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?

 

[RichardMEL]

Ditto Vintage Krug - how acceptable
I did appreciate the accompanying letter - which acknowledged me as a Long-Standing Platinum One Member. I wonder if this made a difference as to what was received?

Interesting. My letter just says "Valued Platinum One member" (this is my 3rd year of P1)

 

[nauta1]

Interesting. My letter just says "Valued Platinum One member" (this is my 3rd year of P1)

Same as my letter, my 2nd year as P1, if the Vintage Krug is valued at $xx_, it would be nice to know how many they sent out, if it is most P1 members then the numbers could be very large, even if they bought a bulk lot + courier fees etc. Anyway a nice Christmas present from Qantas.

 

[RichardMEL]

So P1 experience the other day QF94 LAX-MEL. QF12 JFK-LAX was late (there's a shock) so flight was delayed.

I had actually flown SFO-LAX on the 4:50pm AA flight (QF codeshare as it was all on the same PNR) and arrived at LAX about 6:10pm - 4 hours prior to scheduled arrival.

No issue. I went to the F lounge (T4->TBIT transfer worked nicely) ans that was fine. I asked the desk to reprint my BP on QF stock (those AA ones.. so old skool). So even then at around 1830 it said boarding at 2200 (scheduled departure had moved from 2215 to 2245). That's all fine no issue. More time in the lounge.

Anyway when i got home I actually had 2 voice mails from the P1 team. The first saying that the schedule had changed to 2345 (this was prior to when I arrived at LAX from SFO) and then later that it had changed to 2245 and I should "head to the airport and check in as normal"

now the messages were fine (P1 isn't to know I wasn't global roaming) and they gave their +612 phone number to call if any issues. that's great. My question is - they knew I was on the flight, but could they not see I was connecting from SFO and had either checked in already or on that flight? So i was at LAX anyway so there was really no need to call? Still, good service there.

On board: I was in F (nice upgrade 7 days prior) and the CSM dd appear with the infamous ipad and welcomed me back and thanking me for "obviously flying a lot" with QF. He then remarked he was surprised he hadn't met me before on board. Thanked me for my loyalty etc and offered for anything they could do etc. The usual spiel.

All over a reasonable P1 engagement that they had kept track of the changes to QF94's schedule and called (twice). Can't complain!

 

[nauta1]

Had a similar P1 team experience recently when transferring from T3 to T1 in Manila, delays in getting to T3 Manila with Cebu Pacific and then peak hour in Manila (about 1715), rang the P1 team to say I might miss QF flight to Syd, but was on my way in a taxi. After many calls advising progress, P1 team had everything arranged at T1 with staff on hand, even though checkin had closed and flight was due to depart in 15mins, ground staff had boarding passes ready, escort through immigration and security and onto the flight - about 30mins late - door closed behind me and the CSM waiting "We've been waiting for you, would you like a champagne?" very much. Very hectic but thanks to the P1 team, got the flight and was able to attend Neil Diamond concert the next night, Mrs Nauta1 very relieved. Thanks P1 team.

 

[Happy Trails]

Interesting. My letter just says "Valued Platinum One member" (this is my 3rd year of P1)

No such honorific for me after four qualifications, just a passing reference to "continued membership".
I’m feeling marginalized.

 

[Dorutland]

Same as my letter, my 2nd year as P1, if the Vintage Krug is valued at $xx_, it would be nice to know how many they sent out, if it is most P1 members then the numbers could be very large, even if they bought a bulk lot + courier fees etc. Anyway a nice Christmas present from Qantas.

I was fortunate to get the Krug as well. So books, Fleetwood Mac and Krug. Wonderful three months of P1 membership. Flying to Europe Sat on QF codeshare From PER so look forward to another great flight!

 

[RichardMEL]

Dunno how much of the following small experience was due to P1 (or WP) but it was appreciated.
I was flying ARM-SYD-MEL. I'd upgraded SYD-MEL using points, and obviously ARM-SYD on a DH3.

I checked in on the app a couple of hours prior to flight and had been given 1D (exit) with nobody in 1C. Fine.

