QANTAS Platinum one - might not be going ahead

[GoldenWinger]

I have heard through the grapevine that the peeps at QF are nowhere near ready to launch plat one - they are still trying to decide exactly what it is to offer. It could potentially be delayed until next year or scraped all togther.

Not so smart of QF dragging their feet with this one - particularly with so many now having 'jumped ship' to Virgin Australia.

 

[markis10]

I think that QF may have been surprised by the value of the Platinum offering with DJ, including the very strong partner bonuses including elite status and bonus points with the likes of Hertz, Accor and PC, I know a lot of people would be interested in how they are going to go one better.

As for people jumping ship, time will tell, however based on the earlier match when only Gold existed, it seems to have done its job with some members re qualifying after a match here, myself included, made sense for me personally when the PG benefits were raised from 2100 SC for me and the the lack of benefit refinement for WPs.

 

[MelUser]

Very interesting - it will be funny if VA/DJ have actually forced QF into improving the Platinum offering which is what has been asked for on here for at least the last year.

 

[pauly7]

I have heard through the grapevine that the peeps at QF are nowhere near ready to launch plat one - they are still trying to decide exactly what it is to offer. It could potentially be delayed until next year or scraped all togther.

Not so smart of QF dragging their feet with this one - particularly with so many now having 'jumped ship' to Virgin Australia.

Will wait to see the numbers and bums on seats before I'd call it 'many jumping ship'. Just because a bunch of ravenous status seekers on here (myself included!) have matched doesn't necessarily mean that they've won significant business yet or that it's translated to the general public.

Will be interesting to see what happens that's for sure!

 

[Canny man]

Will wait to see the numbers and bums on seats before I'd call it 'many jumping ship'. Just because a bunch of ravenous status seekers on here (myself included!) have matched doesn't necessarily mean that they've won significant business yet or that it's translated to the general public.

Will be interesting to see what happens that's for sure!

The combination of status match and threatened strike action has been enough for me to take a shot at VA on a coast to coast next week.

I will be disappointed if WP1 is postponed/abandonned as the promise kept me with QF for the last three months of my stsus year. MAybe it was all just a cynical ploy to keep us hanging in there until Virgin showed its hand.

 

[kirk7]

highly doubt that Platinum One will be scrapped (before it even "takes off")...with the amount of times AJ has mentioned....that would be epic fail.

The virgin elite partnerships are great i must admit....hertz presidential circle is nice touch.

If we look at other OW programs, such as CX's MPC- they have always had strategic partnerships with hotels, and travel related industries....i think its just QF being lazy and not bothered to do anything....no competition i guess in the past.

Hope they come up with something to improve the WP offering, as I'm alittle disappointed that i didnt succeed with the upgrade lottery on QF11 today....even though expert flyer is showing 2 x J seats...oh well......its QF so you cant expect too much.

 

[markis10]

If we look at other OW programs, such as CX's MPC- they have always had strategic partnerships with hotels, and travel related industries....i think its just QF being lazy and not bothered to do anything....no competition i guess in the past.

Hope they come up with something to improve the WP offering, as I'm alittle disappointed that i didnt succeed with the upgrade lottery on QF11 today....even though expert flyer is showing 2 x J seats...oh well......its QF so you cant expect too much.

On the car rental side I suspect QF will struggle, with their move into an exclusive partnership with one rental car company (that does not have a frequent rental scheme that is tiered). The Hotel side is better, unless you look at whats left and their footprint in Australia where the majority of earning would occur, SPG/Hyatt/Marriott are hardly growing their presence.

 

[TonyHancock]

...oh well......its QF so you cant expect too much.

I must admit this comment struck a chord with me. It is exactly how I am now.

I'm sure Platinum One will go ahead. I'd like to think that QF will finally show that it is a genuine premium airline......but my fear is that there will be a host of benefits that are meaningless to the "heavy duty" frequent flyer. I have read comments about flight simulator access and personal travel assistant...neither of which would be of any interest to me. :-| I would just like more upgrade opportunities and anything that will improve the quality of my time in the air and at the airport. QF should be doing this for its current WP's anyhow.

Whilst I can accept that QF wanted to keep it's powder dry on Platinum One I don't think the "teaser" announcement was very well done, but I know little about running an airline marketing campaign.

Afterthought

Is this an opportunity for QF to send a rep here to reassure its frequent flyers?

