Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[calmelb]

And follow the forums as, from my experience, e.mails didn't go to every P1.

My Dad didn't get the email for this, but he was still eligible online anyway. Would not have even known about the book if it wasn't for this forum.

 

[Fergo747]

I’m guessing this will be, understandably, in lieu of the champagne this year

Maybe - but one may suppose that there would be an abundance of champagne that QF would like to get rid of given there have been no F flights for ~8 months (think due to storage costs, pre orders, spoilage, etc).

If, on an average pre-COVID day there were 10 QF F flights, and each flight consumed conservatively 4 bottles, then between the beginning of April and end of November, QF would have been expecting to consume at least 9,700 bottles on flights alone.

 

[RichardMEL]

Re auto phone number recognition.. have had this earlier this year. It surprised me and cool.

Of course I had my footy club do the same thing when I called the membershup department.. a nice time saver but a bit unnerving at the same time

re Christmas Champagne. I have the feeling QF is trying to dump the Taittinger CdC 2007 and would not be surprised to see something this year for P1's even if many of us have barely been on an aircraft. Maybe not the Taittinger but.... I do not think they will leave us empty handed. Certainly understandable if they did mind you.

As for the free book being done via actually "purchasing" it - I have no issue with this I mean remember that year of P1 when the chrissy gift was that HUGE set of books that went to everyone? I honestly can't imagine the cost. And the thing is a lot of people did not really want or use the books. I re-gifted mine to a very happy home as it happens. This way QF still gets to gift the book but only to the people who do the few clicks to tell QF they actually *want* it.. I do not mind that at all.

The unfortunate flaw with this is the email delivery. I'd also note that given the "gift" part was not totally obvious - I mean it was in the general 100 Anniversary email and some may have actually gotten it and deleted it as sales spam without going down to the bit that said "As a valued P1...." to even know. Plus there are the ones who never got it for whatever reason. Good ol' QF (I won't use the catch phrase ).

They could have sent the one book to all P1's AS the chrissy gift.. I mean it has only been "tradition" for the past 4 or so years to have bubbles (or other things for those govt employees deemed unable to receive bubbles) but I guess they decided to do it this way.

 

[calmelb]

The unfortunate flaw with this is the email delivery. I'd also note that given the "gift" part was not totally obvious - I mean it was in the general 100 Anniversary email and some may have actually gotten it and deleted it as sales spam without going down to the bit that said "As a valued P1...." to even know. Plus there are the ones who never got it for whatever reason. Good ol' QF (I won't use the catch phrase ).

It was in that email? My Dad read that one and still didn't even notice the P1 gift part!

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

It was in that email? My Dad read that one and still didn't even notice the P1 gift part!

There were at least 2 different versions of QF centenary emails. They had one for those signed up for red-edeals (obviously no mention of the book), and a similar one with the extra free book blurb and link.

As for the free book being done via actually "purchasing" it - I have no issue with this I mean remember that year of P1 when the chrissy gift was that HUGE set of books that went to everyone? I honestly can't imagine the cost. And the thing is a lot of people did not really want or use the books. I re-gifted mine to a very happy home as it happens. This way QF still gets to gift the book but only to the people who do the few clicks to tell QF they actually *want* it.. I do not mind that at all.

The previous books only went to Australian based P1s (understandably given the cost).

 

[Kangol]

Maybe - but one may suppose that there would be an abundance of champagne that QF would like to get rid of given there have been no F flights for ~8 months (think due to storage costs, pre orders, spoilage, etc).

If, on an average pre-COVID day there were 10 QF F flights, and each flight consumed conservatively 4 bottles, then between the beginning of April and end of November, QF would have been expecting to consume at least 9,700 bottles on flights alone.

Surely QF would not have bought so many in advance? Or would their contract likely require such a big order so they can get a better wholesale price...

 

[Jack_OC]

It was in that email? My Dad read that one and still didn't even notice the P1 gift part!

Yes. I wonder if (at least some of) the people saying they didn't get the email may not have realised that this was pretty much buried in what seemed like just another promotional email, headed "today marks our 100th birthday". It was pretty weird IMO, as it wasn't at all obvious that the email contained important information or required any action. The gift wasn't even mentioned in the main body of the email - you had to scroll down past AJ's signature, and past a link to a promotional video, before getting to the relevant part

 

[RichardMEL]

Yes. I wonder if (at least some of) the people saying they didn't get the email may not have realised that this was pretty much buried in what seemed like just another promotional email, headed "today marks our 100th birthday". It was pretty weird IMO, as it wasn't at all obvious that the email contained important information or required any action. The gift wasn't even mentioned in the main body of the email - you had to scroll down past AJ's signature, and past a link to a promotional video, before getting to the relevant part

The cynic in me says well if less people read the email and see it.. less "free" books given away to P1's (and perhaps a side test of how many actually fully read the guff fully).

Do I think that was a motivation? Only semi-seriously. We know QF Communications have a poor history of such things over the journey. You'd think they'd have improved over time but perhaps not. I'm willing to go with the more obvious idea that they figured everyone would read it because all their emails are the most important thing to a P1 and we read every word

ahem.

