Article: What I Value Most About Qantas Platinum Status

[jakeseven7]

We use it enormously when we also travel domestic economy, we like having a spare seat beside us which happens most times

Oh good one, I totally forgot about the shadow, yes this is a great bonus for me too and I get them very often too - though obviously with high loads at the moment not always possible.

 

[Bolt]

I have been platinum for several years on my own travel, and before that I was gold briefly with alot of domestic travel. It's really a mixed bag, so make sure to check that the reality of what you're thinking your getting matches up with your expectations.

I felt as though the domestic business lounge access was one of the best things when travelling domestic. But the domestic business lounges offer no benefit over the QANTAS club lounges anymore. They used to operate a kitchen, and they do again now, but you'd be lucky to see anything appetizing. The spread in the buffet is barely worth a glance anymore. We're talking brekky without bacon, and make your own sandwhich for dinner.

As I started to travel more internationally, I discovered some of the international first lounges and was pleasantly surprised with the menus, and I still am. But since Covid hit, the drinks selection is a bottom of the barrel selection. I.e. Chivas 12.

Service in the lounges can be a mixed bag. I strongly questioned the value of the program when I recently flew from MEL-BKK on JQ, and was all but ignored by the service staff standing idly 2 metres away from me. However, on a more recent SIN-BNE flight, the service was excellent. Another AFF'er commented to me that they may be discriminating your treatment in the lounge based on your ticket type. I personally think it was just a once off.

The spas in the SYD and MEL first class lounges were great prior to Covid, and you could make a guaranteed booking if flying first class, or otherwise you get what's left when you arrived. You'd be lucky to get a spot at the best of times. But in any case, they still haven't reopened.

There is also a very noticeable lack of any OneWorld lounges at locations like Jakarta, Denpasar, Christchurch, etc. Brisbane international doesn't have any first class lounge at all, because there is no first class service out of that airport. I've attached a picture showing which airports have OneWorld first class services. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they all have first class lounges.


If you're planning on getting status because you also fly Jetstar, it's a mixed bag. So, think carefully before planning on getting any status at all. Quite often the airports that Jetstar fly in and out of, don't have lounges at all, or they're in a different terminal. A few examples.
BNE - For now they both operate in the domestic terminal.
BKK - No more QANTAS lounge.
CNS - QF has a domestic lounge, but there's nothing international. Again, you can walk between them if you have a long layover.
MEL - Different terminals for domestic flights, but you can walk between them if you have a long layover.
SIN - JQ is moving to T4 and QF is staying in T1. Totally out of reach.
SYD - Different terminals for domestic flights, but you can walk between them if you have a long layover.
I wonder if anyone has a spreadsheet or some kind of document showing the mapping of Jetstar and QANTAS to airports and terminals?


Hope this helps as a balanced commentary on why you might want to, or not want to have QANTAS platinum status.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I have been platinum for several years on my own travel, and before that I was gold briefly with alot of domestic travel. It's really a mixed bag, so make sure to check that the reality of what you're thinking your getting matches up with your expectations.

I felt as though the domestic business lounge access was one of the best things when travelling domestic. But the domestic business lounges offer no benefit over the QANTAS club lounges anymore. They used to operate a kitchen, and they do again now, but you'd be lucky to see anything appetizing. The spread in the buffet is barely worth a glance anymore. We're talking brekky without bacon, and make your own sandwhich for dinner.

As I started to travel more internationally, I discovered some of the international first lounges and was pleasantly surprised with the menus, and I still am. But since Covid hit, the drinks selection is a bottom of the barrel selection. I.e. Chivas 12.

Service in the lounges can be a mixed bag. I strongly questioned the value of the program when I recently flew from MEL-BKK on JQ, and was all but ignored by the service staff standing idly 2 metres away from me. However, on a more recent SIN-BNE flight, the service was excellent. Another AFF'er commented to me that they may be discriminating your treatment in the lounge based on your ticket type. I personally think it was just a once off.

The spas in the SYD and MEL first class lounges were great prior to Covid, and you could make a guaranteed booking if flying first class, or otherwise you get what's left when you arrived. You'd be lucky to get a spot at the best of times. But in any case, they still haven't reopened.

