Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[Ansett]

Just a question, why do we think we are special @Ansett if I haven't miss read your post you were travelling in Y for what seemed to be the general whinge. From my experience when travelling J the crew used to some how recognise me and on a pre covid flight AKL-MEL I was somewhat taken back when the CSM asked if my daughter was on the flight. I replied no and she went on to detail that she had flown us to CN, HK and JP several times so they must have some records in the system.

Hi Matt

I don't think we are particularly special, and yes perhaps it was a whinge, but its more to highlight the difference in attitude and service level with the same crew on the same aircraft type. Being told by the same person that they don't carry any Scotch on board when I was in Y but then serving it to me in J straight after take off. Again its all about the inconsistency.

 

[CMA222]

Hi Matt

I don't think we are particularly special, and yes perhaps it was a whinge, but its more to highlight the difference in attitude and service level with the same crew on the same aircraft type. Being told by the same person that they don't carry any Scotch on board when I was in Y but then serving it to me in J straight after take off. Again its all about the inconsistency.

...and apparently the willingness to lie to passengers and consider it acceptable behaviour !!

 

[flyingfan]

Great experience calling the VIP line a few weeks ago, answered instantly in HBA and was able to use some long-standing credits I’ve had for a while across several pax. Agent very helpful and couldn’t do enough. Had several changes/cancellations to the bookings since but that’s not their fault.

Will miss this when I drop down but it really isn’t worth self-funding chasing P1 each year. In comparison, earning merely WP (and doing the same with VA) will seem a bargain.

 

[serfty]

As related in the other thread about requesting rewards...

Called today about 1pm. No hold time for HBA. Agent was amazing (he said I was his fall call today.. maybe that's why?! lol). I started with "I expect this is mission impossible but can you see..." and what do you know.. F seat release approved on the spot for QF11 SYD-LAX in September (he even had two dates approved so I could chose?!) and got return later in Sep also approved instantly

It is not just P1, I had a similar experience as a WP.

Called Monday before 8am to request U seating ex Asia in September. May have been the same agent. (Even suggested I take a slightly later domestic connection in U - 'cause A330).

 

[Matt_01]

The VIP team surprised me today, checked in on the phone and when adding the boarding pass to the wallet I noticed that my seating had changed from 4C to 1D.

 

[Matt_01]

@Princess Fiona as one of the Mods can you get this thread added to the standard QF threads on page 1. I suspect I am becoming lazy as it is becoming harder to find this thread to post good news stories or a reason to retain P1.

 

[mviy]

The VIP team surprised me today, checked in on the phone and when adding the boarding pass to the wallet I noticed that my seating had changed from 4C to 1D.

So either economy was oversold with insufficient upgrade requests and you were the obvious choice to get an op-up; or they were being very nice upgrading you when operationally unnecessary; or the plane was swapped out for a plane with just economy seats.

 

[Matt_01]

So either economy was oversold with insufficient upgrade requests and you were the obvious choice to get an op-up; or they were being very nice upgrading you when operationally unnecessary; or the plane was swapped out for a plane with just economy seats.

The plane was relatively full but not all seats were taken. P1 op-ups are not that uncommon the rumours floating around is it it happens about very 10th flight. Prior to Covid my experience was around every 15th-16th flight.

 

[Matt_01]

The latest P1 news letter just arrived via email, nothing to excited about. The give away prize seems to have dropped in value when compared to previous years, still entered.

 

[Kangol]

The latest P1 news letter just arrived via email, nothing to excited about. The give away prize seems to have dropped in value when compared to previous years, still entered.

The combined P1/QBR one is pretty good.

 

[Fergo747]

The latest P1 news letter just arrived via email, nothing to excited about. The give away prize seems to have dropped in value when compared to previous years, still entered.

Yes dropped in value but let's not forget that the 'value' that's often been ascribed to these prizes relate to QF flights whereby the appear to quote the most costly fare bucket for the flights component so the value is somewhat overstated. Plus, it's a good way for QF to flog some business through TripADeal which they acquired a 51% stake in recently.

The bit that confused me was the statement that said 'Since the start of the year we’ve launched roughly one new route every week' - have they really launched ~28 new routes this year?

 

[RichardMEL]

So either economy was oversold with insufficient upgrade requests and you were the obvious choice to get an op-up; or they were being very nice upgrading you when operationally unnecessary; or the plane was swapped out for a plane with just economy seats.

Your assumption is not really related to P1 comp upgrades.

While this particular situation may have been an op up, it's unlikely imo.

