Advantages of Flying International as SG vs QP

[Christoo]

Hello all,

I read these forum a great deal, but post very little.
Having seen the furore about Qantas barring QP members in LAX, I wanted to ask this question.

If you are predominantly flying QF metal, what are the real advantages of SG for international travel?

I am a self funded traveller and run my own business, I have been at least SG for the past decade with WP in 2011-2012 I am LTS and a long way from LTG.
I have the perverse honour of having made it into WP at one time in nearly entirely discount Y.

(This year I am going to miss WP by about 300 SC, as I reset this week. I congratulate those of you who do Status Runs, but I am profoundly time poor, it would be a really nice gesture to be comped, but I know this is not going to happen)

I try to fly Qantas metal where I can, but doing a large amount of business in China makes it very hard, the QF Asia schedule is a nightmare if you want to land in the morning and do a days work.

The QFF program "improvements" have been discussed here at length, so I do not feel the need to revisit old ground.
I guess I am wondering what the advantage of SG is for international travel compared to QP.
The only advantage I can see is OWS status that gets you into lounges when flying partner airlines, like I do a fair bit with Cathay.

Apart from that, am I missing anything?

The thing that really has me questioning the value of my SG is that on recent flights to AKL the priority boarding has been reserved for WP and OWS.
It seems so bizarre to be treated better on CX metal than on a QF flight.
I run an Australian business, I drive an Australian car and want to direct my air travel to an Australian carrier, please help me to find a reason to continue pursuing Gold.

Failing that, has anyone had any luck being status matched by a local or Trans-Tasman airline?
Thank you for your input Ladies and Gents.

 

[mannej]

SG has benefits such as free seat selection on QFi plus OW benefits which QP does not.

 

[medhead]

I think you've got your OWE and OWS around the wrong way. Platinum is OW Emerald and Gold is OW Sapphire. OWS should have priority boarding for international flights. AFAIK it is only restricted to OWE for domestic qantas flights. As such it seems a bit strange that you would be restricted on trans tasman. But then if it did say OWS, as gold you should be able to use priority boarding.

 

[Kangol]

Also, if you are flying on a OW or EK flight number regardless of metal, as a SG you can access the lounge but as a QP you cannot.

Even if you are predominantly flying QF metal, you get a 75% points status bonus, increased baggage allowance, potentially better seat selection prior to T-80, are higher in the pecking order for upgrades and even irrops.

See here for more info:
Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas & Partner Airlines - Tier Benefits
The Qantas Club Benefits | Qantas

 

[Christoo]

I think you've got your OWE and OWS around the wrong way. Platinum is OW Emerald and Gold is OW Sapphire. OWS should have priority boarding for international flights. AFAIK it is only restricted to OWE for domestic qantas flights. As such it seems a bit strange that you would be restricted on trans tasman. But then if it did say OWS, as gold you should be able to use priority boarding.

You are correct that I had OWE and OWS around the wrong way.

I can confirm though that priority boarding to Auckland was only for WP and OWE, I had to queue up like the cheap mug that I am.

 

[Kangol]

I can confirm though that priority boarding to Auckland was only for WP and OWE, I had to queue up like the cheap mug that I am.

Is that what the sign said - I'm guessing there was a sign?

 

[mcbain]

Also, if you are flying on a OW or EK flight number regardless of metal, as a SG you can access the lounge but as a QP you cannot.

That point is a bit confusing right now - on the Tier Benefits page you linked to, it mentions Emirates lounge access for WP, but not SG.

Over on the EK QP changes thread there's a suggestion it is just a website screw-up, but who can say these days.

 

[moa999]

And if you fly other oneworld airlines (apart from QF, JQ and AA) plus now EK then there is a substantial difference in lounge access.
(as you note you fly into Asia a bit I assume you make use of CX and KA).

 

[Kangol]

That point is a bit confusing right now - on the Tier Benefits page you linked to, it mentions Emirates lounge access for WP, but not SG.

Over on the EK QP changes thread there's a suggestion it is just a website screw-up, but who can say these days.

