Honestly, what is the point of Platinum One?

[Princess Fiona]

Recent example:
QF2 LHR-SYD via DXB. Me (P1) and SWMBO (SG) get turfed out of our pre-selected seats (11J and K) mid journey on reboarding in DXB. Got the coughpy seats in 15 next to the kitchen. On arriving at our seats at 15, the occupants were told their seats were now 11Jand K!

My friends, (WP and SG)were able to keep their seats (12J and K) for the full journey. What's the story QF??? All it needed was an explanation from the CSM... It never came. Made me think that the extra effort to maintain P1 status is all for nought...

IIRC serfty states that 11K is the seat which has power for running CPAP machines etc.
Pretty ordinary experience for you but I would say that the occupants of row 15 needed the power outlet.
Would have been good if that could have been explained to you by the crew though.

 

[JeffVader]

IIRC serfty states that 11K is the seat which has power for running CPAP machines etc.
Pretty ordinary experience for you but I would say that the occupants of row 15 needed the power outlet.
Would have been good if that could have been explained to you by the crew though.

I would have absolutely no problem with that though the occupants didn't look like the type of people who may have a CPAP/ sleep apnoea. Our friends in 12 didn't note a CPAP machine. They thought we had been op-uped downstairs!

 

[casanovawa]

The point of P1 is probably totally for QF's benefit, a shiny card that some people need for their ego to be able to say they are right up the top, a few people's eager expectatiosn thet they will get something special, which then leads to book extra flights that they may not have, or book with QF when they might have booked elsewhere...

Then QF just needs to cobble the odd good story together to prove just how valuable the new tier is, while by and large raking in the extra money for offering not much new...

I can definitely see the point of it...

 

[boomy]

Contrast to Air Canada's "Concierge" service given to their top level 100K 'Super Elite' customers # (about equivalent of QF Plat in general perks) AND International J class pax.
They can do some stuff at the airport for you, such as go to 'lost and found' to see if that phone you left behind has turned up and if it has, post or courier it on to you.

That's a good example of a basic service that should be provided by QF.
When I called the P1 number to say I forgot my Bose headphones in the plane they simply gave me the L&F contact at the airport. When I asked for their help to speed up the matter I was told they can't do anything else. It was a very disappointing moment for me as P1.

Someone from QF was reading this thread
I was contacted by SST who knew about my experience trying to locate my lost headphones. A few days later I received another call telling me the headphones were found and are ready for collection.
A week after I lost them I was very close to giving up and buying new ones. Many thanks to SST who followed up on my case and saved me $400
AC concierge, you have competition!

 

[Pilbaracommuter]

Had just under 2 years as P1 due to some good luck on timing of some international business flights. The only thing I really noticed different was the ability to access the whole cabin for seat selection from the date of booking. Now I'm back to platinum I just have to remember to go back in 3 days before the flight to try for a better seat.

 

[pjm99au]

AC concierge, you have competition!

Great result. The SST just need training and a mindset to make this "can do" attitude the first response not the follow up response

 

[boomy]

Great result. The SST just need training and a mindset to make this "can do" attitude the first response not the follow up response

Ideally, you are correct but so far I failed to find a perfect service anywhere so this is probably as good as it gets

 

[cirqueboy]

Whilst not being P1, I had an amazing customer service experience in Canada with US just recently. Service I gratefully accept as OWE...

My partner and I (both WP) flying YUL-PHL-DFW to connect to QF7 to SYD, separate PNR's, US YUL-DFW and QF DFW-SYD. On check in, we advised the agent that we were connecting to QF7 in DFW and would like her to check us all the way through. Ok, no problem she says.

After a few minutes the check in lady (who turned into our US AAngel) says that there is a ground stop at PHL and we will miss the connection to DFW and miss the QF flight to SYD. Let me see what I can do. ONE phone call to AA and we a routed YUL-ORD-DFW in F and checked through to SYD with luggage receipts and boarding passes. No haggling, no pleading, nothing.

Just great service with a smile and have a nice trip.

This is how it should always be.

 

[marki]

If I could write a single word it would be "Wow"


Sent from my iPhone using AustFreqFly

 

[JeffVader]

If only it could always be like this...

 

[AirKat]

If the SST are reading this, big thanks to Helen who I always find wonderful. Particularly the other week when I was rushing into a meeting and had messed up my own flights and needed it fixed and she just took my details and sorted it out. Boarding pass came through while I was in the meeting and message left to say it was sorted. That's the kind of help that I need!

 

[JeffVader]

Really, the topic of this thread is absolutely on the ball. I think the difference between WP and WP1 is the '1' on the end (which is easy to overlook)
A few things that I have noticed...

One World Emerald does not have a OWE1 thus WP and WP1 are the same status despite the massive SC difference.

Emirates boarding passes note 'Platinum' whether WP1 or WP and I believe the CSM on EK can't tell the difference.

Apps such as 'FF Calculator' make no difference between the 2 tiers ( minor note).

1200 vs 3600 SCs. You have got to be kidding! I mean you are talking major difference in loyalty for minimal difference in recognition. Although WP1 for the last 3 years I am seriously considering getting my WP SCs and trying out other airlines for better loyalty support.

