Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[dkr]

Any recent experiences on securing points upgrades from full flex Y to J on Intl segments, what seat availability looked like and how many days out these have been confirmed?

I've got an upgrade request (just myself travelling) in for QF43 SYD-DPS on Thursday and EF is showing J5 C4 D2 I0 U0. Given the number of available seats and published benefit "Where possible, requests will be confirmed from seven days prior to departure, via SMS", I figured given the 11 seats still apparently available this may have cleared already, but still waiting. VIP line said they'd start processing upgrades from 32hrs out..

Do they only start from 7 days out if it's a completely empty A388 J cabin?

I'm sure there's a reason behind it, but seems odd as a P1 I could request to convert almost any of those avilable seats to a CR and get an instant confirmation or escalate and hear back, but they can't do that for an upgrade.

 

[RichardMEL]

I've got an upgrade request (just myself travelling) in for QF43 SYD-DPS on Thursday and EF is showing J5 C4 D2 I0 U0. Given the number of available seats and published benefit "Where possible, requests will be confirmed from seven days prior to departure, via SMS", I figured given the 11 seats still apparently available this may have cleared already, but still waiting. VIP line said they'd start processing upgrades from 32hrs out..

sorry, that's not the way availability works. Its not additive. The higher fare classes include the lower ones in essence. Buy a D fare, and depending on tge actual mix, J and C may also go down.

Indeed the seat map shows 7 unallocated J seats, with 2 blocks. Seems unlikely 11 are actually available.

Do they only start from 7 days out if it's a completely empty A388 J cabin?

I'm sure there's a reason behind it, but seems odd as a P1 I could request to convert almost any of those avilable seats to a CR and get an instant confirmation or escalate and hear back, but they can't do that for an upgrade.

With that availability, I honestly doubt a P1 would be approved for a CR in J on that flight tbh.

It's up to QF when they will release U seats for upgrades. The 7 day window only indicates when QF will start processing P1 requests IF inventory is released. It's not a guarantee of when seats will be released.

Perhaps YM is hoping to sell a few more J to Bali, or just waiting til closer in.

Either way, even if it's two days out, P1 requests will still be assessed ahead of the lower tiers for any available seats for upgrade.

Have patience. I am sure you will get a seat.

 

[dkr]

sorry, that's not the way availability works. Its not additive. The higher fare classes include the lower ones in essence. Buy a D fare, and depending on tge actual mix, J and C may also go down.

Indeed the seat map shows 7 unallocated J seats, with 2 blocks. Seems unlikely 11 are actually available.

Right you are.. I didn't actually look at the seat map to confirm the count.

I figured the chance of an upgrade was decent with 9/27 seats still free, I'm just wondering what seat availability has to look like to have upgrades confirmed from 7 days out (and how far out P1s may be getting confirmed upgrades). 33% of seats still available seems unlikely to sell 4 days out.

 

[RichardMEL]

There is no set availability. It's up to the RM rules for each route and flight and probably the route controller to manually review as flight time approaches.

Bottom line: I agree it looks goid, but you won't know til you get the confirmation.

 

[sudoer]

9/27 seats still free

If EF shows J5 there are 5 business seats available in total.

 

[dkr]

Data point. Yesterday was sitting a J3/C1 with 3 open and 2 blocked seats on the seatmap. Currently at T-16hrs, J1 with 2 open seats on the seatmap. No upgrade processed, suspect it won't happen. <shrug>

 

[Princess Fiona]

Data point. Yesterday was sitting a J3/C1 with 3 open and 2 blocked seats on the seatmap. Currently at T-16hrs, J1 with 2 open seats on the seatmap. No upgrade processed, suspect it won't happen. <shrug>

Flight ?

 

[kermatu]

Have recently ticked back over the P1 threshold despite my reduced travel, so one last year perhaps. . It remains a frustrating and inconsistent status level.

