Is Qantas Platinum Status too easy to earn?

[fersea]

My poor Straw Hat thanks you for your kind consideration.
Now tell that to the QF crew that get trained by Japanese Tube Train Pushers and once a year bargain basement fair paying Paxs that are allowed to bring on board more carry on that they can carry.
We have all seen it, so we know it happens.
And we think "Please God" not in my overhead.

Well let me tell you the WP Shadow has a down side.
Your Overhead is less full and is a target for the Push Stuffers.
So much for the hand made Panama Straw Hat you just bought at Palm Beach.

I don't quite understand if you travel with this hat all the time (Bob Katter style) or it was a one off but I think there may have been some merit in holding onto your hat until just before take off. Those bins are not really designed for those sort of items. In fact if it had been empty apart from your carry on it was probably in more danger of being crushed than if it was placed snugly into a fullish bin as the last item in.

Interesting the debate about excess carry on with Qantas. People are obviously not doing it to save money rather they are not willing to wait a few mins to collect the other end.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Surely it gives you the entitlement you have paid for. That is whatever kgs the airline allows. Where is it stated you get exclusive access to a full bin?

With regard to having your posessions crushed I think everyone has a right to have their posessions looked after. Regardless of status.

you have access to a separate exclusive cabin. Signs and placards tell you that. As for more over head bin space - it is maths - 2 seats rather than 3 sharing an overhead = more space. because there is more space doesn't mean an economy passenger can use that as a right. By default, an economy pax should use an overhead bin two or three rows behind them rather than eyeing space one row in front if that row in front is a different class.

 

[FxTrader]

That is a fascinating response. I agree if you fly a lot more often you value the benefits more. And if you had said I love the extra points, the opportunity to relax in a nice lounge, the odd bottle of wine sent to me etc I would have said, fair enough. But you see the benefits as having your name mentioned when boarding, special greeting etc.

Seems to me that what you value is everyone looking at you and wondering "why is he so special"

Thats great that Qantas are there to boost your ego.

Tell you what mate.
You can distort what I said in many ways.
I fly with QF because I'm loyal to them.
Do I expect some loyalty in return?
Yup.
Does that make me someone that craves attentions?
Mate you really do not know me, so how can you make such a value call?

For someone with no status or real flying experience, I suggest you fly the miles I do (have done) and see what you think.
Until then all you talk is Prop Wash.

 

[fersea]

What planet you live on mate?
I blind guy that needs another person to guide them and they need to go from 3C to the cough end of the plane to relieve themselves when the J toilet was 5 steps away?
What happened to common sense?
Of course anybody in the same situation should go forward.
Of course VA didn't want to re-clean the J toilet and so, to stop them doing some work and getting their hands dirty cleaning the J toilet, they told the blind guy from 3C to piss in the aft toilet.
Happened outbound and inbound.
Showed them my VA Plat and my wife's VA Gold card card.
Made NO DIFFERENCE.
Was told, take your blind uncle to Piss in the aft toilet.
Well I'm now VA Gold and dropping.

I agree he should have been able to use the toilet.

I do also agree that the virgin platinum and virgin gold cards should have made no difference. Do you think it should have? I.e. if the blind man was no staus traveling by himself or with other non status passengers should he have gone down the back?

On the same token I dont see a problem with someone in row 14 using the overhead space of row 13 if there is room. Having regard of course for not damaging your posessions.

 

[markis10]

you have access to a separate exclusive cabin. Signs and placards tell you that. As for more over head bin space - it is maths - 2 seats rather than 3 sharing an overhead = more space. because there is more space doesn't mean an economy passenger can use that as a right. By default, an economy pax should use an overhead bin two or three rows behind them rather than eyeing space one row in front if that row in front is a different class.

But you buy a seat, not a seat and storage, so I consider the storage space communal as do most airlines, which is why there is no mandated allocation of storage space in general, although Virgin do have business class only stickers, they do not have "Seats 1A and 2 A only" stickers, so it's still communal space. Perhaps the defibrillator and spare oxygen should be removed because they did not buy a J ticket?

As for the comment unattended bags are a security risk, I find that a laughable affirmation given you are talking about a sterile space with screening prior to entry, regional prop operation you have a minor point, jets, no story.

 

[oz_mark]

That is not what it is all about.

It is all about diluting benefits further and further. At the risk of mentioning the war some of those benefits were

- Anytime access to lounges
- Complimentary exit row seating on international flights
- Loyalty bonuses and before that Upgrade credits
..

Correct me if I am wrong, but only the first of these were actual platinum benefits?

 

[Kangol]

Not a big fan of QF 380 F.

Please enlighten me, why is this the case?

 

[FxTrader]

I always got offered Exit Row seats on International flights until P1 came into existence.
Was one of several unwritten benefits.

Like hearing: "Welcome back Mr xx_" as the cabin crew checked your BP and sees "Platinum".

Then there is the "RED" flash as your BP is rejected and hope springs eternal that you have scored an upgrade.

