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?

 

[mviy]

Anyone have experiences with international award upgrades? Specifically I was wondering if they ever do actually manage to grant those "up to seven days" before flight?

Are you referring to upgrading a classic award seat booked on points and upgrading that to a higher cabin using points?

If so then comments about J to F upgrades are clearly referring to a different kind of upgrade as classic award seats can’t be upgraded to F.

 

[Matt_01]

I certainly hope it has improved since then.

I would like say it has, but no. QF is sending out surveys at the moment to gauge feedback on what seems to be number of disgruntled P1 members

 

[Matt_01]

classic award seats can’t be upgraded to F.

You can however upgrade award seats from Y to Y+ or J, Y+ J. Just not a good use of points.

My comments refer to revenue J, points upgrades F

 

[juddles]

Thanks people, my situation is paid Y+, seeking points upgrade to J. Flight loads look low in J but being a QF/LAN codeshare thing it is hard (for me anyway!) to work out loadings due to the split seat map.

 

[La Mouette]

Thanks people, my situation is paid Y+, seeking points upgrade to J. Flight loads look low in J but being a QF/LAN codeshare thing it is hard (for me anyway!) to work out loadings due to the split seat map.

I request maybe 12 paid J to F a year. I've never not received an upgrade. On the rare occasion there's been only a couple of free seats, the upgrades have been less than 7 days out, but more than the 48 hours for WP. In one case, where there weren't free seats, the SST rerouted me, and the upgrade came through.

 

[pjm99au]

An interesting experience tonight on my trip to Melbourne. When I checked in at the kiosk my long selected 4D had been changed to 5D. A check with the check in staff questioning the change resulted in a “maybe someone with the same status checked in before you”. Uhmm no that’s not the way it works.

A check with the lounge staff revealed a CL had been allocated my seat. A call to the CL lounge and I’m back in 4D. J is full so maybe a P1 can trump a (some) CL and I’m going to have grumpy CL knees in the back of my seat for the flight.

The nice thing was that it was agreed it shouldn’t happen and it was fixed

 

[juddles]

Hi all,

just a minor experience to share, as some from of "data point" or whatever.

This morning I arrived in ADL, with then onwards flight on separate ticket ADL-SYD on QF in J.

This second ticket was purchased with points (was not an upgrade, was purchased 100% with points). It was for a flight departing ADL very late arvo, but seeing I got to ADL early, I asked at checkin if I could "fly forward". I knew that there were a couple of earlier flights ADL-SYD.

To be very specific, I did not approach the checkin lady with P1 card in hand - I actually got it out as I approached, but realized it was last years (out of date - I suspect I am like a few P1's whose card never quite catches up with them). So when I spoke to the lady at the "preferential" checkin she may not have had a status immediately available. Anyway, the conversation went pretty much:

(me) Good morning, was wondering if I can get on an earlier flight. I don't know if a points ticket is eligible for flying forward?

(lady) No, your ticket is an upgrade. I cant put you on an earlier flight.

(me) It is not an upgrade, it is a business ticket I bought with points.

(lady) No, it is an upgrade. It is showing as "U" which is an upgrade.

(me) If I cannot just get changed to fly earlier, can I pay to do that? (Me being sick of travel and just wanting to get today's travel over with )

(lady) You could try talking to the reservations counter (is that the name?)

I went over and there were two gentlemen there.

(me) Good morning, I have a query. I know that as a P1 I can fly forward if I am on a flex fare, but what is the go with a points ticket?

(gent 1) Plat 1? I can sort that for you!

(gent 1) (a few minutes later) Aargh! We just had a flight cancellation of the earlier flight. I am so sorry but there are now no J seats for ADL-SYD.

(gent 2 - talking to gent 1) How about trying via MEL? Yes - we can get that.

(gent 1), Mr .........., we can get you in earlier via MEL, but the second flight only has economy.

(me) - Fantastic, let's do that.

In the end the two guys managed to get me into SYD several hours before my original ticket would have, despite a cancelled flight, and at no cost. They were typical of Qantas at their best.

