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?

 

[QF WP]

My personal experience is the exact opposite with VA and QF. Since starting my new membership year as a requalified QF P1 in October, I would normally be at around 1200 QF SC by now and I would normally never fly VA at all. However, this year, I have only earned just less than 300 QF SC since October but just less than 1000 VA SC in the same period. The amount of flying over the period is about the same but the distribution is different.

Better get ready to change your program section as you'll be VA Plat soon and can throw away that SG card

QF have not noticed or cared that my travel with them has dropped by more than 75% from my average over the last five years. QF have not noticed or cared that I only have one forward booking with them over the next three months when normally I travel at least once every two weeks (and have done so for the past eight years).

Disappointing, as I would have thought they would have implemented some form of exception reporting (perhaps quarterly), however the same is true in reverse for me - VA SC's have gone from 1K+ last year to 335 SC's (with 3 weeks to go). So perhaps both are similar in their ineptitude for checking in with their top FF's...

I flew on VA in J last week for the first time Coast to Coast on the 332 BNE-PER and it made QF look like the LCC. On VA, priority boarding and baggage actually worked, I got a shadow and the current VA 332 J seat is light years ahead of the current QF 332 J seat we get BNE-PER (this will equalise once the new seats roll out over the next two years however). The J food on VA was far better also, when compared to my last QF J flight on the same sector just three weeks ago.

Nice - I'm about to do the same on Sunday (and back on Friday), so hoping for the same (as a VA Plat). It however will be my last flights as a VA Plat, as I'll slide back to Gold. I flew QF in J BNE/CBR/BNE on Monday, so will be interesting to see the difference in menu (I have been closely following the VA thread).

 

[RichardMEL]

I wouldn't be surprised if both airlines focus more on revenue than SC's per se... I mean if you're high revenue/yield (to them) SC's will be there, but you could have a fair SC count, but that does not always equate to high revenue to them, which from their POV is most important (I imagine, anyway ).. eg if you earned 1000 SC's flying YUP type fares, vs 1000 on paid QF metal J.

I'm not too surprised in 3-6 months no notice, but you'd think closer to a year some notice would be taken.. certainly for your P1 type to fall to say a silver or gold SC earning level.. but there could be many reasons for such a slow down - business/work changes, personal health, travel choice change, financial, whatever....

 

[Princess Fiona]

I'm not too surprised in 3-6 months no notice, but you'd think closer to a year some notice would be taken.. certainly for your P1 type to fall to say a silver or gold SC earning level.. but there could be many reasons for such a slow down - business/work changes, personal health, travel choice change, financial, whatever....

Or a lack of JASA's and FASA's :mrgreen:

 

[cove]

Yes that will be our family problem. Meanwhile I am holding on tightly to zero status with VA (red) and SQ but I still get the really good seats most of the time. Sometimes status benefits are the last thing to be concerned about.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip> Virgin Australia. They never seemed to notice I had gone, nor cared. I loved VA but then things went cough and they seemingly lost their gloss. I flew a sector with them this week and what has impressed me is how much more effort QF put into their greetings and onboard service. good validation to continue on with QF.

<snip>
QF have not noticed or cared that my travel with them has dropped by more than 75% from my average over the last five years. QF have not noticed or cared that I only have one forward booking with them over the next three months when normally I travel at least once every two weeks (and have done so for the past eight years).

<snip>

I think we know that IT seems to be a weakness for both QF and VA, but in 2015, how difficult would it be to have an multi factor matrix set up which spits out lists of members who have dropped off the revenue/miles/#flights/Net Passenger revenue (or whatever that metric is that appears on CSM's iPads) etc radar and prioritise for follow up? Maybe a call if high status& extreme $ drop, graduating down to various types of e-mails.

Or maybe they do and none of us are as important as we think .

Thee old adage must still apply, surely - keeping an existing customer is much easier than getting a new one.

 

[RichardMEL]

Or maybe they do and none of us are as important as we think .

Thee old adage must still apply, surely - keeping an existing customer is much easier than getting a new one.

I am thinking you are fairly spot on there. I certainly know I'm not very important in the grand scheme of things to QF and that's fine with me

I also suspect that this all is a function of how many members are at the various levels (of both status and revenue) and how that would affect things. When you consider if someone can earn 7000 SC+ in a year which would mean a significant revenue premium vs 1000 in a year, without offence intended to anyone, but who is QF (or VA, or SQ, or whoever) going to be more interested in?

this reminds me of a friend of mine in the US who just the other day exclaimed with some surprise that he only flew 70-ish K miles on United, but got invited to their Global Services program (sort of like a cross between CL and P1) but then figured it was the 4 full Bis fares to europe with a total spend of ~$40k USD that sealed that deal. So it's not always just about numbers of flights or SC's or whatever....

