Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[calmelb]

yes another mostly uninteresting P1 briefing bar the discount(again with only a two week booking window) but the rest.. I mean telling us old news like we can use the CX lounge n SFO? umm... CX was opened to QF elites some time back IIRC. There was next to nothing useful in there other than the discount.

imo

At least you got the email. I must be a lesser P1 as I just never get these briefings

 

[RichardMEL]

At least you got the email. I must be a lesser P1 as I just never get these briefings

Drop a note to the SST. I know someone else who wasn't getting them and had the SST track it down (also double check junk/spam mail folders etc)

it also may have to do with your QFF profile if you don't have certain preferences set for emails, but again I'd just asvise the SST.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Is the discount available online or do you need to call to book with the discount? (I couldn't see any fare difference between logged in and not logged in.)

Presume an en route stopover (within fare rules) doesn't invalidate the discount?

 

[RichardMEL]

Is the discount available online or do you need to call to book with the discount? (I couldn't see any fare difference between logged in and not logged in.)

Presume an en route stopover (within fare rules) doesn't invalidate the discount?

it's a dedicated booking page online (link in the P1 email() with a number of restrictions (as with all thngs QF). No doubt the SST could assist with bookings too.

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

it's a dedicated booking page online (link in the P1 email() with a number of restrictions (as with all thngs QF). No doubt the SST could assist with bookings too.

I got a link to a dedicated page which had no options to book but instead a link to call Qantas sales. I guess that answers that question - not online for me. Perhaps it is because I'm based in NZ rather than Oz.

 

[Brettmcg]

Are people going to lynch me here for writing about another positive P1 experience?

I was trying to use the special discount that was sent around today in the P1 Briefing. For some reason, despite having announced late last year that the QF117 was moving from its mid-afternoon slot to a late evening departure from SYD, QF have only updated the GDS with the new timings until the end of the calendar week 43. Of course, I wanted to book on a date with the old time, but actually fly the overnight service!

I initially contacted the normal Premium Reservation service to see if they knew if and when it would be updated. Alas, trying to explain something that convoluted to them was an abject failure and a waste of time, so I shot a quick email to P1 SST explaining my situation. I either wanted to fly via SYD overnight, or direct from MEL the next day, but was asking whether I should risk booking the current SYD 117 option on the assumption that it would actually eventually change to the new timing.

Within an hour of sending my email, the lovely Emma from P1 SST called me back. She had contacted Scheduling (admitting she initially had no idea how to find them or the responsible person!) and worked out a solution. The slots post CW43 are still being finalised by QF and HK authorities, but they are 95% certain these will remain the overnight flight announced late last year. She advised me to book the current 117 setup and if it didn't change they would simply sort me out on the MEL-HKG direct the next day with no penalty.

I know that a lot of people haven't been impressed with P1, but I must say, on the whole, I think there is a noticeable differention in the level of service received compared with WP. As with all of QF's major issues, it is consistency that is the big problem!

 

[kermatu]

The restrictions on the 20% discount annoy me. If it's "across the network" it should actually be network wide. Yet another P1 fail. Or am I asking too much?

Of course the rest of the Briefing is 'meh'. Though I did find it interesting that the 3rd most popular P1 international destination that QF can track is somewhere QF doesn't even fly to anymore.

 

[RichardMEL]

Well and it's not even 20% off everything it's 20% off domestic fares, but varying levels for international depending on fare type.

I think the restrictions arre more technical in terms of the implementation in their coughpy outdated systems(jjust like the implementation of vouchers) than deliberately trying to annoy people tbh... though I could be wrong.

 

[juddles]

My wife got the My Platinum News email today. It appears the Platinums are now being offerred exactly the same "20% off" discount thingy - I just read the fine details and they are word for word, except "Platinum One" has been shortened to "Platinum"

I guess we P1's did get the amazing offer a few days before the mob

 

[juddles]

My wife got the My Platinum News email today. It appears the Platinums are now being offerred exactly the same "20% off" discount thingy - I just read the fine details and they are word for word, except "Platinum One" has been shortened to "Platinum"

I guess we P1's did get the amazing offer a few days before the mob

And now when I actually try to use the discount it appears impossible for me - have tried everything (online). Will whinge in the QF IT thread......

 

[Kangol]

I am one approved, one declined, from the P1 special request award seat release.
Although for the one that was eventually approved after calling the next day, I didn't specifically ask if it was a "computer says no" or "no decision yet" result on the initial call. Phone agent just proactively mentioned sending to the P1 team for review.
The latter has occurred plenty of times as normal WP in the past, so I don't know if P1 made any difference.

 

[RooFlyer]

nd now when I actually try to use the discount it appears impossible for me - have tried everything (online). Will whinge in the QF IT thread......

Hrmmmph. It is an 'exclusive' deal for WPs, you know.

 

[juddles]

Hrmmmph. It is an 'exclusive' deal for WPs, you know.

