Lifetime Gold or not ?

[Cognac]

Nup, QF - It happened Tuesday - after taking my order the CSM headed down to to another WP - I was watching as I has seen similar earlier this year.

I noticed this on a QFi flight recently as well. I think I was the second customer in the J cabin to be asked for my meal preference - which was great. For QFi flights the introduction of plant-based-dining means that I don't need to pre-order a vegetarian meal, and getting asked first up means I won't miss out.

When I'm in Y I'm usually in the front few rows so also unlikely to miss out. I have been greeted by name in the Y cabin a couple of times as well, which always surprises me because I'm never expecting personalised attention when traveling economy. I think it's turned a few heads for those sitting around me, just wondering "Who even is this guy?".

 

[serfty]

noticed this on a QFi flight recently as well. I think I was the second customer in the J cabin to be asked for my meal preference - which was great

... and it happened again last night on my LAX-MEL flight.

CSM came to me and asked for my order before heading over to the other aisle to get the preferences of another PAX. A few minutes later they came back and completed those around me.

 

[encryptededdy]

... and it happened again last night on my LAX-MEL flight.

CSM came to me and asked for my order before heading over to the other aisle to get the preferences of another PAX. A few minutes later they came back and completed those around me.

Yep, this happened on my recent SYD-HND flight too. Took my order in 2A first, then went back to someone in row 6 or 7. In fact, I think they went to row 1 last.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I have had my order taken first on multiple QFi J/F flights both pre Covid and recently.

In fact I had it on my most recent PER-SYD when I was in row 3 on the 737.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Those were the days. I remember life membership was $440… which back then was a lot of money! Would have been a good investment.

I thought it was a lot more than that. I was looking at a Golden Wing Lifetime tie-up, just as well I didn't go ahead; their lifetime and my expectations were vastly different from 13 Sept 2021.

On the Qantas Club, from the year I joined, I started qualifying on my flights, so while the membership fee difference was credited to me, I always earned and never paid again - was that a good investment?

 

[RichardMEL]

I see a bit of a difference with LT status with foreign carriers such as BA… competition means their fares remain competitive. You get a good value airfare and access to benefits. In Australia the base airfare could be double - just to use the lounge.

oh totally agree. This is one reason why I keep status (and am near LTG) with UA for example.

I guess my point really was that everyone's situation is different and sometimes the choises on where to spend and accrue will depend on all kinds of factors that can change.

Absolutely in Australia the game is a lot harder (unless VA joins Star - not at ALL written selfishly )... and agree VA is often cheaper - specially in J (where yes, status is irrelevant imo) but also in some Y categories. Sometimes Q is (not much in J, but in Y they can be) and that's where having the status can help, and may actualy make say a $10-$20 price difference worth it to use those benefits - be it bags, lounge or whatever.

 

[RichardMEL]

Perhaps QF has changed their policy for meal orders then. Interesting.

I know with some other airlines' pax this would upset some flyers and just confuse others who didn't know why crew would hop around taking orders.

 

[Sprucegoose]

I have had my order taken first on multiple QFi J/F flights both pre Covid and recently.

In fact I had it on my most recent PER-SYD when I was in row 3 on the 737.

I also noticed that on a recent VA flight, maybe a global trend.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I thought it was a lot more than that. I was looking at a Golden Wing Lifetime tie-up, just as well I didn't go ahead; their lifetime and my expectations were vastly different from 13 Sept 2021.

On the Qantas Club, from the year I joined, I started qualifying on my flights, so while the membership fee difference was credited to me, I always earned and never paid again - was that a good investment?

This must be going back to 1986 or ‘87 with Flight Deck. Which later transferred over with full benefits to Australian Airlines and then Qantas.

A one way first class transcon to PER was around the same price back then, and SYD-MEL around $100 in F.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Perhaps QF has changed their policy for meal orders then. Interesting.

I know with some other airlines' pax this would upset some flyers and just confuse others who didn't know why crew would hop around taking orders.

Indeed, 1A is not always what it purports. There will always be the indignant brigade, but it makes sense to look after the pax that look after the business. These businesses exist (inter alia) to make profits by delivering superior service.

 

[drron]

Indeed, 1A is not always what it purports. There will always be the indignant brigade, but it makes sense to look after the pax that look after the business. These businesses exist (inter alia) to make profits by delivering superior service.

But at the cost of annoying new customers.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Indeed, 1A is not always what it purports. There will always be the indignant brigade, but it makes sense to look after the pax that look after the business. These businesses exist (inter alia) to make profits by delivering superior service.

While I have no significant status I have to say sitting in row 1 on an international service does seem to get you first crack at anything remaining after they have taken priority orders. Got all my first choices without issue.

 

[mviy]

While I have no significant status I have to say sitting in row 1 on an international service does seem to get you first crack at anything remaining after they have taken priority orders. Got all my first choices without issue.

Though getting a seat in row 1 without status may be a challenge on some routes.

If it happens to be close to galley/toilets/bassinets then sitting there may be undesirable for some travellers.

 

[drron]

Yes I find Row 1 on QF undesirable. In fact any seats on QFI since 2013.

 

[Sprucegoose]

While I have no significant status I have to say sitting in row 1 on an international service does seem to get you first crack at anything remaining after they have taken priority orders. Got all my first choices without issue.

And so you should; it is significant enough to pay $10k for the airfare!

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Though getting a seat in row 1 without status may be a challenge on some routes.

If it happens to be close to galley/toilets/bassinets then sitting there may be undesirable for some travellers.

Ordinarily I avoid the rows closest to the galley or WCs… but the tradeoff on QFi is the super wide leg wells for the bulkhead seats. They don’t seem to use the forward galley on the A330, and on the 787 while I was right by the WCs and galley in row 11, there wasn’t any significant noise during sleeping time. Wasn’t even bothered by PEY coming through to use the WCs!

One of the issues for QFi in the past has been the pace of the meal service… I found this entirely mitigated by sitting in row 1… service was quick!

 

[Matt_01]

.....(unless VA joins Star - not at ALL written selfishly ).....

This topic seems to always get discussed, if VA joined *A I would ditch QF and revert to VA in a heartbeat.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Yes I find Row 1 on QF undesirable. In fact any seats on QFI since 2013.

I can work with 1F on the 330/787, it has the extra space for the feet and Is still relatively blocked out or ‘intimate’ - the light from the galley can be a problem but you can wear shades.

the AY J 359 cabin would be the most presentably consistent I reckon where every seat is literally the same.

 

[ms1]

Does the 50sc loyalty bonus count towards LTG? What about the status rollover credits?

 

[mviy]

Does the 50sc loyalty bonus count towards LTG? What about the status rollover credits?

The loyalty bonus counts. The status rollover doesn't add to your lifetime tally, that would be double counting. However, the status rollover makes it a bit easier to retain status which may provide a greater incentive to keep on progressing towards LTG. So for example a WP with a 500 roll over would only need to earn 700 more to retain WP, whereas if the WP fails to retain WP they'd then need 1400 to earn it back the hard way. That 700 would count towards LTG.