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?

 

[juddles]

About the only thing I looked at closer was the article about engine blast

Mind you, I found that this is not a new article: Mind the jet blast

 

[kermatu]

The emptiest briefing yet. I didn't think it could get any worse but yet again Qantas manages the impossible.

 

[RichardMEL]

WOW.. see and people were waiting for this? That was so bad.. it's like lip service... Maybe we should all "give feedback" (because they listen... ) to maybe just not bother anymore with this puffery?

I would note of interest for me the SC tracker for 2018 was (ahem) under 2000. I guess this must not count DSC (which is very interesting in itself) though I have no idea if it's accurate or not, since I've not done the calculation or looked back at my earns to see.

On a related and more general note this membership year so far, with the extra DSC promotions, it's quite likely I could potentially retain P1 while at the same time NOT making the 2400 PRB (and onlu just making 2000 for the full 4 loyalty bonuses). This in itself must make a bit mockery of the whole thing. We talk about multiple "tiers" of P1's and absolutely someone like me has to fall into the lower tier (which I would have no issue with, if this is actually a real thing). I mean my value to QF (ie the PCV) must be far lower than many members here. I can see that QF will, at some point, tighten up the qualification critera more such that, for example, the 2700 SC QF earn must not include DSC. That would definitely make it much harder for someone relying on DSC. tbh while it probably would end my membership at the P1 level, it WOULD absolutely make it a more exclusive, and hard earned, level IMHO (and don't say I'm giving QFF ideas.. they know all this)

 

[kermatu]

I can see that QF will, at some point, tighten up the qualification critera more such that, for example, the 2700 SC QF earn must not include DSC. That would definitely make it much harder for someone relying on DSC. tbh while it probably would end my membership at the P1 level, it WOULD absolutely make it a more exclusive, and hard earned, level IMHO (and don't say I'm giving QFF ideas.. they know all this)

Unless it was accompanied by a genuine lift in the quality of the program (ie, a genuinely new tier; more concrete benefits etc as we've discussed ad nausea) this would really irk me. What a terrible signal - we are happy to encourage and reward people who fly with us 10 times a year to fly another 5 times with DSC to get the benefits say of Gold; but we don't want to reward people who fly with us 30 times a year if they book another 5 (with DSC) to get from WP to P1. Meanwhile we'll give two years of CL status to a deputy secretary of a social policy department, for nothing.

My numbers above could be way off, and no offence to deputy secretaries intended.

 

[RichardMEL]

I don't disagree with this however QF see P1 as being a special level and the best there is in their main marketplace (as opposed to the best they could offer their customers ). The various program changes over the last few years, and QFF's very firm "hard line" on 3600 all points to it. If they see a lot of "low value DSC" P1's it's likely they could change it again. While I wouldn't be too happy, it's a logical extension of the various restrictions on "bonus rewards" (loyalty, 2400 PBR, 500+ P1BR etc).

Prior to DSC's of the past couple of years I did P1 the hard way, so DSC has made it a lot easier for me personally. Nt really what QF wants though, but I suppose they would rather someone spending more with them full stop rather than going elsewhere. Hard to tell with the various changes being put in.

 

[juddles]

I don't think CL membership should be discussed in conjunction with frequent flyer status levels - it is entirely a different area of QF strategy.

As for DSC and attaining P1, I think we need to really consider what it costs QF extra to have a member at P1 rather than just WP. (I don't think any P1 would fail to attain WP without DSC).

WP's have the same access to lounges, same luggage, etc etc. Apart from the yearly bottle of champas, is there any other true and direct extra cost to QF?

I have long held the belief that the principal service that P1 gets you is the SST - and if you are not travelling enough to gain P1 without DSC, then you are also probably not much of a burden on the SST.

It is a massive leap in qualifying SC to get from WP to P1. Especially due to the earn-on-QF requirement. I suspect the masses of people who make the big jump from SG to WP based on DSC offers and status runs on other airlines are a far bigger concern for QF. And even those capers are not worrying them - hence they remain available.

 

[RichardMEL]

I don't think CL membership should be discussed in conjunction with frequent flyer status levels - it is entirely a different area of QF strategy.

Agreed.

As for DSC and attaining P1, I think we need to really consider what it costs QF extra to have a member at P1 rather than just WP. (I don't think any P1 would fail to attain WP without DSC).

WP's have the same access to lounges, same luggage, etc etc. Apart from the yearly bottle of champas, is there any other true and direct extra cost to QF?

I suppose it is far more intangible.. for example, the overrides for certain bookings and extra flexabiity shown both with booking awards, but also during irrops or even normal opetations (eg: one time I flew into SYD on SQ, connecting to QF with a wide window between my booked flight and when I'd actually showed up from my incoming sector - ie heaps early. I asked about available flights, and they actually put me on an A330 that EF claimed was 0's in all J booking classes, and I wound up in 2K. No issue. no fuss and of course no charge. That sort of thing has a value at some point. I've also been rebooked on non flex fares same day of travel without question or fuss - again that is strictly not per the publiushed benefits, and as such also has a value/cost to QF (but on day of travel most rules can go out the window depending on the situation - specially weather /irrops - but times I have been rebooked like that it was my request rather than a QF situation).

