Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[mviy]

Two years.

Well another year relative to WP I was meaning. Though a comp of WP (one shouldn't rely on that) due to the three-year rule could make it 2 years as you mentioned.

 

[RichardMEL]

I think TonyHancock's comments are well placed. TH is a high yield, paid premium cabin traveller. So things like complementary upgrades are not much help if you're already in the highest cabin. Other things they could offer as "intangibles" are so variable in use/desireability because that sort of thing is so subjective (eg: Once I was offered a Australian Ballet rehearsal event ticket.. and I'm not a ballet guy, and the only friend I know who would have adored that, as she's learning ballet, was not free that night, so I passed... but that might be right up the alley of another P1 and be wonderful).

With QF, to be fair, things run fairly smoothly most of the time. Yes, we've all seen threads here about epic fails (eg: QF2 stuck at DXB, QF7/8 at SYD/DFW, 744's going u/s at SCL, etc) but in general things run smoothly, so when something like P1 *should* be very useful and "make a difference" is relatively few times. Unless you're QF's "Frank Spencer" passenger

What TH has correctly identified is something that has oft come up in this thread and in discussions around the traps... the definited benefits are, really, a bit lacking.

Sure, you look at the page and it looks like a LOT.. they throw in Golf Club and Epiqure and maybe some other things, and that's all well and good.. but these are all pretty secondary to the travel experience. (and I don't play golf and don't order much from Epiqure personally).

However what are the real defined travel benefits that would be of most use to those of us who fly enough to hit P1?

- The upgrade window at 7 days out is the big one. I think all of us have had most of, if not all, of our upgrades clear thanks to this. Real benefit YES.
- alleged "access to extra reward seats on QF" - I can't say I've seen this in action in any concrete way. I mean it's not like as P1 I see a ton of F or J avail more than a Gold or Plat. Real benefit: Hard to tell
- SST "monitoring" - I've had instances of being contacted by SST and just as many when I haven't in relation to travel delays or things. I think others in this thread have reported the same levels of inconsistent "service". Real Benefit: Hard to tel
- Upgrade priority for "eligible family members" when sponsoring the upgrade: Yes, done this once. It worked for my sister. Real benefit: Yes (anecdotal )
- Partner Platinum Status - Yes, useful for those with partners who "have the same address" who don't have status of their own and travel separately to the P1 member. Real benefit: Yes
- Flyahead on domestic fares. Officially only on flex fares.. in practice have had it on all fares. Real benefit: yes
- waiver of various fees on phone booking fees etc. Real benefit: yes

What else do P1's get as DEFINED benefits when flying? I can't think of others above WP. It's not like we can take extra guests into QF lounges, or sponsor upgrades for anyone such as work colleagues or non related friends(officially, anyway )

As Tony said, BA GGL appears to offer rewards that you can use, and more to the point I feel use both for yourself, or for others, such as family on leisure travel or etc - like the confirmed upgrades and the like, being able to bestow BA Gold (OWE) status on another, etc

I find it annoying that, for example, QF can't provide some confirmed upgrades for P1.. even if it's just a few a year. Or, instead of Partner Plat, why not just allow us to gift plat to others (like you can with Gold at 2400SC level)?

All the GGL DEFINED benefits, as I understand them, are real and useful. as much as the other stuff that's less tangible, like ability for the support team to "do stuff"

As recently discussed here the SST seems to be more a part of the Marketing team, than having an operational role within Res and mostly acts as an intermediate level. I totally agree that it would be so much better if they had the authority and ability to take a more hands on role and be more proactive.

I do realise these are all wants that will never happen (like LTP) but I can certainly understand the real to move to GGL for TH, specially as he flies a lot to/from LHR (IIRC) so it seems a no brainer.

I definitely feel that the program over promises in some respects so expectations are higher.. for every day domestic flights, for example, that usually just go like clockwork.. the benefits will be minimal, because really.. what is there extra to give P1's?

I bet where SST sits is limited both by organisation and budget and goodness me possibly internal politics too. They do a pretty good job IMHO working with what they have to work with. Could they be better? Totally.... is it something to earn as a goal for the perks? nope. Even the new design card is thin and dull to me.

Of course as members of loyalty schemes we always want more than we have - at any level - so that's a given... P1 could offer more, specially in defined benefits.... and we can always hope for a nice surprise. I also think the Tigers could win a premiership sometime soon (last time: 1980) ... so I'm used to hoping for far more than I get on a regular basis!

