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?

 

[Mrmaxwell]

As is always the case with QF a number of staff scored J upgrades and the cabin went from J9 and I8 at 7pm to completely full on departure at 11pm.

On a side note my last several international flights have had QF staff travelling in upgraded J and they just suck any possibility of decent service as they're always talking and comparing notes with on duty crew - each point of contact turns into epic gossip chats while the rest of the cabin pays the price.

On my last flight I complained to the CSM...he simply started taking care of me while the others continued their onboard catch up party...far from ideal and bloody annoying when it happens a few flights in a row.

 

[pm3207]

I've tried to remain positive about the P1 programme but have come to the view it's just smoke and mirrors. No help when it really counts. Just off the phone with a P1 team member who couldn't have been more unhelpful if she tried, in stark contrast to lovely people at the Hobart call centre who do their best to help.

Don’t travel as much as many on here but have ca 4,500 SC six months into membership year with 3 ticketed J class international trips in next 2 months ca $35k and they won’t release two seats to FF inventory.

No complimentary upgrades for over two years. Just a few onboard cards and a bottle of champagne each year. Not sure why I bother really.

What a missed opportunity for Qantas really to shine for its customers ...

 

[RichardMEL]

Evcents have shown up on the QFF activity ever since I've been P1 (so 2014) eg the first one I got, which I actually gave to my brother, was an invite to the Boxing Day Test cricket. Made an odd, but fun, entry in the activity log.

 

[RichardMEL]

I've tried to remain positive about the P1 programme but have come to the view it's just smoke and mirrors. No help when it really counts. Just off the phone with a P1 team member who couldn't have been more unhelpful if she tried, in stark contrast to lovely people at the Hobart call centre who do their best to help.

Wou;d you be willing to share some detail about what the issu was that you wanted help with?

from context it sounds like a res issue, and SST usually pass through to res anyway.
I've only seen SST proactively work on bookings in situations like irrops or where time is more critical (eg: I'm going to miss a flight in 2 hours can you rebook...)

not defending at all, just interested in more context to the issue and how the SST member was unhelpful

 

[RichardMEL]

Unfortunately we're looking at cancelling a trip to Europe in a couple of weeks - we're both to busy for a 3 week trip. Thought I'd give the SST a go and request 2 x F SYD-LHR be released on a date that would cut the trip back to a more manageable work/life balance. All approved, seats released, and re-ticketed in the past hour.... another birthday in Paris

and THIS.. is one of the times the status has come through and delivered imho. good news!

 

[farstar]

On a side note my last several international flights have had QF staff travelling in upgraded J and they just suck any possibility of decent service as they're always talking and comparing notes with on duty crew - each point of contact turns into epic gossip chats while the rest of the cabin pays the price.

On my last flight I complained to the CSM...he simply started taking care of me while the others continued their onboard catch up party...far from ideal and bloody annoying when it happens a few flights in a row.

with Virgin I always see staff even pilots in economy, Also Virgin have outstanding priority boarding, QANTAS are the worst priority boarding ever.

 

[33kft]

with Virgin I always see staff even pilots in economy

You would think by now they would remember which way to turn when boarding

 

[pm3207]

Wou;d you be willing to share some detail about what the issu was that you wanted help with?

from context it sounds like a res issue, and SST usually pass through to res anyway.
I've only seen SST proactively work on bookings in situations like irrops or where time is more critical (eg: I'm going to miss a flight in 2 hours can you rebook...)

not defending at all, just interested in more context to the issue and how the SST member was unhelpful

In short, I was requesting the release of FF seats which had to go to the P1 team for manual review after being rejected by the computer system. (Normal practice). P1 staff member in question basically admonished me for wanting to travel during school holidays (I don't have kids so don't have school holiday dates front of mind) and expecting that seats might be made available. Realise one can't always get what one wants, but being chided for seeking to use the system was unacceptable. Following some feedback, the P1 team have been trying to find availability (which I appreciate), but to no avail. "The analysts" just won't release seats when we need them.

One request was for a QF2 LHR/SIN sector where there were 56 (!) unallocated seats in Business, although admittedly EF availability was showing J9C3. I realise the seat map doesn't exactly match availability but it is more accurate in Business given immediate seat allocation, so my hunch is they are withholding D and I class to maintain yield (again common practice for Qantas and others). Just a hunch, might be wrong.

Anyway - looks like QF can't or won't be able to help, so we'll likely book paid fares on CX.

 

[serfty]

One request was for a QF1 SIN/LHR sector where there were 56 (!) unallocated seats in Business, although admittedly EF availability was showing J9C3.

It's quite possible economy was oversold and they were planning on upgrades ...

 

[pm3207]

It's quite possible economy was oversold and they were planning on upgrades ...

Could be I guess, but that's a lot of upgrades from Y to W and W to J (etc).

 

[amaroo]

I'm loving P1

3 months into my membership I've requested and been approved for 8 x F and 8 x J (LH) award seats at short and mid notice. I've got millions more points to toast and I'll be working hard to ensure they're all gone by the end of my tenure.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I went to a Tiffany & Co coughtail party yesterday in Sydney. Was great to catch up with Dianne and the team. The event was very well run, got to try on lots of beautiful bling and a goody bag on the way out containing a jewelry tray adorned with info about the Tiffany Diamond.

 

[Matt_01]

I'm loving P1

3 months into my membership I've requested and been approved for 8 x F and 8 x J (LH) award seats at short and mid notice. I've got millions more points to toast and I'll be working hard to ensure they're all gone by the end of my tenure.

