Is Platinum the Holy Grail?

[Dave Noble]

Without sounding ridiculous or naive how long do you think the crew should wait for a business class passngers to deplane before letting economy class passengers deplane?

There has to be a logical point in time where you lose your right to deplane before economy class passengers.

To the point where the passenger(s) remaining are not actively attempting to disembark

 

[NM]

Without sounding ridiculous or naive how long do you think the crew should wait for a business class passngers to deplane before letting economy class passengers deplane?

There has to be a logical point in time where you lose your right to deplane before economy class passengers.

It seems reasonable to me to expect that first and business class passengers be given the opportunity to disembark first. If they choose to remain in their seats and not take advantage of the opportunity to disembark first, then its fair to expect that economy passengers should not be further delayed once they premium cabin passengers have had their opportunity. Its a matter of common sense rather than black and white rules of disembarkation priorities.

I do believe its common courtesy that people allow those seated in front of them the opportunity to disembark first, whether they are in the same of difference cabin. And that includes allowing upper deck passengers to disembark before those seated behind the stairs on a 747.

 

[QF WP]

I don't think there can be a specific time period which allows Business Class to de-plane, it should be as NM describes above - a matter for the FA's to judge the flow of the passengers. In particular, where there are J (or F) pax who need wheelchair asssistance, they are always done at the end (unless a medical emergency), thus allowing pax in the cabins behind to de-plane.

It is probably an expected benefit in the premium cabins (and as Dave Noble pinted out, a stated benefit by some airlines).

I think it's time to get back on topic, don't you

 

[simongr]

they are always done at the end (unless a medical emergency), thus allowing pax in the cabins behind to de-plane.

Actually when we were medicalled off BA663 the process was to get the medics on board and start treatment/assessment, close off one aisle and let everyone deplane. Then we left through 1R via a ambulance lift.

Now a really neat WP benefit would be deplaning before other Y pax - be interesting to see how that went down

 

[Dave Noble]

I do believe its common courtesy that people allow those seated in front of them the opportunity to disembark first, whether they are in the same of difference cabin..

Even if seated on the upper deck ?

 

[QF WP]

yes, as further in his comment NM added:

And that includes allowing upper deck passengers to disembark before those seated behind the stairs on a 747.

 

[dajop]

Now a really neat WP benefit would be deplaning before other Y pax - be interesting to see how that went down

Best attempt I've seen in a long while to try to drag a thread back onto topic.

 

[Dave Noble]

yes, as further in his comment NM added:

NM was referring to those sat on the lower deck from how I read it. It would require great politeness for row 11 to be allowed along the upper deck before row 12 etc to get to the staircase at the rear of the upper deck

Dave

 

[QF WP]

Aaaah, now I see :shock:

 

[NM]

NM was referring to those sat on the lower deck from how I read it. It would require great politeness for row 11 to be allowed along the upper deck before row 12 etc to get to the staircase at the rear of the upper deck

Dave

For the pedantic amongst us, let me clarify by saying "I do believe its common courtesy that people allow those seated closer to the disembarkation door be given the opportunity to disembark first, whether they are in the same of difference cabin. And that includes allowing upper deck passengers to disembark before those seated behind the stairs on a 747."

The only influence that FF status should have on disembarkation order is that of seat allocation within the cabin for which the purchased ticket applies.

 

[jamesatfish]

For the pedantic amongst us, let me clarify by saying "I do believe its common courtesy that people allow those seated closer to the disembarkation door be given the opportunity to disembark first, whether they are in the same of difference cabin. And that includes allowing upper deck passengers to disembark before those seated behind the stairs on a 747."

Agreed - this is not only common courtesy but common sense.

I was on a QF 747 in First once when we used the second door betweeen J and Y+ to disembark rather than the door between F and J. The FAs blocked the Y+ passengers from disembarking but allowed the J pax to leave the aircraft before the F pax - which made perfect sense but did cause some muttered complaints from other F pax. Not that it made any difference mind you - we all got onto the same bus...