 

[Canny man]

Tasty little upgrade from Newman to Perth on Wednesday. All the more welcome after only being able to get a middle of three seat in row 4 on the 737.

 

[RooFlyer]

<snip>
this reminds me of a friend of mine in the US who just the other day exclaimed with some surprise that he only flew 70-ish K miles on United, but got invited to their Global Services program (sort of like a cross between CL and P1) but then figured it was the 4 full Bis fares to europe with a total spend of ~$40k USD that sealed that deal. So it's not always just about numbers of flights or SC's or whatever....

Strewth. My client sends me on 5-6 full J trips to Canada every year for past 4 years; must be worth A$50K - A$60K, and counting. Used to be 100% QF, but now a mix of QF and AC (at least until QF makes SYD-YVR permanent ).

No invites for me ... (and no OpUps either!).

 

[Ansett]

Tasty little upgrade from Newman to Perth on Wednesday. All the more welcome after only being able to get a middle of three seat in row 4 on the 737.

Why the hell would you select middle seat in Row 4?

 

[JessicaTam]

Why the hell would you select middle seat in Row 4?

At least we now know who has been taking our* shadows!

*If I may be so bold as to include a lowly WP in this discussion.

 

[Ansett]

At least we now know who has been taking our* shadows!

*If I may be so bold as to include a lowly WP in this discussion.

LOL as an ex P1 of course you may

 

[JessicaTam]

LOL as an ex P1 of course you may

Kind sir, I have never been so honoured as to have made it to such illustrious heights. It is not something that I would even contemplate. That is far above my station.

 

[Happy Trails]

Kind sir, I have never been so honoured as to have made it to such illustrious heights. It is not something that I would even contemplate. That is far above my station.

Jessica Tam, while you may not be AFF royalty, you are surely 'as majestic'.

 

[JohnK]

Sounding like a jammed recording when you keep repeating the same thing over and over.

Probably because it's worth repeating.

The 2 are chalk and cheese. Qantas staff are professional. Recent example.

Flew BNE-SYD a few days ago. One of the last to board sitting in 4D. No overhead space either side so check overhead bin above row 3. Empty. Put my laptop bag up. FA came over and jokingly said "You have done this before". I would have been offloaded had I attempted the same on VA. And seriously why do VA flight atfendants put their bags in overhead bins aboce row 3?

Fell asleep after take off. Cart is down by row 7-8 so I get up and patiently wait to get the attention of FA to ask for snack and beer. CSM stopped meal service and came and grabbed me. She thought I wanted to use bathroom. I explained I was waiting. Finished beer and CSM came around asking if I wanted another. Yes please. Brought me a beer, glass and pretzels. Not plastic cup. And when they came to take rubbish away beer was replaced without asking.

I know it's off topic but to me the little things are important. VA are a LCC. Feel like a LCC.

 

[boomy]

I would like to share a positive experience.
Recently been on QF flight with my gf the day before my bday. We reserved seats 4A & 4C with 4B blocked. The CSM and other FAs came to wish me happy bday before takeoff and as soon as the seatbelt sign was off the CSM came with a bottle of red and two glasses from J. After drinking three glasses each, we politely declined another refill so the CSM came with a new bottle for us to take home.

A couple of days later, had a morning flight (on my own this time) and got another warm happy bday greeting from the CSM followed by celebratory sparkling wine.

Being P1 since the programme was introduced I never got any special attention on bdays before and wasn't expecting anything this time either. It was a nice surprise and hopefully a positive sign to further improvements in the programme.
Thanks QF!

 

[samh004]

As my Platinum One year comes to an end (Feb 28th), and with no future travel in sight, I wanted to share a few of my experiences for those who are close and considering whether or not it's worth it to them. I had a monstrous year attaining P1, but a relaxed year watching it slip away and enjoying the benefits.

