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?

 

[Brettmcg]

I guess it's a different kettle of fish to try and get s discounted revenue bucket like A opened vs an award seat.. interesting battle.

I wonder what their forecasts are saying that preclude the selling of these fares - you'd think they'd jump at a revnue booking (are we talking like an AONExx type fare perchance?) I mean even discount F yield would be welcomed I'm sure.

I do unerstand why it would be difficult to get this released. good luck!

Nope, just as part of a standard return itinerary. I can get the outbound seats I want for December with no issues, but just not the dates I am looking at in July. I know that it is prime school holiday time, but I have never seen this happen before in about four years of booking these fares. Quite obviously the collapse of capacity from two A380 services with F into one doesn't help, but as I said, I've seen the actual loadings and it would appear there is something very fishy.

 

[La Mouette]

Oh yes, sorry that part applies to both the QF2 and the QF10.

I've been having a marginally happier problem on QF2/1. I haven't been able to change the discount J fares I booked during last year's DSC offer into anything but full J on the QF1 return leg, while QF2 outbound is fine for any day. But discount F is always available on the QF1 legs for a minor price difference. Funnily enough, those tix are now discount J/F.

 

[Chalkie]

but I have never seen this happen before in about four years of booking these fares. Quite obviously the collapse of capacity from two A380 services with F into one doesn't help, but as I said, I've seen the actual loadings and it would appear there is something very fishy.

Now that you mention it, I noticed something odd with A bucket availability for September this year when I was booking an RTW recently. On LHR-SIN-MEL I could only get the QF2/QF36 combination in A as a straight through trip - no stopover in SIN. Trying to split so there was a stopover in SIN resulted in A LHR-SIN on QF2 being zero. I just went and checked on expertflyer and there is something odd going on with A availability on QF2 later in the year.

 

[docjames]

Perhaps they are only allowing A availability on LHR-SYD or LHR-MEL (whole trip) not LHR-SIN or SIN-SYD to avoid selling F seats on the individual sectors.

Was there separate A availability on SIN-MEL?

 

[juddles]

Latest experience.

Was flying BNE-SYD-SCL. Boarded at BNE. All good. Got off at SYD with 4hr connection - decided to walk to the international terminal as was bored and had the time. Mid walk turned my phone on to get voice message from P1 team - my SYD-SCL flight was delayed. This affected me as I had a connection in SCL that was not part of my QF ticket. Got to the Flounge and called P1 team. We established that the 4 hr connection was now only 2 hrs.

As separate tickets, not much can be done. They expressed compassion, and assisted as best they could in giving me the best possible info on SCL arrival time.

At least they reached out to me specifically as a P1 re the delay.

And in the Flounge I was called to advise me I had a spa booked just pre the new departure time. I assume that was a P1 thing. Have never even attempted to book one previously.

Not unhappy

 

[Per_Travels]

Apologies for the delay in response.

I've always asked via the Premium reservations team. Most times it's been an immediate response ("computer says yes"). A couple of times it's taken 24 hours or less to come back "yes" after being sent to Yield management. Just once it came back "no" (end of school holidays returning from LHR).

Just to update on my experience with requesting seats to be released. All very positive - I asked for a variety of options for PER - LHR next March April in J, for my wife (WP travelling alone), and me and my daughter (travelling together). Every option we asked for was released. the interesting one was one QF9 flight that was showing D0 I0 on expert flyer and they were still able to put through a request (that was approved about two hours later).

 

[juddles]

Just to update on my experience with requesting seats to be released. All very positive - I asked for a variety of options for PER - LHR next March April in J, for my wife (WP travelling alone), and me and my daughter (travelling together). Every option we asked for was released. the interesting one was one QF9 flight that was showing D0 I0 on expert flyer and they were still able to put through a request (that was approved about two hours later).

I think over time it becomes clear to everyone that P1 has benefits, that although not written and published, are actually quite valuable. At least in comparison to other QF statuses.

 

[danielt25]

QF563 BNE/SYD 4/5

Sitting in row 4.
Offered drink from bar. A nice touch from the CSM. Not been offered "drink from bar" as P1 before in economy.
No pre meal drink service offered in J likely due to short flight time

 

[juddles]

In twelve hours am off on another QF flight - SCL-SYD. Then a connection SYD-BNE. I can foresee how the onboard experience will go. On the long haul flight a tired CSM will maybe drop by and say "hello" - other than that the J experience will be strained. Then on the short one to BNE, I will yet again be impressed by fantastic staff

In some ways Qantas are not consistently inconsistent.

