QFF Gold to Platinum Difference Noticed

[Princess Fiona]

I got to experience a much better platinum benefit this afternoon, when I missed my flight by about 5 minutes, thanks "incident ahead" on the M5. I fronted the J lounge service desk at SYD, asked if they can help look for another flight, expecting to pay a heap of money (was booking on an E fare). Got put straight onto the next flight, no charge, no hassles and even given a choice of seats.

+1 (or 6 ) the entire Shrek family missed a SYD-BNE during school holidays due to traffic problems, all seats were Classic Awards. Re-booked on next flight by CSA at no charge and we didn't even have to ask , v nice "unpublished " benefit of WP x 2

 

[Stealth]

It's generally only Cityflyers to/from Perth that get a complimentary alcoholic drink with lunch.

Thats another benefit of living in Perth then. I rarely fly lunch time into/out of other cities, so wasn't aware that it was not the norm.

 

[ReLoad]

Just on the greetings:

International J, the CSM came up personally introduced himself after take off, welcomed me back, spent a good 5 minutes chatting.

Domestic, the majority of times get the "Welcome Back Mr Reload" upon boarding, never had any special greeting while seated.

Flew Thai to Kolkatta a couple of years back in J. Had a personal escort everywhere at BKK airport. to/from lounges and to the connecting flight. Thier serivce was amazing.

 

[Simsy85]

I have to say, i'm a Gold member, but i usually travel 9 times out 10 with a CL member, always in J, but even when i'm not travelling with him, I get a "Good Morning/Afternoon Mr Simsy".

Hate to tell you all, my gut feeling is its to do with the fact your flying J in most case's and the odd greeting you get in Y is because of your status...

Either that, or its cos the staff really are getting to know you!

 

[Verde]

I have to say, i'm a Gold member, but i usually travel 9 times out 10 with a CL member, always in J, but even when i'm not travelling with him, I get a "Good Morning/Afternoon Mr Simsy".

Hate to tell you all, my gut feeling is its to do with the fact your flying J in most case's and the odd greeting you get in Y is because of your status...

Either that, or its cos the staff really are getting to know you!

I've only had about half a dozen flights since making Gold, but none of them have greeted me by name so far, so I'd add a vote to it being the business class as the more substantial factor.

In fact, the last flight I boarded I don't think I was even spoken to, the FA looked zoned out and didn't say anything as I showed my boarding pass - felt like she was looking past me.

 

[simongr]

I have to say, i'm a Gold member, but i usually travel 9 times out 10 with a CL member, always in J, but even when i'm not travelling with him, I get a "Good Morning/Afternoon Mr Simsy".

Hate to tell you all, my gut feeling is its to do with the fact your flying J in most case's and the odd greeting you get in Y is because of your status...

Either that, or its cos the staff really are getting to know you!

Are you referring to DOM flights? I generally fly whY DOM and still get the greeting on boarding - nothing whilst seated (other than when I had to return home urgently when my wife was ill).

 

[drewbles]

Are you referring to DOM flights? I generally fly whY DOM and still get the greeting on boarding - nothing whilst seated (other than when I had to return home urgently when my wife was ill).

Strangely, on my BNE-MEL flight yesterday, I got nothing at the gate, nothing on boarding (when the person in front of me and behind me got 'welcome back mr smith' (I put this down to my last name just being too much of a challenge for them).

The CSM then came and introduced herself to me (and pronounced my last name perfectly without hesitation or prompting). I was then invited to use the business class lavs if required 'even though i've shut the curtain you're more than welcome to use them if you wish'.

Was most surprised for a domestic flight considering i've never had it before.

 

[Simsy85]

I'm doing DRW-ADL-MEL-SYD in J on Wednesday - Friday this week... will let you know how I go - 4 opportunities, I bet 4 greetings!

I have faith in ye yet Qantas!!

 

[Simsy85]

Whoops, make that:

DRW - ADL - MEL - SYD - DRW

Then the following week

DRW - GOV - CNS - BNE - DRW

So 8 flights over the next 2 weeks

Lets see what score they get out of 10!!

 

[medhead]

I was sat in the exit row this morning, for a change. Surrounded by a sea of gold flyers. Except for another platinum in the aisle seat opposite me. When the headsets were handed out I heard at least 2 "mates" as in "thereyago mate".

I'm yet to get a mate as a platinum, so another difference.

 

[samh004]

The CSM then came and introduced herself to me (and pronounced my last name perfectly without hesitation or prompting). I was then invited to use the business class lavs if required 'even though i've shut the curtain you're more than welcome to use them if you wish'.

Was most surprised for a domestic flight considering i've never had it before.