There is also a very noticeable lack of any OneWorld lounges at locations like Jakarta, Denpasar, Christchurch, etc. Brisbane international doesn't have any first class lounge at all, because there is no first class service out of that airport. I've attached a picture showing which airports have OneWorld first class services. But that doesn't necessarily mean that they all have first class lounges.
View attachment 317871

If you're planning on getting status because you also fly Jetstar, it's a mixed bag. So, think carefully before planning on getting any status at all. Quite often the airports that Jetstar fly in and out of, don't have lounges at all, or they're in a different terminal. A few examples.
BNE - For now they both operate in the domestic terminal.
BKK - No more QANTAS lounge.
CNS - QF has a domestic lounge, but there's nothing international. Again, you can walk between them if you have a long layover.
MEL - Different terminals for domestic flights, but you can walk between them if you have a long layover.
SIN - JQ is moving to T4 and QF is staying in T1. Totally out of reach.
SYD - Different terminals for domestic flights, but you can walk between them if you have a long layover.
I wonder if anyone has a spreadsheet or some kind of document showing the mapping of Jetstar and QANTAS to airports and terminals?


Hope this helps as a balanced commentary on why you might want to, or not want to have QANTAS platinum status.

The Spas in both SYD and MEL reopened last year

 

[RooFlyer]

Welcome to posting on AFF @Dalavia and @ljcoz

 

[themaiz]

Quite often the airports that Jetstar fly in and out of, don't have lounges at all, or they're in a different terminal.

Doing SYD-KUL with QF to SIN then JQ to KUL. JQ still leaves from T1 at SIN at the moment (according to the apps), so SIN First Lounge usable on the way over. But on the return there's no lounge at all in the very ordinary and somewhat dank KUL T2. I see more MH in my future... possibly the whole trip.

 

[ish]

Yes absolutely worth it for me given my travel frequency, patterns and business.

- Upgrade priority is fantastic

- Manual award seat release probably one of my most used features

- Domestic J lounges are excellent, for me primarily for networking with movers & shakers in Aus

- International F lounge access is nice, for me more so when on holiday, flying for business I’m much more lethal with lounge time

- Priority assistance (and the QF premium team), have never waited to speak to anyone at QF

- Seamless OWE integration / benefits as others have mentioned

+1 to all of these^

Upgrade Priority is my #1, closely followed by Dom J lounge and SYD/MEL Flounge access.

I fly a lot of east-west coast trips and upgrade to J almost every time, with pretty good success rate. Admittedly, often only 737 and arguably less ‘worth it’ but makes the routine much more bearable.

 

[sydney slug]

One of the loveliest things about someone else paying for my ticket (thank you ex employer) is that not only did I make platinum for several years, I also made LG. In the early days of the SYD First lounge it was a super special treat. Alan who ran the restaurant was a great guy as well as chef. The staff were (are) delightful and upgrade priority extremely handy.

As I now pay for myself I rarely fly QF for money (still managing some points trips), still love the perks of LG but miss the first class lounge. The perks of platinum are not enough for me to pay 1.3 to 1.5 times other carrier’s prices. I know they will look to cut my “lifetime” gold one day, but in the meantime I will enjoy it but not strive to get back to platinum on my own coin.

 

[jakeseven7]

The Spas in both SYD and MEL reopened last year

Some people haven't realised - SHHHHHHH!

 

[Townsend]

I am in a similar position Matt. I absolutely love the first class lounges and those alone, will encourage me to keep Platinum! However I have found no difference in call centre waiting times unless of course they have really blown out again! I waiting 45 minutes yesterday and was put through to an international centre who could not help me.

 

[AIRwin]

Finnair will take you anywhere in Europe from Helsinki and the small airport and comfortable lounge is ideal to me.

And the sauna in the lounge?

 

[dylarr]

However I have found no difference in call centre waiting times unless of course they have really blown out again! I waiting 45 minutes yesterday and was put through to an international centre who could not help me.

I find the wait times are quicker but if you get through to an untrained agent and have to hang up and call again then it's pointless anyway. I wouldn't chase/retain Platinum purely on the idea that your call is going to be handled by a competent agent. Sure it's great when you can get through to Auckland or Hobart, but it's so difficult even with Platinum status most of my calls end up being routed to Suva or Cape Town who will answer as "Qantas Premium" but they certainly are not. Just this week I spent 1.5 hours over 5 calls trying to fix a negative connection caused by a schedule change on a domestic itinerary because the outsourced agents kept placing me on hold for ages to "fix it" until the call disconnected.

 

[mrsterryn]

Have been Platinum a few years. All on fun travel .
I like it. We will probably, going forward, only have two mabbe three international flights a year. At least one would in that class we don't talk about aka economy . I was on two economy flights last year. Definitely had more attention from the crew.
In Sydney last time I checked we don't have the quick line through security on status , it is purely on class .
1) first class lounges
2) first class check in
3) nicer call centre staff
4) slightly earlier access to rewards seats
5) the possibility of more attention on flights

Ok stretching it a bit but I do like the first class lounges around the world I have to say.

 

[ljcoz]

Oh good one, I totally forgot about the shadow, yes this is a great bonus for me too and I get them very often too - though obviously with high loads at the moment not always possible.

