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]

Here's another blatant example of this sloppiness!

qantas.com/platinumone page:

Unsurpassed service, privilege and recognition

At a glance:

• Platinum Membership for partner
• Highest upgrade priority
• Access to a dedicated Platinum One Team

As our top tier membership level, Platinum One members are rewarded with the ultimate level of personalised service. All the benefits of Platinum apply, plus extra special privileges that make each journey an absolute pleasure.
Complimentary Platinum membership for a family member or friend
Eligible Platinum One members can nominate a family member or friend for complimentary Platinum membership, so they can enjoy all the benefits and privileges of Platinum status. Nominate a family member or friend for Platinum membership now.

So within the space of a number of lines of text they have the old benefit of "partner" and then the new benefit of family member or friend.

I mean seriously?

It's on the SAME PAGE !

 

[kermatu]

I've pointed out the Platinum Partner error directly to the SST now three times in the past year. Says it all.

 

[juddles]

I've pointed out the Platinum Partner error directly to the SST now three times in the past year. Says it all.

I agree the online promotion is sloppy, but what are P1 members experiencing when they contact the SST? I have really enjoyed their support.

 

[RichardMEL]

I agree the online promotion is sloppy, but what are P1 members experiencing when they contact the SST? I have really enjoyed their support.

Personally I would not contact the SST with things like problems with the web page or printed material inconsitencies... to me that's a fail inthe editing process.. though the SST is the contact point for all things P1 in theory.

In my travel related dealings with the SST they have always been pleasant and helpful. A few times made promises that did not come through but only in a minor way (eg: many years ago offered a movie voucher that never showed up, and a request for a message on a BP never came through, but that's so minor as to hardly worry about). For personal stuff, like getting me out of a potential jam they've been good and responsive, and I've had no real cause for complaint with the SST - but my contact rate probably averages once a year, if that... so I have a very small sample. I know many people send all kinds of things to the SST that could be handled by res or other ways - I am not one of those - but I do not lead the heavy travel schedules and busy lifestyles that many P1's do where the SST is a point of convenience to use when one is time poor and deadline sensitive.

Really though these thing is.. kermatu has reported the problem, probably others have.. the SST only needs to foward to the internal dept responsible and surely it's an easy fix in the CMS (Content Management System) and the document templates for the renewal letters(for example) to fix... yet somehow they've not done it. It's a small thing, but it also says a lot IMO.

 

[flyingfan]

Crept up to P1 off the back of DSC and some non-DSC status runs, just because I want to. Read this entire thread through twice with keen interest to know what to expect and also set expectations.

The day the SCs posted to get me over the line I received a call and then an email from the SST. Since then asked them to put a block on a seat next to me - was told they'll put a note 3 days before flight. Asked about flight sim, they'll raise with the Event Coordinator.

Availed myself of the free bottle from Qantas Wine, it's a pity I don't drink enough to buy from them and make use of the membership. One thing I haven't seen mentioned anywhere else is the Wellbeing app now seems to treat me like I bought their pricey health deals, so I get full points for keeping up my steps count now. Knowing what it costs to get P1 makes those very expensive points.

Tried asking for release of three seats internationally each way, declined.

Had my first flight as a P1 today, MEL-PER on the Dreamliner. Sat in the class I paid for (exit row, no extra cost of course), had a shadow but so did some others. Got a greeting and a little bit of extra attention during service which was nice.

Made use of the WP membership giveaway - following on the above discussion, the person I gave it to (who isn't my partner) has it listed on their FF profile to the effect of 'You're Platinum due to your partner's Platinum One status.' Haha.

Looking forward to seeing how else I can make use of P1 while it lasts. Not looking forward to missing out on targeted DSCs from now on

 

[Matt_01]

@flyingfan well done and welcome to the club. Don’t set your expectations too high and you will not be disappointed. There are a few of us on this site and I have managed to run into a few on aircraft, lounges and social events.

 

[Kangol]

The day the SCs posted to get me over the line I received a call and then an email from the SST. Since then asked them to put a block on a seat next to me - was told they'll put a note 3 days before flight. Asked about flight sim, they'll raise with the Event Coordinator.