 

[fersea]

Tell you what mate.
You can distort what I said in many ways.
I fly with QF because I'm loyal to them.
Do I expect some loyalty in return?
Yup.
Does that make me someone that craves attentions?
Mate you really do not know me, so how can you make such a value call?

For someone with no status or real flying experience, I suggest you fly the miles I do (have done) and see what you think.
Until then all you talk is Prop Wash.

First of all you can't be that loyal because you are just telling us about your Virgin flying experience!! Mind you that is not the point. Status rewards frequent flying not loyalty. If I fly 300 times a year and 20% are on QF I will have higher status than if I fly 15 times a year and 100% are on QF.

I am happy for you to get the perks but my original point in this thread was don't be upset if others also get them.

BTW I have no idea what Prop Wash is? I presume it is some sort of mouthwash that business class and premium passengers get after the hot towels!!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

But you buy a seat, not a seat and storage, so I consider the storage space communal as do most airlines, which is why there is no mandated allocation of storage space in general, although Virgin do have business class only stickers, they do not have "Seats 1A and 2 A only" stickers, so it's still communal space. Perhaps the defibrillator and spare oxygen should be removed because they did not buy a J ticket?

As for the comment unattended bags are a security risk, I find that a laughable affirmation given you are talking about a sterile space with screening prior to entry, regional prop operation you have a minor point, jets, no story.

It might be communal space, but it is communal space for that cabin. Pax are not supposed to be in a higher cabin. A business class pax can't, for example, store their bags in F on the 747 or A380. No different to a 737 or 767. Each class has their own space.

Security - bags can't be left unattended anytime after security in the terminal nor should they be left on the plane unattended. But that's not the real security issue i was getting at. If i want to sleep, i don't want to have one eye open watching for someone poking around in the overhead locker above my seat (or waking me).

 

[FxTrader]

Please enlighten me, why is this the case?

Personal preference I guess.
747 4A was a nice seat.
Lot of room with the bassinet storage to the left.

 

[fersea]

you have access to a separate exclusive cabin. Signs and placards tell you that. As for more over head bin space - it is maths - 2 seats rather than 3 sharing an overhead = more space. because there is more space doesn't mean an economy passenger can use that as a right. By default, an economy pax should use an overhead bin two or three rows behind them rather than eyeing space one row in front if that row in front is a different class.

Wonder what would ever happen if the business class lockers were full but there was space in economy. Could a business class passenger use those?

 

[FxTrader]

First of all you can't be that loyal because you are just telling us about your Virgin flying experience!! Mind you that is not the point. Status rewards frequent flying not loyalty. If I fly 300 times a year and 20% are on QF I will have higher status than if I fly 15 times a year and 100% are on QF.

I am happy for you to get the perks but my original point in this thread was don't be upset if others also get them.

BTW I have no idea what Prop Wash is? I presume it is some sort of mouthwash that business class and premium passengers get after the hot towels!!

Please google Prop Wash.

You know for someone with no status or flying experience, you sure have a lot of very strong opinions about something you have never experienced.
When you have flow around the planet, like 20 times, we can talk and compare experiences.

When you have spent more nights sleeping in airplane seats than in hotel room beds or your own bed and do that for months a year, you will understand why little things mean a lot. When a massive airline like QF says Welcome back Mr xx_ and offers you a bottle from the pointy end, well it means a lot. You may see it as seeking attention, when in reality it is only really seeking recognition that you matter in some small way and that QF are thanking you for the money you spend with them and that they appreciate the massive hours you spend inside their noisy grey metal cigar containers and away from the ones you love.

You should try it sometime.
Might just change your opinion.

 

[fersea]

Please google Prop Wash.

n.

Against better judgement I did.

Spiral slipstream (also known as spiraling slipstream, propwash in the US, or just slipstream in the UK) is a spiral-shaped slipstream formed behind a rotating propeller on an aircraft. The most noticeable effect resulting from the formation of a spiral slipstream is the tendency to yaw nose-left at low speed and full throttle. This effect is caused by the slipstream acting upon the tail fin of the aircraft: the slipstream causes the air to rotate around the forward-aft axis of the aircraft, and this air flow exerts a force on the tail fin, pushing it to the right. To counteract this, some aircraft have the front of the fin (vertical stabilizer) slightly offset from the centreline so as to provide an opposing force that cancels out the one produced by the slipstream, albeit only at one particular (usually cruising) speed, an example being the Hawker Hurricane fighter from World War II.

I still don't get it.

 

[fersea]

I reckon I have taken probably about 100 flights in my life. Going up quickly though. Might be closer to 150 now. Will go up by about 12 in the next six weeks including first ever first class and first ever QF international.

Not sure that makes me a complete novice in comparison to the general population but I guess in comparison with the rarified air (pun intended) of this place I should be known as "emu". Flightless.

 

[drewbles]

I think what many people are missing here is simple: QF set the program up how they want it to be. If they thought there were too many Platinums, they would change the bar. In effect, they did. After years of 'enhancements' they brought in P1, and some (ok, almost none) of the benefits that had been enhanced away were handed back to P1's.