While Matt didn't specify how far ahead of flight time he checked in (ie: 24h or 2h) there are usual giveaways as to a P1 upgrade. One, a message from the VIP Team on the BP itself(though this does not always happen) and two, these upgrades usually show up around 24h before. They tend to not be last minute. Indeed last minute upgrades are almost certainly op ups (which are rare, but not unknown with QF) and that would occur due to a flight being oversold or possibly an a/c sub.

At one point I would pick flights with A330's on Saturdays or midweak lunchtimes etc which were pretty empty in paid J and took a gamble. Sometimes it would work out (and watching the flight in the days prior would show this). These were always situations where it didn't matter if it did or didn't happen and I picked flights convenient to me not just to score a "free' upgrade, but when opportunity would arise I gave it a go.

The metrics are opaque and may have changed since the pandemic. the comp upgrades do still exist, but seem much harder to get (which likely is also a side effect of reduced capacity/increased demand). Because P1 upgrades have usually (in my experience anyway) been processed a day or so prior to travel, any points upgrades and so on have usually been processed already for CL/P1/WP.

Anyway it's a nice thing to get of course but certainly nothing to rely on.

 

[RichardMEL]

The bit that confused me was the statement that said 'Since the start of the year we’ve launched roughly one new route every week' - have they really launched ~28 new routes this year?

Keyword being "roughly" no doubt

after all... just like lies, damn lies and statistics... 15 can be "roughly" 28 (as can 40).

And probably they counted JQ and things like that...

 

[nutwood]

Your assumption is not really related to P1 comp upgrades.

While this particular situation may have been an op up, it's unlikely imo.

While Matt didn't specify how far ahead of flight time he checked in (ie: 24h or 2h) there are usual giveaways as to a P1 upgrade. One, a message from the VIP Team on the BP itself(though this does not always happen) and two, these upgrades usually show up around 24h before. They tend to not be last minute. Indeed last minute upgrades are almost certainly op ups (which are rare, but not unknown with QF) and that would occur due to a flight being oversold or possibly an a/c sub.

At one point I would pick flights with A330's on Saturdays or midweak lunchtimes etc which were pretty empty in paid J and took a gamble. Sometimes it would work out (and watching the flight in the days prior would show this). These were always situations where it didn't matter if it did or didn't happen and I picked flights convenient to me not just to score a "free' upgrade, but when opportunity would arise I gave it a go.

The metrics are opaque and may have changed since the pandemic. the comp upgrades do still exist, but seem much harder to get (which likely is also a side effect of reduced capacity/increased demand). Because P1 upgrades have usually (in my experience anyway) been processed a day or so prior to travel, any points upgrades and so on have usually been processed already for CL/P1/WP.

Anyway it's a nice thing to get of course but certainly nothing to rely on.

Interesting how experiences differ. Prior to Covid I was geting upgrades about every ten flights, however I found it very frustrating that I never received any notice until either I checked in and realised my seat had changed or was presented a new BP at the gate. Frustrating because I plan differently, depending on the class I am flying.

 

[Matt_01]

It was an upgrade by the VIP team.

 

[Princess Fiona]

The latest P1 news letter just arrived via email, nothing to excited about. The give away prize seems to have dropped in value when compared to previous years, still entered.

But they are hanging up coats and jackets again for J pax

 

[RichardMEL]

Interesting how experiences differ. Prior to Covid I was geting upgrades about every ten flights, however I found it very frustrating that I never received any notice until either I checked in and realised my seat had changed or was presented a new BP at the gate. Frustrating because I plan differently, depending on the class I am flying.

Yes, this is the way it always was (which is why I kept an eye on the flights I figured had a chance). Often my first indication would be my Y seat would become vacant just before check in would open.

I suppose someone thought it would be a "surprise" to not tell until check in....

of course I liked to know so I could pick my preferred seat

 

[RichardMEL]

I was amused at the hanging of jackets/coats announcement.. with that note that it's offered to ALL J pac (so you P1's don't feel like you're special or anything). just seemed odd.. like did they really need to include that qualification? I mean one would assume it was CoS service anyway.

And that someone felt this needed its own special announcement either is about padding things out or grasping at anything remotely positive to tell the customers (specially after the lame-o spun apology for poor experiences they opened with).

 

[Fergo747]

And that someone felt this needed its own special announcement either is about padding things out or grasping at anything remotely positive to tell the customers

Definitely either of those points is plausible given the lack of real positive news.

 

[admin]

@Princess Fiona as one of the Mods can you get this thread added to the standard QF threads on page 1. I suspect I am becoming lazy as it is becoming harder to find this thread to post good news stories or a reason to retain P1.

Done! Thanks for the suggestion.