QFF Platinum Benefits

[kempvet]

A future trip to the USA and a status credit run with AA may enable me to go Platinum QFF.

1. I know that I can then access the first lounges of oneworld airlines but does this give me the same rights as someone who has paid for a first class ticket. For example at LHR I notice that there is dining for first class ticket holders, but where does a oneworld emerald stand when they have an economy ticket, is the dining complementary or is there no dining at all, just the same food as you would get in the business lounge, are many of the things that are complimentary to the first class ticket holder available to the emerald oneworld card holder traveling on an economy ticket. Also where does the guest that I take stand, what is complementary to them in the first class lounge.

2, I may be able to go platinum in the first month of the yearly status credit cycle, does this mean that I can remain platinum for almost 2 years? I notice that in the terms and conditions you must get 1200 status credits to remain platinum, what if in 20 months I only have 200 status credits, is there something in the system that can tell them to kick me off.

I know that these are basic questions, but my reading of the airline websites has not given me a clear answer at this stage.

 

[Danger]

A future trip to the USA and a status credit run with AA may enable me to go Platinum QFF.

1. I know that I can then access the first lounges of oneworld airlines but does this give me the same rights as someone who has paid for a first class ticket. For example at LHR I notice that there is dining for first class ticket holders, but where does a oneworld emerald stand when they have an economy ticket, is the dining complementary or is there no dining at all, just the same food as you would get in the business lounge, are many of the things that are complimentary to the first class ticket holder available to the emerald oneworld card holder traveling on an economy ticket. Also where does the guest that I take stand, what is complementary to them in the first class lounge.

Not, not quite the same rights but very close. You need to be a bit more specific with what you mean by dining at LHR. However, if you're referring to anything other than access to the BA First lounges (T3 and T5) and the associated dining that goes on there, then no, there is nothing else. For example, a oneworld Emerald passenger does not have acces to BA's Concorde Room; BA First passengers do.

Again, I'm not sure what lounge you're specifically referring to, but the food is of a higher standard (eg. range) than the Business lounge.

Your guest iis able to avail themselves of everything in the First lounge that you are entitled to: food, drink, spa facilities etc.

2, I may be able to go platinum in the first month of the yearly status credit cycle, does this mean that I can remain platinum for almost 2 years? I notice that in the terms and conditions you must get 1200 status credits to remain platinum, what if in 20 months I only have 200 status credits, is there something in the system that can tell them to kick me off.

I know that these are basic questions, but my reading of the airline websites has not given me a clear answer at this stage.

Yes, you will remain Platinum for the remainder of our current membership year plus one additional year. That is, if you meet the requirements very, very quickly, you can essentially have the status for almost two years.

Yes, the system knows how many SCs you earn and will automatically change your status to what you did in fact earn. So, in your example, if you earn only 200 SCs, you would drop to Bronze. That said, there is evidence around AFF that Platinums who did not retain the status receive a soft landing, dropping only to Gold regardless of their earn. However, this isn't official (as far as I know) and shouldn't be relied upon.

 

[kempvet]

Yes, the system knows how many SCs you earn and will automatically change your status to what you did in fact earn. So, in your example, if you earn only 200 SCs, you would drop to Bronze. That said, there is evidence around AFF that Platinums who did not retain the status receive a soft landing, dropping only to Gold regardless of their earn. However, this isn't official (as far as I know) and shouldn't be relied upon.

yes, I have also heard this talked about by staff at the QClub, apparently platinum FFs that have built status credits less than Gold can be dropped to gold if they say have only 200 status credits, as long as they have flown at least 4 Qantas ticketed flights in the qualifying year, but it is on a case by case basis, I guess that someone who has achieved platinum with a large status credit run on AA may not get it, compared to someone who often flies the Qantas domestic brand, none of the staff seem to know the rules regarding a soft landing

 

[tuapekastar]

Just to reinforce Danger's comments, as far as I know, QF Platinums get unfettered access to First Class lounges etcetera across the oneworld network, as do their guests (normally limited to one). There is the occasional thing that individual airlines have for their own members that falls outside oneworld benefits, such as BA's Concorde Room at LHR and JFK, which is reserved for actual F passengers on BA, and certain BA Gold members. These exceptions are few and far between, and BA has separate F lounges in these locations as well anyway, that QF platinums and other OWE can access and dine at (I have not been to these particular lounges so cannot comment on what dining is available).

Also as per Danger's advice, dependent on how soon in your membership year you first earn it, you could have platinum status lasting almost 2 years. As far as I know you will always have a 'soft landing' to Gold regardless of how few SCs you accrue during that time, but I'm not 100% sure if the '4 segment' rule comes into play there (I don't think so, but will stand corrected).

 

[TonyHancock]

The BA/QF F lounge at LHR T3 has a "separate" dining room at one end of the lounge. This is for F class passengers only. If you are traveling in F you are issued with a "pass"' either at check in, or as you enter the lounge, that gives you access to the dining room.

I should add that if you are not flying F you can order food from the lounge menu which I would rate as a bit above the general J lounge food.

 

[Blackadder]

Thought the soft landing applied to all levels, not just Platinum.

 

[serfty]

...That said, there is evidence around AFF that Platinums who did not retain the status receive a soft landing, dropping only to Gold regardless of their earn. However, this isn't official (as far as I know) and shouldn't be relied upon.

Even though it may not be publicly documented, the 'soft landing' has been a facet of QFF ever since I can remember.

