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?

 

[marki]

Not sure if this counts as a platinum benefit, letter from Qantas frequentl Flyer urging me to transfer credit card points earn ( Amex) before 31-Aug-2018 to earn extra 20%.

This is a decent offer.

 

[Daver6]

Not sure if this counts as a platinum benefit, letter from Qantas frequentl Flyer urging me to transfer credit card points earn ( Amex) before 31-Aug-2018 to earn extra 20%.

This is a decent offer.

As a regular pleb WP I received the same.

 

[funkyr]

Some interesting recent QF lounge experiences in the last 2-3 weeks.

1) It’s the 3rd time in the QF Singapore lounge this week and I’ve noticed that the staff know me by name.

I don’t think it’s because I’ve been here so often recently but even on the first visit some staff I hadn’t met yet we’re addressing me by my first name and asking me if I wanted anything.

Perhaps they have a system whereby they tell the staff which P1 is in the lounge?

2) In the Sydney F Lounge the lounge manager personally walked me from the desk to where ever I was going to sit. She then asked me if I wanted anything and went to get my preferred drinks. She also came to check on me later on.

3) In the Melb F Lounge the lounge manager walked me into the lounge and asked if I was going to the restaurant. She organised a table for me and called the waiter staight away.

Anyone else experienced this or is this possibly a new customer service drive for P1s?

 

[kermatu]

Some interesting recent QF lounge experiences in the last 2-3 weeks.

1) It’s the 3rd time in the QF Singapore lounge this week and I’ve noticed that the staff know me by name.

I don’t think it’s because I’ve been here so often recently but even on the first visit some staff I hadn’t met yet we’re addressing me by my first name and asking me if I wanted anything.

Perhaps they have a system whereby they tell the staff which P1 is in the lounge?

2) In the Sydney F Lounge the lounge manager personally walked me from the desk to where ever I was going to sit. She then asked me if I wanted anything and went to get my preferred drinks. She also came to check on me later on.

3) In the Melb F Lounge the lounge manager walked me into the lounge and asked if I was going to the restaurant. She organised a table for me and called the waiter staight away.

Anyone else experienced this or is this possibly a new customer service drive for P1s?

Yes, but flying F.
No.
No.

 

[GoldCanyon340]

Some interesting recent QF lounge experiences in the last 2-3 weeks.

1) It’s the 3rd time in the QF Singapore lounge this week and I’ve noticed that the staff know me by name.

I don’t think it’s because I’ve been here so often recently but even on the first visit some staff I hadn’t met yet we’re addressing me by my first name and asking me if I wanted anything.

Perhaps they have a system whereby they tell the staff which P1 is in the lounge?

2) In the Sydney F Lounge the lounge manager personally walked me from the desk to where ever I was going to sit. She then asked me if I wanted anything and went to get my preferred drinks. She also came to check on me later on.

3) In the Melb F Lounge the lounge manager walked me into the lounge and asked if I was going to the restaurant. She organised a table for me and called the waiter staight away.

Anyone else experienced this or is this possibly a new customer service drive for P1s?

Occasionally in SYD F but I had the impression it was quiet in the lounge and it gave them something to do.

 

[marki]

Some interesting recent QF lounge experiences in the last 2-3 weeks.

1) It’s the 3rd time in the QF Singapore lounge this week and I’ve noticed that the staff know me by name.

I don’t think it’s because I’ve been here so often recently but even on the first visit some staff I hadn’t met yet we’re addressing me by my first name and asking me if I wanted anything.

Perhaps they have a system whereby they tell the staff which P1 is in the lounge?

2) In the Sydney F Lounge the lounge manager personally walked me from the desk to where ever I was going to sit. She then asked me if I wanted anything and went to get my preferred drinks. She also came to check on me later on.

3) In the Melb F Lounge the lounge manager walked me into the lounge and asked if I was going to the restaurant. She organised a table for me and called the waiter staight away.

Anyone else experienced this or is this possibly a new customer service drive for P1s?