My partner and I are both plat and we normally book our flights with a seat between us in economy. Almost always ok. Also often get 4A and 4C

 

[AbsolutelyAnything]

I enjoy being Platinum, certainly felt it one year when I temporarily dropped to gold, and I think once you have it, it's not until you drop to gold that you realise how you miss many of the little things mentioned above on top of better lounge access etc.

I'm slightly miffed that I made my Platinum renewal for the next cycle but Qantas will renew anyway! Hopefully I will have a few SC's rolled anyway.

My company policy doesn't allow business travel (Premium over 8 hours (budget dependent)) so I kind of feel I work quite hard at keeping WP and I really do appreciate the benefits like the shadow on non-full flights and the acknowledgement in economy (and sometimes a better glass of wine if I ask), and of course getting a better seat closer to the door, this makes a big difference on my flights to the US as I can be out and through the Global Entry channel (benefit of dual-nationality) and collecting my priority bag in sub 15 minute times.

Though it seems to have stopped now, I used to like being able to book seats in the premium section of the economy cabin with AA, Alaska etc.at no extra cost.

Stefan

P.S. Roll on bringing back the priority lane for WP's in SYD when not in business...

 

[R_B]

In this article, I've outlined the things I most value about Qantas Platinum status:

The 5 Things I Value Most About Qantas Platinum Status

Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold membership includes great perks like airport lounge access, but Qantas Platinum status packs even more of a punch.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

Do you agree? Over to you, AFF…

Do you see the value in Qantas Platinum status and if so, which are your most prized benefits?

If you don’t think Platinum status is worth earning 1,400 status credits in a year – or 1,200 to maintain – why not?

Issue is now post covid, most people are not flying for 'business' so going to harder to keep 'platinum' if you are paying for it as will take time & money. Assume a lot may drop into Gold status r the airlines will have to review the levels to achieve/maintain.

 

[Smithers]

I have almost hit Lifetime Gold and was previously Platinum years ago but I still have access to the priority number which is way better than normal customer service. The real benefit in Platinum for me though is the priority access to flight upgrades using points, especially on long-haul domestic and international legs. I still get some priority for being Gold but lately that is obviously harder to get so having Platinum with Virgin instead is a better way to balance things for me.

 

[ish]

Oh good one, I totally forgot about the shadow, yes this is a great bonus for me too and I get them very often too - though obviously with high loads at the moment not always possible.

Oh yes! Dom economy shadow is actually #1 benefit - completely forgot!!

 

[AshM]

I was Qantas platinum for several years and dropped back to lifetime gold at the start of the pandemic. You are spot on with the benefits over and above gold and, after having spent years on both sides of the divide, I would rank them in the following order:

1. Call centre competence (how sad is it that that is not a given for all, let alone gold FFs?)

2. Call centre access (just getting through to someone… anyone)

3. Ability to request release of classic reward seats

4. Domestic business lounge (vs Qantas Club) access

5. International First lounge access (higher up the list if you travel internationally a lot - esp from Sydney)

6. Seat selection priority (and shadow)

7. The “soft” touches, eg. dedicated First check-in, personal greetings, etc

8. Higher upgrade priority (I never actually used this and expect gold offers a reasonably good chance, if admittedly not comparable to platinum)

As it turned out, I had so many diabolical experiences with Qantas and its customer service (especially the call centre) once I dropped back to LTG that I have switched all my flying - both business and leisure - to Virgin, where I also have gold status.

I’ve seen no reason to go back and holding LTG status means that, if I ever have no choice but to fly Qantas, I will always have that baseline level of lounge access, priority boarding, additional baggage allowance, etc.

 

[AbsolutelyAnything]

LOL, I might make LTS this year after 8 years of almost exclusive Qantas flying, LTG? Yeah, nah!

Downside of all my flights being in the cheap seats

Stefan

 

[AshM]

The biggest change for me when dropping from Platinum to Gold was losing access to competent telephone operators.

I had three different international itineraries at various times over the past couple of years that required intervention over the phone because of changed flight times (common in the immediate post-COVID era). In every case, the operators I got as Gold FF either said they couldn't do anything, simply hung up when things got too difficult, or cancelled required legs of the itinerary without my authority or knowledge, making the itineraries completely useless.

As a reaction to the appalling telephone service I was getting, over the past six months I've had to do four international itineraries involving 22 Business Class sectors and I've used Star Alliance for all of them - every part of the experience was easy, seamless, cheaper than QF with none of the stress of wrongly cancelled flights. Until I can count on a Qantas bookings "sticking" and being able to be handled competently over the phone, I won't be chasing my Platinum status.

I can see how QF works for Platinum, but it is almost useless for Gold when travelling internationally IF intervention over the phone is needed.

^^This. Exactly my experience (and reaction) too.