Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[nutwood]

So I'm thinking a double upgrade would be if you book Economy - Group A and you get Intermediate - Group C? I wonder what they give you if you book Eco Friendly- Group L? An Intermediate SUV- Group K would be rather counter productive!

 

[Kangol]

I recently got an email from the VIP team, noting that I have an upcoming QF flight and also welcoming me back.
Like many of us, I haven't been flying for most of the year.
Although probably automated, it is a nice touch. I'm not sure if the SST did a similar thing for previous P1s that had a notable period of non-flying.

 

[Princess Fiona]

I recently got an email from the VIP team, noting that I have an upcoming QF flight and also welcoming me back.
Like many of us, I haven't been flying for most of the year.
Although probably automated, it is a nice touch. I'm not sure if the SST did a similar thing for previous P1s that had a notable period of non-flying.

Email and a telephone call for me.

 

[nutwood]

To date, I'm withholding judgement on the new arrangements. My experience has been that they are very nice and very supportive but I'm struggling to pin down anything they've actually done, beyond give advice.
Recently travelling Syd-Lst (actually Syd-Mel-Lst), I checked in at Sydney 6.00 am and noticed I was 3B Mel-Lst. My sweet spot on a Dash 8 is 1B or 2C so I called the number. Quick check; 1B available but I'd have to talk to the service desk at Sydney. No problem, conversation had, new boarding pass supplied.
All good until I boarded the plane and was told 1B is blocked due to COVID. Slightly puzzled why as I travelled Abx-Syd on a 300 series and 1B was in use, but who can argue? Ended up in 2D, jammed against the window. Platinum one and I was one of the few people on the plane without an empty seat next to me. I can see the progression of the situation but the bottom line is that on a Saturday morning into Launceston, I was most likely the only P1 on board and even though I called, I was issued a non-available seat and ended up at the mercy of the crew, desperately trying to seat me.
Realistically, my bad as I could have settled for 3B but I've previous experience on the Mel-Lst with strange allocations and have found it pays to follow up.

 

[flyingfan]

First post in this thread this year?! (Then again it's been a month and a half since this P1 got on an aircraft...)

I received my Avis President's Club card today. Interestingly it has the QFF logo on it too - guess it must be some special QF-Avis partnership. Given my last leisure trip (which was to include hiring from Avis) was cancelled recently due to the changing border situation, hoping to use it soon.

 

[calmelb]

First post in this thread this year?!

This I think shows just how quiet travel is even for the top flyers. Noticed even the QF board for AFF has been super quiet.

Also to keep this post on topic, my dad received a special QF/ Woolworths rewards card in the mail the other day, so I guess there’s a lot of the P1/ other company partnerships going on at the moment (though as a WP I wish they extended down one rank too!)

 

[RichardMEL]

This I think shows just how quiet travel is even for the top flyers. Noticed even the QF board for AFF has been super quiet.

Also to keep this post on topic, my dad received a special QF/ Woolworths rewards card in the mail the other day, so I guess there’s a lot of the P1/ other company partnerships going on at the moment (though as a WP I wish they extended down one rank too!)

I take it from the context that your dad is a P1? Was he a WWR member also or did they send him a new card as enticement? Curious.

 

[sudoer]

my dad received a special QF/ Woolworths rewards card in the mail the other day, so I guess there’s a lot of the P1/ other company partnerships going on at the moment (though as a WP I wish they extended down one rank too!)

Surprised they're still bothering with physical WWR cards in the age of Google Pay / Apple Wallet / Woolworths' own rewards app.

Would much rather they integrate to allow scanning of QFF cards like BP have done, if they were going to push physical cards.

 

[RichardMEL]

Well since QF seem to be sporadic in issuing physical cards anyway (I mean I have not had a renewed P1 card - which is fine).. it does seem unusual so I was curious about more what the deal was.

 

[Burgo]

Well since QF seem to be sporadic in issuing physical cards anyway (I mean I have not had a renewed P1 card - which is fine).. it does seem unusual so I was curious about more what the deal was.