Lessons? Maybe I should have made a hoohah about being P1 when I first approached checkin. But I suspect that would not have made a diference - the skill/knowledge level difference between staff positions is sometimes painfully obvious.

BTW, as an aside, I then "suffered" being in J for the first ADL-MEL leg, then Y for the MEL-SYD leg. It was the same plane and crew. The J staff were great the first leg, then saw me "up the back" for the second part, but treated me very nicely. Thank you guys

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Well you could have come to my house and had pizzas from the wood oven and just chewed the P1 fat!

 

[Matt_01]

Hi all,

just a minor experience to share, as some from of "data point" or whatever.......’Snip’

Well you could have come to my house and had pizzas from the wood oven and just chewed the P1 fat!

Well we could have had a party, pizza would have been good. QF ADL SYD this afternoon now in hotel in SYD, Shangri-La to be exact.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Well we could have had a party, pizza would have been good. QF ADL SYD this afternoon now in hotel in SYD, Shangri-La to be exact.

One of my rare weekends at home, Surely someone has my number?

 

[juddles]

Dang!

One of my rare weekends at home, Surely someone has my number?

Guys, my poor communication and planning - currently in EK lounge about to depart country ex-SYD.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

I did not approach the checkin lady with P1 card in hand - I actually got it out as I approached, but realized it was last years (out of date

The printed expiry date is meaningless - the card will still read. I haven't had any issues with old QF or VA cards.

 

[RichardMEL]

Received another comp upgrade the other day on MEL-BNE. I'd actually booked row 4 on the 717 to try it out and LOL well thanks P1 for moving me to row 1.

What was of interest was that the upgrade did not happen around T-24 as has happened in the past but at around T-12 (give or take) and this was a Saturday evening. I wonder if there was manual interaction involved or not since P1 would be on call at that time rather than anyone staffing the office, so it was a bit funny

no message on the BP either.

Absolutely zero complaints at all. Just a bit funny. Definitely a P1 comp upgrade, not an op up (Sunday a.m. flight was 9's in Y) and it was clearly done the night before the flight.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

I have an ADL-MEL in the next 48 hours, travelling with Mrs 340. Now this is only my third Y flight since P1 and so reserved 4A/B for us. I saw on EF that just inside the T-80 window that I was shunted to 4C and 4B has a seat block, although curiously the QF app and website still show me as 4B. I've not seen this proactive blocking before so has anyone seen this for Y? (as noted I've done virtually no Y travel as P1).

 

[juddles]

I have an ADL-MEL in the next 48 hours, travelling with Mrs 340. Now this is only my third Y flight since P1 and so reserved 4A/B for us. I saw on EF that just inside the T-80 window that I was shunted to 4C and 4B has a seat block, although curiously the QF app and website still show me as 4B. I've not seen this proactive blocking before so has anyone seen this for Y? (as noted I've done virtually no Y travel as P1).

That is very interesting! So you and Mrs 340 now hold 4A and 4C and 4B is blocked??? Clear shadow. Why your seat changed and a block is not on 4C is beyond me. But even so, appears it ensures you two hold the three seats? That is, to me, akin to having a photo of the Loch Ness monster - something many suspect to exist but hard to catch evidence.

Edit: How do you know it is you in 4C via expertflyer?

 

[GoldCanyon340]

How do you know it is you in 4C via expertflyer?

If it isn't then I've been upgraded to J and that will cause a very uncomfortable onward MEL-AKL (4 hours in MEL F should numb the pain though)

 

[juddles]

If it isn't then I've been upgraded to J and that will cause a very uncomfortable onward MEL-AKL

No need for discomfort - just need to explain to better half that you MUST obey the airline if they decide to move you to another seat for any reason.....

 

[RichardMEL]

or request better half take your J seat

 

[danielt25]

Slightly off topic; my friend is a long haul QF FA and this was one of her questions:

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Slightly off topic; my friend is a long haul QF FA and this was one of her questions:

Yet another enhancement.