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?

 

[GoldCanyon340]

You have to hand it to them - this business of giving tiny little incentives really works!

On my previous domestic flight I was the only pax addressed by name when the preflight drinks were brought around in J. That's important for some people; I'd prefer to forgo the sparkling water and get a sympathy Scotch purely on the basis of being a Collingwood supporter. YMMV.

 

[danielt25]

I've only recently qualified for P1 in the last few weeks, but I have just noted (interestingly) that as P1, they have retrospectively awarded bonus points for restaurant bookings (double points for P1).

Got to love the restaurants in Cairns!

 

[marki]

I've only recently qualified for P1 in the last few weeks, but I have just noted (interestingly) that as P1, they have retrospectively awarded bonus points for restaurant bookings (double points for P1).

Got to love the restaurants in Cairns!

View attachment 104865

Welcome to the P1 stable many happy flies and gotta love those restaurants

 

[Matt_01]

Thanks Matt.. that is interesting... but can I be honest? It doesn't pass my sniff test and sounds more like an excuse to me...
of course it is possible that new/current DSC offers will not qualify but I don't get the logic, if one can use DSC to get to P1 (I have, in part) then surely it must follow that it would add to the 5k and 7k totals. My DSC's have contributed to the 2700 QF/JQ SC's required for P1 qual... they've posted as earned SC's on the QF flights. Seems to me they should thus qualify for 5k/7k too.

Of course I accept your experience in not getting the points and their explanation (so I'm not questioning you or your story !!) it just seems a bit odd.

I assumed the same and also did not get the logic, DSCs from last year did contribute all the loyalty bonuses and helped to retain P1 earlier than expected. Flights taken from this years offer also added to the tally, LTG is moving in quickly.

I thought all SCs (including the bonus) would contribute to the 5k/7k bonus, but was wrong. Sounds like kermatu has come to the same realisation and the link provided by Happy Trails is the same as QF sent to myself. Below is an extract of the email:

Good evening Mr ....,

Further to our conversation I have spoken with our Frequent Flyer Specialist team who have confirmed that you have earned…….Status Credits to date that are eligible towards the Platinum One bonus. We do understand that this information is not clearly identified in your Qantas Profile online and as I mentioned this is something we are aware of and are trying to have amended.………. ​

I didn't need the “bonus offers” to retain it would have just taken a bit longer. My current flying suggests that I will retain for another year again without the need of “bonus offers” but if they are there I will use them.

 

[kermatu]

Yes, and now I have seen the information in that link (bit embarrassed that I didn't earlier) it is clearly marked.

The SST provided me my SCs on QF metal not including Double SCs. Such info is not available on your account page best I can tell.

 

[pagingjoan]

Went through the same thing earlier this year after I rolled past the 5000 mark. I call QF to ask why I had not been given the 75000 points and was advised that DSC did not count. I rang SST and was told that only QF flights count towards that bonus. A few days later they called me back and informed me what I had earnt towards the P1 bonus, it was less than I expected but once I added back DSCs AA and QR flights the total SC numbers added to what was showing in my account.

I was informed that it is in the T's and C's of the FF program and in the DSC offer, like yourself I could not find any reference to the DSC's not counting and given the SC number quoted it would appear that OW flights are also not included.

I did not bother arguing the in's and out's with them. I finished the year at 6110 of which approximately 4200 were with QF the rest AA, QR and DSC so still retained P1 without relying on DSC. Needless to say in the last three months of my membership VA got a fair bit of my domestic travel especially after economyX was rolled out. The reason I did not bother was that if you make to much noise now in the future DSCs T's and C's may be changed not count towards retaining P1 just like loyalty SC bonus do not count.

Just my thoughts and another reason I becoming more disillusioned with P1. For 75000 points it is just cheaper to churn a new CC than book 800 SC worth of QF flights, but I could not be bothered to do that either.

Matt_01 -
From the Platinum One benefits blurb on the website:

Which flights earn the Status Credits I need to earn the Qantas Points bonuses?