 

[danielt25]

Has anyone tried a status match with other airlines as P1 and what success have you had? My VA WP membership runs out in July so I'm thinking that may be at least one unpublished benefit of P1!

 

[kermatu]

Has anyone tried a status match with other airlines as P1 and what success have you had? My VA WP membership runs out in July so I'm thinking that may be at least one unpublished benefit of P1!

Once I had started a reasonable earn with VA and SQ this year I politely enquired about a match to their respective higher tiers - no dice.

 

[RichardMEL]

UA has an ongoing status match program, but it's... UA

 

[kermatu]

A query rather than an experience: I have well over 5000 SCs this year. A number of flights were on other OW carriers so I know these won't count toward the 5000 needed for the 75,000 bonus points. But will the few hundred SCs I received via double status credits count? Can't see anywhere on the P1 benefits page where they are excluded, but they may well have been in the Double SC T&Cs which I admit I haven't re-read.

Just curious as I suspect I am well short - but if they do count and I'm close that just might influence who I next fly with.

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes, pretty certain they will count.. as they (currently) count towards P1 in the first place

 

[kermatu]

Yes, pretty certain they will count.. as they (currently) count towards P1 in the first place

Thanks. In that case I may be close. No way to tell via the system so might ask the SST to find out for me.

 

[dairyfloss]

Thanks. In that case I may be close. No way to tell via the system so might ask the SST to find out for me.

I would expect you can use the tracker on Qantas 'Your Account', under the dial graphic? It shows you in isolation what your SC total on QF Marketed flights is, and I suspect would also tally the QF DSCs there, as well?

 

[RichardMEL]

Thanks. In that case I may be close. No way to tell via the system so might ask the SST to find out for me.

Wouldn't it show in the bit about 2700 SC required for P1 bit? that seems to track the eligible QF/JQ SC's IIRC.

eg mine currently says:

Qantas Marketed Flights
Note that 2,700 of the required 3,600 Status Credits need to be earned on Qantas marketed flights.

And under this mine says, for example 3770/3600 (as in I've gone overs)

it's not fully clear, but since they suggest the 5000 SC "On QF/JQ flights" for that bonus, that actually suggests the "QF Marketed Flights" bit.

of course I could be wrong there.

Anyway should give a fair indication I would have thought.

(mine will reset to 0 in a week *sniff*)

 

[Matt_01]

A query rather than an experience: I have well over 5000 SCs this year. A number of flights were on other OW carriers so I know these won't count toward the 5000 needed for the 75,000 bonus points. But will the few hundred SCs I received via double status credits count? Can't see anywhere on the P1 benefits page where they are excluded, but they may well have been in the Double SC T&Cs which I admit I haven't re-read.

Just curious as I suspect I am well short - but if they do count and I'm close that just might influence who I next fly with.

Went through the same thing earlier this year after I rolled past the 5000 mark. I call QF to ask why I had not been given the 75000 points and was advised that DSC did not count. I rang SST and was told that only QF flights count towards that bonus. A few days later they called me back and informed me what I had earnt towards the P1 bonus, it was less than I expected but once I added back DSCs AA and QR flights the total SC numbers added to what was showing in my account.

I was informed that it is in the T's and C's of the FF program and in the DSC offer, like yourself I could not find any reference to the DSC's not counting and given the SC number quoted it would appear that OW flights are also not included.

I did not bother arguing the in's and out's with them. I finished the year at 6110 of which approximately 4200 were with QF the rest AA, QR and DSC so still retained P1 without relying on DSC. Needless to say in the last three months of my membership VA got a fair bit of my domestic travel especially after economyX was rolled out. The reason I did not bother was that if you make to much noise now in the future DSCs T's and C's may be changed not count towards retaining P1 just like loyalty SC bonus do not count.

Just my thoughts and another reason I becoming more disillusioned with P1. For 75000 points it is just cheaper to churn a new CC than book 800 SC worth of QF flights, but I could not be bothered to do that either.

 

[RichardMEL]

Thanks Matt.. that is interesting... but can I be honest? It doesn't pass my sniff test and sounds more like an excuse to me...
of course it is possible that new/current DSC offers will not qualify but I don't get the logic, if one can use DSC to get to P1 (I have, in part) then surely it must follow that it would add to the 5k and 7k totals. My DSC's have contributed to the 2700 QF/JQ SC's required for P1 qual... they've posted as earned SC's on the QF flights. Seems to me they should thus qualify for 5k/7k too.

Of course I accept your experience in not getting the points and their explanation (so I'm not questioning you or your story !!) it just seems a bit odd.

