Retaining P1 - Can I go close in one trip?

[sudoer]

I did read somewhere that only CL and P1 could have award seats released.

It's an unpublished benefit but WP can also request award seats be released. Link

 

[straitman]

It's an unpublished benefit but WP can also request award seats be released. Link

I have done it a number of times. Sometimes instantly and other times it has to go to Yield Management. I have had more positive responses than negative.

 

[Matt_01]

Dependant on the time of year, day of week and/or flight time you can reasonably anticipate upgrades every 10 flights.

So that may explain why I have not been so lucky for a 1 in 10 upgrade. I am usually flying peak hour Mondays and Fridays between Capitals.

 

[Chalkie]

I have done it a number of times. Sometimes instantly and other times it has to go to Yield Management. I have had more positive responses than negative.

Me too. I've only had one refusal to release a seat, and I've asked pretty much every time I've obtained a single award seat and needed the second for the +1. The one time it failed the P1 team tried very hard with Yield Management but YM were adamant. I just bought a one way ex-LHR (I have a residence in London and UK credit cards so all very straightforward for me) - it was still way less than what it would have cost if we'd had to buy two RTNs in F to LHR...

 

[juddles]

Each to their own, but after just doing another trip (BNE-SYD-SCL-BOG-MDE) in J, I am really not seeing any real advantage of P1. The CSM on the main SYD-SCL flight came and said hello - nice guy - but overall am not seeing any reason to keep up P1 - WP is enough and in my personal circumstances (mainly long haul travel) the $ extra that I would need to spend when codeshares are available just are not making it attractive enough - the $ I would save booking via LATAM in a year would buy me a couple of RTW in J.

Although I also hate to ever drop in status, I think it will be just WP with QF for me. I can imagine if you do heaps of flights domestically on QF, then P1 has value, but to the OP, unless you are "only" a 1000 SC or so short with QF, just don't do it

 

[dajop]

As far as i can gather you know all about the potential QF operated sectors - easy to work them out and options are limited. The real question is which QF codeshares (operated by one world carriers) can you squeeze into your xONEx itinerary to build up status credits with squiggles attached to them.

So for a start, doing some of the limited BA sectors within Europe with QF codes, maybe some AA sectors in North America etc ....

 

[Canny man]

I was P1 from inception - launch party with John Travolta and all that. I thoroughly enjoyed the benefits, including the partner WP. Alas, I dropped down to WP due to a period of forced idleness and consequent lack of flying. I'm now back flying with the same frequency as before and I really notice the difference. Probably the thing I miss the most is the priority seat selection. I do a fair amount of East-West coast flying in economy, so the ability to almost guarantee a bulkhead was precious as well as the frequent op-ups
Although I used them infrequently, the SST got me out of a jam frequently and I have always been able to get J/F award seats to Europe released pretty much in line with preferred travel dates.

The good news is that I should be back to P1 within another few months....