If you're flying as much as to earn P1, you deserve special treatment as QF say, because you really are spending a lot of time in the air and/or away from home.

As for Platinum being 'easy to earn' via ASA',s QF know this. They set the ASA levels, and they are obviously quite happy with them. People like us may be willing to cash in points to go to TSV or cross the NT in a 717, but let's face it: The majority are not. We are the 1% here in this case

The Loyalty Bonus was supposedly changed as QF said in market research people simply did not understand nor were they aware of it. I blame QF for this as Loyalty Bonii replaced upgrade credits, a far superior value proposition for myself at least.

But bottom line: Their program, they'll do what they want. If we don't like it, we can walk or just have to put up with it.

 

[fersea]

I think what many people are missing here is simple: QF set the program up how they want it to be. If they thought there were too many Platinums, they would change the bar. In effect, they did. After years of 'enhancements' they brought in P1, and some (ok, almost none) of the benefits that had been enhanced away were handed back to P1's.

If you're flying as much as to earn P1, you deserve special treatment as QF say, because you really are spending a lot of time in the air and/or away from home.

As for Platinum being 'easy to earn' via ASA',s QF know this. They set the ASA levels, and they are obviously quite happy with them. People like us may be willing to cash in points to go to TSV or cross the NT in a 717, but let's face it: The majority are not. We are the 1% here in this case

The Loyalty Bonus was supposedly changed as QF said in market research people simply did not understand nor were they aware of it. I blame QF for this as Loyalty Bonii replaced upgrade credits, a far superior value proposition for myself at least.

But bottom line: Their program, they'll do what they want. If we don't like it, we can walk or just have to put up with it.

Well summarized.

 

[medhead]

I can't believe the VA front toilet is being discussed again. Given the extremely large number of numpties that can't even find the forward toilet, I see absolutely no problem sending them to the rear. They end up down there anyway because after about 5 minutes they give up the search up front. It just saves time sending them to the rear before the search.

It is called Qantas Platinum and not OW Platinum with 4 x QF "~"s.
So to fly the flag I suggest the following:

To Obtain QF Platinum:
700 SCs on QF/JQ METAL and 700 SCs on whatever else QF gives out SCs for.

To Retain QF Platinum:
600 SCs on QF/JQ METAL and 600 SCs on whatever else QF gives out SCs for.

Sorry why would they include JQ metal when it's not included for WP1

, or I might just want to put mine in sideways rather than lengthways)

I really hope you're not ignoring the verbal instruction to put your bag in with the wheels to the back.

I think that is drawing a long bow. It is highly unlikely that someone is going to put an explosive in row 5 then sit in row 40 and not have it effect them. What is the plane going to split in two and the front half goes down whilst the back half flies merrily into the sunset?

They have a name for these types of people. What is it? 2 words. What is it? First word starts with S. Second word is bomber. What is the name, it totally escapes me?

WP is nothing special....no matter how much you fly!

Exactly, especially by the way that QF staff mostly ignore WPs on board [domestic flights]

BTW I'll take a QF domestic whY exit row seat over a QF domestic J seat any day.
That is one WP perk that is nice to have.

On QF domestic flights that absolutely is not a WP perk.

QF have determined the SC method of ranking their FF'ers. End of story.

The people who cough and moan about 30+ domestic sectors in Y somehow being 'more eligible' than the twice a year J/F int'l flyer is just rubbish, as I guarantee you QF make more money out of the latter than the former.

Wow. talk about contridicting your previous statement. As you said QF use SC to rank FF'ers. That means they have deemed that 2 people earning the same number of SC are of equivalent value, regardless of the cabin flown.

You must admit that QF to have a superior whY food offering.

You clearly haven't done much flying with QF if you think their food offering in Y is superior.

 

[oz_mark]

BTW I'll take a QF domestic whY exit row seat over a QF domestic J seat any day.
That is one WP perk that is nice to have.

There are plenty of domestic aircraft where being able to choose an exit row seat is available to all and sundry from the time of booking.

 

[Edge]

i reckon the QFF status tiers are pretty much spot on the money. and this is coming from someone that is only silver. "frequent" is a term that's very open to interpretation. i consider myself a frequent flyer because i find myself at tullamarine every 3rd of 4th week. like others, my company has a "cheapest fare" policy and i try to schedule my travel around dates / times that will allow me to fly qantas. that's loyalty! flying domestic discount economy it's very tough to climb the status ladder.

when booking holiday flights try to be loyal to qantas and will pay a premium to fly them, but won't go over-the-top. i'm always with the wife so if you're talking $1800pp to LHR when i can get it for $1500 on another decent carrier such as malaysian or CX, that's a gap i'm not prepared to pay. i'd also fly jetstar more if the business max packages that include points / SCs weren't so expensive. heading to bali in may and flying virgin J class.. it ended up being cheaper than the basic jetstar business offering, plus has lounge access, points & SCs.