Article: What I Value Most About Qantas Platinum Status

[Beano]

AKL is a nice enough lounge, although still small. View of a roof. It is not well serviced, though. Milk had run out in the coffee machine and pax have to knock on the kitchen door to find a lounge attendant, or go out and speak to the desk crew. They had completely run out of breakfast tea! But….there is ice cream!

Yes, there is ice cream if you like it salty. Only full of salted caramel last week. They must be trying to dump it!

 

[eminere]

I have to agree that the staff at the SYD F lounge are below par.

I agree. The current tranche of staff is really nowhere near the polish of the previous staff from say 5 years ago.

 

[Beano]

I agree. The current tranche of staff is really nowhere near the polish of the previous staff from say 5 years ago.

Even 3 years ago. The staff stuck around long enough for you to get to know them.

 

[poopiepoo]

@SYD F I remember Dean from Sofitel crew, slim, short guy. Quite personable and a class above most.

 

[Beano]

@SYD F I remember Dean from Sofitel crew, slim, short guy. Quite personable and a class above most.

Was he quite young? Perhaps I remember him also. Even senior staff departed, though I heard one went to run the SIN QF lounge.

 

[poopiepoo]

Was he quite young? Perhaps I remember him also. Even senior staff departed, though I heard one went to run the SIN QF lounge.

Yes. Quite young.

I heard he went to Pullman near the Airport.

 

[eminere]

The Helpful Henry was always a standout for me.

 

[Beano]

The Helpful Henry was always a standout for me.

Henry is long gone. He starred in Perth, where he first appeared on TV, then SYD F lounge then CBR J lounge, where he was manager, then back to Perth. I enquired about him in Perth but no none new where he had got to.

 

[smckay]

As a brand new Plat, so far I am pretty happy. I basically leap-frogged Gold and went from Silver to Platinum in a couple of months, due to some very unusual flying.
So far, I have used the First class lounge in Mel, which is superior to any of the J lounges I use on the East Coast. The Sydney J lounge is just OK, although this week I actually got Eggs Benedict rather than the horrible toasties, packet egg and snags on offer.
Most international flights of late have been J rewards so I am now getting comfortable with lounge access when travelling, and I'd like to keep it. That's probably the biggest carrot for me, decent lounges before long haul.
Getting seats up front is nice on the 2 domestic flights taken so far.
My best deal however has been requesting rewards seats; I am 100% success with a syd-dfw and then yvr-syd request in September this year, all in J. In May the test will come to get syd-lhr return in J released for 2024.
The higher competent people on the phone is nice.
Being addressed on the plane is nice but not needed.
The emails sent and the competitions are a bonus.

I have petty much already qualified for Plat next year, so year 3 will be a test. Although, with DSC I can do it with 3 flights to NZ routed through Melbourne, so is it worth $4,500 to make Plat? I'll see after the international flights and how easy I get into lounges.

 

[SeatBackForward]

I don't know if its just me, or perhaps I've been in situations on the ground and in the air where there are many other WPs/P1, but as a WP for a number of years and LTG member, I really don't feel I get any special treatment by QF staff.

Sure I can use the priority lanes, lounges etc. But none of these are handled by QF staff, they're just part of the "hard product".

Even the token greeting by the CSM, seems a bit tired. Or perhaps when they ask "If there's anything I can do for you" is when I should pipe up with something to put them to the test?

 

[themaiz]

Even the token greeting by the CSM, seems a bit tired. Or perhaps when they ask "If there's anything I can do for you" is when I should pipe up with something to put them to the test?

I rather appreciate the CSM greeting, but I'm OK when it doesn't happen. I know the flight attendants have the list, and I'm happy to smile sweetly to see what happens.

When the attendant asks if there's anything they can do, my first request (if I'm sitting in Y) is for a J blanket. Not likely if J is full, but often works. The other nicety is a glass of sticky, or a shot of decent scotch. All helps to make the Y seat more comfortable. Generally gets a smile. Usually gets a full glass.

On a recent flight to KL I pocketed the plastic bottle of Shiraz from lunch service for the hotel room. When they returned later and asked if I'd like another, I said yes, expecting a plastic bottle that I could again pocket. In an unexpected example of reverse-outcome, the attendant went up front and came back with a full glass of something quite yummy. Since a full glass was not going in the backpack, I was honour-bound to drink it. I know. Life is so tough.

 

[Fifi2207]

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?

I love Platinum status and would be very strategic to retain it. Happy wife, happy life, springs to mind. When travelling international the restaurant dining is superb, especially in Melbourne. The quality of champagne pleases my wife. The visit to the Spa also has her ready for the long haul.
I also value the queue jumping through to Hobart.We have also recently booked a month long trip to Europe all on points and the Hobart customers service member was outstanding finding us business class seats on every leg.
We also enjoy the opportunity to get guests into First Lounge on request including our 'grown up' but still at home children.
We enjoy the extra attention on board too and often enjoy wine from the front and the invitation to use front toilet from the senior cabin crew.
I also enjoy the blocked out seat beside me in economy.
Platinum is brilliant on Qantas. I am also Platinum on Virgin and I do not value this at all. There are no "First' Lounges on routes I fly so its of no reward.

 

[kpc]

Rang a couple of days ago to request 2x J Syd- Hnd just b4 Easter next year....knocked back but Hobart agent got us 2 x J Syd- Mel -Hnd which is a daytime flight....so happy with that! Best benefit of Plat status!