 

[RichardMEL]

Surely QF would not have bought so many in advance? Or would their contract likely require such a big order so they can get a better wholesale price...

I seem to recall reading an article somewhere about airlines like EK and SQ buying such bulk lots of wine that a) they did it in advance, and yes they did it in some volume both for a lower unit cost obviously and to ensure they would have enough for projected needs. Could EK possibly have been named as Dom's biggest customer? I could be wrong there.. or maybe it was SQ with Krug, but anyway there is a huge volume involved (even for a relatively small cabin like F - Imagine the millions of bottles of vino a carrier like QF or even a bigger one spends on J and Y wines? but I digress).

Either way I think it's safe to assume there are significant volumes involved - even for QF's pre-covid small F equipped fleet of 12 - it is still a fair size lot (plus of course they would have their bottles for QF wine and other promotional items such as the P1 christmas gift or whatnot).

And given No F cabin will fly on QF for some time and were grounded in March it's likely QF has a fair amount left. Seems a reasonable scenario.

 

[Matt_01]

The cynic in me says well if less people read the email and see it.. less "free" books given away to P1's (and perhaps a side test of how many actually fully read the guff fully).

Do I think that was a motivation? Only semi-seriously. We know QF Communications have a poor history of such things over the journey. You'd think they'd have improved over time but perhaps not. I'm willing to go with the more obvious idea that they figured everyone would read it because all their emails are the most important thing to a P1 and we read every word

ahem.

Guilty as charged, I was only made aware of the book offer via @kermatu post #5111 and after looking in the trash folder found said message and ordered the book. My post at #5119 may have been misleading that I received a 'special email'. I have mail rules that will bin most QF emails.

 

[Daver6]

I seem to recall reading an article somewhere about airlines like EK and SQ buying such bulk lots of wine that a) they did it in advance, and yes they did it in some volume both for a lower unit cost obviously and to ensure they would have enough for projected needs. Could EK possibly have been named as Dom's biggest customer? I could be wrong there.. or maybe it was SQ with Krug, but anyway there is a huge volume involved (even for a relatively small cabin like F - Imagine the millions of bottles of vino a carrier like QF or even a bigger one spends on J and Y wines? but I digress).

Either way I think it's safe to assume there are significant volumes involved - even for QF's pre-covid small F equipped fleet of 12 - it is still a fair size lot (plus of course they would have their bottles for QF wine and other promotional items such as the P1 christmas gift or whatnot).

And given No F cabin will fly on QF for some time and were grounded in March it's likely QF has a fair amount left. Seems a reasonable scenario.

Was chatting with an ex EK captain last week. He reckons EK have a cellar with roughly four million bottles of wine Cooling cost alone for that in Dubai wouldn't be cheap!

 

[Fergo747]

Either way I think it's safe to assume there are significant volumes involved

Correct, some googling allowed me to come across this statement (not sure what year it's from) from the Qantas Inflight Wine Program:

"Generally purchasing in lots of 10,000 to 55,000 litre equivalents Qantas works with suppliers one to two years in advance to secure allocations. Allowing suppliers to comfortably plan and manage production volumes."

That equates to ~13k to ~73k 750ml bottles. I know we're talking about F champagne here, however the above gives an indication of the volumes / lead time re purchasing.

 

[calmelb]

And given No F cabin will fly on QF for some time and were grounded in March it's likely QF has a fair amount left. Seems a reasonable scenario.

Unless they upgrade the lounges to have fancy F Champagne (or chuck it on domestic and send the grant burge to P1s!)

 

[RichardMEL]

Unless they upgrade the lounges to have fancy F Champagne (or chuck it on domestic and send the grant burge to P1s!)

yeah the day QF give me Grant Burge as a P1 is the day I go to VA

but.. cool idea

 

[defurax]

I just received a QF email mentioning a further 12 month extension of status for members with status expiring in 2021 if they book at least 1 flight in 2021. Also the ability to rollover 1800 SC into 2022.
My status expires in December 2021, I'm a lucky one!

 

[Matt_01]

Received the same email and the QF book also arrived today.

 

[Jack_OC]

I just received the email about status too, which is great, needless to say. Mind you, I read all the details on AFF yesterday!

 

[Brissy1]

yeah the day QF give me Grant Burge as a P1 is the day I go to VA

but.. cool idea

Yes grant burge sparkling offered on bne-syd J last Friday. And I can't drink any of their offered wine in the business lounge anymore or at least atm, (because) I love nice wines.

 

[calmelb]

Received the same email and the QF book also arrived today.

Did your book also arrive with a red sticker on it advertising a holiday too? A sticker that looks very hard to remove

 

[Matt_01]

Did your book also arrive with a red sticker on it advertising a holiday too? A sticker that looks very hard to remove

Yes, have not attempted to remove the sticker.

Edit. Is the ‘win a holiday sticker’ a P1 thing or do all the books get them.