I am trying to use the P1 deal which is the same

 

[RooFlyer]

I am trying to use the P1 deal which is the same

Like I said, it was an 'exclusive' offer for WP

 

[nutwood]

I must confess to struggling with the P1 thing. Recent trip SYD - LST. Heading to airport early, called the SST to ask for assistance on the smoothest trip home. My plan was lounge upgrade to J (using points, not asking for freebee) and an empty seat next to me on the MEL - LST Dash 8. Advice was to stick with my existing MEL flight as it had the most available J seats.
Because I had luggage, I checked again prior to dispatching my bag in SYD. Possibly a little bit paranoid but my original flight was the tightest connection to LST and I had several earlier flights to choose from. One delay and I'd be spending the night in Melbourne. All good, I was told several J seats available. Sent bag down chute, through security, into the lounge. Smooth run, five minutes max. Asked for upgrade and was told J was full. Boarding the plane, I couldn't help but notice at least two staff members in J. No big deal, I was in the economy seat I paid for. Hadn't expected 7F with 7E occupied, but it happens. I was however left wondering whether the SST team see empty seats in J, whilst the airport staff see seats with staff in them?
Come the next leg, I found myself in 5D (on a Dash 8) with an extremely large gentleman of Polynesian extraction next to me. He was really nice and did his best but it was still a cramped journey. He had come from Perth so his BP was issued well before mine. Had it been a full flight, I wouldn't have been annoyed but in the rows ahead of me, I counted five empty seats and there were more behind.
Perhaps all of those enjoying the company of their shadows were all P1 and I drew the short straw but I'm skeptical. I'm debating whether to pursue it further. Seems petty, but what's the point of being P1 if you can't get a decent seat? Realistically, all I ask of the status is a decent seat, although the Adelaide Hills tour sounded good!

 

[trippin_the_rift]

....
Come the next leg, I found myself in 5F (on a Dash 8) with an extremely large gentleman of Polynesian extraction next to me. He was really nice and did his best but it was still a cramped journey. He had come from Perth so his BP was issued well before mine. Had it been a full flight, I wouldn't have been annoyed but in the rows ahead of me, I counted five empty seats and there were more behind.
Perhaps all of those enjoying the company of their shadows were all P1 and I drew the short straw but I'm skeptical. I'm debating whether to pursue it further. Seems petty, but what's the point of being P1 if you can't get a decent seat? Realistically, all I ask of the status is a decent seat, although the Adelaide Hills tour sounded good!

The fact is you can't trust Qantas to give you the best seat.

The system knows seats XX and XX are the best on each aircraft. It assigns you one of the best seats. What the system ignores is that the entire back of the plane is empty and that you'd much prefer nobody next to you than a 'premium' upfront seat.

You'll have more luck by constantly checking expertflyer up until departure and playing musical chairs by moving yourself to what genuinely is the best available seat.

Then again.... anyone can play that game.

And therefore since it's open for everyone to play - it's possible for a Bronze member to end up with a better seat than a Platinum One.

 

[juddles]

The fact is you can't trust Qantas to give you the best seat.

The system knows seats XX and XX are the best on each aircraft. It assigns you one of the best seats. What the system ignores is that the entire back of the plane is empty and that you'd much prefer nobody next to you than a 'premium' upfront seat.

You'll have more luck by constantly checking expertflyer up until departure and playing musical chairs by moving yourself to what genuinely is the best available seat.

Then again.... anyone can play that game.

And therefore since it's open for everyone to play - it's possible for a Bronze member to end up with a better seat than a Platinum One.

I agree. The system probably has some logic, but other stuff buggers it all.

I think that QF has some serious shortfalls in basic customer tracking or valuation. If I ran a business such as QF I would put a fair bit into understanding the most frequent flyers (spenders). I am a perfect example of these flaws.

I am probably a far more mindlessly devout QF fan than most, I can't help liking the notion of the Flying Kangaroo. But eventually everyone reaches breaking point. I decided this year to ditch "loyalty" and explore other options. Apart from a points redemption interstate, I have only flown QF once this year as it was too close to change. I had purchased another half-dozen premium international trips and cancelled them all. Want to see what life on the other side is. My choice, but the thing that amazes me is that such a change of travel does not raise anything on the QF loyalty radar. I read that others are offerred such things as targetted DSC's, but me, nothing.

Maybe one day QF will realize that some of their P1's choose to fly with them, as opposed to the other half that get put on their flights. Any P1 who travels internationally knows there are other options. If I was QF I would fight to keep these latter half onside. But they dont.

A bottle of bubbly each year, and the odd invite to something, well, those are nice but are trivia. There are things that cost little that are far more valuable to people that have to fly a lot.

 

[nutwood]

The fact is you can't trust Qantas to give you the best seat.

The system knows seats XX and XX are the best on each aircraft. It assigns you one of the best seats. What the system ignores is that the entire back of the plane is empty and that you'd much prefer nobody next to you than a 'premium' upfront seat.

You'll have more luck by constantly checking expertflyer up until departure and playing musical chairs by moving yourself to what genuinely is the best available seat.

Then again.... anyone can play that game.

And therefore since it's open for everyone to play - it's possible for a Bronze member to end up with a better seat than a Platinum One.

The thing that interested me was that on neither leg was I in a "premium" seat. Row 7 on a 737 is not premium and neither is row 5 on a Dash 8. Not only that, but I had specifically rung the SST in pursuit of a seat for my shadow. I can only think they didn't even look at the seating as I had made it clear I was going to request a points upgrade. Normally, they put a soft block in place, although I've found those blocks to be very soft!

 

[Kangol]

The thing that interested me was that on neither leg was I in a "premium" seat. Row 7 on a 737 is not premium and neither is row 5 on a Dash 8. Not only that, but I had specifically rung the SST in pursuit of a seat for my shadow. I can only think they didn't even look at the seating as I had made it clear I was going to request a points upgrade. Normally, they put a soft block in place, although I've found those blocks to be very soft!

How many weeks out from the flight did you make the booking?
Did you ever select the seats yourself?

 

[nutwood]

How many weeks out from the flight did you make the booking?
Did you ever select the seats yourself?

Not sure how far ahead it was booked. Too many flights! Typically a couple of weeks. You can't select seats on Dash 8.