Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[kermatu]

Got a bit of a surprise to see my status as Platinum One on an international (QF) boarding pass on Friday. Confirmed on subsequent BPs over the weekend. 4.5 months into my status year.

Knew I was somewhere around 2500 SCs by late November, but most travel since then has been on other carriers until the past fortnight. Hadn't anticipated these flights getting me there but having returned home at last I've checked and seen that some recent JAL and LATAM flights earned more than I had expected, and some QF flights surprisingly posted double SCs (they were from an international booking I had to cancel, retained value to use later but had different booking references etc so had assumed I'd need to ask for double SCs to be honoured - impressed that it happened automatically).

But on the flights these past 3 days, business as usual - no particular recognition, empty seats next to me on 737s taken at last minute by staff (despite other seats in J being vacant). Flights all fine and usual good service, but nothing special.

Not expecting much for the next year and a half. Interestingly no contact at all from the P1 team yet so probably a safe assumption.

Ironically as it stands aside from one gift voucher and a $50 residual flight voucher I have absolutely no bookings with QF going forward. A first for me in a very long time I reckon.

 

[RichardMEL]

But on the flights these past 3 days, business as usual - no particular recognition, empty seats next to me on 737s taken at last minute by staff (despite other seats in J being vacant). Flights all fine and usual good service, but nothing special.

re the seating on 737's in J. This has been a constant in my experience and a bit disappointing. For example last week I was on a flight, I was in 1A, as usual the 2 or so assigned seats before departure turned to 11/12, the empty being 2D. Now sure, I don't know anything about the guy in 2F except that I'm almost certain he was either staff or an upgrade (skipped initial meal service etc). Bloke next to me from discussion with crew and me (he was very nice) seemed to be partner of or family member of crew, or possibly ex-crew and was talking about a recent trip he took to the middle east. Now one does wonder why would they not leave an empty next to a P1? Now sure, the pax in 2F could have been a CL upgrade or even P1 but then again they prob wouldn't have been skipped initial meal service (as happens with staff).

Anyway that was one example, I've noticed this a few times (on the rare occasion that seats go empty in J on a 737 on mainline routes that is!!!)

it's not a big deal at all but it is something I've noted and thought well it would have been nice to have the mepty but given I don't know anything about the other pax involved it's not fair to make assumptions or really wonder, and specially when standby pax are loaded at last minute they could even just go the first available row forward to make it easy for them.

very minor point though.

Not expecting much for the next year and a half. Interestingly no contact at all from the P1 team yet so probably a safe assumption.

 

[QF WP]

Well RichardMEL we want a full run down of your flights this coming Saturday and particularly if you have a shadow on the return leg QF637 (or have some annoying pax full of QP cheer sitting next to you, wanting to chat the whole way home)...

 

[RichardMEL]

Well RichardMEL we want a full run down of your flights this coming Saturday and particularly if you have a shadow on the return leg QF637 (or have some annoying pax full of QP cheer sitting next to you, wanting to chat the whole way home)...

oh the party plane home is a different matter. In advance we apologise to anyone else in J on that flight.. oh and in Y too.. and the crew...

nah just kidding.

so far 3/12 allocated with U3. As usual I expect it to go out full but that's OK. I'll have QP cheer too!

 

[JohnPhelan]

We all like a shadow, but no-one should expect one and when staff fill seats at the last moment, I really don't think (not expect) QF to carefully analyse the status of the other pax. And as Richard says, it's generally the case these days that there ends up being no empty seats in J anyway.

As a data point, I was in 1F last week, 1D showed as empty at check-in. When I boarded, there was a guy in 1D - reading a QF training manual!

 

[JessicaTam]

Well RichardMEL we want a full run down of your flights this coming Saturday and particularly if you have a shadow on the return leg QF637 (or have some annoying pax full of QP cheer sitting next to you, wanting to chat the whole way home)...

Hey! I resemble that remark.

 

[kermatu]

Got a phone message plus two emails today - one from the FF loyalty letting me know basic benefits and inviting me to apply for the free stuff (champers, golf club, Epiqure etc) and one from a P1 team member. The personal email and phone message were very short and generic, with no recognition of the fact I've been P1 twice before. Oh well, at least I'll get a bottle of champagne out of it.

The one consistent sort of benefit I got from P1 was the P1 team placing a courtesy block / shadow on seats next to me. Probably less than half stuck but I could at least see on EF that they were usually the very last to go if the flight was full or staff members were travelling. But it was embarassing having to ask every time, so I'm not going to bother unless it is a flight I really would like a shadow for (eg in Y on a 3 hour flight). I think it should be an automatic benefit that the system places a block on the seat next to you if you are a P1. Given my experience of the SST I agree it is probably too much to ask / expect them to monitor every flight and manually request it 3 days out - though if they claim to monitor your travel...

The other day returning from NZ I was in 1D and the bloke next to me in civvies was a pilot, also reading some jetconnect procedures on an iPad. I actually don't mind staff next to me as they are usually good to chat with or just very quiet, polite and near invisible.

 

[juddles]

..The other day returning from NZ I was in 1D and the bloke next to me in civvies was a pilot, also reading some jetconnect procedures on an iPad. I actually don't mind staff next to me as they are usually good to chat with or just very quiet, polite and near invisible....

I don't do much domestic travel and I understand the shadow issue, but I would agree with kermatu on this point.

In any case, by selecting 1A I think it is harder to get a shadow to stick than a row or two back - but as in all shadow-related comments - this is just a feeling with no real info.

Luckily on my QF28 flight in a couple of weeks my 1A seat has no neighbour (it is a non-refurb 747) - happy days

 

[RichardMEL]

Oh I never expect a Shadow. I've never even seen the "X" next to me on EF on flights and certainly know the deal with last minute J upgrades and staff travel on domestic flights (as above). Unlike some Gold members I don't consider it any kind of entitlement to be expected Nice, but more luck than anything.

As an aside, I was totally gobsmacked on OOL-SYD the other day on a 717 when QF managed just 3/12 in J and Y was chockers. I mean that was crazy I almost felt like I was in a private jet

 

[TonyHancock]

We all like a shadow, but no-one should expect one.....

When you say no-one.........

 

[kermatu]

Oh I never expect a Shadow. I've never even seen the "X" next to me on EF on flights and certainly know the deal with last minute J upgrades and staff travel on domestic flights (as above). Unlike some Gold members I don't consider it any kind of entitlement to be expected Nice, but more luck than anything.

As an aside, I was totally gobsmacked on OOL-SYD the other day on a 717 when QF managed just 3/12 in J and Y was chockers. I mean that was crazy I almost felt like I was in a private jet

I'm pretty sure if you don't ask for a shadow you won't see the "X". Only done for CLs is my understanding. 4C and 4D are useful seats to select at times if a CL is already in 4A or F!

 

[mviy]

As an aside, I was totally gobsmacked on OOL-SYD the other day on a 717 when QF managed just 3/12 in J and Y was chockers.

Well done.

I guess they couldn't get takers to upgrade to fly J or they decided not to accept upgrade requests because they didn't need to, but if there were only a couple of handful of extra seats sold you would have had a full J cabin.

 

[RichardMEL]

Well done.

I guess they couldn't get takers to upgrade to fly J or they decided not to accept upgrade requests because they didn't need to, but if there were only a couple of handful of extra seats sold you would have had a full J cabin.

more that it is such a leisure route and a middle of the day flight would have had little elite FF on it or those with the points or inclination to upgrade. Plenty of comments from pax in beachwear passing through to Y that they wanted the "big seats" (had to laugh a bit).

anyway no well done by me at all it was just nice to have such an empty cabin so the service was very very good.

 

[kermatu]

So it seems I have to register for my free welcome gift - either a bottle of Taittinger or a Coriole Shiraz. Fine, but no matter what link I press or login to no option comes up on the Epiqure site. Is it because I'm already an Epiqure member (and have been since my first P1 experience a few years' ago)?? Grateful for any advice.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that even the one thing I'd get from P1 becomes a chore. And I am so annoyed at myself that my posts about P1 are already negative, but before I bug the P1 team I really would appreciate any advice if there's an easy fix.

 

[Kangol]

So it seems I have to register for my free welcome gift - either a bottle of Taittinger

Is the welcome gift Comtes de Champagne?

 

[kermatu]

Is the welcome gift Comtes de Champagne?

Direct quote from link on the welcome email:
Activate your membership
We invite you to login in to Qantas epiQure to activate your membership and select a generous joining gift - either a bottle of Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne NV - rated 93 Points by James Halliday or Coriole Lloyd Reserve Shiraz 2010 - rated 95 Points by James Halliday.

 

[Matt_01]

When I hit P1 the welcome gift was also a Taittinger I dont recall if was Comtes, we had some guests around a couple of day after so it went pretty much as soon as it arrived. Comtes was the xmas gift last year and I still have that one.

 

[JohnK]

When you say no-one.........

You're automatically excluded. Someone of your standing and status shouldn't be expected to sit next to anyone. :mrgreen:

 

[QF WP]

So it seems I have to register for my free welcome gift - either a bottle of Taittinger or a Coriole Shiraz. Fine, but no matter what link I press or login to no option comes up on the Epiqure site. Is it because I'm already an Epiqure member (and have been since my first P1 experience a few years' ago)?? Grateful for any advice.

It seems to me that the important word in their email is activate, indicating that it is pitched to new members to Epiqure. As you already have an active Epiqure account, I would think that you'll need to contact the P1 team to pass on the information to the Epiqure team

Direct quote from link on the welcome email:
Activate your membership
We invite you to login in to Qantas epiQure to activate your membership and select a generous joining gift - either a bottle of Taittinger Brut Reserve Champagne NV - rated 93 Points by James Halliday or Coriole Lloyd Reserve Shiraz 2010 - rated 95 Points by James Halliday.

 

[donovan301]

Regardless of your quandary over login n redemption issues I have one statement to make from experience.

If you go for, or end up with Coriole Shiraz....

Cellar it. Cellar it. Cellar IT !!!

My partner had purchased a 2005 vintage Coriole Shiraz in its year of release , prolly 2005/2006early .

We opened it at a little Italian restaurant at West Beach, Adelaide in late 2013.

What we enjoyed was an incredible, well grounded and completely unexpected premium experience.

To put it very basically, that $25 bottle , had over 7 to 8 years developed into what I would Happily have paid $125 retail for (not restaurant retail, everyday retail !)

Coriole have something special going on with their Shiraz, not sure what, but Oh My Effin' Gawd....

A MOST Memorable experience that I shall savour for many years to come.

So, Imho, a quaffable wine, that is not to be Quaffed at .....if you have the Patience.

Anyways, end of sidebar.

(Personally, Bollinger rules over Tattinger at the base , mid range, after that , it's each to their own ;-)