Is Platinum the Holy Grail?

[straitman]

Now to lighten things up, it will be interesting to see what happens with curtains once Qantas start operating aircraft with Qantas at the front and Jetstar down the back of the bus :!::!:

I thought the idea was to put the Jetstar pax in the cargo hold.

 

[simongr]

I have searched this site a bit. What about Dave Noble? He seems (to me anyway) the most knowledgable person on this board. BTW, I also like NYCGuy's posts. Peace.

Dave's an oddball in that he doesnt share the same obsession with flying OW as many of us - he actually chooses to fly on the best carrier for his needs - an alien concept to some of us

 

[straitman]

Dave's an oddball in that he doesnt share the same obsession with flying OW as many of us - he actually chooses to fly on the best carrier for his needs - an alien concept to some of us

... and that is an easy concept to understand when someone travels extensively for work and already has the status anyway.

A different set of logic and reasoning for those in this situation vs those who travel less and/or have to get value from spending their own money.

It is all very subjective and neither set of logic is right or wrong :!:

 

[Dave Noble]

Dave's an oddball in that he doesnt share the same obsession with flying OW as many of us - he actually chooses to fly on the best carrier for his needs - an alien concept to some of us

When I travel I like to get from point A to point B in the shortest manner. Also, it is v easy not to be obsessed with OneWorld given the superior (ime) options out there. When buying 1st class tickets across the globe, it is going to be rather unlikely that I would want to spend my money on a poor product (imo) such as offered by BA or QF. I also have no interest in flying for the sake of it for the purpose of getting points; to me points are an outcome for travel , not the reason for the travel... I do like to get the best earning for what I do do though

When travelling domestically within Australia I do use QF generally since they tend to be the best option. I even used QF trans tasman last week since I had some QF credit to get rid off before it expired.

Dave

 

[winfred]

Winfred, would you mind expanding that thought - hopefully has relevance to my own flight plans this year. Many thanks.

I travel to HKG and CDG 3-4 times a year, sometimes on CX and other times on QF (via LHR). That makes it easy to compare how CX & QF treat me as Sapphire/Emerald and SG/WP respectively.

On CX I will be greeted by CP every time and it doesn't happen on QF very often. I got upgraded on CX a lot more often than QF (and I got upgraded on Lan the only time I flew with them last year).

 

[JohnK]

Maybe not right now. But you indicated that "..It achieves nothing other than anger ..". In my book anger = hot under the collar, I was just suggesting I've never seen anyone on board particularly upset at the practice.

I can feel anger and still be calm at the same time. I can go to sleep at night without worrying about it at all. But I have not forgotten the experience, and will try to avoid CX economy as much as possible, and I am certain it has not left a scar.

As mentioned earlier I am quite happy to fly CX business class. Nothing special but relatively consistent, a good way to pass the time and easy SCs on QFF program.

 

[HardieBoys]

I'm not quite sure how closing a curtain can cause so much offence, though I accept you might take offence at it. I'm not sure what you mean when you say you like to be prepared and the curtain closure impedes this. Surely what is ahead is moving through the cabin, disembarking via an airbridge and proceeding to immigration or transfer desks?

 

[JohnK]

I'm not quite sure how closing a curtain can cause so much offence, though I accept you might take offence at it.

It is not so much taking offence to it but the way it is done. The curtain is opened for landing and then the CSM rushed back to close it again. To me this is wrong.

I'm not sure what you mean when you say you like to be prepared and the curtain closure impedes this. Surely what is ahead is moving through the cabin, disembarking via an airbridge and proceeding to immigration or transfer desks?

I get very anxious and want to get off the aircraft as soon as possible especially once the doors have opened. I am also a frequent traveller and I respect people who fly business class should be able to get off the aircraft without having economy class passengers knocking them over on their way through.

What I do not understand is the need to close the curtain again once landed. What does this achieve? The CSM can simply guard the aisle so no economy passengers can get past. Is this too much to ask?

 

[HardieBoys]

OK. I guess you're entitled to your own opinion about the way things should be done, regardless of the opinions of others. 'Vote with your feet' would be my advice in this case, as there are numerous alternatives to CX.

 

[JohnK]

As I said I have only ever had 1 CX economy flight and I do not want anymore.

This does not mean I do not like CX. Far from it. I have lost count of the number of short haul CX business class flights I have done in the last 2-3 years and I have booked already 16 CX business class flights worth 960 SCs before the end of December.

The silliest thing about this silly discussion is that I mainly fly business class on CX and I do not like the curtain to economy closed. Why?

 

[Aikicoops]

For me WP was the "Holy Grail".

Back in October 2008 I was only NB... have been since I joined in 1999. Then I was offered a job that I couldn't refuse. This job also had quite a bit of travel involved.

My anniversary is up on the 1st June. By May 2009 I was PS. Then my SC's tick over to zero. By October 2009 I was WP. This seemed to be too easy to achieve.
Now all the lounge access is good. I have not had the opportunity to uses any FLounges until the end of next month, I will be traveling CX J to LHR. I have PG but Mrs Coops doesn't travel much to get benefit from it.

My question now is what is next? Yes there is LTG to aim for, however this will take a few years to achieve this for me.

I have never been OP-UP on any flights. So this may be something to look forward to. But I am not holding my breath.

What next? Is looking at joining another program to get status there something to look at?
I mostly do DOM flights with about 3 INT trips per year, which is why I became a QFF'er.

So what now? what else can I look forward to??? I have so much to learn now that I am a WP.

Coops

 

[Oneworldplus2]

I have so much to learn now that I am a WP.
Coops

No offence, but, it's not rocket science mate.