Still, guess I'll find out soon when I apply DSC flying to new membership year and see how that goes towards P1 qual.

tbh it would NOT surprise me if DSC and any other bonus SC promos offered would no longer go towards P1 (remember they have published already the loyalty bonus SC's do NOT qualify for P1 - that's clear and in writing). I had posted earlier this year on this topic that it would make sense for DSC's to not count to P1, but at least for this year they have.

Of course, qualifying for P1 itself may still be treated differently to the 5k and 7k SC bonus thresholds, but it seems unlikely given the way QF runs its systems.

So I am now getting prepared for DSC to not go towards P1 next year. If so.. honestly that would be fair. Unpopular view to be sure, but let's face it if QF wants P1 to be a hard and fast qualification with no shortcuts like the Loyalty Bonus SC's then they must surely remove other bonus offers like DSC, largeted 50% bonus SC offers, the HKG 50% bonus SC offer currently going, and so on. It would actually be consistent and draw a clear line in the sand and give integrity to the level (you'd wish they'd improve the benefits too of course for this!). I've made P1 the hard way with 0 bonus SC's a couple of years in a row, so I've done it both ways. DSC is much easier of course, but if they change this policy(or have changed) I would understand it.

my 2 cents

 

[RichardMEL]

Also.. tbh I would NOT do runs or work to earn extra points like the 75k bonus tbh. Just not worth it IMHO.

At least some other programs offer more confirmed upgrades and the like when you pass higher thresholds.. QF.. not so much.

 

[mviy]

tbh it would NOT surprise me if DSC and any other bonus SC promos offered would no longer go towards P1 (remember they have published already the loyalty bonus SC's do NOT qualify for P1 - that's clear and in writing). I had posted earlier this year on this topic that it would make sense for DSC's to not count to P1, but at least for this year they have.

The thing is everyone gets loyalty bonuses if they fly enough on QF. So if loyalty bonuses counted towards P1 that would mean all marginal P1s would need 200 less SC to obtain/retain it. Whereas double or 50% bonus status promos have short booking windows and are designed to encourage additional/earlier than otherwise bookings to get the status benefits (some would use DSC and still fail to level up to the next tier/retain their tier in which case QF would probably feel they're the big winners out of the extra/earlier spending). The two are very different things. I can only see QF cracking down further if they think too many people are getting P1.

 

[kermatu]

Email exchange with SST today to find out. Yep, Double SCs do not count toward the 5k bonus. I still can't find any such reference - whereas the QF/Jetstar metal requirement is clearly stated.

I'm several hundred SC short with 5 weeks to go. By my rough calculations I'd be about 150 or 200 shy if Double SCs counted. All but one trip in that period has already been booked (VA and SQ). One trip to Perth left. A no-brainer to book on QF for the 75k if close. Instead, I've just booked on VA. Cheaper, better food and service on the main legs, and helps my status with them (admittedly flights a bit poorer ex-CBR and the lounges not quite as nice). Nice work QF.

Yet another failing of P1. Such penny-pinching. 75k points are practically given away for nothing (credit cards, insurance, wine etc etc), yet made harder to earn for P1s. It is only P1s that can access it, and yet it's treated like some prized objective.

I do appreciate the quick and easy response from the SST. but that's about all.

 

[Happy Trails]

Email exchange with SST today to find out. Yep, Double SCs do not count toward the 5k bonus. I still can't find any such reference - whereas the QF/Jetstar metal requirement is clearly stated.

Sorry to confirm the bad news, but this looks like it:
https://www.qantas.com/fflyer/dyn/flying/platinum-one-benefits-faqs#BonusQantas

Status Credits earned from other eligible flights with partner airlines and from Status Credit bonus earn promotions do not count towards these points bonuses.

 

[kermatu]

Assumed it was somewhere. Thanks. Still pathetic (in my humble opinion).

 

[Happy Trails]

Assumed it was somewhere. Thanks. Still pathetic (in my humble opinion).

Have to agree - I can't imagine there would be too many P1s in that position.
The cost of the points would be peanuts in the scheme of things.

 

[kermatu]

Have to agree - I can't imagine there would be too many P1s in that position.
The cost of the points would be peanuts in the scheme of things.

It's already just about the equivalent of requalifying for Platinum - to say it needs to be all on QF (or Jetstar!!!) is actually beyond pathetic. Oh well, QF's loss in this instance at least.

 

[juddles]

You have to hand it to them - this business of giving tiny little incentives really works!