Should There be more Perks for Platinum???

[samh004]

lifetime status always seemed a little laughable to me given the volatility of the airline industry!

But it's still something to aim for, something to keep you flying with that airline or their partners... up to you if you take the risk of them going broke one day.

 

[Bolthead]

lifetime status always seemed a little laughable to me given the volatility of the airline industry!

Good point..... although I like the idea of lifetime status, that did cross my mind. It's a bit like taking a risk if you purchase lifetime club membership..... there are no guarantees the airline will be around in the future.

 

[Mal Ware]

Because WP's will become DYWKWIA's and no one will book a J flight, they'll just assume they'll get an upgrade. This, in turn, leads to the premium cabins becoming like the US Airlines, where their 'First' is generally not much better than a domestic Y product here in Australia, just with slightly better seats.

I can't see that happening, particularly if the risk is that many of those who would normally fly J might not get upgraded.

If it were introduced it would be a luck of the draw thing I would imagine with the emphasis being that it is not garunteed nor a right.

Those who fly J now for work would not notice any changes, other than they would have someone sitting next to them where as they sometimes might not.

I think that is where the majority of the arguments would be coming from, it is human nature to not want to see someone else get an advantage if you cannot get it as well.

As for maintaining the ecosystem, lol. Well that is something that the airlines need to worry about, not the passengers. Apart from food prepared for the flight I am pretty sure it costs no more to have 2 bums on seats at the front than it does at the back.

 

[anat0l]

If it were introduced it would be a luck of the draw thing I would imagine with the emphasis being that it is not guaranteed nor a right.

Emphasise all you like, but people will harbour these thoughts anyway. We may know better, but then again look at the number of people here who measure their "premium-ness" of their status by the number of op-ups they are getting (and op-ups aren't even a gazetted benefit).

If not enough people get enough upgrades, then people will denounce the benefit as a farce.

 

[tinkybelle]

I think that plats should be able to request seats using pts like plat QF.
its rediculous that we can earn lots of pts but not be able to use for a flight.
I understand you can ask for a family trip
but economy thats rediculous not everyone wants to use pts for economy. it seems worse than QFF for premium award travel

 

[Jama]

I think that plats should be able to request seats using pts like plat QF.

Why use points for seat requests when you can already select a seat for nothing ?

I tend to never use points because when you do you don't earn SC's. If I missed requal by 1 or 2 flights and had taken a reward I would be a little upset.

 

[yohy?!]

Why use points for seat requests when you can already select a seat for nothing ?

I tend to never use points because when you do you don't earn SC's. If I missed requal by 1 or 2 flights and had taken a reward I would be a little upset.

What you need to look into is AnySeat Awards - these can be had for the same points as classic awards but earn status credits

 

[Jama]

What you need to look into is AnySeat Awards - these can be had for the same points as classic awards but earn status credits

Ok. Thank you for that.

 

[Fruitcake]

What you need to look into is AnySeat Awards - these can be had for the same points as classic awards but earn status credits

Not on Velocity:

6.17 Unless otherwise specified, Points, Status Credits and Eligible Sectors are not earned for the following:

...
6.17.5 tickets issued as Air Rewards, including Any Seat (Points + Pay) bookings;
...
​

Velocity might have invented any seat awards, but it was QF that invented offering SCs for them, and Velocity hasn't copied it yet.

 

[Jama]

Thats what I understood.

 

[bullerdude]

A useful addition to the platinum benefit lineup would be the ability to select seats at the time of booking, instead of having to wait to T-14 like gold and silver flyers.

Additionally, I would like to see some flexibility in lounge rules that allows Platinum's to bring in more than 4 guests if those guest are part of their immediate family, i.e. children or parents, and of course such flexibility should only apply if they are flying. Qantas quite happily allow my entire family of 6 in when travelling with my father who is a Qantas WP.

