Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[TonyHancock]

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!

LOL

.....and in the wacky world of BA I'll get my GUF2 next week, GGL renewal including two OWS and one OWE to give away, two jokers, and Hilton Diamond in three weeks, and then by the end of June a couple of GUF1's. All tangible, cold hard benefits. (Assuming there isn't another IT crash, enhancement, or further cost cutting. ) ...but in seriousness this is where QF should be heading IMHO.

Actually being able to book reward flights when I want them took some getting used to, as did using a GUF to upgrade reward flights........but I am going way off topic this is the Platinum One lack of experiences thread.

 

[La Mouette]

I've just returned from an LHR-MEL-SYD-HOB-SYD-MEL-LHR trip in F international and J domestic.

As per the inconsistency theme, I could have been an NB on the domestic flights. The only exception was MEL-SYD where the both flight attendants went out of their way to top up my coffee multiple times ... needless to say, I was buzzing when I got to SYD

For LHR-MEL, my upgrade request went through 7 days prior as per the published benefits. Thereafter, there was no special attention that I could see.

MEL-LHR was interesting. 7 days passed and there was no processing of my return upgrade. EF showed 3 free seats. 60 hours out, EF showed 2 free seats and an X, with only 2 available to purchase. I rang the SST to double check that my request had actually registered before the WP upgrades started. The lady i spoke to was very pleasant and assured me the "bot" was running. 2 more seats then opened up, so nearly half of F was empty, but still no success from the "bot". 30 hours out, the upgrade came through, and I was allocated the seat with the X on EF. So it appears to me that they had somehow blocked the seat for me, which is a very nice thing to do. But if that was the case, why wouldn't the SST tell me when I rang? It would have saved a day's packing confusion, as I was hoping for that extra 10kg. Very strange.

The highlight of the trip was the MEL F lounge. I arrived with around 30 minutes to spare before boarding with expectation of doing pretty much nothing in that time. But they insisted on me having a two course meal and a spa treatment, and to make it work they shepherded me (politely) around, with everyone from the server in the restaurant to the lounge manager checking on my progress. I couldn't imagine this happening in SYD! The cynic in me obviously said this would never have happened if there wasn't a free slot in the spa, etc., but they were just genuinely lovely people.

On the plane, one of the J flight attendants who had met me in F before specifically dropped by to visit me after he saw me boarding, which was unusual. But apart from that, again I could have been an NB really.

So all up, I received my published benefits (just) and had a really great MEL F lounge experience. But after nearly missing the upgrade, I was relieved to just get the published benefits

(And every single flight left on time, which could be seen as a luxury now with the BA chaos this week )

 

[kermatu]

The MEL F lounge staff are fantastic, and your story sounds like something they would do. However, shouldn't you have received a call from the lounge the day before your flight, if you were a confirmed F pax 50 hours prior? They probably reserved the spa spot for you, as this is an F pax entitlement - not a P1 thing.

I will give a shout out to the SYD staff for once going over and above for me in my first P1 stint. Having known I had some problems and delays with connections getting to SYD, the F Host / manager went to the gate of my trans-Tasman flight 10 minutes before boarding, asked the CSM if there was an empty row she could place me in or anything extra she could do for me. I walk on board and am immediately told to take seat 1C. It helped that I had flown with her before, but I was impressed with the effort the lounge manager.

 

[La Mouette]

However, shouldn't you have received a call from the lounge the day before your flight, if you were a confirmed F pax 50 hours prior? They probably reserved the spa spot for you, as this is an F pax entitlement - not a P1 thing.

Whoops, typo, meant to say 30 hours I think it came through after they did the phone calls because I didn't receive one. And I only had the SYD F number in my phone. Hence the low expectations. When this has happened to me in SYD, they don't save spa slots.

Anyway, I have a few more of these LHR via MEL flights to go this year, booked during the DSC offer when it was thousands of dollars cheaper to go via MEL than on QF1/2. Looking forward to more of the MEL F lounge.

 

[calmelb]

The MEL F lounge staff are fantastic, and your story sounds like something they would do. However, shouldn't you have received a call from the lounge the day before your flight, if you were a confirmed F pax 50 hours prior? They probably reserved the spa spot for you, as this is an F pax entitlement - not a P1 thing.

Both myself and my parents have flown QF F (QF 9) out of Melbourne before (myself on an upgrade, parents paid) and no phone call. Parents booking had my aussie mobile # in it and didn't get any call (and being a teenager in on it 95% of the day).
Never thought to question it as I thought there might've been other criteria needed (other than flying F) or that it's been 'enhanced'

 

[Princess Fiona]

Both myself and my parents have flown QF F (QF 9) out of Melbourne before (myself on an upgrade, parents paid) and no phone call. Parents booking had my aussie mobile # in it and didn't get any call (and being a teenager in on it 95% of the day).
Never thought to question it as I thought there might've been other criteria needed (other than flying F) or that it's been 'enhanced'

There's no other criteria. That's very unusual. I have had a call the day before on every single flight with the exception of those that are courtesy of upgrades inside T-24.

 

[pagingjoan]

Both myself and my parents have flown QF F (QF 9) out of Melbourne before (myself on an upgrade, parents paid) and no phone call. Parents booking had my aussie mobile # in it and didn't get any call (and being a teenager in on it 95% of the day).
Never thought to question it as I thought there might've been other criteria needed (other than flying F) or that it's been 'enhanced'

My experience mirrors Princess Fiona's post and I agree that it is quite strange that you missed out on a pre-departure phone call, calmelb.

I have flown F out of Melbourne on innumerable occasions over the past years (Again, a bunch of thanks to AFF for some of those opportunities! ) and have invariably had a phone call the day before travel. In fact, I can usually predict the time almost precisely.

It's a bit late now, of course, but did you ask at check in about the lack of a call?

 

[Kangol]

My experience mirrors Princess Fiona's post and I agree that it is quite strange that you missed out on a pre-departure phone call, calmelb.

I have flown F out of Melbourne on innumerable occasions over the past years (Again, a bunch of thanks to AFF for some of those opportunities! ) and have invariably had a phone call the day before travel. In fact, I can usually predict the time almost precisely.

It's a bit late now, of course, but did you ask at check in about the lack of a call?

I'm 100% from calls ex-MEL and ex-SYD on QF F. It's usually mid morning or so?

 

[RichardMEL]

+1 always had calls prior to QF F flights no matter how paid for at MEL and SYD. Very strange indeed.

 

[penegal]

+1 always had calls prior to QF F flights no matter how paid for at MEL and SYD. Very strange indeed.

Same here, and regardless of status or FQTV as best I can tell.

 

[RichardMEL]

Same here, and regardless of status or FQTV as best I can tell.

Exactly. If you're in F on the day before flight.. they call. Or have done so anyway to all I know of (of varying status levels)

 

[ChrisGibbs]

Was on last evenings QF149 AKL-SYD 738 QF mainline service. After take-off the CSM did the usual meet and greet for all the J passengers. I was sitting in 4D and the CMS separately introduced herself to the passenger in 4F and 4C and welcomed them on-board as Platinum passengers. The CSM then went back to the galley. I didn't think anything of it as I was head down into the latest series of House of Cards. 10 minutes later the CSM came down and introduced herself to me and apologised for not welcoming me during her walk around. I said it was no big deal...

The CSM gave me a quick look at the Qantas app on their IPAD. The passenger list appeared to be sorted by FF Tier (QF CL + P1, QF P1, QF CL, QF Platinum, OW Emerald, etc, etc) and then alphabetically within each Tier. Unlike the printed manifest the passenger list in the app doesn't appear to be sorted by seat. In the app the passenger name window appears to only show a maximum of 6 passenger names before you need to scroll. There was 1 * QF CL + P1, 2 * P1's, 3 * CL's and 6 * Platinum's, 6 OW Emeralds on the flight. J Class seating was taken up by 1 * CL + P1, 1*P1, 3 * CL's, 4 * Platinum, 3 * OW Emerald. Their appears to be a useability issue with the App in that any CL's and/or P1's sitting in Y will get scrolled past when doing the post departure walk around. No big one but probably goes to explain a little why some P1's get missed during the walk around...

As an aside I did yesterday's QF141 / QF148 daily double on the 738. Very manageable however looking forward to the introduction of additional capacity via the A332/333 on the SYD-AKL-SYD service to coincide with the removal of the EK A388 SYD-AKL-SYD service.

 

[JohnK]

+1 always had calls prior to QF F flights no matter how paid for at MEL and SYD. Very strange indeed.

Would the PCV be a factor?

 

[serfty]

Would the PCV be a factor?

No. This is not a status thing.

All First PAX already booked in F/A/P should get a call the day before.

MEL has maximum of 28 and SYD 42 such PAX each day making a total of 70.

 

[Kangol]

No. This is not a status thing.

All First PAX already booked in F/A/P should get a call the day before.

MEL has maximum of 28 and SYD 42 such PAX each day making a total of 70.

If there is an incorrect or unavailable phone number in the booking, that could be it.

 

[kermatu]

Was on last evenings QF149 AKL-SYD 738 QF mainline service. After take-off the CSM did the usual meet and greet for all the J passengers. I was sitting in 4D and the CMS separately introduced herself to the passenger in 4F and 4C and welcomed them on-board as Platinum passengers. The CSM then went back to the galley. I didn't think anything of it as I was head down into the latest series of House of Cards. 10 minutes later the CSM came down and introduced herself to me and apologised for not welcoming me during her walk around. I said it was no big deal and didn't think anything of it...

The CSM gave me a quick look at the Qantas app on their IPAD. The passenger list appeared to be sorted by FF Tier (QF CL + P1, QF P1, QF CL, QF Platinum, OW Emerald, etc, etc) and then alphabetically within each Tier. Unlike the printed manifest the passenger list in the app doesn't appear to be sorted by seat. In the app the passenger name window appears to only show a maximum of 6 passenger names before you need to scroll. There was 1 * QF CL + P1, 2 * P1's, 3 * CL's and 6 * Platinum's, 6 OW Emeralds on the flight. J Class seating was taken up by 1 * CL + P1, 1*P1, 3 * CL's, 4 * Platinum, 3 * OW Emerald. Their appears to be a useability issue with the App in that any CL's and/or P1's sitting in Y will get scrolled past when doing the post departure walk around. No big one but probably goes to explain a little why some P1's get missed during the walk around...

As an aside I did yesterday's QF141 / QF148 daily double on the 738. Very manageable however looking forward to the introduction of additional capacity via the A332/333 on the SYD-AKL-SYD service to coincide with the removal of the EK A388 SYD-AKL-SYD service.

Great info. Just on the swap to an A330 - when will this happen? I am a fan of the Jetconnect service but now having done a couple more of the EK A380 flights across the Tasman in J, including one this week, I'm starting to feel once more how relatively poor and slow the J experience on the 738s is.

 

[ChrisGibbs]

Great info. Just on the swap to an A330 - when will this happen? I am a fan of the Jetconnect service but now having done a couple more of the EK A380 flights across the Tasman in J, including one this week, I'm starting to feel once more how relatively poor and slow the J experience on the 738s is.

Qantas to add widebody A330 Sydney-Auckland flights as Emirates drops route | Australian Aviation

The QF A332/3's will operate a double daily weekday service on the Sydney-Auckland route starting July 13 replacing the existing Boeing 738 services. There will also be six A332/3 flights over the weekend. F

For the past few days QF mainline 738's have been operating QF141/142 and QF147/8 services in lieu of the QF Jetconnect 738's. I'm assuming this is due to one of the QF Jetconnect 738's being in for routine maintenance.

 

[kermatu]

Thanks.

I thoroughly enjoyed a J flight on EK on Monday - there were as many cabin crew as J pax which was extraordinary. made for an eerie but great flight chatting with the lovely FAs. Started looking for flights for possible trips in July/August and was disappointed not to see EK options - now I know why.

While the hard product will be far superior unfortunately I suspect the J service will continue to be pretty slow. Still, great news. Hope the AKL EK lounge will still be open before these flights - the QF lounge won't cope too well (especially the F).

 

[funkyr]

I experienced a delayed Cathay Dragon CGO-HKG flight with a 1hr connection to a QF HKG-SYD flight. Spent 3 hours on the tarmac due to Chinese airspace restrictions.

Shot off a quick email to the P1 team and received a reply quite quickly. They were very helpful in advising me that it would be up to Cathay Dragon ro re-route me and that if I had any problems to get back in contact with them so they can apply some pressure. I ended up on a Cathay flight home.

Great customer service and a very quick reply for an issue that was reasonably out of their hands. Thanks P1 team

 

[kermatu]

I experienced a delayed Cathay Dragon CGO-HKG flight with a 1hr connection to a QF HKG-SYD flight. Spent 3 hours on the tarmac due to Chinese airspace restrictions.

Shot off a quick email to the P1 team and received a reply quite quickly. They were very helpful in advising me that it would be up to Cathay Dragon ro re-route me and that if I had any problems to get back in contact with them so they can apply some pressure. I ended up on a Cathay flight home.

Great customer service and a very quick reply for an issue that was reasonably out of their hands. Thanks P1 team

Good to get the quick reply -- but did they actually influence anything as far as you know? When I've been in that situation on other carriers (EK, AA and AY) I've had the "sorry, nothing we can do" response (which is completely understandable, but also pretty frustrating as they are in an alliance and a 'special' team should be able to help in these circumstances). But I guess this is an improvement.