Whats the point of Platinum?

[Daver6]

Data for my reference point was August 2014 with an email conversation with the Manager Membership Services of Velocity.

Its ringing bells now that prior to that people had luck with having multiple bites at the cherry.

 

[JohnK]

My plan is to wait until late next year and trigger my own HH Diamond benefit but the HHonors benefit should be more than a one only bite of the apple.

Some of us have had 3 bites at the cherry but we are getting off-topic.

For me there is not much difference between Platinum and Gold.

I love row 4 on Qantas 737's but row 3 on VA 737's is not as good when you consider that FA's put their carryon above row 3. The only thing that could be useful is the extra points but then I find Velocity points hard to use where I want to travel.

 

[CJEMNMAC]

This HH benefit ( once v multiple ) was discussed a bit in the following thread ( well a similar discussion )

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....hhonors-gold-diamond-velocity-gold-32478.html

from about post #681 onwards.


anyway back on topic..

 

[Bolthead]

Some of us have had 3 bites at the cherry but we are getting off-topic.

For me there is not much difference between Platinum and Gold.

I love row 4 on Qantas 737's but row 3 on VA 737's is not as good when you consider that FA's put their carryon above row 3. The only thing that could be useful is the extra points but then I find Velocity points hard to use where I want to travel.

I usually travel in row 3 and have never seen FA's carryon above row 3. Row 1 & 2 yes, but never row 3.

 

[Deleted member 29185]

I usually travel in row 3 and have never seen FA's carryon above row 3. Row 1 & 2 yes, but never row 3.

I've got a sneaking suspicion they may have been told to change or taken it upon themselves to change. It used to be fairly common to one of the first to board and open the row 3 bins to see FA luggage almost filling it. Lately, I notice FA luggage more in the J bins.

 

[Muppet501st]

I've got a sneaking suspicion they may have been told to change or taken it upon themselves to change. It used to be fairly common to one of the first to board and open the row 3 bins to see FA luggage almost filling it. Lately, I notice FA luggage more in the J bins.

Yeah that used to be the case, hasn't been a problem for a while now.

 

[JohnK]

I usually travel in row 3 and have never seen FA's carryon above row 3. Row 1 & 2 yes, but never row 3.

Last 2 VA flights in September and FA carryon above row 3 on both flights. It'd be good if that practice has stopped.

 

[Pleb Status]

I love row 4 on Qantas 737's but row 3 on VA 737's is not as good when you consider that FA's put their carryon above row 3.

Row 3 on VA is vastly superior to row 4 on QF as you can guarantee a seat in row 3 as VA WP before you have even paid a cent. On QF, you have to hope something will be available at T-80.

 

[bean]

What are the odds of more than 6 WP on a flight? Then what?

 

[serfty]

What are the odds of more than 6 WP on a flight? Then what?

Those WP who book and reserve their seat earlier ...

 

[serfty]

... but row 3 on VA 737's is not as good when you consider that FA's put their carryon above row 3. The only thing that could be useful is the extra points but then I find Velocity points hard to use where I want to travel.

I usually travel in row 3 and have never seen FA's carryon above row 3. Row 1 & 2 yes, but never row 3.

Last 2 VA flights in September and FA carryon above row 3 on both flights. It'd be good if that practice has stopped.

... or there's the bag of IFE tablets ...

I generally board early, so if there's stuff above row 3, I can normally put it above "row 2½" ... or vice versa ...

 

[JohnK]

Row 3 on VA is vastly superior to row 4 on QF as you can guarantee a seat in row 3 as VA WP before you have even paid a cent. On QF, you have to hope something will be available at T-80.

As a Platinum I can get row 4 aisle ~80%-90% of the time at T-80 hours. As most of my flights are booked months in advance the worst seat I'll have is 6D.

 

[Pleb Status]

In my experience, I have also received a lot of 'fee waivers' and had unbendable rules 'bent' which I doubt would have occurred if I was not WP. There is one particular change fee which I have never been charged even though it is very clear that I should be paying it.

The ability to cancel upgrades for free is also very nice, particularly when an aircraft change occurs or you need to cancel a booking.

At the end of the day if you do not see value, do not make a run for WP. Double SG is probably a better strategy for most anyway.

 

[Muppet501st]

I know this has been touched on before but I'm struggling to see the real benefit of striving for platinum. Besides row 3 (nice but not a huge win) I cant really see the point? Sure you get the 4 upgrades but they are from flexis, so if for example me and the better half were to use them for a upgrade transcon we would be up for around $2k in airfares just so we could have the privilege of using the upgrades.

When you can upgrade for 9,900 points it seems to me that all platinum gives you is a nice grey card and effectively 40,000 points. Or am I missing something? Do platinum's perhaps get gifted random upgrades etc?

So how does VA WP compare to QF WP ?

 

[serfty]

So how does VA WP compare to QF WP ?

At a ratio (800+1000)÷2 to (1200+1400)÷2

 

[andye]

At a ratio (800+100)÷2 to (1200/1400)÷2

Don't think VA WP is a 1050 times better than QF (maybe a maths typo or two )

Interesting debate on whether its 69% as good

 

[serfty]

Don't think VA WP is a 1050 times better than QF (maybe a maths typo or two )
...

Thought I'd fixed it with an edit but it seems to have not completed ... now ok.

...
Interesting debate on whether its 69% as good

Depends on how you rate First lounge access to a large part I think.

 

[cove]

VA is easier to get business class redemptions on domestic travel without any status at all. When QF has dust I use VA and all I have is a red VA card but plenty of points from CC spend.

 

[takingSydney]

Row 3 is main benefit for me, but my regular Sunday night flights seem to have an ever increasing number of Noddy No Status sitting in 3B or 3E. Very frustrating.

And don't even get me started about crew bags above row 3. At one point a while back I took to photographing crew bags above row 3 and sending them in to complain. Gave up.

Agree that only other benefit of WP is when things go wrong ... they do seem to prioritise rebooking or otherwise sorting out when have operational issues.

 

[grubbidok]

Last 2 VA flights in September and FA carryon above row 3 on both flights. It'd be good if that practice has stopped.

I'm really starting to get the irrits with boarding (usually mid-boarding after the walk from the lounge) and finding the carryon cabins above Rows 3 and 4 already chocker with only half the seats in those rows filled.

What *really* p***ed me off the other day was when I went to put my luggage in the cabin above "Row 2.5" (i.e. J) one of the FAs stormed over and told me I was not allowed to put my luggage there and I should put it a couple of rows back. This was despite *not one* J pax flying on that flight.

Luckily for me someone in Row 4 took down one of their smaller bags to place under their seat, but it's that kind of officious power-tripping BS from FAs that all airlines need to nip in the bud, as it leaves a sour taste for no good reason. (okay, rant over).

If not in Row 3 I'm usually happy (and actually prefer) to put my (small) day trip bag under my seat, but if you are "forced" to put it overhead you should at least be guaranteed space.