No recognition of status onboard in recent flights. Gave some very personal feedback to the VIP team to call out some wonderful service from QF staff. Wasn’t expecting much of a response but I did not even get an acknowledgment of my email. How hard is it to say thanks??!! No CL invites either despite some awkwardly timed flights but that is probably a bridge too far.

But on the flip side, was welcomed by not one but two staff on the bridge in AKL a few nights ago, well after midnight. Escorted all the way through. Might have been down to the amazing CSM Annie. Nevertheless, fantastic.

 

[henrus]

But on the flip side, was welcomed by not one but two staff on the bridge in AKL a few nights ago, well after midnight. Escorted all the way through. Fantastic.

At Auckland midnight with smart gate and the green lane for AU/NZ passports I can be through in minutes, I’d argue the staff slow would me down if that service was offered.

 

[dkr]

Flight ?

QF43 SYD-DPS today. Was 5+ available J seats 4-5 days ago, and they've all gone now. Unable to confirm upgrade SMS this morning.

At $8k return, I'm sceptical they all went to revenue fares. C+ awards perhaps? Other CLs or P1 upgrades? Possibly, but would've thought unlikely on this type of leisure route. I'm not sure how staff/F&F travel is processed in the pecking order of awards vs upgrades? It is what it is, but given decent availability so close out, I thought there was a decent chance of upgrade from my full flex Econ fare.

 

[henrus]

I'm not sure how staff/F&F travel is processed in the pecking order of awards vs upgrades?

Revenue is always first, typically standby staff travel only processed day of travel. Only exception would be staff booking confirmed fares (that come with a ~25% discount).

It’s also possible that they were released as rewards and they were snapped up last minute?

 

[New to this]

Got my P1 renewal today. 4,300 SC and 95,000kms flown.
Would not be nearly as much as some on here, but jeez, felt like a slog doing it.

 

[Ansett]

Flew into Auckland on Saturday and met at the door. Apparently this is a permanent arrangement for P1 and CL. Could be a trial that may be replicated at other ports?

 

[flyingfan]

Flew into Auckland on Saturday and met at the door. Apparently this is a permanent arrangement for P1 and CL. Could be a trial that may be replicated at other ports?

That would be asking for Consistency……

 

[RichardMEL]

That would be asking for Consistency……

Not exactly a strength of theirs....

 

[Docfritz]

Flew into Auckland on Saturday and met at the door. Apparently this is a permanent arrangement for P1 and CL. Could be a trial that may be replicated at other ports?

When I flew into Auckland in December, the CSM announced as we got to the gate that I had to meet with the Qantas ground personnel, when we’d got through immigration I saw 2 Qantas staff and when I spoke to them they said they were going to fast track me through quarantine etc….there was no queue anyway but if there had been would have helped. ‘

Recently, when we flew on 9th July to Auckland from Sydney there was no Qantas personnel anywhere so I don’t think this is a permanent arrangement!

 

[Ricicles]

That would be asking for Consistency……

Heaven forbid … isn’t it the inconsistency and the excitement that keeps us coming back - it’s better than a BBC mini drama series!

 

[Larko1]

Flew into Auckland on Saturday and met at the door. Apparently this is a permanent arrangement for P1 and CL. Could be a trial that may be replicated at other ports?

I was one of 3 Pax met from QF125 last night at gate 16? Bit of a waste really, 1 took off as if he was going for Gold(a bit late for that), the other couldn't keep up with myself and the QF lady who met us, then most other Pax had caught and passed us.
QF lady said works better during busy arrivals.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

I was one of 3 Pax met from QF125 last night at gate 16? Bit of a waste really, 1 took off as if he was going for Gold(a bit late for that), the other couldn't keep up with myself and the QF lady who met us, then most other Pax had caught and passed us.
QF lady said works better during busy arrivals.

I wonder if it's for J only. I had it once in J and my subsequent trip was Y but didn't have any special service.

 

[Andy72]

Question, how does the fly forward work in practice, can you ring the vip team or do you have to take your chance at the airport