 

[JohnK]

What is important to me and what I would like to see as additional perks

- Anytime access to lounges
- Be able to request complimentary exit rows on all flights
- Upgrade credits from any fare class to next higher class, say 8 a year on requalification or perhaps 1 for each xx_ SCs

And yes I do realise these have come and gone.

 

[Bolthead]

A useful addition to the platinum benefit line up would be the ability to select seats at the time of booking, instead of having to wait to T-14 like gold and silver flyers.

Not sure about that one.... I think it would cause some issues. (don't know what they would be...:?

Additionally, I would like to see some flexibility in lounge rules that allows Platinum's to bring in more than 4 guests if those guest are part of their immediate family, i.e. children or parents, and of course such flexibility should only apply if they are flying. Qantas quite happily allow my entire family of 6 in when travelling with my father who is a Qantas WP.

Not a problem for my family as we have 3 Platinum's under the one roof

- Any time access to lounges

Never used this so I don't miss it, the quicker I get out of the airport the better.

- Be able to request complimentary exit rows on all flights

Yes, I can see that one being useful

- Upgrade credits from any fare class to next higher class, say 8 a year on re-qualification or perhaps 1 for each xx_ SCs

I think that's a long shot but I certainly wouldn't complain.

 

[pat25d]

- Be able to request complimentary exit rows on all flights

Since I have made WP I have never been assigned any seat other than 3A/F (better than exit row, bar live 2 air on the older planes).

 

[Fruitcake]

Additionally, I would like to see some flexibility in lounge rules that allows Platinum's to bring in more than 4 guests if those guest are part of their immediate family, i.e. children or parents, and of course such flexibility should only apply if they are flying. Qantas quite happily allow my entire family of 6 in when travelling with my father who is a Qantas WP.

Regarding family entrance into the lounge, QF allows allows a WP two children aged 4-17, two adult guests and unlimited children aged 0-3.
VA allows WPs three guests, two children aged 3-12, and unlimited children aged 0-2.

So VA arguably isn't as generous as QF (because a teen child will absorb an adult guest slot, and three year olds count as children), but they do make some allowance in the rules for family travel.

For my situation I see better value in an extra adult guest slot, but your situation may vary!

 

[bullerdude]

Regarding family entrance into the lounge, QF allows allows a WP two children aged 4-17, two adult guests and unlimited children aged 0-3.
VA allows WPs three guests, two children aged 3-12, and unlimited children aged 0-2.

So VA arguably isn't as generous as QF (because a teen child will absorb an adult guest slot, and three year olds count as children), but they do make some allowance in the rules for family travel.

For my situation I see better value in an extra adult guest slot, but your situation may vary!

Good observation. Although, regardless of the actual rules, I still feel that QANTAS allow for more flexibility when allowing family into the QP.

In my case when my travel with my father, there are 6 of us in total, of which 5 are adults and one is a teenager, and we are all allowed in.

 

[Ausbt]

Since I have made WP I have never been assigned any seat other than 3A/F .

I was doing that at Gold. Now at WP I had check-in say to me the other day when I flew ahead "I can put you in row 7, but I'll block the seat next to you" only to find my little middle-row buddy snuggling up to me all flight.

 

[Travel Guru]

As a Gold and soon to be Plat on DJ and fully self funded I think the free upgrades to J is a crazy idea.

There are plenty of other more realistic perks they could offer WPs though.

TG

 

[AviatorPJ]

I would like checked bags, checked-thru to final destinations if the separate sectors connect/leaves within a specified time of arrival of the other sector. Sure I understand DJ policy and sectors. Maybe for Plats in Flex or above.?

 

[oz_mark]

Because WP's will become DYWKWIA's and no one will book a J flight, they'll just assume they'll get an upgrade. This, in turn, leads to the premium cabins becoming like the US Airlines, where their 'First' is generally not much better than a domestic Y product here in Australia, just with slightly better seats.

Hotels seem to be able to manage giving upgrades to elites where they have space available. They also manage to sell rooms, and boy do AFFers complain when they don't get an upgrade :shock: