Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[RichardMEL]

Remember they claim that invites are (supposedly) based on one's preferences of interests in their QFF profile (yet you're only allowed to select 3)

of course I have nfi how much, if any, weight this has on the P1 team allocating invites or not.

In the past year I've had 3 - 2 of which I did not take up - one to the Queens Birthday footy game at the 'G, one to a Australian Ballet rehearsal thing here and then the recent 2nd footy game(which as you know I took up and had fun).

Prior to that I had very few if any over the previous 2 years so.. it seems to come and go.

I was once told that declining an invite wouldn't work against future offers.

really though that stuff is all unpublished, as are "birthday upgrades" or the P1 courtesy upgrades at other times or whatever. Folks need to remember this when defining their expectations IMHO.

Really I reckon QF need to define(ie publish) more tangible benefits - the issue being is that given there's zero competition in this space (ie: VA has nothing close) then there's little incentive for QF to offer, for example, x "confirmed upgrades" or whatever might seem reasonable (and this will vary for each and every one of us and of course what QF consideres reasonable to give to us).

There's clearly long been a gulf between expectations (based on the QF marketing guff at launch about the status level as much as reading anecdotal evidence here) and reality and I actually think it's to the detriment of P1 because there are so many intangible and different experiences out there and it's hard to quantify the value (and again this will be different to each of us).

And even how does one "value" these offer invites at all? Is a QF J lounge launch party invite worth tickets to Adele? Is a fight sim experience on part with corporate box at the Boxing Day Test? etc?

As I've long said I see all these offers and even courtesy upgrades to be the "cherry on top" but I don't factor these things as part of the "value" of the P1 level to me. Wonderful? Absolutely. Required/expected? nope.

I probably have much lower expectations than many

(my 58 cents worth)

 

[RichardMEL]

btw for those wanting the "proof' of the glitch email with the huge SC earn...

 

[kermatu]

Concrete, tangible benefits are what the program desperately needs. If there were, there wouldn't be over 2600 posts in this thread, a fair chunk of which (including mine) describe the program in negative terms.

And I say this today having just benefitted from a free P1 team upgrade from Y to J (CBR to MEL) and some free wine on a subsequent short haul domestic flight in Y (possibly P1 related or just a lovely FA). So I do acknowledge and thank the P1 team when these little extras do appear.

 

[marki]

btw for those wanting the "proof' of the glitch email with the huge SC earn...

View attachment 97740

Is that your lifetime status earn showing for the entirety of your membership?

 

[RichardMEL]

Is that your lifetime status earn showing for the entirety of your membership?

Nope. LOL

That email usually has the year-to-date SC count say 2900 or whatever. My actual y-=t-d is 3630 (as correctly shown in the "status line" at the top)

my lifetime SC count is something like 23.5k - not very much in relation to many here

 

[juddles]

I havent read this entire thread, but an interesting teensy little benefit I got the other day:

Went through SYD heading outbound, and when I checked into the Flounge the lady said they had a "promotion for P1's", which involved giving me a First lounge pass that I could give to anyone. It is valid till June 2018 and is valid for SYD / MEL / LAX and only if travelling on a QF ticket.

Seems an unusual "promotion" to give to me but it is very nice to have - I have in mind the person that will value it

 

[juddles]

 

[kermatu]

I havent read this entire thread, but an interesting teensy little benefit I got the other day:

Went through SYD heading outbound, and when I checked into the Flounge the lady said they had a "promotion for P1's", which involved giving me a First lounge pass that I could give to anyone. It is valid till June 2018 and is valid for SYD / MEL / LAX and only if travelling on a QF ticket.

Seems an unusual "promotion" to give to me but it is very nice to have - I have in mind the person that will value it

No mention of it to me when I was there on Saturday, nor in MEL twice the week prior. What day were you there?

 

[RichardMEL]

Wonder how many will go for on ebay/gumtree and for how much?

interesting value add idea/promo

For mine, instead of random offers at lounges why not just send all P1's a pass? or send an email inviting us to apply for one or something?
I'm not flying QF for a few months so do I miss out on the chance because of that?

 

[kermatu]

Wonder how many they will go for on ebay/gumtree.

interesting value add.

For mine, instead of random offers at lounges why not just send all P1's a pass? or send an email inviting us to apply for one or something?
I'm not flying QF for a few months so do I miss out on the chance because of that?

I think the answer is obvious - that would make too much sense.

 

[juddles]

Just had to check - suddenly seems like ages ago. Was on Tue 23rd May.

 

[juddles]

.... why not just send all P1's a pass? .....

I almost agree. But I would take it further. We all know that a huge problem with the P1 deal is the lack of cold hard benefits. I would suggest that in addition to the bottle of champas they send out each year, maybe they could send TWO of these passes. The reason I say two is that the people who I personally would most love to gift such a thing are probably a couple doing a special trip. Obviously I dont need this for my own family, so as it must be used for other friends, this would give us an amazing present that we could gift.

And an underlying / intrinsic characteristic of such a benefit is that WE, the P1's would be deciding who we are going to let into our lounges. What I mean is that none of us want lounge entry conditions eroded, as this devalues our own benefits. But we, as very frequent flyers, who live in these lounges, will most likely only give the passes to people who will not abuse them or stuff up the enjoyment for others.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I almost agree. But I would take it further. We all know that a huge problem with the P1 deal is the lack of cold hard benefits. I would suggest that in addition to the bottle of champas they send out each year, maybe they could send TWO of these passes. The reason I say two is that the people who I personally would most love to gift such a thing are probably a couple doing a special trip. Obviously I dont need this for my own family, so as it must be used for other friends, this would give us an amazing present that we could gift.

And an underlying / intrinsic characteristic of such a benefit is that WE, the P1's would be deciding who we are going to let into our lounges. What I mean is that none of us want lounge entry conditions eroded, as this devalues our own benefits. But we, as very frequent flyers, who live in these lounges, will most likely only give the passes to people who will not abuse them or stuff up the enjoyment for others.

I totally agree with that. Would be a lovely idea

 

[kermatu]

I almost agree. But I would take it further. We all know that a huge problem with the P1 deal is the lack of cold hard benefits. I would suggest that in addition to the bottle of champas they send out each year, maybe they could send TWO of these passes. The reason I say two is that the people who I personally would most love to gift such a thing are probably a couple doing a special trip. Obviously I dont need this for my own family, so as it must be used for other friends, this would give us an amazing present that we could gift.

And an underlying / intrinsic characteristic of such a benefit is that WE, the P1's would be deciding who we are going to let into our lounges. What I mean is that none of us want lounge entry conditions eroded, as this devalues our own benefits. But we, as very frequent flyers, who live in these lounges, will most likely only give the passes to people who will not abuse them or stuff up the enjoyment for others.

Good points. Worth passing on to the P1 team (seeing as you were a recipient, it wouldn't be sour grapes as it would be if I made such a suggestion!). P1 inconsistency at its finest.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I don't do a lot of Domestic trips on QF but it was nice to see the "Enjoy your Flight" and op-up to J from the SST on the weekend ADL-BNE

 

[RichardMEL]

Well it would be absolutely wonderful it was made a published benefit. Here now is another example of an inconsistent benefit that seemed to be offered to some but not all - not even all passing through the same lounge within a few days.

What does this breed in the membership base? It probably creates more of a negative impression as opposed to the good one of having this idea (of course for those that get them it's lovely!). I just mean that now some of us know this is something that's out there and been offered to at least a few P1's (but not all). It re-inforces the notion, weather it's real or totally fictional, of a two-tier approach to P1 - the more valued vs the less if you will. We all know we have a PCV to QF on a scale and absolutely I am certain I would have a lower one than many here. I'm not complaining about that at all, but these kinds of actions do suggest that in some way, either intentional or not (for example this F lounge "promo" as presented above seems more random than targeted) it gives the impression that "All P1's are equal but some are more equal than others"(with apologies to Animal Farm). And that kind of notion basically could lead to some level of resentment or just an unfair situation (and I add that things like lounge invitations are not like event invites and the like - QF can give any member as many of those that they want only based on their own internal costings/budget for such things, not how many free tickets they can get to Adele or the footy). So why not give all P1 the same?


