Even the formatting looks identical. I certainly recall being asked about increased ground staff.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Those survey questions are clearly not thought-out.

Hard benefits only influence the purchase behaviour of a small% of airline passengers.
Soft, ground service benefits have even smaller behavioural impact.

The #1, biggest loyalty drive I've seen is CONSISTENT DELIVERY OF THE BASICS. This includes priority boarding, and predictable, consistent recognition of all the top-tier published and unpublished benefits.

The #2 loyalty driver took me years to figure out, and it was only through daily talking with passengers from all walks of life at the airport, in lounges, and on planes that it all began to click. Of course, being a Plat1 member myself for 3 years and now holding elite status with 3 different airlines also exposes me to a lot of different airlines/schedules/cities/people/disruptions.

The #2 driver is the most basic of basic things. It's so basic, that it took all of these years to figure out how simple it really is. For those who follow me on Linkedin, you might see the direction through my posts. Asian airlines nail it sometimes without realising the power. (sorry can't be more specific in public forum).

Personally, I believe surveys like the one above are total rubbish.

I hope QF can revitalize P1 and make it more powerful and aspirational. The program is big enough to support new benefits without alienating Platinums.

 

[RichardMEL]

I’m utterly dismayed these same dismal ‘enhancements’ are being trotted out in more surveys months later. Surely they got enough feedback last time. Perhaps they are still trying to get their first positive response?

To be fair, the change to the P1 Partner Plat was not canvassed and came as a total surprise to well probably most of us so there is a *slight* hope

 

[RichardMEL]

mviy,

I actually do not rate the value of an "additional Partner Gold" very highly - IMHO the couple of lounge passes are perfect for gifts to those who do not fly enough to get lounge access on their own. For the last couple of years I have actually selected the option of 50k points rather than gift Gold to someone. (That thingy at 2400 SC?)

And now with the changes to the Platinum status gift - this actually works amazingly for me! I have always thought giving plat status to the partner of a P1 was normally pointless, but in my personal situation I can now give it to my daughter who is off to uni in Canberra next year - so she and her boyfriend can use that on what will be quite a few trips back and forth during the year. That is a fantastic thing for me - but as always, everyone's circumstances are different.

That works out nicely for you

As for me, for the last.. gosh.. 6? years (lost track!) I've given the Gold status as a gidt to co-workers ahead of big trips, friends or even people I know online who would absolutely value and use it(and they have ).

To me yeah it's pretty pointless but then again it's good karma for me to make someone else happy with a click and it costs me nothing (yeah, I guess it costs me a potential 50k points, but I have a large balance as is, so really it's not super relevant).

And not having a partner or even family member living with me (except the cat ) Partner Plat has been useless to me for my past 4 years of being P1. Now, I can gift THAT too and that's a benefit worth something (don't take that to mean I would expect some sort of payment or something for the gift!!!) ... Previously I had hoped QF would at least offer an option - Partner Plat or say a boatload of points or something for those that don't use it. I don't mind this one.

I would also think the Platinum Bonus Reward at 2400 SC (and that's so much harder to achieve since March 13th) to gift Gold can be of value to give to family members like adult kids living away from home or in-laws/parents or whatnot and it has value to many I am sure. I just don't because nobody else in my family really travels, so it would be wasted so I find people who can and do appreciate and get value out of it they never would normally.

Obviously every member's definition of the value of a benefit is going to be different.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

To be fair, the change to the P1 Partner Plat was not canvassed and came as a total surprise to well probably most of us so there is a *slight* hope

I'd be curious to know the take up of Partner Platinum before this change. Commercial In Confidence of course though.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

To be fair, the change to the P1 Partner Plat was not canvassed and came as a total surprise to well probably most of us so there is a *slight* hope

To compare - Malaysia Airlines Enrich gives free Platinum to your spouse once you attain basic Platinum. No need to achieve 3x Platinum to enjoy that benefits. Also unlimited free meet and greet services for all classes of travel for standard Platinums at KUL.

If you can get to SQ PPS Solitare, you'll be upgraded for free at every possible opportunity on every SQ flight.

CX Diamond Plus is on the table for the big spenders which has soft benefits like customized napkins, private escort services at HKG etc.

EK IO members have their own personal, direct phone# to the Skywards contact centre. A private squad of men-in-black type characters to whisk you around the airport, check in from your house, always unlimited free airport transfers.

Air Asia will assign an anonymous, dedicated staff member to be on your flight (as a passenger) to ensure NOTHING goes wrong. They have authority on flights second only to the Captain.

There are PLENTY more examples of how airlines (especially in Asia) treat their top members.

Qantas has focused way too much on the hard physical status benefits. I'm willing to bet they see significant churn from P1 among members who have a choice of which carrier they fly. Reading through this thread it's clear even basic stuff like priority boarding is still a problem after what.. a decade? Way past due for some airport ops management to lose their jobs IMO.

If you wanted the physical benefits - you'd go for BA or perhaps AA who have significant tangible rewards at the top end.

IMO Platinum One is only worthwhile if you fly Qantas... where there are light loads in premium cabins, or/and... you're unlucky and constantly have disrupted flights to really utilize SST.... or you really want a white card to show off.

I like Qantas and they're a great airline with a special place in my heart and the market performance is excellent - but if you're spending over ~$30K AUD on international flights p.a. - it's time to smell the roses elsewhere. No need for *slight hope* ... just move your business elsewhere and get rewarded in a more meaningful way.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

If you wanted the physical benefits - you'd go for BA or perhaps AA who have significant tangible rewards at the top end.

I've mulled a run for BA GGL+CCR with the eventual target of lifetime OWE. I'd never drop below QF Platinum though to keep arrivals access, award seat release, better(?) handing on IRROPS.

BA F is essentially QF F with better wine, as I've been vocal about.

 

[RichardMEL]

TTR - I agree with your comments for sure.

Then again isn't every airlines uber premium tier going to focus and reward on their own metal? That makes perfect sense.

I also feel BA, as Bloody Awful as it is, has far more competition at it's home base (they only really HAVE one ) that handing out more of the candy is probably seen as approprate. QF doesn't need to; VA has nothing remotely close. This isn't to say I don't agree with the idea or wanting more (duh!) but I can see why QF don't

and finally my point was NOT that the partner Plat change was specifically novel or a great one (it is though compared to what was before) but more that this change to the existing Partner Plat perk was never hinted at previously.