Checked in at ARM about 30min prior to flight (which as anyone who knows ARM knows this is way too early ) and the lovely agent gave me my BP's and ARM-SYD 1D which she confirmed with me. That was fine I was all good and wished her a happy new year.

So I was with my friend at the cafe thing getting adrink for a chat prior to the flight departing and the agent came up to me out of the blue and said "Excluse me but I hope you don't mind I've moved you to row 2 so you have the 2 seats to yourself"

now maybe that's standard operating procedure at ARM (country folks be nice) - and this wasn't stated to be a weight distribution thing but just her being proactive and considerate. I don't know the status of the pax who wound up in 1C but clearly WP or above since I doubt they'd move me for a Gold who clearly checked in after I had though allegedly with my longer legs would have appreciated the exit row a little more, but really at least some thought was put into comfort.

Again dunno that P1 had any bearing but it was super nice for such a short flight to do that so both of us had seats to ourselves

 

[michaele]

Had a similar P1 team experience recently when transferring from T3 to T1 in Manila, delays in getting to T3 Manila with Cebu Pacific and then peak hour in Manila (about 1715), rang the P1 team to say I might miss QF flight to Syd, but was on my way in a taxi. After many calls advising progress, P1 team had everything arranged at T1 with staff on hand, even though checkin had closed and flight was due to depart in 15mins, ground staff had boarding passes ready, escort through immigration and security and onto the flight - about 30mins late - door closed behind me and the CSM waiting "We've been waiting for you, would you like a champagne?" very much. Very hectic but thanks to the P1 team, got the flight and was able to attend Neil Diamond concert the next night, Mrs Nauta1 very relieved. Thanks P1 team.

This is what P1 should be for! Sounds like a great team effort by QF - would have been very easy to wipe their hands of it.

 

[Canny man]

I just want to thank the P1 SS team for their help recently. I unfortunately took a tumble a the start of a ski trip in Japan in late December and injured myself to the extent that I needed to abandon the holiday but could still travel. I called P1 and within one hour all my flights were rearranged to get me back home in the quickest possible way. P1 also ensured that I was able to upgrade both legs of my flight with points despite the short notice. Outstanding service and great to know the team is there if things go wrong.

 

[ReLoad]

I just want to thank the P1 SS team for their help recently. I unfortunately took a tumble a the start of a ski trip in Japan in late December and injured myself to the extent that I needed to abandon the holiday but could still travel. I called P1 and within one hour all my flights were rearranged to get me back home in the quickest possible way. P1 also ensured that I was able to upgrade both legs of my flight with points despite the short notice. Outstanding service and great to know the team is there if things go wrong.

That's rockin! Bummer about your injury, but totally awesome about the service!

 

[Canny man]

That's rockin! Bummer about your injury, but totally awesome about the service!

Totally agree. It's like insurance, you don't really value it...until you really need t

 

[JeffVader]

I was fortunate to get the Krug as well. So books, Fleetwood Mac and Krug. Wonderful three months of P1 membership. Flying to Europe Sat on QF codeshare From PER so look forward to another great flight!

For my Christmas, Krug, Fleetwood Mac and 2 tickets to the first day of the 3rd test in Sydney. At least it wasn't any of the other days! This is quite an 'upgrade' in loyalty goodies. After over 5,000 SCs this year, maybe it means some degree of recognition of QF loyalty. Much appreciated.

 

[ReLoad]

First flight for the year MEL PER. Had 23A (first row of whY). And on check in got booted to 25A, not an exit row or a bulkhead row, and no shadow.

Lounge dragon told me she had no record of me ever being in 23A and rang someone who said I'd been bumped for a bassinet need.

I understand the whole baby need thing but I'm sick to death of seats not sticking and getting a cough substitute. Looking forward to taking a walk on board and seeing every bassinet position full. - yeah right.

Great start to the year.

 

[Princess Fiona]

First flight for the year MEL PER. Had 23A (first row of whY). And on check in got booted to 25A, not an exit row or a bulkhead row, and no shadow.

Lounge dragon told me she had no record of me ever being in 23A and rang someone who said I'd been bumped for a bassinet need.