There has to be a carrot at the end of the stick to strive for so much flying with one airline. It is not always the easiest option. At the moment there is only an unfulfilled promise. (events, personalised treatment, recognition, op ups). (See above)

This is not a whinge, just an observation over 3 years. All the lounges are overcrowded. A major overhaul needed? Perhaps a name change to 'Chairman's Waiting Room'?

 

[Daver6]

Isn't this like most things in life. Diminishing returns after a certain point.

 

[Kangol]

Honestly, whats the point?.

To have access to row 4 (737) at time of booking and an unpublished benefit of the shadow... to have it taken away by a QF staff member who takes it on their own accord to place someone there for a non-medical reason whilst there are plenty of other free seats.. then be punished for not being a sheep and having an opinion!

No really, it's a reminder of how many times you forgot to change your FF number to another program just prior to boarding.

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Really, the topic of this thread is absolutely on the ball. I think the difference between WP and WP1 is the '1' on the end (which is easy to overlook)
A few things that I have noticed...

One World Emerald does not have a OWE1 thus WP and WP1 are the same status despite the massive SC difference.

Emirates boarding passes note 'Platinum' whether WP1 or WP and I believe the CSM on EK can't tell the difference.

Apps such as 'FF Calculator' make no difference between the 2 tiers ( minor note).

1200 vs 3600 SCs. You have got to be kidding! I mean you are talking major difference in loyalty for minimal difference in recognition. Although WP1 for the last 3 years I am seriously considering getting my WP SCs and trying out other airlines for better loyalty support.

There has to be a carrot at the end of the stick to strive for so much flying with one airline. It is not always the easiest option. At the moment there is only an unfulfilled promise. (events, personalised treatment, recognition, op ups). (See above)

This is not a whinge, just an observation over 3 years. All the lounges are overcrowded. A major overhaul needed? Perhaps a name change to 'Chairman's Waiting Room'?

I had the same observation for 3 years of P1 as you describe above.
At the end of the day you would be foolish to believe anything will change or that you'll get anywhere near 3x the benefits of treatment above a vanilla Platinum. Daver6 is right about diminishing returns.
You need to look after yourself and your own best interests instead of blindly crediting SC/points into the QFF program if you feel the program no longer meets your expectations.

There is no shortage of alternate FF programs, some of which don't involve changing what airline you fly on but rather what program you credit flights/credit cards towards.

No doubt P1 could do with tweaking but at ultimately this is a reflection of senior management and how they view the program. They run it. You, I and the other 10 million frequent flyers do not and if you trawl through the tens of thousands of posts, hate threads, feedback posts and suggestions - there is an abundance of data that QFF could put into action that would net the program more revenue while increasing overall customer satisfaction. QFF have chosen to read but not take any real action and this type of behaviour over the past 15 years of feedback from online forums proves that - the end customer, regardless of status - either: don't mean much to their business, are not important to the overall strategy or the airline employees reading this are yes people with no balls to make a difference in their job.

As upsetting as it sounds - you must vote with your wallet - not your words.

 

[JeffVader]

Tripin ...
You have summarised the situation better than I could ever do. I would seriously hope Red Roo is monitoring this thread....

 

[JohnK]

Tripin ...
You have summarised the situation better than I could ever do. I would seriously hope Red Roo is monitoring this thread....

Monitoring and passing on information.

Unfortunately the people that receive that information are incompetent. I see it every day in the office. People are protecting their own positions instead of working together as a team to achieve results that will benefit everyone....

 

[Joshua]

As someone recently mentioned it to me.. compared P1 to GGL. You can then decide whether it is worthwhile or not.

I certainly think it should stay as an add-on not a separate tier, take SPG 50/75/100 nights for example. Who wants another tier with no differentiation in tangible benefits anyway. Just add upgrade certificates, BA style jokers, change fee waiving, extra guests etc. and it would start to become slightly meaningful. There are some pretty obvious ideas out there.

 

[marki]

I had the same observation for 3 years of P1 as you describe above.
At the end of the day you would be foolish to believe anything will change or that you'll get anywhere near 3x the benefits of treatment above a vanilla Platinum. Daver6 is right about diminishing returns.
You need to look after yourself and your own best interests instead of blindly crediting SC/points into the QFF program if you feel the program no longer meets your expectations.

There is no shortage of alternate FF programs, some of which don't involve changing what airline you fly on but rather what program you credit flights/credit cards towards.

No doubt P1 could do with tweaking but at ultimately this is a reflection of senior management and how they view the program. They run it. You, I and the other 10 million frequent flyers do not and if you trawl through the tens of thousands of posts, hate threads, feedback posts and suggestions - there is an abundance of data that QFF could put into action that would net the program more revenue while increasing overall customer satisfaction. QFF have chosen to read but not take any real action and this type of behaviour over the past 15 years of feedback from online forums proves that - the end customer, regardless of status - either: don't mean much to their business, are not important to the overall strategy or the airline employees reading this are yes people with no balls to make a difference in their job.

As upsetting as it sounds - you must vote with your wallet - not your words.

Ouch 30 dollars now to Opt in and no rewards at ATO when using your CC Mastercard issued via CBA see attached picture

 

[maninblack]

Honestly, whats the point?.[/FONT][/COLOR]

Honestly none. It's a marketing gimmick. Other OW carriers don't recognise it.