I like your style and wish I could do the same. Assuming you are requesting max distance i.e AU-UK or AU-NYC I estimate around 2.5-3M points gone in 3 months, a magnificent effort. With a +1 with work commitments and restricted by school holidays I can only seem to burn about 1M per year, with QF and then there are the SQ miles as I need to watch the expiry dates so they get burnt as well. 18 month back I was conned into taking my Mother-In-Law in J to SG for 10 days just so points did not go to waste. I say conned as I also ended picking up the accomodation, food, taxi and every other bill.

I seem to earn points faster than I can use them. I just dropped 200K QF points to fly to CHC (EK F) for a day and a half just because MrsM wanted to go there for a look at how the rebuild is going. Restaurant recommendations for dinner are welcomed.

If SST are now able to facilitate F and J redemptions this is a positive step forward.

Now for my recent experiences, DOM flights seem to have a higher shadow rate, I also received another one of those marketing surveys looking for P1 feed back. I was honest, not overly harsh as I think the program maybe in a state of transition from being once good to poor to abysmal and now back rise. Time will tell

 

[Matt_01]

I went to a Tiffany & Co coughtail party yesterday in Sydney. Was great to catch up with Dianne and the team. The event was very well run, got to try on lots of beautiful bling and a goody bag on the way out containing a jewelry tray adorned with info about the Tiffany Diamond. View attachment 160691View attachment 160691

Take back every thing I mentioned in post #4233. Four or Five years as a P1 and I have never been able to attend a single event although MrsM and MissM went to the Ballet. @Princess Fiona was there good stuff in the bag.

 

[Princess Fiona]

Take back every thing I mentioned in post #4233. Four or Five years as a P1 and I have never been able to attend a single event although MrsM and MissM went to the Ballet. @Princess Fiona was there good stuff in the bag.

Just the porcelain vide poche. It was beautifully boxed, will be a nice trinket for the dressing table.

 

[amaroo]

I like your style and wish I could do the same. Assuming you are requesting max distance i.e AU-UK or AU-NYC I estimate around 2.5-3M points gone in 3 months, a magnificent effort. With a +1 with work commitments and restricted by school holidays I can only seem to burn about 1M per year, with QF and then there are the SQ miles as I need to watch the expiry dates so they get burnt as well. 18 month back I was conned into taking my Mother-In-Law in J to SG for 10 days just so points did not go to waste. I say conned as I also ended picking up the accomodation, food, taxi and every other bill.

I seem to earn points faster than I can use them. I just dropped 200K QF points to fly to CHC (EK F) for a day and a half just because MrsM wanted to go there for a look at how the rebuild is going. Restaurant recommendations for dinner are welcomed.

If SST are now able to facilitate F and J redemptions this is a positive step forward.

Now for my recent experiences, DOM flights seem to have a higher shadow rate, I also received another one of those marketing surveys looking for P1 feed back. I was honest, not overly harsh as I think the program maybe in a state of transition from being once good to poor to abysmal and now back rise. Time will tell

Yes, all F sectors will be SYD-SIN-LHR or SYD-LAX-SYD .... the J sectors will/have been LAX-JFK-LAX-BNE or NZ... I'll do trip reports on all trips.

We're able to do it because we're doing short sharp trips - Paris is 5 nights, NYC is 7.... this suits us because mrsamaroo (plat in her own right), runs a couple of businesses and is busy like me. I loved travelling with my MIL, but recently things haven't gone well with her health so travel is not an option. Although she is working hard to see the Great Wall next year with my wife - if she is able, we'll cover the job lot... like all the other trips we've had together.

8 months ago I bent hard towards SQ.... I've now got a substantial number of Amex points and have squeezed in a SQ suite return for CDG-SIN-SYD in a couple of weeks.

If I like the SQ suite ride from Paris - it's all SQ for me! Both revenue and awards.

 

[amaroo]

<snip>

I seem to earn points faster than I can use them. I just dropped 200K QF points to fly to CHC (EK F) for a day and a half just because MrsM wanted to go there for a look at how the rebuild is going. Restaurant recommendations for dinner are welcomed.

Sorry, but I haven't been to CHC for around 20 years.

if SST are now able to facilitate F and J redemptions this is a positive step forward.

I made all my request through the general plat number, it was only when the request had to be elevated the agents mentioned the Pi team, not sure what involvement they have, I always thought it was the revenue management people that made the decision.

QFF have just confirmed our final request and have ticketed the booking. So we're doing F to LAX and J on the 787 back to BNE - perfect! Really pleased with the service and first class treatment provided to P1s

 

[pm3207]

Sorry, but I haven't been to CHC for around 20 years.



I made all my request through the general plat number, it was only when the request had to be elevated the agents mentioned the Pi team, not sure what involvement they have, I always thought it was the revenue management people that made the decision.

QFF have just confirmed our final request and have ticketed the booking. So we're doing F to LAX and J on the 787 back to BNE - perfect! Really pleased with the service and first class treatment provided to P1s

Lucky you! The response given to me most is "analyst says no".

 

[Happy Trails]

Lucky you! The response given to me most is "analyst says no".

Same here.
Two requests in seven years = two knock-backs.

 

[Matt_01]

it was only when the request had to be elevated the agents mentioned the Pi team, not sure what involvement they have, I always thought it was the revenue management people that made the decision.

This is what I find interesting. I have always been under the impression that it was the loading or revenue teams that made the decision.

A few weeks back I was talking to the WP reservations team as I am trying to organise some RTW F rewards and outside of QF some of the other carriers were proving problematic, e.g. cannot find reward F seats, not showing up in expert flyer or awards nexus, inventory available via BA or AA and not QF, all the usual issues. The agent advised that SST are being trained in reservations and I should send a proposed itinerary with options and SST could contact their equivalents within the other carriers and try and get the seats. I had not heard of this before and not sure if it actually works.