 

[simongr]

allow those seated closer to the disembarkation door be given the opportunity to disembark first,

Technically I think 15 is closer than 60A to the disembarkation door on the BA 744 52 Bus config

 

[NM]

Not that it made any difference mind you - we all got onto the same bus...

And when using a bus, its usually FILO (First On, Last Off) so being first off the aircraft and first into the bus may mean you are last off the bus and last into the arrival processing queue.

 

[simongr]

That is very true NM and a major bugbear of mine when arriving at LCA :evil:

 

[sjp]

Even though I've been a member here for some time I've only been reading the forum just recently. I'm sad to see how quickly we all descend into bickering here, but I guess it is the Internet after all.

That said...

After returning from my LHR-SYD J trip, I'm now just 20 SC short of Platinum. I'll be doing a SYD-MEL trip in the next few weeks to tip over (even though I have a few more Business & Economy trips in the next few months, I want to be able to take advantage of 100% bonus point and F lounge straight away). I've had Gold since 2007 (losing it briefly for about 2 months) and have always wanted to WP, even just for 1-2 years to say that I actually did get it.

Having done about 6 trips since December I'm looking forward to using the F lounge with International and the J lounge domestically. The Qantas Clubs in Sydney/Melbourne/Bangkok/Heathrow are now too busy, and while it's better than sitting at the gate it's not really a place to relax in peace and quiet.

 

[codash1099]

Even though I've been a member here for some time I've only been reading the forum just recently. I'm sad to see how quickly we all descend into bickering here, but I guess it is the Internet after all.

That said...

After returning from my LHR-SYD J trip, I'm now just 20 SC short of Platinum. I'll be doing a SYD-MEL trip in the next few weeks to tip over (even though I have a few more Business & Economy trips in the next few months, I want to be able to take advantage of 100% bonus point and F lounge straight away). I've had Gold since 2007 (losing it briefly for about 2 months) and have always wanted to WP, even just for 1-2 years to say that I actually did get it.

Having done about 6 trips since December I'm looking forward to using the F lounge with International and the J lounge domestically. The Qantas Clubs in Sydney/Melbourne/Bangkok/Heathrow are now too busy, and while it's better than sitting at the gate it's not really a place to relax in peace and quiet.

Don't know that I'd worry too much about the F Lounge in SIN. Only Scotch they had there when I went through was JW Black

 

[straitman]

Without sounding ridiculous or naive how long do you think the crew should wait for a business class passngers to deplane before letting economy class passengers deplane?

There has to be a logical point in time where you lose your right to deplane before economy class passengers.

The answer is and always will be subjective and common sense (not so common these days) must prevail. :mrgreen:

 

[cove]

I consider status to be immaterial compared with flying in the best class offered on the
plane at the lowest possible net net cost.If you get a points redemption in PE,J or F who cares if you are Platinum or Bronze.
It is just a game and having multiple points accounts is the way to win the game.

 

[maninblack]

I have completely given up worrying about QF status...why?

Qantas (and other airlines) want customers to have "status anxiety" in order to play their loyalty game.
I always fly business or first so the benefits of platinum are minimal anyway, they are really just small things at the margin.
Qantas (and OW in general) fares are 9 times out of 10 uncompetitive with other airlines and I have grown tired of chasing them for the reward of status credits.
Being based in Melbourne Qantas is a very limited service, though Cathay expands the options for earning SC's a little.
I am already lifetime gold and whilst I will probably lose my platinum status this year I recently became *Alliance gold so better I keep building that anyway.

Last...I am getting to old to play these games or worry about such trivial things!

 

[simongr]

I consider status to be immaterial compared with flying in the best class offered on the
plane at the lowest possible net net cost.If you get a points redemption in PE,J or F who cares if you are Platinum or Bronze.
It is just a game and having multiple points accounts is the way to win the game.

And if you travel for work primarily and don't have to consider the cost given a fixed class of travel - then there is no points game - just an overall travel experience.