I would expect that if you have the Qantas Money Mastercard activated on your FF card, then they need to issue a new physical card each each year as the Mastercard has an annual expiry date...if Mastercard is not activated then no need to issue fresh cards.
cheers

 

[nutwood]

Made my first test of the Avis Presidents club. I booked a Camry ex MEL. At pickup I was asked if I'd prefer a sedan or a SUV. I went for the sedan so was given the Camry I booked.
I asked about the upgrade offer but apparently, at the moment, the only upgrade from a Camry is a SUV. Basically, they've sold everything else!
Possibly I should have booked a small car in the first place in order to give some "head room" but I was doing a return trip to Griffith and for a quick 1100 kms, I didn't want to risk ending up in anything smaller than a Camry.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Well since QF seem to be sporadic in issuing physical cards anyway (I mean I have not had a renewed P1 card - which is fine).. it does seem unusual so I was curious about more what the deal was.

I was surprised to have received mine. Time for Qantas and others to digitalise forthwith if only as a matter of health management let alone economy.

 

[RichardMEL]

I was surprised to have received mine. Time for Qantas and others to digitalise forthwith if only as a matter of health management let alone economy.

Well of course the card *is* digital in the app and has been for some time.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Well of course the card *is* digital in the app and has been for some time.

Its also a debit card...... forgot about that. Better to flash a card than an app I guess is the driving psychology

 

[RichardMEL]

Its also a debit card...... forgot about that. Better to flash a card than an app I guess is the driving psychology

true. I don't use QF money so yeah I forget about that part too...

... of course with the ever growing use of digital wallets, apple/google pay so swiping phones and smart watches is more and more a thing that probably in 5-10 years physical cards may well become quite rare - certainly in the western world.

I mean when was the last time anyone had to use one of those old style manual imprint card readers (that created a carbon paper print of the CC number? In fact I don't even think the QF cards have raised numbers so couldn't even be used by one of those machines. They did have a most satisfying clunk though.

so yes I suspect all will be digital probably 2030ish.. maybe sooner but I reckon fair chance to be the norm by the end of the decade.

but I digress.

 

[Sprucegoose]

true. I don't use QF money so yeah I forget about that part too...

... of course with the ever growing use of digital wallets, apple/google pay so swiping phones and smart watches is more and more a thing that probably in 5-10 years physical cards may well become quite rare - certainly in the western world.

I mean when was the last time anyone had to use one of those old style manual imprint card readers (that created a carbon paper print of the CC number? In fact I don't even think the QF cards have raised numbers so couldn't even be used by one of those machines. They did have a most satisfying clunk though.

so yes I suspect all will be digital probably 2030ish.. maybe sooner but I reckon fair chance to be the norm by the end of the decade.

but I digress.

Indeed. Habitually now unless I need cash from an ATM I don't even leave home with my physical wallet. In NSW drivers licences are digitalised.

There is an accepted truism with technology and change. Basically it takes twice as long as planned to invent change and half the time to roll it out or implement it.

Authorities want to phase cash out (transaction ally) which will see monitesised digitalisation as virtually complete. It may happen sooner than we think!

 

[sudoer]

Authorities want to phase cash out (transaction ally) which will see monitesised digitalisation as virtually complete. It may happen sooner than we think!

I don't think this will happen so soon. The authorities really need some physical cash in circulation to ensure the AUD remains the currency most used by the general population.

Once everything goes digital there will be far less resistance to other currencies becoming widely accepted, which will be far more of a headache for the gov and RBA than the perceived benefits of digitalisation. Of course crypto is the obvious candidate for this but who knows where things will be in 10-20 years. Just my 2c.

 

[RichardMEL]

There is an accepted truism with technology and change. Basically it takes twice as long as planned to invent change and half the time to roll it out or implement it.

Caveat: Unless you're QF where it will probably take years and the work experience kids will still stuff it up in new and interesting ways....

 

[aus_flyer]

I feel this thread has gone a bit off topic. Would be good if we could get back on, please...

 

[defurax]

I've received my first P1 complimentary upgrade in a long time on a recent MEL-CBR early morning flight.
I have to say I find the VIP team to be an improvement over the old SST. They usually get everything sorted in less than a minute!