I understand the whole baby need thing but I'm sick to death of seats not sticking and getting a cough substitute. Looking forward to taking a walk on board and seeing every bassinet position full. - yeah right.

Great start to the year.

That's pretty poor

 

[ReLoad]

Update; toddler in 23A with a poor stressed mum (feel for her) but NO other bassinet positions used.

25A also has a misaligned window for good measure.

Hey Qantas, instead of send us fancy champers how about you do what an airline does and look after its pax on your planes.

I'm sick to death of this happening, it's not that hard and happens all the time.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Update; toddler in 23A with a poor stressed mum (feel for her) but NO other bassinet positions used.

25A also has a misaligned window for good measure.

Hey Qantas, instead of send us fancy champers how about you do what an airline does and look after its pax on your planes.

I'm sick to death of this happening, it's not that hard and happens all the time.

It's usually the other way around ie passengers with infants getting onboard whinging that there are people without infants sitting in the bassinet rows. It would be very frustrating for them because even if they call up to request a bassinet row, no seats are actuallly allocated at that time so the parents have the expectation they've done all they can and they will get a bassinet row because they've requested one only to arrive at the airport to find them already allocated to status pax.

How long ago did you allocate 23A ReLoad? I assume it would have been at the same time you did the booking. Did you have a shadow in 25B or end up with a seat mate?

So is the scenario a toddler (over 2) and mum in 23AB plus a lap infant that would fit in the bassinet or is the toddler under 2 (technically an infant) travelling with the mum ie they only paid for one seat but are giving her two?

Sounds like you had 23A with a P1 shadow and ground staff just moved her to those seats to give her a spare seat for the infant. If the flight was chockers, giving the pax seat 23A could have been the only option that had a spare seat (aka your shadow). If the flight wasn't chockers it would have been a better idea to just give the other pax a seat further back with a spare seat next to it because if the infant in fact is a toddler it's pointless allocating a bassinet row as they won't fit in it.

It would be much easier if they blocked off bassinets completely like they do on international flights and allowed the airport to allocate them on the day of travel to either families with small babies (around 6 months) not 20 month old 'infants'. Then only if there are no eligible babies needing the bassinet seats, should seats be assigned to status pax. That way if you selected 24A at the time of booking and got 23A at the airport it's a bonus.

The other way around when they allow status pax to select bassinet rows at the time of booking, which is your situation described above, is only going to end in tears.

 

[boomy]

I'm sick to death of this happening, it's not that hard and happens all the time.

It won't change, same story as the shadows.

If you fly overseas often, there are other airlines out there who may offer better service.

Remember, loyalty is a two-way street...

 

[ReLoad]

I booked the flight about a week ago, and picked the seat then.

The mum had the infant (would be Just under two) and another child (about 6) the dad and grand mum were behind them in row 24.

I really don't have an issue with giving them the bassinet row. What I do have an issue with is
A) I bet they booked ages ago and should have had it blocked out
B) why me? There were plenty of other bassinet positions empty. Or were they all taken by other CL or WP1? Was there no lower status pax in a bassinet row?
C) why bump me to a cough misaligned window row? I didn't get a shadow incidentally.
D) let me know in advance, before all the muppets check in at the airport, so I can get a better seat.

So this is the third time in 12 months (the others were not bassinet seats) and I'm growing bloody tired of it. Am I thinking about it every flight I take? Yes I've got a niggling little voice that says, QF gremlins are out to take your seat.

Timing is interesting, as Dec 31 was my status year. 4550 SC. I'm about 1/4 through my 2016 travel purchasing process, last year I got close to PPS. Maybe this year I nail it for sure.

Not happy QF.

 

[RichardMEL]

So J was full? You'd think they'd bump a P1 up if there was space.

disappointing

 

[ReLoad]

Didn't go past the curtain of doom, and entered door 2L. Flight looked pretty full though, Sunday afternoon school holidays can't picture too many premium pax, but I've been wrong plenty of times before.

I was in a pretty high fare bucket to boot.

Ah well. That's the way the ball rolls.