Now that’s a nice benefit

I couldn’t work out how to say your name either, from that boarding pass that slipped through

 

[burrco]

On my last flight I had the small lunch quiche type thing thrown at me with some force - I guess that was a greeting of sorts!

 

[koro25]

i am SG and was greeted only once on the way back home to Brissi from Frankfurt via SIN, then nothing from there onwards, and that is at-least 20 sectors DOM and Int traveled since then. Maybe because i travel Y class

 

[Oneworldplus2]

Strangely, on my BNE-MEL flight yesterday, I got nothing at the gate, nothing on boarding (when the person in front of me and behind me got 'welcome back mr smith' (I put this down to my last name just being too much of a challenge for them).

The CSM then came and introduced herself to me (and pronounced my last name perfectly without hesitation or prompting). I was then invited to use the business class lavs if required 'even though i've shut the curtain you're more than welcome to use them if you wish'.

Was most surprised for a domestic flight considering i've never had it before.

I've never heard of that happening before. Very interesting. What row were you seated in for that flight?

 

[ComeFlyWithMe]

As with all things Qantas, the only consistency is inconsistency.

I've had some great experiences on early morning flights on a Saturday SYD-MEL with a CSM seeking me out and welcoming me onboard and asking me what selection of newspaper I would like, in addition to thanking me for continuing to choose QF. Peak times, i've been lucky to get a greeting - they can't seem to read the new boarding 'slips' thanks to NGCI it seems.

Conversely, as a WP flying in domestic J, I've had attitude from the 'queen' who was assigned to me who couldn't quite get a mineral water with lemon and no ice right after 4 or 5 tries. The last one was lemonade and I told him not to bother. He then made his way back to the galley and screamed across the entire cabin 'I'll have to get someone else to help YOU it seems'. I was quite embarassed, and only my schedule at the time prevented me from writing a 'Dear Qantas'.

Internationally, I've had both great, average and horrible experiences in Y, J and F. I recall a time when the FA exclaimed 'ah f^&* it' right beside me in J coming back from SFO as he couldn't separate a napkin. That warranted a complaint. Apparently the gentleman (term used loosely) no longer works for QF.

So in summary, in my experience it is hit and miss... you must have been lucky.

On a side note, I've yet to see any material changes to SYD dom J lounge... so much for a renovation...

 

[Postcode]

As with all things Qantas, the only consistency is inconsistency.

And this is a consistent theme with QF. It shouldn't matter if no QFF status or CL status, there should be a consistent acceptable level of service. Extras are nice too of course for those who direct more business their way. Treat all passengers like they matter and they will return. Basic business sense I would have thought.

There are a heap of other airlines looking for business.

 

[drewbles]

I've never heard of that happening before. Very interesting. What row were you seated in for that flight?

6C. Was quite an ordeal actually. I left my phone in a cab, and the truly awesome girl at the BNE J lounge offered to move me to the next flight to ensure I could get my mobile back before I left (I was using the reception phone to chase the phone up as the one in the lounge did not allow calls to 13 or mobile numbers).

The CSM on board was welcoming all plats back on board (which were in the first 10 rows from what I could see of her trip up the aisle). She was a genuinely happy type of person. More CSM's could take leaves from her book!

 

[parsonstrish]

Flying out of lax-akl 11/12 the csm came to each of us in J and shook our hand and greeted us by name. I've not had this happen previously. The rest of the crew were awesome. I have found the staff's attitude and behaviour are reflection of the csm (generally).

The crew from akl-syd were also awesome, used each person's name in J constantly and their attitude and behaviour equalled the previous crew.

Then the crew syd-bne and bne-tsv were also awesome. Only 5 of us in J bne-tsv and the csm spent quite a bit of time with each of us.

The captain on syd-bne flt. came out to departure area and advise us there would be a delay as the crew for our flt. were on another flt. and assisting a pass. on that flt. who was ill. He apologized a couple of more times during the actual flt. through pa system for the delay.

 

[JohnK]

....the entire Shrek family missed a SYD-BNE during school holidays due to traffic problems, all seats were Classic Awards. Re-booked on next flight by CSA at no charge and we didn't even have to ask , v nice "unpublished " benefit of WP x 2

In my experience it is not an "unpublished" benefit of Platinum status.

I have been re-booked on later flights at no charge and I have also been made to pay the change fee. It is all up to the agent and more than likely it depends on the mood they are in at the time. I have also been told that it is not possible to waive the change fees as they are under much more scrutiny now.

Who to believe?

 

[Oneworldplus2]

+1 (or 6 ) the entire Shrek family missed a SYD-BNE during school holidays due to traffic problems, all seats were Classic Awards. Re-booked on next flight by CSA at no charge and we didn't even have to ask , v nice "unpublished " benefit of WP x 2

I think that l have seen your other half around the place PF...???

View attachment 1538

LOL