I get this too but not every time. However I get 90% of the time a personal greeting onboard even in the last rows of economy.

My first upgrade (complimentary) Brisbane to Melbourne came thru the other day probably due to overfill in economy.

 

[RichardMEL]

Gee haven't had a "lounge walk" at the F lounges in a LONG time. Last one was actually at HKG 2 oe 3 years ago now. I originally entered with a AY generated BP for my QF flight, so the status was not obvious so I was just walking in, I think the lounge angel obviously rembered my name and summed the lounge manager who confirmed I was on "the list" and he walked me in and asked me if I wanted anything like shower etc very good and personal though I felt embarassed.

At MEL they just welcome me in as usual and I walk to the restaurant or whatever myself. It's not exactly far. I think I had been walked in SYD gosh 5+ years back on my first visit (I was WP thne IIRC) so yeah. It doesn't bother me as I prefer to be less conspicious or fawned over kind of thing but seems a real benefit in SIN where the reserved tables and service for P1 is a real benefit.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Some interesting recent QF lounge experiences in the last 2-3 weeks.

1) It’s the 3rd time in the QF Singapore lounge this week and I’ve noticed that the staff know me by name.

I don’t think it’s because I’ve been here so often recently but even on the first visit some staff I hadn’t met yet we’re addressing me by my first name and asking me if I wanted anything.

Perhaps they have a system whereby they tell the staff which P1 is in the lounge?

2) In the Sydney F Lounge the lounge manager personally walked me from the desk to where ever I was going to sit. She then asked me if I wanted anything and went to get my preferred drinks. She also came to check on me later on.

3) In the Melb F Lounge the lounge manager walked me into the lounge and asked if I was going to the restaurant. She organised a table for me and called the waiter staight away.

Anyone else experienced this or is this possibly a new customer service drive for P1s?

1) Yes in SIN.
2) No in SYD.
3) Yes in MEL as Plat (not as P1).

 

[juddles]

I am probably the rare P1 that does not frequent the Flounge (I head to the J lounge - the self-pour issue as described elsewhere, and the "secret garden" below the stairs to the Flounge that gives the best privacy). But next week will go and have breakfast in the Flounge and see if anything seems to have changed.

 

[La Mouette]

My experience in the past week:

LHR - met at the kerb by two hosts, one for my luggage, one for me, and they asked if I needed assistance getting to the lounge (I couldn't bring myself to tell them my thoughts on the QF lounge there)
SIN x 2 - no recognition whatsoever at the lounge door, I wasn't even told about the reserved area. The shower attendant has recognised me lately and gives me a nice shower, but I think that has more to with the amount of time I spend in the shower than my status!
SYD - nothing, even Nestor checked my boarding pass, when I thought he knew me. At one point in the restaurant, nothing I did could attract any attention. I had to walk up to a waiter and ask to order

But in the past, I've been walked to/from the aircraft, to a table in the lounge, etc. in all three lounges above, also in MEL and DXB. I've also had gate agents remember me by name between trips, which is a bit scary. I wondered at one point if they'd added photos to the iPads, but I suspect it's more that some people have really good name recognition abilities.

My advice is don't get used to it, or you'll be sorely disappointed the next time when you expect something and it doesn't happen.

 

[kermatu]

The shower attendant has recognised me lately and gives me a nice shower,

Now that is service.

 

[RichardMEL]

My advice is don't get used to it, or you'll be sorely disappointed the next time when you expect something and it doesn't happen.

Broken Record alert....

QANTAS - "Consistently Inconsistent"(tm)

 

[stm1sydney]

the lounge manager personally walked me from the desk to where ever I was going to sit.

Ew, I would hate that (and being walked to the plane). Greet me nicely, then I'd like to walk in and choose my seat at my leisure (if moderately busy it can take some time assessing nearby customers: potentially noisy, talking loudly into bluetooth headset, feet up on seat or table, poorly dressed bogans, with children etc) without the pressure of someone breathing down my neck, thanks.

