Qantas Platinum One experiences?

[Daver6]

Flew J back DEL-MEL. At check-in at DEL, we were escorted from the counters to (but not through) immigration. Don't know if this is given to other J pax. Onboard service absolutely identical to the rest of the J cabin. Despite being a classic upgrade, was able to choose row 1 at T-27. Arriving at MEL, had to wait at the carousel for half an hour for the last of our bags. I saw other priority bags also in this last bunch.

No escort for pleb J (WP) pax at DEL. Having said that, the walk from the check-in counter to the J immigration counter is less than 50m from memory. Not sure what value that adds?

 

[flyingfan]

No escort for pleb J (WP) pax at DEL. Having said that, the walk from the check-in counter to the J immigration counter is less than 50m from memory. Not sure what value that adds?

Ah interesting. It wasn't far at all and the wait at immigration was minimal even if they could cut queues for us which they couldn't.

While the DYKWIA factor is high this would be valuable only if they have the power to bring us to the front of immigration and security queues at the worst airports, and maybe also enforce priority baggage and collect them for us (I know I'm dreaming).

Otherwise this wouldn't have been at the top of my P1 benefits wishlist, unlike say being able to guest more people into the F lounges, CL passes, better VIP Service Team help and more free upgrades.

I was also going to add a buggy/cart to/from gates, but before or after a flight I'm more than happy to walk and stretch my legs.

 

[shuuy]

I remember as a P1 on JFK-AKL-SYD getting an escort in case the transfer security line was significant - it wasn't (as we landed earlier than a number of China-AKL flights all arriving around the same time)

 

[Brettmcg]

Flew Y (exit row) MEL-DEL recently. Really good service - we were Consistently™ served first, ahead of other Y passengers. Handwritten card, pyjamas, bottle of wine and other gifts offered and mostly gratefully accepted.

Flew J back DEL-MEL. At check-in at DEL, we were escorted from the counters to (but not through) immigration. Don't know if this is given to other J pax. Onboard service absolutely identical to the rest of the J cabin. Despite being a classic upgrade, was able to choose row 1 at T-27. Arriving at MEL, had to wait at the carousel for half an hour for the last of our bags. I saw other priority bags also in this last bunch.

On a slightly different note, I wonder if P1 seating can sometimes 'overpower' and possibly disrupt others sitting together. On a couple of solo domestic flights, I seemed to split some pairs of people travelling together - eg. I'm in 1A and they'd end up in 1C and 1D or 1F, on either side of the aisle. I usually book and select my seats many weeks or months in advance (apart from upgrades of course). Maybe those pairs booked late and had to get what's left.

I was on the QF69 last Saturday and surprised to be greeted by a P1 escort on arrival to DEL. Lovely lady, but pretty useless to be honest. I am a fast walker and always on a mission to get out of the airport. I was first off the aircraft and she seemed a bit annoyed that I wasn't keen to hang around for the other P1 she was meant to be looking after. Then, instead of allowing us to use the biometric collection kiosks, which would have saved a heap of time, she took us both to the wrong immigration counter (STAMP VISA), where we waited for about 20 minutes before being sent to another desk where we then had to wait an extra 30 minutes because we were now at the back of the queue. Overall would not recommend - this works much better in other ports.

 

[flyingfan]

I was on the QF69 last Saturday and surprised to be greeted by a P1 escort on arrival to DEL.

Definitely an anti-service and severe waste of time if the escort wastes your time, I'd be so frustrated (I'm not that big a DYKWIA).

We actually did get an escort arriving into DEL but it blurred because the first thing they said was my suitcase hadn't made it onboard, so my first thought wasn't about how nice to get an escort. The debacle nearly ruined our trip - I didn't get my bag until a week later and am currently claiming reimbursement.
I suppose if I hadn't been P1 I would have just been paged at the baggage hall.

 

[DejaBrew]

Out of interest, for those P1 AFFers who are encountering “problematic” / low-value escorts, are these experiences and the perceived issues/challenges something you feed back to Qantas?

 

[Daver6]

I was on the QF69 last Saturday and surprised to be greeted by a P1 escort on arrival to DEL. Lovely lady, but pretty useless to be honest. I am a fast walker and always on a mission to get out of the airport. I was first off the aircraft and she seemed a bit annoyed that I wasn't keen to hang around for the other P1 she was meant to be looking after. Then, instead of allowing us to use the biometric collection kiosks, which would have saved a heap of time, she took us both to the wrong immigration counter (STAMP VISA), where we waited for about 20 minutes before being sent to another desk where we then had to wait an extra 30 minutes because we were now at the back of the queue. Overall would not recommend - this works much better in other ports.

You'd think she would have taken you straight to the J immigration counters at least

Are the biometric kiosks something new? I've not encountered them on arrival in DEL before (or perhaps only for Indian nationals?)