Platinum - Exit Rows & Accessing Benefits Before Card Arrives?

[Fungus]

Hi Frequent Travellers,

My first post so please be gentle - I did search the threads for the answers so apologies if I've overlooked them somewhere.

I have just clawed my way to Platinum for the first and probably last time, and got there by the skin of my teeth with barely a week to spare through purely domestic travel.

Do Platinums have any priority re domestic exit rows as nearly all of my flights are >3hrs? If so, can I pre-request them and how do I go about doing this? Please note I cannot check-in online as all my bookings are through an agent.

I gather from reading it will take a number of weeks for my card to arrive. Whilst I'm waiting for it, I am wondering if I will be able to:

1. Access the Domestic Business Lounges?
2. Wander into any of the other domestic QC lounges when not travelling?

I'd appreciate any feedback you can give me.

Thanks.

 

[chrizzz14]

Your new card shouldn't take any more than two or so weeks. My cards usually arrive within a week!

As a WP flyer you can ring up QF after you have booked you flight and request an Xit row seat!

When you check into your flight your boarding pass will show that your a WP and Emerald Status flyer - that is all you need to gain access to the Business lounge.
You also will be able to access the lounge if your not flying qantas! (that is unless they're too busy)

*edit* to gain entry to the clubs when not flying without your card would be rather difficult. Id wait for your card before attempting.

 

[samh004]

2. Wander into any of the other domestic QC lounges when not travelling?

Having not tried this myself, you could print out a copy of your status from QF online and take it with you, but I'm not sure it'd suffice. I think you may need to wait for your card.

 

[serfty]

...

Do Platinums have any priority re domestic exit rows as nearly all of my flights are >3hrs? If so, can I pre-request them and how do I go about doing this? Please note I cannot check-in online as all my bookings are through an agent. ...

Get your agent to put a note in your bookings requesting exit row seats for the QFF Platinum member.

I hate(d) having to use agents (corporate) - I avoid this as much as possible.

It takes some time before thy realise you know "nearly as much" or more than them. One you do break one in they tend to leave and you need to start all over again.

 

[Fungus]

Thanks for your comments.

Unfortunately I have no choice about using an agent (work directive) but it is rather annoying as I can't even call Qantas direct to change a flight and feel that I am on hold a lot longer. I'll try calling them tomorrow to add the exit row to my preferences.

I often find I have a bit of spare time on my hands when I arrive somewhere before my first appointment and thought instead of wandering around trying to find a powerpoint in the general terminal I could just go into the lounge.

Could the front desk not scan my existing QFF card and see I was a Platinum to let me in?

 

[Mal]

Could the front desk not scan my existing QFF card and see I was a Platinum to let me in?

They can. You don't need your Plat card to get the benefits (at least flying with Qantas - accessing lounges overseas is a different matter).

 

[dede]

With all this discussion about exit rows I assume you still have to pay with the new policy don't you? Can WPs request exit rows in advance of other passengers?

 

[munitalP]

.... One you do break one in they tend to leave and you need to start all over again.

Thats because they suddenly see their worth in this infinite universe and realise they would be far more helpful becoming a Tibetian Budahist monk and off they go in search of enlightenment....

***this only applies to serfty's TA's as he can be a little rough on them***






Mr!

:shock:

 

[serfty]

...

***this only applies to serfty's TA's as he can be a little rough on them***
...

Nah, they'd either get bored as I would do all the work for them or they would take their new found knowledge (that I had taught them) and start their own Agency ...

.. while I was still stuck with using the "still wet behind the ears" replacement.

 

[serfty]

With all this discussion about exit rows I assume you still have to pay with the new policy don't you? Can WPs request exit rows in advance of other passengers?

The OP is referring to domestic flight.

It's international (non tasman) exit row seats that can be purchased no-earlier than 7 days before a flight.

 

[Fungus]

Tried to update my preferences to exit row this morning and gee there's a lot of misinformation within Qantas and their agents about this.

First call was to the agent (QBT) - they couldn't and transferred me to the Frequent Flyer Centre (FFC).

FFC said no probs and updated my preferences. We also had a discussion where she confirmed your status level did help to determine whether your request was likely to be successful.

She then called back only a couple of minutes later after speaking with Reservations to advise that not possible as of two (2) weeks ago as Qantas are now charging for all of them. I queried this as I thought it was only on international flights but she was adamant that booking exit rows on all flights now incurred a cost ranging from $80 domestically to >$150 internationally.

Called Reservations (the special number for exit row requests) and was reassured that paying for exit rows only applied to international flights but confirmed that my preferences couldn't be updated to an exit row and that I would need to manually request it each booking.

So I'm back to square one and really none the wiser but I guess I'll try the manual request approach unless any of you have any better ideas?

If requesting when booking is the only way apart from asking at the desk when checking in (where I only seem to have a 20% success rate) then it all comes down to either how far out you book the flight (assuming they allocate seats at time of booking?), or assuming they haven't all been requested beforehand at the booking stage, how early you arrive at the airport? Thus your status gives you no advantage in trying to secure one?

 

[djfuzz]

Hmm - checked Mrs Djf in this morning for her first WP domestic flight and found she had been allocated to row 4 on a 738 (she was seq 02 I believe). Had a look at the exit rows, but they were already greyed out.

Is it possible for WP's to get these seats still?

 

[Flashback]

Hmm - checked Mrs Djf in this morning for her first WP domestic flight and found she had been allocated to row 4 on a 738 (she was seq 02 I believe). Had a look at the exit rows, but they were already greyed out.

Is it possible for WP's to get these seats still?

Exit Rows have never been available to select during OLCI unless the flight is very full and you are automatically allocated one. You then have to physically be seen at the airport by a check-in agent (or QP staff) to verify you are fit for the purpose.

 

[JohnK]

As a WP flyer you can ring up QF after you have booked you flight and request an Xit row seat!

Ah the good old days when being a Platinum meant something....

 

[moa999]

and found she had been allocated to row 4 on a 738 (she was seq 02 I believe).

I would view row 4 in a 738 as better than an exit row.

 

[Flashback]

Ah the good old days when being a Platinum meant something....

Welcome back!

 

[dede]

Speaking of Platinum, which I have just achieved for the first time (3 months out from renewal). Does the benefit of
"Extra 15kgs baggage allowance on Qantas flights, or on flights to the USA, one extra piece."
apply only to the WP or to someone travelling with them?

 

[JohnK]

Does the benefit of
"Extra 15kgs baggage allowance on Qantas flights, or on flights to the USA, one extra piece."
apply only to the WP or to someone travelling with them?

See Qantas Checked Baggage

Everybody receives one extra piece on the USA routes but as far as I am aware only Platinums get the additional 15kg (33lb) allowance on all other routes.

 

[Dave Noble]

Speaking of Platinum,which I have just achieved for the first time (3 months out from renewal). Does the benefit of "Extra 15kgs baggage allowance on Qantas flights, or on flights to the USA, one extra piece." apply only to the WP or to someone travelling with them?

The additional allowance of 1PC or 10kgs ( gold / Silver ) / 15Kgs (Platinum) is granted only to passengers who have that status, not to non-status members travelling with them

Dave

 

[drewbles]

Slightly O/T but I had a strange one. I took my first flight as a 'proper' WP today (had one before the SC's had credited) and the BP said quite obviously "EMERALD" as I would have expected. I then checked-in for another 2 flights, one QF codeshare on AA Metal and one on QF metal. The Codeshare has "SAPPHIRE" and the QF has "EMERALD". Anyone got any idea why that would be? I'm assuming my points will credit as WP, but curious as to what the AA booking engine has done.

Anyone got an ideas?