Only Status Credits earned from flying on eligible Qantas and Jetstar flights (QF, JQ, 3K, GK, BL flight number on your ticket) in each Membership Year count towards achieving the bonuses. Status Credits earned from other eligible flights with partner airlines and from Status Credit bonus earn promotions do not count towards these points bonuses.

I had not seen - or looked for - the exclusions previously but now that I have read this, it seems straightforward, alas.

 

[La Mouette]

My travel pattern may be different to others - mostly LHR-SYD-LHR in F. I'm not sure how much of this is due to P1 v. fewer people in F, but on my past few flights, I've seen a positive difference. This may sound odd, but I've been treated more like a person. The thing that most annoys me about flying is getting fake excuses when things can't be done, so I find this really refreshing.

Some examples are:
- Being recognised by name without the assistance of a boarding pass or iPad ("see you again soon LM" when I'm leaving the aircraft)
- Having two ladies basically shut down F check-in to help me with my bags because the porter had left for the day
- When we arrived back at (the now unstaffed) check-in with my bags, directing the other people in the queue that had built up to the business check-in while the two of them both checked me in
- And then having one of them personally take my fragile bag to the oversize area because "the machine doesn't really handle fragile items properly "
- Preparing meals for me in minutes in the F lounge when I'm running late and the restaurant is full
- Preparing different meals for me on the flight because I don't like most of the QF meals (I prefer breakfast)
- Recognising that I don't like to be artificially "fussed" over during the flight
- Telling me about themselves rather than always enquiring about my life
- Telling me to come back to the galley for a chat if I get bored
- Setting the cabin temperature to a reasonable level rather than pretending it can't be done
- Remembering things that I'd asked about earlier in the flight and checking they were still OK

Of course I still get the usual QF inconsistencies - being told to ring a non-premium number to find out about a delay as opposed to the SST proactively ringing me, getting invited to events when I'm clearly not in the country, etc.

But overall I think it's a definite improvement.

I'd much rather be P1 than not P1

 

[Princess Fiona]

My travel pattern may be different to others - mostly LHR-SYD-LHR in F. I'm not sure how much of this is due to P1 v. fewer people in F, but on my past few flights, I've seen a positive difference. This may sound odd, but I've been treated more like a person. The thing that most annoys me about flying is getting fake excuses when things can't be done, so I find this really refreshing.

Some examples are:
- Being recognised by name without the assistance of a boarding pass or iPad ("see you again soon LM" when I'm leaving the aircraft)
- Having two ladies basically shut down F check-in to help me with my bags because the porter had left for the day
- When we arrived back at (the now unstaffed) check-in with my bags, directing the other people in the queue that had built up to the business check-in while the two of them both checked me in
- And then having one of them personally take my fragile bag to the oversize area because "the machine doesn't really handle fragile items properly "
- Preparing meals for me in minutes in the F lounge when I'm running late and the restaurant is full
- Preparing different meals for me on the flight because I don't like most of the QF meals (I prefer breakfast)
- Recognising that I don't like to be artificially "fussed" over during the flight
- Telling me about themselves rather than always enquiring about my life
- Telling me to come back to the galley for a chat if I get bored
- Setting the cabin temperature to a reasonable level rather than pretending it can't be done
- Remembering things that I'd asked about earlier in the flight and checking they were still OK

Of course I still get the usual QF inconsistencies - being told to ring a non-premium number to find out about a delay as opposed to the SST proactively ringing me, getting invited to events when I'm clearly not in the country, etc.

But overall I think it's a definite improvement.

I'd much rather be P1 than not P1

I have noticed that on my last few transits through DXB I have had the F Host service. Most of the time I have been the only F passenger to get this and I wondered if that was a P1 service. I have another in a few weeks so will take note of any extra

 

[JohnPhelan]

Even in domestic J, as a WP I didn't receive any better treatment than any other passenger sitting in J.

What "better treatment" would you expect? You're already in J, and it's not like there's an F in domestic.....

 

[La Mouette]

I have noticed that on my last few transits through DXB I have had the F Host service. Most of the time I have been the only F passenger to get this and I wondered if that was a P1 service. I have another in a few weeks so will take note of any extra

My theory on this was that there is only one F host in DXB, and he/she gets assigned to the highest ranking F passenger. I keep seeing the same one (Lilian I think her name is), and sometimes she's given to me, sometimes not. But that theory was bedunked last week when there was a CL-bag tagged family with a toddler who didn't get the host. I would have thought they (or in fact any family that had survived a 14 hour flight with a toddler!) would have been the most worthy candidate.

 

[boomy]

What "better treatment" would you expect? You're already in J, and it's not like there's an F in domestic.....

I think some members like the personal greeting P1s sometimes get onboard (complete waste of time IMO).

 

[boomy]

My theory on this was that there is only one F host in DXB, and he/she gets assigned to the highest ranking F passenger. I keep seeing the same one (Lilian I think her name is), and sometimes she's given to me, sometimes not. But that theory was bedunked last week when there was a CL-bag tagged family with a toddler who didn't get the host. I would have thought they (or in fact any family that had survived a 14 hour flight with a toddler!) would have been the most worthy candidate.

Your theory may still be correct. Maybe that CL booked their tickets using points (if they were indeed CL and not just someone using black tags) while some other P1 onboard paid full fare and in this case they would be considered the highest ranking pax on that flight.

 

[mviy]

There could have been more than one CL. Different CL would have different PCV just like different P1s would.

 

[kermatu]

I'm not a fan of the extra greeting. But one easy perk if the P1 isn't sitting in the first row (or 2 for the 330s) is to make sure their meal preference is taken before one of the choices runs out. Has happened to me in J before when last minute flights or changes have meant I can't secure a front row, and is much appreciated.

Not helped by the trolley service. And of course if everyone else in front of you is of status it won't happen.

 

[Happy Trails]

What "better treatment" would you expect? You're already in J, and it's not like there's an F in domestic.....

It's the vibe.

 

[danielt25]

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/changes-to-qantas-group-executive-team-2/

I note the CEO of Jetstar has been appointed as head of loyalty at Qantas. Will be interesting to see if P1 receives any new benefits

 

[Basalt]

https://www.qantasnewsroom.com.au/media-releases/changes-to-qantas-group-executive-team-2/

I note the CEO of Jetstar has been appointed as head of loyalty at Qantas. Will be interesting to see if P1 receives any new benefits

Does this mean that SCs from Jetstar flights will post in a timely fashion now??

 

[RichardMEL]

Greetings that are artificial and only because of the status I can do without. A greeting from a CSM because they remember me personally from previous flights (has happened a number of times) is far far far more personal and appreciated and I know it's genuine rather than iPad prompted .

That reflects good crew.. as does most of the things posted about earlier with F service - eg: tailoring the meal service to preference, remembering earlier conversations, being more genuine (many F FA's I've spoken to in flight have been very willing to share of themselves, within polite reason of course - and it's a two way street).

Interesting if LG is out. It probably doesn't bode well for programs like P1 if someone with a JQ mindset is coming in, but we'll see. Never know.

re bonus SC's not counting to 5k/7k bonuses... the wording seems new, so an "enhancement" I guess. Can't be long till P1 qualification goes the same way.. and as I posted last week my opinion is that would be fair and consistent (something QF find difficult ). so if they do it, I wouldn't love it(I probably would not make P1, at least not in the next year) but I would not moan and whine about it either - if you are going to have a hard cut off as they have clearly wanted to do over the past few years, then make it that and then there's NO "cheap P1's" full stop. If I qualified the hard way I'd appreciate that for what it is (but neither do I bother getting upset if someone got any status level via any promotions or bonuses because that's what the program is offering and people take advantage of it.. As I have too).

See what the future holds.

 

[njba]

- Telling me about themselves rather than always enquiring about my life

I think this is very interesting. Despite some obvious narcissistic tendencies (which anyone who posts on a forum must possess), I much prefer talking about other people rather than myself.

 

[TonyHancock]

...I much prefer talking about other people rather than myself.

We would get on like a house on fire, we could both talk about me.