Availed myself of the free bottle from Qantas Wine, it's a pity I don't drink enough to buy from them and make use of the membership. One thing I haven't seen mentioned anywhere else is the Wellbeing app now seems to treat me like I bought their pricey health deals, so I get full points for keeping up my steps count now. Knowing what it costs to get P1 makes those very expensive points.

I didn't get a call, only an email.

How many points do you get for your daily step count?
I'm getting 6 points for 2k steps. Guessing that's the norm.

 

[Matt_01]

How many points do you get for your daily step count?
I'm getting 6 points for 2k steps. Guessing that's the norm.

Do we get the step count points for being P1, I thought I was getting the step count points as I had an annual travel insurance policy.

 

[flyingfan]

How many points do you get for your daily step count?
I'm getting 6 points for 2k steps. Guessing that's the norm.

18 points for 10k steps. After the trial ended it was something pathetic like 1.5 points for 8k steps.

 

[RichardMEL]

Welcome to P1.
You've definitely read the thread and taken advantage of (or tried to) just about everything you can so far. Good work!
re the 3 seat reward release - route/class/dates? I mean close in? peak times? curious.
It seems the flight sim is now a selected offering. Back in the "good old days" (LOL) of P1 it was offered to me on that initial "welcome to P1" phone call. I suspect there are so many now they just can't do that anymore.
The request for a seat block(I presume you mean a "shadow" as most here call it) being allegedly put in 3 days ahead - huh? that seems weird... and I sure as heck wouldn't rely on that promise... just QF being QF.

Anyway yeah expect very little and you can only be a little bit surprised (since you've read all of our experienced - positive and negative)!

 

[flyingfan]

Thanks! I’m happy to get some frills now and then but definitely not expecting too much... I mean if people can be involuntarily downgraded from paid J to Y (as WP?) then no one’s safe...

The request was for 3 reward J seats SYD-BKK-SYD in 3 months time. Not the infamous HNL

Haven’t heard back re sim yet but not in a rush.

I personally think of a shadow as something (theoretically) automatic for (theoretically) WP and above, and a block as something requested (which seems to fall apart come airport control time from discussion here).
I was hoping for a shadow for my PER-MEL but have just been joined by a deadheading FA lol.

Will keep posting my experiences and looking forward to hearing others!

 

[Hvr]

The request was for 3 reward J seats SYD-BKK-SYD in 3 months time.

Basically that flight is full virtually all of the time. You're lucky if you can get a Y redemption.

 

[flyingfan]

Basically that flight is full virtually all of the time. You're lucky if you can get a Y redemption.

I think QF is very good at filling its premium cabins, dom and international and surely it can’t be more in demand than LAX or LHR. When they couldn’t give me J they actually proactively booked three reward Y seats both ways but I declined, preferring to save my points and get the SCs. Might look at upgrading to a higher Y class and upgrading with points.

 

[Matt_01]

Thanks! I’m happy to get some frills now and then but definitely not expecting too much... I mean if people can be involuntarily downgraded from paid J to Y (as WP?) then no one’s safe...

Not even the P1s are safe from a complementary downgrade from J to Y, I have first hand experience.

 

[flyingfan]

Not even the P1s are safe from a complementary downgrade from J to Y, I have first hand experience.

Mind sharing that experience as I know you’ve alluded to it before but not in detail? I cannot fathom that unless it was an extreme case in dom J where the other 6 pax were CL...

 

[Kangol]

Not even the P1s are safe from a complementary downgrade from J to Y, I have first hand experience.

Downgrade from a confirmed J ticket?

 

[Matt_01]

Downgrade from a confirmed J ticket?

Yes, has happened a couple of times on return to AU when flights that have arrived late and missed the domestic connection. I have not been that fussed as I would just prefer to get home rather than wait for domestic J seat.

 

[RichardMEL]

I think in cases like that it's reasonable to either offer next available flight in Y OR next available in J per the pax's preference.

If one has the option between say a 0900 in Y for SYD-ADL and maybe a 1300 in J, mst would take the earlier flight I reckon.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

I think in cases like that it's reasonable to either offer next available flight in Y OR next available in J per the pax's preference.

If one has the option between say a 0900 in Y for SYD-ADL and maybe a 1300 in J, mst would take the earlier flight I reckon.

Yes, and similarly for F to J

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes, and similarly for F to J

I have NO idea of any examples you may have recently had