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?

 

[arrow]

It's interesting that many get cards and small gufts onboard at times, and others get nothing.. thiugh if one got a card every flight it would get dull quick I guess.

Good 'ol Consistently Inconsistent(tm)

Yep, that’s their trademark

I hear lots of people get invites to events, gifts onboard, CL lounge passes, a bottle of wine after the flight etc. and I’ve only had one invite to a dinner.

 

[flyingfan]

Rang to get one Y and one J seat released to/from HKG. Both declined by the bot but got successful reviews and releases within a couple of days. Happy with the result and, unlike last time, for the exact dates I wanted.

 

[dkr]

Not sure if this was one of those "surprise and delight" things, but spotted a lady in the SYD Dom J lounge that was brought a full alacarte meal last Friday. 2x QF staff laid out linen table cloth on her table, and brought out a bowl of french fries, side salad and what may have been a steak (couldn't quite see), plus glass of red wine, maybe a dessert also. Guessing this may have been supplied from the CL?

Me? I've seen little that surprised or delighted me in my recent QF travels as I start my 3rd year as P1. An upgrade from paid Y to one of the many empty J seats on a recent trip to CNS would've been nice..

 

[henrus]

Not sure if this was one of those "surprise and delight" things, but spotted a lady in the SYD Dom J lounge that was brought a full alacarte meal last Friday. 2x QF staff laid out linen table cloth on her table, and brought out a bowl of french fries, side salad and what may have been a steak (couldn't quite see), plus glass of red wine, maybe a dessert also. Guessing this may have been supplied from the CL?

CL member who didn't want to be in the CL at the same time as someone else?

 

[RichardMEL]

I know of certain peolpe, not CL, but well connected who have had CL food brought into SYD Dom J lounge. I may have been a lucky party to consumption once or twice...

As they say, it can sometimes be a case of Who you Know....

 

[Daver6]

I know of certain peole, not CL, but well connected who have had food brought into SYD Dom J lounge. I may have been a lucky party to consumption once or twice...

As they say, it can sometimes be a case of Who you Know....

What's the big deal. I've taken Hungry Jack's in as it was better than the rubbish being served in the lounge

 

[Princess Fiona]

Not sure if this was one of those "surprise and delight" things, but spotted a lady in the SYD Dom J lounge that was brought a full alacarte meal last Friday. 2x QF staff laid out linen table cloth on her table, and brought out a bowl of french fries, side salad and what may have been a steak (couldn't quite see), plus glass of red wine, maybe a dessert also. Guessing this may have been supplied from the CL?

Me? I've seen little that surprised or delighted me in my recent QF travels as I start my 3rd year as P1. An upgrade from paid Y to one of the many empty J seats on a recent trip to CNS would've been nice..

I have been lucky enough to be served S&P squid and the Pav in the SYD J lounge.
Not so much a P1 benefit as such. Was a pleasant surprise arranged by a friend.

 

[jcwhizz]

Another (very) meh experience on QF95. Boarded, waited a while, managed to catch a passing crew member and asked for (and received) a glass of bubbly. Asked to think what I wanted for main meal, but no one came back in any reasonable period of time to actually take order. So decided to go to sleep. Flying with a family member and we discovered both seats 2E and F were faulty and bizzarely affecting each other - reclining seat 2F jerked 2E and made the 2E lights flicker - quite exciting - pressed the call button, no one came, but eventually managed to get both seats fully reclined. No mid flight water service on Qantas and, while awake, I didn’t see a single crew member go past to check if anyone wanted anything - popped up several times for water / snacks. Couldn’t help overhearing a couple of crew sitting in the galley chatting loudly about what sounded like a pretty complex love triangle situation (which to be fair did sound suitably spicy and well worth discussing). Breakfast came out at snails place and arrived stone cold in the front row moments before top of descent. CSM breezed by and asked how the flight was. I answered honestly and was given a mournful look and the usual Qantas sorry (not sorry) to hear that etc….

Then over to American Airlines and the transcontinental redeye hop to Boston. I was pretty surprised and impressed. Quite new airbus. Functional and comfortable seat/bed. And best of all a mate of mine recommended I try the ice cream sundae - which I did and it was awesome . Crew busy offering water / champagne/ gin throughout flight. All in all a decent experience.

One interesting thing - oneworld Emerald status clearly “matters” on American - the CSM came and had a chat a few times. Very different kettle of fish in comparison to QF.

 

[PrezRegan]

Not sure if this was one of those "surprise and delight" things, but spotted a lady in the SYD Dom J lounge that was brought a full alacarte meal last Friday. 2x QF staff laid out linen table cloth on her table, and brought out a bowl of french fries, side salad and what may have been a steak (couldn't quite see), plus glass of red wine, maybe a dessert also. Guessing this may have been supplied from the CL?

Me? I've seen little that surprised or delighted me in my recent QF travels as I start my 3rd year as P1. An upgrade from paid Y to one of the many empty J seats on a recent trip to CNS would've been nice..

I saw that too! She was also on my plane and was flying Y, which was not what I'd expect from a celebrity (if she was one)

 

[Ansett]

Not sure if this is the right place just wanted to ask if this normal practice and authorised by Qantas, especially after the issues with the LAX lounge tipping. This was in the Melbourne First Lounge.

 

[Brettmcg]

Not sure if this is the right place just wanted to ask if this normal practice and authorised by Qantas, especially after the issues with the LAX lounge tipping. This was in the Melbourne First Lounge.

That is absolutely not on! Report it to the front desk staff, they'll sort it out!

 

[encryptededdy]

Not sure if this is the right place just wanted to ask if this normal practice and authorised by Qantas, especially after the issues with the LAX lounge tipping. This was in the Melbourne First Lounge.

Is that in the Spa?

 

[Ansett]

Yes. Have spoken with the front desk and they were discussed and have had it removed.

 

[flyingfan]

I received a P1 invite to Taylor Swift at the MCG in the QF Corporate Box.

How did you enjoy the event if you don't mind sharing?
Trying to find reasons to justify status runs to maintain P1...

 

[RichardMEL]

How did you enjoy the event if you don't mind sharing?
Trying to find reasons to justify status runs to maintain P1...

First of all - if an (rare, if ever) event invite is the reason to do runs for P1 then - don't.
In fact, I doubt anyone here will suggest P1 is worth chasing to any significant degree tbh - as long discussed over the pages of this thread

However to answer the direct question about the MCG Concert - it was great. I'm NOT a Swiftie (lol) or even close to one, but she puts on a great show, has ear worms for songs and is a very good entertainer in general.

So QF often have corporate suites at the MCG (I've been to two footy games and now Swift) and the experiences there have been pretty much on par. The seating is great. The view of the stage was fantastic from Level 3. There was several varities of food offered - from cheases and canapes to prawns, sliders, wedges and later some dessert type items. All smaller things one could eat at one's seat or further back in the box if desired. The attendant (Nick) from the MCG was fantastic, seeing to people's needs, topping up drinks (I had a fairly full glass of bubbles during the show, though I also was not sucking it down so probably only had 3-4 glasses in total through the 4.5 hours total we were there). Drinks were soft, waters, beers, selection of wines and sparkling. Unsure about spirits. Suite had i's own loo and held about 16 people. QF had two members of the VIP Team up from HBA there who were lovely, though tbh we talked very little as the show pretty much started when we all arrived so most people settled in for the concert then did a lot of chit chat. Overall it was a great night. Weather was absolutely perfect (sorry SYD lol) and everything was super well organised by the MCG and QF there were no issues at all.

Anyway, again, anyone who has read this thread over the journey would know that while some of us have been so VERY lucky to get absolutely brilliant opportunities like this (a true money can't buy offer - even though it was suggested these Swift seats were in the $3k p.p. in value), there are many who have barely had anything from QF - maybe due to loation being away from MEL and specially SYD, or just the (bad) luck of the draw. I've been P1 for 10 years now, and consider myself to be very fortunate to have had the invites I've had - as I noted above a couple of times to the footy (AFL) and now Swift, which clearly has been the best thing yet QF have had for P1 in my view. I know a bucnh more are going to the SYD concerts too. However, I'm also acutely aware that many aren't getting things like this. That absolutely must be taken into consideration.

For me, P1 has never been about these events or things. Yes, absolutely brilliant and wonderful, but I don't either consider these bias me more to QF or less. I consider these intangible benefits to be separate to the actual P1 benefits.

Would I do runs to get to P1 with the hope to get more? Absolutely not! There should be zero expectation here - specially for invites. Even things like reward seat release - which is by far the best cuirrent P1 perk are hardly guaranteed - but I've done very well out of this too - and this isn't even an officially published benefit.

QF is good at upping expectation and then disappointing via inconsistentcy and this kind of thing is a (very first world problem) prime example of this. Don't go for P1 expecting amazing experiences - either like event invites or even special treatment in the air or from VIP. Sometimes fantastic things happen - and QF are definitely far more flexibe and willing to make things happen for P1 than others (in general) - absolutely - but they just as easily don't deliver at times.

so again, in summary of my ramble (sorry). I would not recommend chasing P1 for many reasons - but the last one being expectation of event invites.

 

[arrow]

First of all - if an (rare, if ever) event invite is the reason to do runs for P1 then - don't.
In fact, I doubt anyone here will suggest P1 is worth chasing to any significant degree tbh - as long discussed over the pages of this thread

However to answer the direct question about the MCG Concert - it was great. I'm NOT a Swiftie (lol) or even close to one, but she puts on a great show, has ear worms for songs and is a very good entertainer in general.

So QF often have corporate suites at the MCG (I've been to two footy games and now Swift) and the experiences there have been pretty much on par. The seating is great. The view of the stage was fantastic from Level 3. There was several varities of food offered - from cheases and canapes to prawns, sliders, wedges and later some dessert type items. All smaller things one could eat at one's seat or further back in the box if desired. The attendant (Nick) from the MCG was fantastic, seeing to people's needs, topping up drinks (I had a fairly full glass of bubbles during the show, though I also was not sucking it down so probably only had 3-4 glasses in total through the 4.5 hours total we were there). Drinks were soft, waters, beers, selection of wines and sparkling. Unsure about spirits. Suite had i's own loo and held about 16 people. QF had two members of the VIP Team up from HBA there who were lovely, though tbh we talked very little as the show pretty much started when we all arrived so most people settled in for the concert then did a lot of chit chat. Overall it was a great night. Weather was absolutely perfect (sorry SYD lol) and everything was super well organised by the MCG and QF there were no issues at all.

Anyway, again, anyone who has read this thread over the journey would know that while some of us have been so VERY lucky to get absolutely brilliant opportunities like this (a true money can't buy offer - even though it was suggested these Swift seats were in the $3k p.p. in value), there are many who have barely had anything from QF - maybe due to loation being away from MEL and specially SYD, or just the (bad) luck of the draw. I've been P1 for 10 years now, and consider myself to be very fortunate to have had the invites I've had - as I noted above a couple of times to the footy (AFL) and now Swift, which clearly has been the best thing yet QF have had for P1 in my view. I know a bucnh more are going to the SYD concerts too. However, I'm also acutely aware that many aren't getting things like this. That absolutely must be taken into consideration.

For me, P1 has never been about these events or things. Yes, absolutely brilliant and wonderful, but I don't either consider these bias me more to QF or less. I consider these intangible benefits to be separate to the actual P1 benefits.

Would I do runs to get to P1 with the hope to get more? Absolutely not! There should be zero expectation here - specially for invites. Even things like reward seat release - which is by far the best cuirrent P1 perk are hardly guaranteed - but I've done very well out of this too - and this isn't even an officially published benefit.

QF is good at upping expectation and then disappointing via inconsistentcy and this kind of thing is a (very first world problem) prime example of this. Don't go for P1 expecting amazing experiences - either like event invites or even special treatment in the air or from VIP. Sometimes fantastic things happen - and QF are definitely far more flexibe and willing to make things happen for P1 than others (in general) - absolutely - but they just as easily don't deliver at times.

so again, in summary of my ramble (sorry). I would not recommend chasing P1 for many reasons - but the last one being expectation of event invites.

Totally agree! In some years I’ve had 7,000 SCs and got absolutely nothing other than the Christmas wine / gin. It’s the luck of draw and it’s not even correlated to spend / flights as some get a lot from Qantas scrapping over the line to P1 and others get very little.

 

[RichardMEL]

Totally agree! In some years I’ve had 7,000 SCs and got absolutely nothing other than the Christmas wine / gin. It’s the luck of draw and it’s not even correlated to spend / flights as some get a lot from Qantas scrapping over the line to P1 and others get very little.

And to me this doesn't seem right. The most I've done in a year is 4k SC. This year I got over the line at under 3700 yet got incredibl Tay Tay. I am grateful for of course, but there does sem no rhyme or reason, and tbh you'd think someone giving QF the kind of revenue to basically qualify twice should be shown some love - let alone the more general notion of spreading the love as fairly as possible across the membership.

 

[New to this]

Congratulations Rich and glad you had a good time!

I have been P1 for best part of 10 years. I have signed my company as a corporate client to qantas for several years and we spend hundreds of thousands per year with them

In that time I have had zilch freebies/invites.
They even neglected to send me the email about the double credits. LOL

So yes, if there’s a logic to it, then I have no idea what it is.

Not that I resent anyone getting freebies. Good luck to them! Just adding a contribution to the thread.

 

[sudoer]

They even neglected to send me the email about the double credits. LOL

Check the marketing preferences on your QFF account - it sounds like you have opted out of receiving unsolicited promotions...

 

[RichardMEL]

Check the marketing preferences on your QFF account - it sounds like you have opted out of receiving unsolicited promotions...

This was exactly my thought also.

Indeed the DSC email specifically says:

You have received this email because you are subscribed to ‘Flight specials, news and updates’ emails.

So best to check your subs.