 

[QF WP]

Each to their own - the host can be a source of rich information and an ally if anything goes wrong in the Lounge. They should be aware of your mannerisms and body language and know when to withdraw graciously, or assist if you have any needs.

 

[Matt_01]

Given the debate on the lack of surety of "soft landings", and my wavering in my QF love, this could be very important for me. Maybe there will be a day I need my wife to invite me into a lounge???!!!!!

I actually have the exact same thing. Qualified P1 in June. My card has a 2019 expiry date and my +1 has a WP card that expires 2020.

I won't requalify this time and it would be a nice surprise if the +1 keeps her WP status

I recall ringing the SST about partner WP when I first qualified as P1 from recollection I was advised as sone as drop from P1 my +1 would fall back to Her origional status (NB) rather than a fall back to SG.

Maybe this has changed not sure but I am holding my breth on it happening.

 

[kermatu]

On being escorted in to a lounge, I forgot a recent time in MEL where I was. It was more that I was in mid conversation with the host and she came round the desk to continue the chat as I started walking in. The positive is we both looked at the quiet meeting rooms in the corner and she offered / I asked if I could park there for the evening. I probably wouldn't have had she not walked the few steps with me (as silly as that sounds).

I never go straight to the restaurant when entering a lounge. If I did, that's when an escort would be handy. That said, I've never not found a table and in fact almost always have the staff in SYD who recognise me try to get me a corner window seat.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

I recall ringing the SST about partner WP when I first qualified as P1 from recollection I was advised as sone as drop from P1 my +1 would fall back to Her origional status (NB) rather than a fall back to SG.

Maybe this has changed not sure but I am holding my breth on it happening.

Big ouch!

The good news is once your fall from grace, you can join the ex-P1 club and give QF the flick. A world of opportunity awaits you with other programs! (ie: BA and others)

 

[ALH]

...... The shower attendant has recognised me lately and gives me a nice shower...

Now that is service.

First thing I thought

.....Received my welcome call from P1 team yesterday. Very apologetic and invited us to the Wallabies vs South Africa game next weekend. I declined as we have guests coming to stay.

Mr ALH still in a state of shock. He thought I should let him go, and take SIL in my place

 

[RichardMEL]

Not sure I would put this under P1 experiences per se, but it was very impressive.

QFLink 717 OOL-SYD connecting to MEL. I board the flight and the CSM (Sorry "Team Leader" Aaron) welcomes me on board as usual then says "Oh, you're connecting to Melbourne. It's at Gate 11, but I'll re-confirm that when we get to Sydney" - I was blown away. I noticed (as I was in 1A) that he also mentioned connecting info to one other pax, who was going to CBR. Again this was from memory when people boarded (and I suspect it was status related because a) he must have noted the status on the BP and probably memorised any CL/P1 on board) and 2 that pax was in Y (so it wasn't just for J) and later he mentioned to someone else in J their gate info.

Now either way this was pretty great service. Now sure, I've got the app, I can read the screens in Sydney and at the lounge, but the effort to provide that detail was great, and to do it on boarding, seemingly from memory was something else.

I was really impressed. Great service too.

 

[Stevo.1702]

Utilised my first "Fly Ahead" benefit of P1 today.

Booked 1500 SYD to BNE and arrived at the lounge at 1120. Lounge staff were extremely friendly and happy to help.
I was offered the 1200 service and I happily accepted. I was assigned a middle seat (something I haven't experienced for a long time) but I knew I was receiving a great benefit and was happy to be on my way soon. They were able to get me onto the very next flight and by the time I thought to check the app and change seats - it was already10min prior to boarding so I was locked in.

My happiness turned a little sour when I saw several empty windows and aisle seats in the rows around me. There was a totally empty row on the opposite side and 2 rows behind!!

I know that seat selection when utilising Fly Ahead is at the mercy of whats available at the time, but I felt a little disappointed. I can only assume that my seat allocation was automatically generated and the lounge agent was not involved in the process.

TIP for all players...
If you fly ahead, ask the lounge staff what seats are available. The auto seat assignment will not do you any favours.

I've learnt my lesson