Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[juddles]

I have posted this somewhere before, but I feel it may be useful here regarding upgrade benefits:

With Avianca I am at their "Diamond" level which is their P1 equivalent. Their treatment is exactlky the opposite of Qantas - the benefits are published, easy to understand, and IMHO a perfect balance between airline and pax needs.

Avianca sell their Y fares in 4 basic buckets: I will call them "Super Sale", "Saver", "Standard", and "Flex". Obviously this in order from cheap to expensive.

An important central concept here is that the two lower fare buckets, Super Sale and Saver, are NOT able for upgrades. IE if you buy the cheap ticket you do so knowing you will not be upgraded.

If you spend more on the higher fare buckets you enter their two-part lottery. The first comes into effect days prior to the flight. This is where they look at loads and if they are light they give you at LEAST two days in advance a confirmed upgrade to J. In my experience this probably happens at least about 1 out of 10 flights, and that is with no effort on my part seeking out lightly loaded travel times.....

The second part is the upgrades at the airport. Here they will upgrade using any space-available seats in J. This is done in priority order of status and fare bucket. I buy my tickets at the "Standard" fare bucket usually, and enjoy about an 80% success rate at these upgrades.

So essentially they encourage higher spend on base tickets, but reward this with a very high success rate at upgrades.

Oh, and also they give me 4 upgrade certificates per year which I can use at time of booking to buy any ticket at any Y price, and immediately get a confirmed upgrade to J, on any route (includes international, such as Colombia-Spain, etc etc.

I love their system, it is clear, it works for both airline and me, and when I do not get an upgrade I understand exactly why I did not get one.

 

[kermatu]

I have posted this somewhere before, but I feel it may be useful here regarding upgrade benefits:

With Avianca I am at their "Diamond" level which is their P1 equivalent. Their treatment is exactlky the opposite of Qantas - the benefits are published, easy to understand, and IMHO a perfect balance between airline and pax needs.

Avianca sell their Y fares in 4 basic buckets: I will call them "Super Sale", "Saver", "Standard", and "Flex". Obviously this in order from cheap to expensive.

An important central concept here is that the two lower fare buckets, Super Sale and Saver, are NOT able for upgrades. IE if you buy the cheap ticket you do so knowing you will not be upgraded.

If you spend more on the higher fare buckets you enter their two-part lottery. The first comes into effect days prior to the flight. This is where they look at loads and if they are light they give you at LEAST two days in advance a confirmed upgrade to J. In my experience this probably happens at least about 1 out of 10 flights, and that is with no effort on my part seeking out lightly loaded travel times.....

The second part is the upgrades at the airport. Here they will upgrade using any space-available seats in J. This is done in priority order of status and fare bucket. I buy my tickets at the "Standard" fare bucket usually, and enjoy about an 80% success rate at these upgrades.

So essentially they encourage higher spend on base tickets, but reward this with a very high success rate at upgrades.

Oh, and also they give me 4 upgrade certificates per year which I can use at time of booking to buy any ticket at any Y price, and immediately get a confirmed upgrade to J, on any route (includes international, such as Colombia-Spain, etc etc.

I love their system, it is clear, it works for both airline and me, and when I do not get an upgrade I understand exactly why I did not get one.

We should all give feedback to QF along these lines I reckon. Recommend the program offer a clearer, defined list of benefits. Suggest this type of system should be one. (4 guaranteed upgrade certificates on any Y flight is a wonderful benefit).

Don't mean it to be overly negative or narky, but the only (slim) chance we'd have of QF improving the program is if current P1s tell them we don't see it being of value.

If anything, I actually view it negatively, with features such as the 75k bonus points being so ridiculous to achieve (effectively WP-qualification amount of additional flying on QF metal and 'base' SCs only) for so few points just a petty joke.

 

[TonyHancock]

We should all give feedback to QF along these lines I reckon. Recommend the program offer a clearer, defined list of benefits. Suggest this type of system should be one. (4 guaranteed upgrade certificates on any Y flight is a wonderful benefit).

Don't mean it to be overly negative or narky, but the only (slim) chance we'd have of QF improving the program is if current P1s tell them we don't see it being of value.