When I said "you can access the lounge", I was referring to the QF-operated "lower level" lounge (ie domestic QP and international J).

In the link I mentioned, it refers to the EK-operated F lounge. Two completely different things.

The "QF or JQ flight number rule" is only from 1 October 2014 onwards and I think specifically to EK flight numbers. QP members have never had access when travelling on a OW flight number AFAIK.
This is not including the external arrangements QP have had with non-QF operated lounges outside of Australia (ie. AA, BA).

When you see it as I have mentioned, it's not confusing at all.. unless you aren't reading the words

 

[tyrolean]

The benefit of SG over QP is HUGE if you are flying other oneworld airlines:

- You have Lounge access on all Oneworld flights (only QF flights with QP)
- You get prio-Checkin, prio Boarding and free/better seating will all Oneworld Airlines
- Some Airlines give you extra benefits like fast lane, extra luggage

In case of IrOps the gold card plays quite good: You have a much better service on most Oneworld Airlines.

If you are flying only domestically and with QF: Go with the QP and stack a few SCs to slowly reach LTG
If you are flying with other partner airlines: The difference is huge!

 

[mcbain]

When you see it as I have mentioned, it's not confusing at all.. unless you aren't reading the words

Your words were fine I think, I just didn't use enough of my own.

I wasn't confused about access to QF lounges (as SG or QP), but access to EK lounges as SG - the QFF Tier page has no mention of that at the moment. There's a whole other thread about that now, though.

 

[blackcat20]

I can confirm though that priority boarding to Auckland was only for WP and OWE, I had to queue up like the cheap mug that I am.

That doesnt seem right, OWS should have priority boarding for international flights. Unless TT is an exception? Off to check...

Nothing here to suggest any exclusion: Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas & Partner Airlines - Tier Benefits

 

[opusman]

Small print reads:

μ Priority boarding is available for Platinum and Platinum One Frequent Flyer members and Emerald oneworld members for Qantas operated domestic flights in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Gold Coast, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney and on selected Qantas operated international flights with a QF flight number on your ticket.

TT flights are operated by Jetconnect and so aren't Qantas-operated. Alternatively, they may not be "selected flights". Either way, terms are broad enough that PB could easily be denied on any flight for anyone other than WP on domestic.

 

[blackcat20]

Small print reads:



TT flights are operated by Jetconnect and so aren't Qantas-operated. Alternatively, they may not be "selected flights". Either way, terms are broad enough that PB could easily be denied on any flight for anyone other than WP on domestic.

Yes, in reference to the second table. But there is no small print for the first table where you click on "At the Airport" and the list drops down. And that fine print doesn't exclude SG/OWS for international. It's about domestic ie P1/WP get PB domestically and on selected international flights.

 

[opusman]

Yes true, good point.

Incidentally, I love the array of fine print markers used on that page. Someone at QF is clearly having fun with Unicode.

*
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^^
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▼▼
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++

 

[Christoo]

Is that what the sign said - I'm guessing there was a sign?

That doesnt seem right, OWS should have priority boarding for international flights. Unless TT is an exception? Off to check...

Nothing here to suggest any exclusion: Frequent Flyer - Flying Qantas & Partner Airlines - Tier Benefits

The flight had the same boarding signs from the domestic terminal, perhaps they were there for a different flight?
It was QF153 MEL-AKL Gate 4

This week I flew QF153 MEL-AKL Gate 3, this time it was the old signs with Gold and OWS mentioned on the priority boarding lane.

The benefit of SG over QP is HUGE if you are flying other oneworld airlines:

- You have Lounge access on all Oneworld flights (only QF flights with QP)
- You get prio-Checkin, prio Boarding and free/better seating will all Oneworld Airlines
- Some Airlines give you extra benefits like fast lane, extra luggage

In case of IrOps the gold card plays quite good: You have a much better service on most Oneworld Airlines.

If you are flying only domestically and with QF: Go with the QP and stack a few SCs to slowly reach LTG
If you are flying with other partner airlines: The difference is huge!

Yes, that's why I explicitly mentioned flying QF metal.
Apart from a better earn, I don't see any usable advantage over QP on International travel