The question is whether DSC makes P1 qualification a bit of a joke, or whether it brings some perspective to it. Looked at rationally, are the P1 perks worth three times the flying required to retain WP? The answer to this question is entirely subjective. If you are genuinely doing serious flying, P1 makes it more pleasant. If your serious flying is domestic and not paid for by the taxpayer, DSC's make P1 possible. 3600 Sc's at 10 SC's, or even 20 SC's, a flight is a tough target.
In general I agree. QF has "marketed" P1 as this exclusive tier with all the goodies. We, the road warriors (of one sort of another) know that P1 only seriously comeds into its own during irrops, which is something none of us want on a regular basis
All the rest like the odd comp upgrade, or invite to an event you can't attend, or whatever are a bit secondary. Upgrades clearing with the best priority and the extra access to award inventory over WP is absolutely fantastic but again, if one is not in a position to use them for one reason or another than the benefit/value is less.
I guess what I meant by "bit of a joke" was that it essentially devalues the level. I don't know if BA do such things and if they effect or contribute to GGL(TonyHancock??) but as I see it, QF set a high bar for the program and yet with multiplt DSC offerrs a year it makes it much easier.
And yes, I have attained P1 with ZERO bonus SC offers, so I have done it the hard way in the past so I can claim to have been a full legit P1 in the past but this year definitely DSC aided.
This is why I think, if they continue these promos, they will either:
a) make DSC (or bonus SCs earned from promos) not count towards P1
or
b) 2700 QF/JQ SC earn to not include bonus SC's
Now they already made Loyalty Bonus SC's not count towards P1, but also bonus SC's not count towards "bonus reward" levels like 2400 PBR, or 5000+ P1BR levels so I could see either o the above occuring.
I enjoy P1 no question, but it's not as exclusive as it was. I wonder if the ranks of P1s have surged in the past year or two from the alleged 3k-5k members there were in the first few years of the program. I'd love to know.