If anything, I actually view it negatively, with features such as the 75k bonus points being so ridiculous to achieve (effectively WP-qualification amount of additional flying on QF metal and 'base' SCs only) for so few points just a petty joke.

The alternative is to try another FF program.

 

[kermatu]

The alternative is to try another FF program.

If say 70 per cent of travel is domestic or trans-Tasman travel, is there a better option? I am building status with VA and SQ - but it won't ever be to the same level as my QF spend. An alternative OW program?

Not the right forum and I know you and others have provided advice elsewhere, but would be keen to see more thoughts.

 

[TonyHancock]

If say 70 per cent of travel is domestic or trans-Tasman travel, is there a better option? I am building status with VA and SQ - but it won't ever be to the same level as my QF spend. An alternative OW program?

Not the right forum and I know you and others have provided advice elsewhere, but would be keen to see more thoughts.

I strongly believe that there is no one size fits all when it comes to selecting FF programs. My rule of thumb has been use the FF program of the airline you use the most, particularly if you fly a lot. That way you will maximise the benefits. I fly to Europe/UK up to 10 times a year and I am a cheapskate so BA works perfectly for me. It meets my rule of thumb and the BAEC works better than QFF at the high tier level. (Defined and delivered benefits.)

There are a number of people here who fly QF and credit AA. I understand the points redemption rates and taxes are better than QF and BA.

I hope QF does have another look at P1 status benefits. I have to say that in my three years as a P1 I was looked after pretty well, including multiple complimentary upgrades to F.....even from JASA's. (Much better than BA on this score.)

As we progress up the FF ladder we all want more from the program and become disillusioned by the benefits on offer. The BAEC board on Flyertalk is littered with threads bemoaning the lack of benefits at Gold and GGL level.

I get the impression that the P1 status holders here still prefer to be P1 than not so QF is in a win win position.

 

[kermatu]

Thanks for this. I assumed it was best to stick with QF given it is and will be the majority of my flying. Will lower my expectations again for P1 (though today's briefing email looks somewhat promising) and not worry about it. Will still give feedback when my year ticks over.

I've got a lot of QF points so will be able to redeem a number of comfortable, long-haul flights when I can find the time. Might consider earning via a different program then as I run the QF points down.

 

[juddles]

Just got an interesting email from the P1 team - it is sort of an inaugural P1 "newsletter".

They call it "The Platinum One Briefing", and they promise it is the first with more to come.

Have only skim-read it so far, but one benefit is the issue of two lounge passes per year to give to anyone - these allow access to any QF lounge, including the international Flounge. I am happy.

Edit: reading more and checking out the system, these passes are not pieces of physical paper - they have a new section in the QFF site where you log in to manage your passes - to "gift" these passes you electronically (via the site) transfer them to a particular person. They have to be a member of QFF to do this.
Interesting, and I like it.

 

[mviy]

Would be nice if those with no Partner (or whose partner is Platinum in their own right) could choose x number of additional FLounge invitations instead or some other benefit with value if QF is unwilling to open up Partner Platinum to be gifted to any family member.

 

[kermatu]

My year ticks over in a fortnight (so my actual P1 year starts on 1 October). Finding it hard to work out if my 2 comp passes will only be valid until 30 September this year, or 30 Sept 2018. If the former, they'll be useless.

 

[RichardMEL]

As I noted in the dedicated thread for this, I think it's good they're trying to have more engagement with the membership, even if most of it is gloss and less substance.. but these passes are a really great change (I won't use the "E" word!!) and seems like someone has been listening to us, or at least looking at tangible ways to make it better. Let's hope there's more to come.

 

[RichardMEL]

My year ticks over in a fortnight (so my actual P1 year starts on 1 October). Finding it hard to work out if my 2 comp passes will only be valid until 30 September this year, or 30 Sept 2018. If the former, they'll be useless.

It seems you'll get another 2 in Oct from the T&C:
(which would make sense):

For the initial new benefit announcement of 13 September 2017, all current Platinum One members will receive the digital invitations within 72 hours from 13 September 2017.

Members will then receive the invitations within 5 business days of reaching Platinum One status and within the first 72 hours of your new membership year if you retain Platinum One.