 

[simongr]

For me personally the hotel thing is not a big deal in terms of retaining WP with DJ/VA. If I can retain status in my own right after the comp period then flying doesnt impact that - the same goes for all he comp status items. What would potentially be a game changer would perhaps be a status uplift with partners - so if you are WP with DJ/VA and retained silver with HHonors then they would comp to Gold and Gold to Plat etc.

I think they will proceed with WP1 but I think they might be starting to see some push back from QF WP - it is a real question - why bother flying twice as much for marginal extra benefits?

 

[simongr]

but I know little about running an airline marketing campaign.

I don't think you are the only one...

 

[Scrimo]

What about the announcement Red Roo made about the lunch at Rockpool? It stated

"13 October 2011 and want to get the inside scoop on what's happening @ QFF including details on the new Platinum One proposition and changes to the Upgrades experience?"


It would seem they plan to say something about WP1 but not that its been canned.

 

[ozbeachbabe]

Whilst I can accept that QF wanted to keep it's powder dry on Platinum One I don't think the "teaser" announcement was very well done, but I know little about running an airline marketing campaign.

You probably still know more that the people that actually do the marketing campaign! :shock:

Reminds me of a quote a former boss loved to recount where a heckler shouted out to a former PM "tell us all you know Bob Menzies it won't take long" to which he replied "I can tell you what we both know & it won't take any longer"! Classic.

 

[MrJetset]

I am VERY impressed with DJ's offering. I did not anticipate reciprocal status with any other company. While I strive to maintain elite status with Hyatt and SPG, the status match to Hilton is immensely valued in cities where the other two chains have no presence (increasingly so in Australia).

The reciprocal status is as good as some of the AMEX Platinum Charge card benefits.

Will I switch most of my flights to DJ? Unsure.

Will I use the upgrades on my SYD-PER trips? Absolutely.

Will I choose VA over JQ? After my trip to HKT, absolutely. VA Business for the same price completely outshone JQ's Y+ (I refuse to call it Business).

The lack of international alliances, however, will mean that I will still requalify for WP, and forget WP1. DJ will get revenue from me that previously used to go to QF.

I think QF may lose WPs who mainly fly domestic when DJ is offering benefits above and beyond what QF can or does.

 

[GoldenWinger]

DJ's elite status offer for Hitlon or IHG is fantastic.

Totally agree with your people's comments on here...WP1 needs to come out and soon...

But when has QF ever been pro-active - only ever reactive - lol

 

[OverrideServlet]

It's definitely going ahead.

I was seated next to someone random at a cafe 2 days ago. They were discussing the Platinum One implementation (amongst other things) on the phone. This person very obviously had the highest level of access to the frequent flyer database.

The specifics of what was said aren't relevant so I won't reveal them, also this person did half heartedly attempt to obfuscate parts of the conversation. But I can say that "Platinum One" was mention several times and it's definitely going ahead.

 

[straitman]

I have heard through the grapevine that the peeps at QF are nowhere near ready to launch plat one - they are still trying to decide exactly what it is to offer. It could potentially be delayed until next year or scraped all togther.

Not so smart of QF dragging their feet with this one - particularly with so many now having 'jumped ship' to Virgin Australia.

I have to agree with others that the biggest pointer to this rumour not being true is the 'Have your say with the QFF CEO over lunch at Rockpool Bar and Grill... ' thread by Red Roo.

 

[bigjobs]

my 2 cents ...

I am LTG with QFF. I travel with 2 bags normally, my personal stuff and work kit in normal sized hard case samsonite luggage.

Now QF will only allow me to travel with one bag up to 32kg or DJ will allow me 32kg across a number of bags. My total weight is not more than 32kg normally and I am happy to pay if there is more.

QF can get stuffed. Between the baggage issue, DJ's status match (which I have done) and the add ons they include I will fly DJ from now on.

 

[Red Roo]

I can confirm details are being announced in October with launch soon after and definitely prior to Christmas (this year!). We will be launching details of our upgrades changes in October also.

 

[PP1]

I'd be interested to hear more about the changes to the upgrades. in the past 8 weeks I have taken 21 domestic QF flights - 10 in business and 11 economy. Not once have my economy flights been upgraded and I have even been told there are no J seats after trying to upgrade with points. In many cases it's been clear after take off that there were in fact spare seats. Let's hope the P1 status gives something back to the loyal flyers

 

[JohnK]

So if Platinum One still goes ahead and as it is a much higher tier is there really any comparison with VA Platinum?

For me the proof in the pudding will be for QF to actually provide some enhancements to Platinum status and not what is offered for Platinum One. :shock: