Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[Corporate Drone 44]

I'm about to get P1 for the first time, hoping someone here knows how the system works:

If I gift platinum to someone this membership year when I achieve P1, can I change it to someone else in 2 months time just before my new membership year starts or do I need to wait until I requalify to change the recipient?

 

[flydoc2]

I'm about to get P1 for the first time, hoping someone here knows how the system works:

If I gift platinum to someone this membership year when I achieve P1, can I change it to someone else in 2 months time just before my new membership year starts or do I need to wait until I requalify to change the recipient?

Answers to FAQs about P1 benefits are helpfully compiled at:
https://www.qantas.com/en-au/frequent-flyer/status-tiers/platinum-one/faqs

 

[jamesatfish]

I'm just about to reach the end of my first year as P1. Prior to this last membership year I used to maintain WP with both Qantas and Virgin, but after a particularly cough experience with Virgin on a work trip I switched everything to QF for the rest of the year and made it to P1.

I'll finish this first year having re-qualified for 2027 with just over 4,100 SCs, mainly from QF F, some domestic J and an unfortunate number of Dash-8 flights.

In terms of P1 invites over the year:

• Socceroos game in Canberra (sold out before I could reply)
• Teddy Swims concert in Sydney (no interest)
• P1 Dinner in Canberra (unable to attend due to travel)
• Art exhibition tickets in Canberra (no interest)
• CL invite on a SYD-CBR flight (gladly accepted even though it was a 5am lounge visit)

I received a couple of hand-written thank you notes on F flights recognising my P1 status, and had my meal order taken first on one occasion when seated in Row 3 of a domestic J flight.

I started getting an escort to and from the lounge in SIN when in F which never happened as a WP, and I haven't needed to argue with the SYD lounge staff about the special menu and seating area when flying QF F as I had in the past when just a WP.

I now tend to get pre-allocated 1A on the Dash-8 the vast majority of times I fly, though I prefer to swap to 2D as the overhead bin above row 1 isn't available for passenger use. As a WP I'd get anywhere between row 3 and 8, and wasn't able to select the front exit rows at all.

The call centre experience has been the most noticeable change compared to WP, both in terms of wait time and their ability to action requests. I only applied for classic award availability once, F return to the US, and was approved for all of the flight options and dates I asked to be considered. I used the 'upgrade request for a family member at P1 priority' once, for a domestic transcontinental Y->J return, with both legs successful.

 

[sudoer]

In terms of P1 invites over the year:

• Socceroos game in Canberra (sold out before I could reply)
• Teddy Swims concert in Sydney (no interest)
• P1 Dinner in Canberra (unable to attend due to travel)
• Art exhibition tickets in Canberra (no interest)
• CL invite on a SYD-CBR flight (gladly accepted even though it was a 5am lounge visit)

Wow, well done, which VIP interests do you have selected? Sport, Concerts, Dining and Art in Sydney and Canberra?

 

[jamesatfish]

Wow, well done, which VIP interests do you have selected? Sport, Concerts, Dining and Art in Sydney and Canberra?

Aviation, Cinema, Cooking, Dining Out, Rugby, Wine

So the P1 dinner was a match to my preferences and I’m disappointed I couldn’t make that one. Soccer is sorta like rugby in that they’re played at the same stadium but I’m happy that the tickets probably went to people more interested in the sport, and the concert and art exhibit were nice to receive but not my thing.

 

[Vic]

Got a lovely hand written postcard from the crew on my CHC-MEL flight the other day to congratulate on making platinum one.

One thing I've noticed is that I've been getting full points in the qantas health app since about the time I got to platinum one.
Is that an unwritten benefit of Pone?

I did also seach for an annual travel insurance policy at about the same time, I guess that might have also ticked me up to full points from qantas health..

 

[Spamam]

Had some good experiences points upgrades. Qf1 F was flawless with appropriate level of welcome. Flight to HK was great with my partner rightly given great service. Sydney domestic check in not so great with queues. My entitled self had to work out the self service thing. Horrific

 

[flyingfan]

One thing I've noticed is that I've been getting full points in the question health app since about the time I got to platinum one.
Is that an unwritten benefit of Pone?

That was my experience - as soon as I dropped to WP my points earn dropped by a factor of 10.

 

[Andy72]

Upgraded 7 days out. Qf1 all the way to London. today. Haven’t missed out on an upgrade in years, 3 free upgrades to Darwin. A few cl invites in the last year, but no invites to events which doesn’t really bother me

 

[ToshiMio]

Hi All - Long time lurker here. After 4 years of P1 I have decided to give it up and move to SIA so thought I would share some of the reasoning here.

I have hit LTG and the haul to LTP is just too much to countenance. I would probably get there if I continue to focus on it for the rest of my career but it just feels like too much commitment for not that much payback once LTG is locked in. I am based in SG and so SIA makes a lot of sense from here:

• I enjoyed earning status credits on redemptions. Now that will move to a credit card instead of points club, its not possible for me living in Singapore. They have effectively cut out offshore members from that benefit which I find annoying.
• Reward space is pretty much always available on SIA (sometimes at higher miles but its there). On Qantas as P1 I have tired to book our family trip back to Aus at Christmas in J as soon as the space opens 12 months or so before. Never been able to get it in 10 years.... we fly SQ every time and I am only Gold there currently.
• Ive never been able to get London either - again - I have on SIA
• SIA Network is bigger
• More First across the network
  High availability to upgrade to F using miles - and you can book it before rather than having to wait for a few days before
• Metal is just better - even the new Qantas coming in 27 looks underwhelming in J. SIA are also updating their metal so expect that delta will persist
• SIA will suit the travel pattern out of SG better - holidays and so on can use the First lounge (once Solitaire) when travelling in Y on short trips
• First Class check in area - helpful when travelling with kids
• Syd Mel / HK First lounges will I am sure be nice once open, removing some of the delta from Qantas First lounges in Syd and Mel both of which I enjoy

I will miss the Qantas service - I find most of the cabin staff authentic and friendly. My wife will miss the platinum ticket but as this will be replaced by Solitaire when the time comes I think she will get over it !

The P1 customer service team have normally delivered and I find them efficient. But as I reflect on it - the fact I have to request redemptions is kind of disguising a bug as a feature. On SIA they are there on the website and you just get better saver options as you increase status. Much easier.

I feel like there are probably many people like me who decide to get off the train at LTG because LTP is placed so far out. I think in the recent changes they should have made it more attainable... and made platinum harder if they are worried about numbers.

Cheers

Absolutely agree with you. I also live in Singapore and am a Platinum One and we dont get nearly the amount of recognition or invitation to various events like those in Oz do. The guy who heads up loyalty for Qantas in SG has reached out to invite me to dinners but in the end I never received the confirmation or invitation and his PA was useless at following up so I gave up and put it in the too hard basket. We also dont get access to the Qantas wine club. The staff in the QF F lounge in SIN are first rate however. I’m a PPS with SQ and the recognition is much better overall.

 

[Vic]

Absolutely agree with you. I also live in Singapore and am a Platinum One and we dont get nearly the amount of recognition or invitation to various events like those in Oz do. The guy who heads up loyalty for Qantas in SG has reached out to invite me to dinners but in the end I never received the confirmation or invitation and his PA was useless at following up so I gave up and put it in the too hard basket. We also dont get access to the Qantas wine club. The staff in the QF F lounge in SIN are first rate however. I’m a PPS with SQ and the recognition is much better overall.

Gotta agree about lounge staff in Asia. the staff in HKG where amazing the other week.

CX didn't let me into the Wing First class lounge, which was fine. But I did test it...

 

[arrow]

I’m a PPS with SQ and the recognition is much better overall.

Out of curiosity, what elements of PPS are better in terms of recognition than P1?