A few months ago I had an award booking connectoing to a separate booking and the award flight was delayed 3 hours). SST had no issue rebooking the revenue domestic sector more than once to make it work when in theory they could have said I was out of luck.

I have long held the belief that the principal service that P1 gets you is the SST - and if you are not travelling enough to gain P1 without DSC, then you are also probably not much of a burden on the SST.

I've read this a few times and am not sure about this. If someone is flying enough to make P1 without DSC, so they are flying quite a lot, then the potential is there for them to be a "burden" on the SST.. or rather in need of their services simply by flying more.

Even those flying "less" by utilising DSC to attain P1 may still need the SST.. or they may not.. if all flights go smoothly then they may never need the SST (I have had a couple of years where I never needed to call).

On the other han It is a massive leap in qualifying SC to get from WP to P1. Especially due to the earn-on-QF requirement. I suspect the masses of people who make the big jump from SG to WP based on DSC offers and status runs on other airlines are a far bigger concern for QF. And even those capers are not worrying them - hence they remain available.

oh, the numbers of people doing status runs for much higher status (eg: P1) would doubtless be tiny and I think QF could care less about flights on other carriers as long as revenue comes in. I mean we know QF don't even seem to contact those who stop flying and drop down from high status, or curb their travel significantly to just ask "Hey.. why aren't you flying us.. is everything OK?" kind of thing. so seems they don't really care. I don't think status runners are a huge issue for QF so I suppose you're right. (of course they DO take note hence fare rule changes on sale fares to NOU being modified to prevent some of the crazy routings people were doing to rack up fair SC earn.. so they are paying attention).

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

exclusive competitions - must be another P1 perk limited to Australian residents (no sign of these on the other side of the ditch)

 

[TonyHancock]

..I think we need to really consider what it costs QF extra to have a member at P1 rather than just WP.

Given the lack of tangible benefits I think we already know the answer.

 

[kermatu]

I assume (and hope) the only reason the steak sandwich is the most ordered F meal is it's the only one available on every flight / at any time.

Guess we only have ourselves to blame for the S&P squid debacle.

 

[serfty]

Guess we only have ourselves to blame for the S&P squid debacle.

Not me, after a rancid serving in SYD in 2008 I have never gone back to the well ...

 

[RichardMEL]

"domestic Business guests were most partial to the prawn curry"

because there's always such a huge choice?!!

I don't recall a prawn curry as ever being an option on tens of domestic J flights last year....

 

[calmelb]

"domestic Business guests were most partial to the prawn curry"

because there's always such a huge choice?!!

I don't recall a prawn curry as ever being an option on tens of domestic J flights last year....

They should’ve added in what the most popular domestic lounge food would be. Probably a toasted sandwich, or the scrambled eggs given the amount of choice given in the lounge too!

 

[Daver6]

And the sausage sandwich in PER because its the only substantial bit of food in that lounge. Sheeesh. Talk about stating the obvious!

 

[calmelb]

And the sausage sandwich in PER because its the only substantial bit of food in that lounge. Sheeesh. Talk about stating the obvious!

Even the sausage sandwiches aren’t that filling anyway. More of some comfort food than anything else

 

[wannabeinvestmentbanker]

Did they elaborate at all on the flyer who racked up 12000 SCs ie routes and class of travel?

People at this level are either serious corporate travellers or irrational status chasers so having some type of competition I foresee could easily lead to some making additional purchases they need not and QF getting more revenue

 

[juddles]

Did they elaborate at all on the flyer who racked up 12000 SCs ie routes and class of travel?

People at this level are either serious corporate travellers or irrational status chasers so having some type of competition I foresee could easily lead to some making additional purchases they need not and QF getting more revenue

My best was somewhere in the 4-5000 SC. (Not DSC) And that was travelling continuously, without frivolous SC runs. To attain 12000 would require constant long haul F return trips to the UK or similar. Noone of a sane mind would do that for fun, so my guess would be a top end corporate traveller. I suspect that this poor bugger enjoys travel less than anyone on this forum

 

[kermatu]

Did they elaborate at all on the flyer who racked up 12000 SCs ie routes and class of travel?

People at this level are either serious corporate travellers or irrational status chasers so having some type of competition I foresee could easily lead to some making additional purchases they need not and QF getting more revenue

If someone did 12000 SCs all on Qantas they have my deepest sympathies. Any airline actually. Except if predominantly on EK F - then it's good on ya.

Agree that the tracker is a gimmick and assuming most of us are around 3000 to 5000 SCs over the calendar year, actually a bit insulting. Without a density map it's useless.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

My deepest sympathy for the P1 who delivered 12k SC’s just on QF. From memory last year the number was around 7.5K.

My biggest year was back in 2011 with just on 12,000 SC’s from QF and all one world airlines and partners. Flying AA domestically in F and applying it to your QF account meant you could, on occasions, generate more than 1000 SC’s by combining QF J to/from the USA and Europe with AA F for the domestic US sectors.

 

[juddles]

My deepest sympathy for the P1 ......

If someone did 12000 SCs all on Qantas they have my deepest sympathies.....

Perfectly put!!