(written as a tired person who has the flu and just wants to sleep in a real bed and not travel)

 

[Chalkie]

So, I had a recent fail of P1 power. I wanted two D fare bucket seats released for QF79 on 2 Jan 19 (as part of a Circle Asia fare). The flight is currently showing as basically empty. Neither premium reservations nor the P1 service team were able to budge yield management. They must be 100% confident that they will be able to fill the cabin with skiers going to Japan. D opens up again on QF79 on 4/1, but that's too late for my purposes.

So the business went to JL which does have D open on the MEL-NRT leg. It means a red eye though. Grrrr. Oh well, I will get to try the JL 787 in J. Curiously, the QF agent I was dealing with sounded rather indifferent when I said that I'd have to use another carrier and the revenue for that sector would go elsewhere. If I was the salesperson I would have been bending over backwards to try and keep the business of a P1 - allegedly a most valuable customer - or at least apologising profusely and trying to offer an explanation.

 

[RichardMEL]

Well that's revenue management that's "failing" you not really P1 per se.

IMHo anyway

 

[La Mouette]

Inconsistency is not dead. I rang up yesterday to change a sale fare that I was getting an error message trying to change online. I was fully expecting to pay more because there weren't any sale fares showing on the new dates. The QF Premium agent did say something to that effect, but then "let me see what I can do", and she ended up moving the sale fares for just a little more than the change fee. So I saved probably close to £1000 - worth a CSM greetings! And then she checked I was happy with my seats, meals, etc. Excellent customer service.

 

[juddles]

In twelve hours am off on another QF flight - SCL-SYD. Then a connection SYD-BNE. I can foresee how the onboard experience will go. On the long haul flight a tired CSM will maybe drop by and say "hello" - other than that the J experience will be strained. Then on the short one to BNE, I will yet again be impressed by fantastic staff

In some ways Qantas are not consistently inconsistent.

(written as a tired person who has the flu and just wants to sleep in a real bed and not travel)

Just got off these flights - and I was spot on. Tired J service on the long flight, excellent service on the short one.

The lacklustre J service on QF 27/28 is starting to really grate on me. It is not one specific thing - more a combination of lots of small issues, in both hard and soft products.

When I boarded I heard the couple behind me explaining to the hostess they were on their honeymoon - it is awful that when I heard this I thought "poor buggers probably thought this J experience will be great". But one of the younger hostesses warmed to them and probably managed to make them feel special. Well done her!

But this thread is about P1 - and let me assure any non-P1 flyer that there is no benefit in this status if flying in premium cabins. Not even a greeting this flight. You are just one of the many pax........

 

[Per_Travels]

J to F op up on QF2 last Wednesday - no message from the P1 team on boarding pass so I’m presuming this was a genuine op up and being P1 put me towards the front of the queue

 

[kermatu]

Very quiet thread. Not much happening for P1s lately?

I’ve recently ended a few months not flying QF so haven’t thought much about P1. The flights I’ve had have been pretty underwhelming, with little recognition of status nor any extra benefits.

 

[danielt25]

Was thinking the same. Any new events people been invited to? Im about to requalify as P1 but once done I'm going to switch to VA and save some $$$. Having done row 4 QF domestic a few times its actually quite comfortable for 2 hour flight.

 

[kermatu]

Over the past couple of months I did get a couple of invitations. One was to an AFL game in Melbourne. Would have happily accepted but it was a Friday night game and I couldn’t spare the time - and a pretty hefty expense to get there.

Also received an invitation to a dinner and performance by Jessica Mauboy in Sydney next week, from AJ and Olivia Worth in recognition of my loyalty. Nice to get the invitation but not really my cup of tea - again would be an expensive deal, plus I will only just be home from a period of travel so not that keen to head off again.

 

[JRR]

Most valuable thing recently has been the P1 team getting the numerous stuff-ups with my QFF account fixed for me

 

[calmelb]

I took part in the Qantas Simulator experience last week as a newly minted P1. Was a really cool thing to offer, done in their B767 simulator as that is the only one not currently being used 24x7

 

[RichardMEL]

Word around that there's an event soon in Sydney with AJ and the head of loyalty schmoozing selected persons. I believe our own Princess has been invited.

Yes I have been off QF for 3 months myself but am flying this weekend. I expect very little so am not disappointed

it must be about time soon for another useless Briefing though.... I can't wait!