A few extra KG's, above QP, SG and Silver; which, l have never used even as a PS. I set a personal record when l when to BKK last year, 10 days, 5kg, checked baggage.
F Class check in, when travelling in INT whY
F Lounge access, if flying Int (or DOM, if you can get a flight through the INT Terminal).
QP Access even when not travelling. J Lounge when travelling whY DOM.
Partner Gold (which you have).
Double Points (BUT, only on QF, BA and AA).
Guaranteed 2 whY seats on any flight (but, the fine print still has a ++, (++ With paid Full Economy tickets for up to two people, including the Platinum member, on any Qantas operated flight with a Qantas flight number (excluding non-jet QantasLink services) and when booking before midday on the day before travel. Facility may be restricted due to operational constraints.) And let's be honest, if you can get it, PER-SYD 24/12 for 2 FULL whY would be pretty expensive.

 

[Dave Noble]

Guaranteed 2 whY seats on any flight (but, the fine print still has a ++, (++ With paid Full Economy tickets for up to two people, including the Platinum member, on any Qantas operated flight with a Qantas flight number (excluding non-jet QantasLink services) and when booking before midday on the day before travel. Facility may be restricted due to operational constraints.) And let's be honest, if you can get it, PER-SYD 24/12 for 2 FULL whY would be pretty expensive.

The guaranteed availability is valid for H and Y class and can be useful in rare occasions. Over the 10 years of top tier status I have used it once so not the most major benefit imo. Had H class SIN-SYS and used it to get on flight SYD-SIN-PER which were on Y0. As long as Y still is on 0 or L then can use it; can only not use it when the booking class is closed

 

[Fantic125]

Hi,
New to the site, and actively working toward WP.
I've earned 820 status credits since 1 Aug 09, 580 to go!
BTW - status credits have all been earned Discount Economy, thanks to the TA company I work for!

 

[dajop]

The guaranteed availability is valid for H and Y class and can be useful in rare occasions. Over the 10 years of top tier status I have used it once so not the most major benefit imo.

I used to use it quite a bit CBR-MEL on the 5:20pm QF departure, at least until DJ started Velocity. Very popular flight, back then between 1:30pm and that flight there was only 1 36 seat Dash 8 departure. I suspect I was not the only WP who did likewise, as my forward aisle preference usually ended up being in the last 5 rows ...

 

[parksie]

For me WP was the "Holy Grail".


I have never been OP-UP on any flights. So this may be something to look forward to. But I am not holding my breath.

What next? Is looking at joining another program to get status there something to look at?
I mostly do DOM flights with about 3 INT trips per year, which is why I became a QFF'er.

So what now? what else can I look forward to??? I have so much to learn now that I am a WP.

Coops

I am platinum and I feel that it is way better than Gold.

I travel mostly international and always in PE.

The last 2 PE trips (I actually did one last week in CX J but this was unusual) which were both earlier this year I experienced OD up grades without the blink of an eye.

I simply walked to the Qantas First class check in in Sydney and was greeting with "good morning Mr xx_x today you will be upgraded to business class"

Each trip was to a different place.

One to Hong Kong and one to Bangkok.

Let me say that a fare to Hong Kong in J is around $6,000 with Qantas and my PE ticket costs around $2,100.

So this is a really big advantage if you are Platinum with Qantas.

The seats are always better.

The First lounges are fantastic.

I would hate to have to go back to Gold.

Anyway this is just my POV.

 

[HardieBoys]

I agree that the First lounge access is a significant benefit, especially in Sydney. I now head to the airport about 30 minutes earlier than previously to have a nice meal in the lounge prior to departure. (I was thrilled to be able to do this once on a $95 trip from Sydney to Adelaide which left from the international terminal.) Also great is being potentially able to access the Cathay First lounges in HK.

 

[Aikicoops]

No offence, but, it's not rocket science mate.

A few extra KG's, above QP, SG and Silver; which, l have never used even as a PS. I set a personal record when l when to BKK last year, 10 days, 5kg, checked baggage.
F Class check in, when travelling in INT whY
F Lounge access, if flying Int (or DOM, if you can get a flight through the INT Terminal).
QP Access even when not travelling. J Lounge when travelling whY DOM.
Partner Gold (which you have).
Double Points (BUT, only on QF, BA and AA).
Guaranteed 2 whY seats on any flight (but, the fine print still has a ++, (++ With paid Full Economy tickets for up to two people, including the Platinum member, on any Qantas operated flight with a Qantas flight number (excluding non-jet QantasLink services) and when booking before midday on the day before travel. Facility may be restricted due to operational constraints.) And let's be honest, if you can get it, PER-SYD 24/12 for 2 FULL whY would be pretty expensive.

Maybe I didn't make myself quite clear.

Don't get me wrong, It's not that I am not appreciative of the bonus, many of which I know and are still learning about, especially on INT flights. Some of the aboved mentioned bonus' I haven't and will never use. But that is beside the point.

My point is once you have used these for a few years and then reach LTG... then what?

What is the on going benefits for staying with QFF once you have reached the dizzy heights of the QFF program. CL??? I doubt I will every see that regardless of how much I fly.

And no offense taken.

Coops

 

[Dave Noble]

My point is once you have used these for a few years and then reach LTG... then what?

You could always stop worrying about status et al

 

[dajop]

My point is once you have used these for a few years and then reach LTG... then what?

Three options:

1) Strive to retain platinum each year, as there are considerable benefits to being platinum over gold, as outlined in this thread.
2) Be happy with QG gold, and start travelling on other carriers to achieve status there (eg gold on DJ if your travel is domestic, or gold on star alliance of your travel is intl
3) Do enough QF/OW travel to maintain platinum, and travel on other carriers to get status there.

As a LTG/WP option 3 works well for me, I have star alliance gold which gives me heaps of options when travelling without having to sacrifice lounge access, and other benefits.