This isn't me crying "why not me?" post... it's more "why not US?" for all of us. Even if QF want to cut their costs and make them e-invites that show up in our apps as digital passes (the way they are going with all passes) - these can still be transferred as I understand it. That has zero costs of mailing and management it's probably a fairly simple database match and send within QF achieved with a few clicks more or less.

What might be nice is, say you requalify - right now we get the most lame of lame brochures and a card. whoopee... why not either enclose paper passes with that package(sending anyway) or on your anniversary date issue e lounge invites. "Thanks for staying so Loyal to us. Here's how you can share the love a bit" etc.

I'd also note on requalification - in previous years I had card (and lame brochure) sent within weeks of the actual date of clicking over 3600. This year I clicked over in March (anniversary is Aug 31) no renewal... so start of May since I was dealing with P1 over something else I asked about it - if it had gone out or something(maybe it got lost by Australia Post etc). They said no it won't show up now till my new membership year (not sure if they mean it should show up by Aug 31, or post Sep 1). Seems a strange sort of change to make but that's the apparent policy.

 

[juddles]

Good points. Worth passing on to the P1 team (seeing as you were a recipient, it wouldn't be sour grapes as it would be if I made such a suggestion!). P1 inconsistency at its finest.

I have a suggestion, probably doomed to failure, but given the removal of RedRoo from this forum, maybe we could get off our own backsides and form a group to approach the P1 team, in a united way. I know that probably the majority of P1's only fulfill the "need to travel part", but not the "enthusiast part" that members of this forum do. But what I am getting at here is that we travel a lot, QF decisions impact our daily lives, but the culture appears to me to have been to sit back and wait for what QF does/offers. And complain if it is not what we want.

Anyone support or have comments to develop this concept? (BTW as I am based overseas I don't know what AFF members have attempted in the past)

 

[juddles]

Further to the above post of mine, and also hearing RichardMel, I want to explain to someone at Qantas that a free pass to the lounge is insignificant to them, but in a crazy way, is of value to me. I do not know what I spend on QF in a year - probably between 40 and 80k. So a ****ty pair of lounge passes is meaningless in economic terms. But it would be something I actually wake up and recognize as "nice'. Ignoring that real economic value.

I wonder who in their team of decision makers actually understands frequent travellers? And here we are, a group of same, and willing to help....

 

[RichardMEL]

Like the idea Juddles... think SST is the wrong place to go though - they implement, but don't decide policy I would say. Prob needs to go much higher up the tree to a Lesley Grant or similar.

I think the other problem with P1 is that it's always seemed to me to be more of a marketing lead initiative rather than QF Loyalty driven. I mean the rare times I have had res requests or stuff they usually pass me on to res, maybe acting as a go-between a bit, but it's usually "We can't do ...." type responses. Sometimes they're magnificent though, but it always seems to be their job is conduit to further layers within QF - be it yield/revenue management, premium res or whatever. Yes they seem to be able to dole out upgrades, but I'm not sure what else on the operational side.

At any rate such things like having a group approach to QF is probably best at a level or two above the SST themselves.

I don't know if there's an overall P1 "manager" or at least appropriate body in QF Marketing that oversees it, but I suspect that would be the target
(I'd also say these are the similar sorts of folks who probably have some control over things like lounge passes too)

just my 5 cents

(and PS I can think of people right away I would gift a F lounge pass to.. who would totally appreciate it)

 

[penegal]

Yet another episode in the bizarre world of QF P1.


Nice printer you have there mate?
Can you print a few off for me to doll out to my sis? She's off to SFO and only flying J because they don't have F on the aircraft... WHAT AN OUTRAGE!