So, anyone who has P1 now gets them.
Then, if one requalifies for the new membership year, they get them

 

[kermatu]

It seems you'll get another 2 in Oct from the T&C:
(which would make sense):



So, anyone who has P1 now gets them.
Then, if one requalifies for the new membership year, they get them

But I won't re-qualify as such, I have only qualified. (I am in the bonus period I guess seeing as I qualified P1 back in December or January - only a few months in).

Anyway, I will see what comes and ask the P1 team if it is unclear. If I only have a fortnight to use and don't receive two more I will try and make a case for some generosity....

 

[RichardMEL]

But I won't re-qualify as such, I have only qualified. (I am in the bonus period I guess seeing as I qualified P1 back in December or January - only a few months in).

Anyway, I will see what comes and ask the P1 team if it is unclear. If I only have a fortnight to use and don't receive two more I will try and make a case for some generosity....

Yeah, so you should get the 2 in Oct.. because you have requalified for the next membership year (back in December.. gee great effort in 2-3 months of travel yikes! ) so I would say yes, you will. i can't see any rwason why not.

It would be interesting to see your current (ie: new ones) what the expiration date is.. they may just be generous and give a year.. if they don't it's almost certain that more will come in Oct.

 

[juddles]

Yeah, so you should get the 2 in Oct.. because you have requalified for the next membership year (back in December.. gee great effort in 2-3 months of travel yikes! ) so I would say yes, you will. i can't see any rwason why not.

It would be interesting to see your current (ie: new ones) what the expiration date is.. they may just be generous and give a year.. if they don't it's almost certain that more will come in Oct.

My understanding is that the expiry date will always be the same as your expiry date of membership level - so the two certificates definitely expire in a fortnight, but if you have requalified then at your renewal date (within 72 hrs of that, to be precise), two new ones will appear for you with expiry Oct 2018, and so on..

 

[juddles]

.... the dedicated thread for this.....

Damn, I can't not be tempted to mix with the rabble and go and peek at that thread now

 

[Princess Fiona]

Damn, I can't not be tempted to mix with the rabble and go and peek at that thread now

The rabble is everywhere even here

 

[kermatu]

Just actually looked at my card (received in January or Feb this year) and it says expiry September 2018. So by my reckoning I will get two passes this week, with an expiry of September 2018. And that will be all (unless in the course of 1/10/17 to 30/9/18 I hit another 3600 SCs and retain P1.)

Two passes per qualification is how I read it.

And just to be clear, back in January I was a WP. So when I hit 3600 SCs I qualified P1. When 1 October rolls by it is still the same P1 year. I have not requalified for anything. My apologies if that wasn't clear.

 

[Strategic Aviation]

Edit: reading more and checking out the system, these passes are not pieces of physical paper - they have a new section in the QFF site where you log in to manage your passes - to "gift" these passes you electronically (via the site) transfer them to a particular person. They have to be a member of QFF to do this.

Qantas announced introduction of digital passes back in March, though the transition period for passes issued for credit cards could run into 2019. I received paper passes less than a month ago with late 2018 expiry.

Looks like the P1 enhancement will be the first real deployment of the electronic system.

Qantas moving to digital lounge passes for credit cards - Australian Business Traveller

Qantas Phasing Out Lounge Passes - Australian Frequent Flyer

 

[Matt_01]

I gave QF some feed back on P1 program thoughts however I will give credit when due.

Back in late Jul I received a P1 opt up, choosing to fly home earlier saw that one disappear and back to an F seat in exit row.

Last Friday, received another P1 opt up, I arrived at the airport and asked to fly forward. The lounge person was only willing to do this if I was willing to take R18B for memory saying it was a full flight. I called SST and the lady I spoke with was more helpful than what seems to have been the norm for the past 15 months. After a brief conversation I was informed we should be able to work this out, after 5-10 minutes a call back from SST informing me I was now going home 2 hours earlier and still in J.

Yesterday a very short notice fight and immediate turn around booked Y somehow ended up in J, I will not go into the detail, however note to self, do not leave passport in SA when flying ex MEL on Friday and realising passport is still in SA on the Wednesday.

 

[QF WP]

Don't tell me SST were able to somehow arrange it to fly over to MEL