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Qantas has added a new benefit for its top-tier Platinum One frequent flyers. Platinum One members now receive two annual lounge passes which can be gifted to friends and family or used to bring additional guests into the lounge. These passes can be used in Qantas’ acclaimed international First class lounges, or any other international Business or domestic Qantas Club lounge.
Qantas’ First class lounges in Sydney and Melbourne are two of the best airport lounges in the world. At present, access is granted only to First class passengers and frequent flyers with Qantas Platinum (or higher) or oneworld Emerald status.
The lounge passes for Platinum One members, which will be electronic rather than physical passes, will be the only ones of their kind. The passes currently given out to Silver frequent flyers and various credit card holders are valid only in domestic Qantas Club and international Business lounges.
Our Platinum One members are understandably pleased with the added benefit. While these members already enjoy First lounge access, the passes will be a nice gift for friends and family.
Some real tangible perks being added are good and can only make the program more valuable to the members, even if in a small way. A positive move I’d say. Well done QF.
Pretty cool that First lounge passes are effectively coming back. I think it’s a great idea for the very top-tier. After all, you may give your partner WP, but you might also have a relative or elder child that is not travelling with you, being able to give them access to the lounge is very nice.
But many Platinum One members are still not convinced that the ultra-elite status is worth achieving. Reaching Platinum One status requires a LOT of flying. Platinum One members need to earn at least 3,600 status credits every year – triple the amount needed to retain Platinum status – with at least 2,700 status credits earned on Qantas flights.
With such high eligibility requirements, some Platinum One members complain that the additional benefits above Platinum status are not worthwhile. Key additional benefits include Partner Platinum membership, waived service fees, access to the Special Service Team and free exit row seats. The annual First lounge passes now adds to this list of benefits. But our members believe more tangible benefits could be added.
In my opinion P1 is caught in no mans land. QF needs to decide what P1 is all about. Is it a genuine Tier? If it is then tangible benefits need to be added. If it is not then QF needs to make it clear.
Suggestions for possible new Platinum One benefits include confirmed upgrade credits and guaranteed “shadows” (free neighbouring seats on flights that aren’t full).
Great to see some enhancements to the program. Hope people leave “detailed feedback” as requested so Platinum One get an understanding of how they could improve it further with tangible benefits. Quite a lot of good ideas have been discussed in this forum. Hopefully (with feedback) we may see some of those suggestions filter through to the P1 program.
Join the discussion HERE.
