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?

 

[Hvr]

So SYD-BKK today and the CSM came and made a personal greeting to me about how much he appreciated my flying with Qantas etc. Very genuine and heartfelt. He then made another equally good greeting to the person beside me who happened to be a CL (and would be a WP1 as well). We were both provided with noise cancelling headphones. Also provided with priority passes for BKK immigration.

The CSM then noted that it was unusual we didn't each have a vacant seat beside us especially since there were many (>50) seats vacant. He went exploring and found two vacant seats at row 60 which my seatmate went to after the meal (I actually slept). My seatmate returned for landing of course.

I've tried to update my class of travel for my return next week but sadly it was a cheap seat which isn't eligible. Yet the SYD-MEL leg is eligible! Looks like I'll be sitting in row 60 and hopefully getting a vacant seat beside me.

 

[serfty]

In general, all revenue domestic economy flights may be upgraded with points.

 

[pjm99au]

Hello, I had P1 confirmed today (my flight on Monday night tipped me over 3600 sc's but the system didn't reflect the change until today) and I was expecting to able to do advanced seat selection for my flights next week. (note the flights were booked post the P1 status being confirmed). In doing seat allocation for each of the flights which are outside of the T-80 window the first two rows of Y remain unavailable for selection and expert flyer shows them as blocked rather than already allocated. Was I wrong in thinking that I should now be able to select these seats? Thanks Peter

 

[MichaelD]

Was I wrong in thinking that I should now be able to select these seats?

You should be able to select those seats. Perhaps there is some odd 24 hour thing before it kicks in (i.e. it will kick in after midnight tonight).

 

[Pleb Status]

Hello, I had P1 confirmed today (my flight on Monday night tipped me over 3600 sc's but the system didn't reflect the change until today) and I was expecting to able to do advanced seat selection for my flights next week. (note the flights were booked post the P1 status being confirmed). In doing seat allocation for each of the flights which are outside of the T-80 window the first two rows of Y remain unavailable for selection and expert flyer shows them as blocked rather than already allocated. Was I wrong in thinking that I should now be able to select these seats? Thanks Peter

Have they actually called you yet? I had the same issue when I first rolled over to P1. It took the P1 Apologies and Excuses Team (aka Special Services Team) a few days to ring me after my P1 status appeared online and it was only at that point row 23 was selectable on my bookings.

 

[danny09]

You should be able to select those seats. Perhaps there is some odd 24 hour thing before it kicks in (i.e. it will kick in after midnight tonight).

I would expect this is the case too. When my profile first showed WP1 status, I couldnt get from row of whY, but 2 hrs later, I could.

 

[pjm99au]

Thanks for all of your replies. No I haven't had "the call" as yet. Will check in the morning to see if the system has changed and if not I'll be back into clock watching for T-80. Shame really as the anytime seat selection was the main benefit I was really looking forward to. Something to talk about when the call finally comes through.

A brief summary of my year achieving P1

Year to date (1 January status renewal date)
114 flights comprising
105 on QF domestic Y
2 JQ International (Bali no other FF options unfortunately)
4 NF economy
1 BA J HKG - LHR
1 BA F LHR - SYD
1 CX J SYD - HKG (CX J = BA F)

2 Op Ups (1 x Syd Mel and 1 x Per Syd)
6 CSM greetings

Can no longer stomach the hot meal on any domestic flights other than the beef and mustard pie which seems to have dropped from the menu of late

I love the travel but it's hard yards on the body

 

[PPW]

I had a sad call from Qantas last week...

"Mr PPW, so and so from Qantas here. Your Platinum One membership has expired and we are sending you a new Platinum card. Can we confirm your mailing address please...." My two year stint as P1 is over. It was good and I thought you might be interested in a short summary of my P1 experience. The benefits I most enjoyed were:

*5 complimentary upgrades from J to F,
*2 tickets to launch party in Sydney (I am based in BNE),
*2 tickets to the premiere of Les Mis in Sydney (based in BNE),
*some great help from the special service team including:
--> making J redemptions to SIN avail for wife and son at short notice,
--> making urgent domestic redemptions available (flights within hours) to get my mum urgently to ADL to visit suddenly dying brother,
--> helping me avoid an 8 hour delay from Jakarta to BNE via SYD by sending me (in J) and my no status colleague (in Y) to Singapore on Garuda to jump onto QF51 - ended up getting home earlier, though I had to leave earlier - all at no cost);
--> helping to get a (urgent and critical) document to a colleague who was passing through SYD (on another airline); and
--> various other small things, sorting out seating, etc.
*a number of greetings at the gate by QF ground staff when I have been traveling with a lot of luggage (documents for work),
*the unlimited luggage allowance on QF metal - I used it a few times with up to 8 pcs on one occasion (again, documents for work, not shopping, wine or something exciting),
*complimentary tickets to a (very nice) epiQure dinner,
*a few free bottles of wine, and
*ability to select the best seats on much more frequent visits from the Platinum Shadow!

I am traveling a fair bit less at the moment (which is a good thing for me and my family, but not my points balance) and only reached 1720 SCs last qualification year. No grace re-qualification, which given I was just under half way to P1, is probably fair enough.

The help when you need it and the F upgrades will be sorely missed. However, as another poster remarked, if I get what I pay for (mostly flying J), then I will be pretty happy. It can be very helpful when you are flying a lot. With my reduced travel, I am hoping that I won't miss it too much.

Chin up, PPW.

 

[Kangol]

*the unlimited luggage allowance on QF metal - I used it a few times with up to 8 pcs on one occasion (again, documents for work, not shopping, wine or something exciting)

Wow, for many people that would be a great (unpublished) benefit.
Is that for dom and int?

 

[marki]

I am a P1 but gave had no where the experiences you are talking about yes maybe two wine bottles from Epicure as a free member. And also an invite to a small orchestral do.

 

[Hvr]

An update on the return journey (follow on from post 301) and largely covered in the Bouquets to FA thread.

Got a shadow which I really appreciated on a very full plane. Noise cancelling headphones etc. Oh and I sat in row 24. The person beside my shadow did want the vacant seat but I moved there just after take off and angled across to the aisle seat making as I discussed with the cabin manager, my nest.

 

[Pleb Status]

As P1 get absolutely nothing extra (when flying in J/F) over a WP, one suggestion to separate the tiers a little would be F lounge dining access at the BA T3 LHR lounge. I note that BA gold and QF CL both get access when not flying in F.

The (not so new) white P1 card also caused a little confusion with the F lounge dragons as well. They debated amongst themselves wether or not I was entitled to F lounge access (I am only travelling in J). Having said that, I had trouble getting in last time I was here as a WP.

 

[opusman]

one suggestion to separate the tiers a little would be F lounge dining access at the BA T3 LHR lounge.

Have you ever tried it? You're really not missing much

 

[amaroo]

Have you ever tried it? You're really not missing much

hahaha - that's sooo correct

 

[Kangol]

As P1 get absolutely nothing extra (when flying in J/F) over a WP, one suggestion to separate the tiers a little would be F lounge dining access at the BA T3 LHR lounge. I note that BA gold and QF CL both get access when not flying in F.

I thought anyone who has access to the T3 Galleries F lounge can go into the F dining room and order/eat there, regardless of cabin?

 

[Princess Fiona]

I thought anyone who has access to the T3 Galleries F lounge can go into the F dining room and order/eat there, regardless of cabin?

Not in the past IIRC. During the morning/ day anyone could access the dining area. Menus on the table were the same food as available in the lounge. In the evening it is (or was) only F passengers for pre-flight dining.
BA changed catering companies in March so I'm not sure if the separate F dining menu is still in place in the evening.
Also of note is that all the long haul BA flights with F now leave from T5, therefore probably little need for a dedicated F dining area.

 

[pagingjoan]

Not in the past IIRC. During the morning/ day anyone could access the dining area. Menus on the table were the same food as available in the lounge. In the evening it is (or was) only F passengers for pre-flight dining.
BA changed catering companies in March so I'm not sure if the separate F dining menu is still in place in the evening.
Also of note is that all the long haul BA flights with F now leave from T5, therefore probably little need for a dedicated F dining area.

As of last month, still required an F BP - but the evening menu was the same as in the general lounge. Served at a higher temperature, perhaps the only difference.

Service in the Dining Room was quite pleasant and professional in the past but our recent experience was that the staff on duty were uninformed and untrained, particularly on the wine side. I didn't know about the change of catering contract but that would explain the difference.

 

[Kangol]

Not in the past IIRC. During the morning/ day anyone could access the dining area. Menus on the table were the same food as available in the lounge. In the evening it is (or was) only F passengers for pre-flight dining.
BA changed catering companies in March so I'm not sure if the separate F dining menu is still in place in the evening.
Also of note is that all the long haul BA flights with F now leave from T5, therefore probably little need for a dedicated F dining area.

Thanks, the only time I went there was a morning flight two months ago and the menu had slightly different options than the self serve buffet. I was the only one in there. I'll have to look for a photo of the breakfast menu.

Being my first time in T3 Galleries F I asked a staff member if it was the CCR
Whoops

 

[freepyjamas]

Well, Sunday saw me get my third Op-Up in a row from J to F on QF93/94, in the space of two months.

You don't really get treated any differently on board, but being near the head of the queue for op-ups is a fitting and very much appreciated reward for loyalty. Nice one, QF.

 

[Faze]

Im pretty peeved myself yes i know it sounds pretty petty what im about to say but it just got to me..

I have been a QF flyer and a Platinum since i was 15 and this year i was lucky enough to qualify to get P1 due to some extra travel, but there was a problem i am currently in a round-the-world trip which will put me past the minimum P1 requirements but because my flight coming home (which gets me the P1 status) is 2 days after my yearly membership ends, i don't qualify. I called and asked Qantas if they had leway for a 2 day after the expiry would put me in the P1 status i was told i fall short by just 20 status credits.