I've received and made use of:

• the Qantas MCA lounge to beat the heat in Circular Quay a few times
• the partner Platinum benefit
• an invitation to experience a flight simulator, originally a 747, but due to it going tech, an equally cool 767
• an invitation to attend the Gold Coast Sevens
• complimentary epiQure membership
• complimentary Qantas Golf membership
• a bottle of wine from the First class cellars for Christmas
• a dedicated team replying to my many emails and calling me back to help sort out issues for me
• access to the furthest forward seats, and exit rows internationally
• double points when booking through Qantas restaurants

Additionally, I received a number of upgrades throughout my year. Excluding non-upgradeable (QFLink) one-cabin flights, I took 32 domestic and 4 international flights. I received just 1 international upgrade, so 25%. However I received 7 domestic upgrades, or about 22%. I don't find that upgrade success rate too bad, and I mean to say they were all op-up. I never put in for a points upgrade as I'm hoarding my points for some unknown reason.

I certainly saw the value and continue to see the value in the program, however I now lack the funds and JASA's p) to get there.

If you're close to the number of SC required and you're wondering if it's worth the extra effort, my recommendation would be yes, as I can't fault them.

Raw data:

2014-membership year (upgradeable) flights

BNEADL		QF663	YY
ADLMEL		QF692	YJ	Upgrade (domestic)
MELBNE		QF632	YY
OOLSYD		QF861	YJ	Upgrade (domestic)
SYDOOL		QF864	YJ	Upgrade (domestic)
OOLSYD		QF861	YY
SYDBNE		QF542	YY
OOLSYD		QF861	YJ	Upgrade (domestic)
SYDOOL		QF860	YY
BNESYD		QF8	YJ	Upgrade (domestic)
MELBNE		QF632	YY
OOLSYD		QF861	YY
SYDDXB		QF1	YY
DXBLHR		QF9	YJ	Upgrade (international)
LHRDXB		QF2	YY
DXBMEL		QF10	YY
MELSYD		QF416	YY
SYDOOL		QF862	YY
OOLSYD		QF861	YY
SYDMEL		QF439	YY
MELSYD		QF434	YY
SYDOOL		QF864	YY
OOLSYD		QF861	YY
SYDOOL		QF860	YY
BNESYD		QF8	YY
SYDOOL		QF864	YJ	Upgrade (domestic)
OOLSYD		QF861	JJ
SYDMEL		QF433	JJ
MELSYD		QF438	YY
SYDOOL		QF864	YY
BNESYD		QF501	YJ	Upgrade (domestic)
SYDBNE		QF544	YY
SYDOOL		QF864	YY
BNEMEL		QF619	YY
MELSYD		QF767	YY
SYDBNE		QF556	YY

Total flights:		36
	Domestic:	32
	International:	4

Upgrades:		8
	Domestic:	7
	International:	1

 

[boomy]

Checked in for my BNE-SYD flight in the J lounge this morning and got BP with seat 5D on it so I asked:
"I selected row 4 online, why was I moved?"
"I don't know but it's a full flight today sir".
"I see, so we can rule out weight distribution. What was the reason then?"
"Probably an aircraft change sir".
"Are we flying on a B737-800 today?"
"Yes sir".
"Then it's the same type of aircraft".
"Well I can't move any pax sitting in row 4 because they are also P1s".
"Are you sure they are ALL P1s?"
"Well, actually the person who was moved to your original seat is CL".
(Aha, I knew it!)
"I would like to be moved back to my original seat please. Maybe you can upgrade the CL to J?"
"I'm afraid J is full on this flight".
"Oh well, bad luck for the CL then. Next time they should pre-select their seat earlier".
"Let me call my manager and see what we can do".
The manager came, heard the story, asked me to wait inside the lounge for a few minutes while he is sorting this out and then gave me new BP with my original seat on it.
From what I understood the seat change was done in SYD and created some confusion for the BNE staff so they were not sure how to handle it at first.
I told them that I would not mind the seat change if it was done for a justified reason but it's not ok to move someone from their pre-selected seat and then offer all kinds of false excuses to why it was done.

 

[danny09]

Good work on getting your original seat back. I guess the CL had to settle in row 5.

Should not happen but am glad they settled it for you.

 

[JohnK]

I can't believe some staff still have the hide to move people out of their allocated seats.

It should not happen unless the person is first consulted and be prepared for rejection.

 

[kevrosmith]

Did you happen to notice a sulking CL in row 5? Anyone pulling a DYKWIA on board?

Good to hear that you were able to be allocated back into your pre-selected seat.

Do you use My Flights app boomy? This app will notify you of changes to your booking.