A close friend who was WP had to stop travelling flying for medical reasons some time ago and went from WP->SG->PS->NB over 4 years.

Thought the soft landing applied to all levels, not just Platinum.

It does apply so in practice.

 

[Heleigh]

The F lounge is long and sectioned off so walk thur and see where you will be most comfortable. If you turn left far end is seating and computer with basic food, walking back - champagne bar, kids closed in room, maybe couple of small areas then the major dining and lastly F dining room.

As most have stated there is dining in F lounge T3 (Not use T5 - been to concorde only) my thoughts are of the F dining room is it for F pax on late departure so you don't have to eat on flight and have max sleeping time. My flights have been day flight from T3 and the private dining room has been closed.

They do offer a nice menu with waiter service (the room just outside of the F dining room - not sure if throughout the whole lounge) and compared to AA Flagship and CX (2009) at T3 much nicer - I enjoyed the meals I've had - vast improvement on any J lounges meals had by me.

Also between F and J entances is spa for shower facilities to freshen up and opp Spa is a locker room to check you on board and/or shopping bags so you don't have to take into lounge (my be available to J lounge??).

There is no discrimination between you and your guest.

Lead to beleive in SYD Flounge OT and in another thread Y pax (not all) have been able to use Spa for massage but in T3 I think it is only J and F pax flying on BA and QF ticket only have use of Spa (massage).

 

[serfty]

...
Lead to beleive in SYD Flounge OT and in another thread Y pax (not all) have been able to use Spa for massage but in T3 I think it is only J and F pax flying on BA and QF ticket only have use of Spa (massage).

No - The published priority Qantas First class passengers get is they are able to book their spa before the day of the flight.

Other PAX with access to the lounge take their chances with what booking spaces remain when the enter the lounge.

 

[kempvet]

OK, thanks for all the replies.

At the moment I fly to the USA about 8 times a year from SYD, with some domestic flights within the USA and make at least one trip a year from the USA to Europe and from the USA to northern Asia. I am self employed and get thousands of ffpoints buying stock on credit cards, so some of the flights are paid and some are on points.

It would seem that it is worthwhile to push for platinum as the Flounge sounds not far off what a paying Fticket person would get. A bonus is using the OW Flounges where Qantas doesn't fly. It is also a bonus to double ffpoints on the trips that I pay for on Qantas.

Briefly, what are the other benefits of platinum, if I use points upgrades on full fares what are the chances of getting these upgrades, and preferred seating, what are the chances of getting the seats that I want if platinum flying in economy. Bit of a difficult question I know, as it depends on flights, time of year, etc, but just a general idea would help

 

[markis10]

OK, thanks for all the replies.

At the moment I fly to the USA about 8 times a year from SYD, with some domestic flights within the USA and make at least one trip a year from the USA to Europe and from the USA to northern Asia. I am self employed and get thousands of ffpoints buying stock on credit cards, so some of the flights are paid and some are on points.

It would seem that it is worthwhile to push for platinum as the Flounge sounds not far off what a paying Fticket person would get. A bonus is using the OW Flounges where Qantas doesn't fly. It is also a bonus to double ffpoints on the trips that I pay for on Qantas.

Briefly, what are the other benefits of platinum, if I use points upgrades on full fares what are the chances of getting these upgrades, and preferred seating, what are the chances of getting the seats that I want if platinum flying in economy. Bit of a difficult question I know, as it depends on flights, time of year, etc, but just a general idea would help

You should be platinum already, I would suggest some reading of the JASA and ATO threads will make a big difference to your future, to the point where upgrades will often be unecessary!

 

[el_rooto]

No - The published priority Qantas First class passengers get is they are able to book their spa before the day of the flight.

Other PAX with access to the lounge take their chances with what booking spaces remain when the enter the lounge.

Its anyone that has access to the first hosts service...

 

[kempvet]

You should be platinum already

not really, too many flights with points, I am now shifting more points flights to originate from the USA where there is hardly any surchages, and paying for flights from SYD (the surchages return to LAX are sometimes over 700 dollars if booked with the 96,000 points) where if I buy the fare outright, it is about 1300 dollars, a loyalty bonus with one of my wholesalers converts 3 of their points to 2 QFF points, or you can cash out the wholesaler points, 150,000 wholesaler points gives you 1500 dollars cash or 100,000 QFF points. I am 900 dollars better off not converting the wholesaler points and simply cashing them in and paying for the flight outright, in addition I can earn status credits and also FF points. Diners club was offering a 4 point per dollar spent at one of my wholesalers, so I ending up earning 800,000 points a year doing what I had to do anyway.

End of story, I have been very lazy with the use of points as they came too easy and need to do something about it. After reading a few of these posts, I have reallised that there are first class trips to Europe and northen asia from the US that I could have had, but have blown too many points getting to the USA from SYD! Hope the other half never reads thses posts!

I would suggest some reading of the JASA and ATO threads will make a big difference to your future, to the point where upgrades will often be unecessary!

yes, badly need to read these posts, thanks for the advice, only time that I got an upgrade to business on Qantas was when the couldn't read my boarding pass in Singapore, in their haste they printed another one, no seats left in economy or premium economy so it placed me in business!

 

[samh004]

not really, too many flights with points

I think markis10 would have meant that while you can use your points for classic flight awards, for virtually the same price in some cases you can also use them for Any Seat Awards and also earn points and status credits on them, thus earning you status.

Once you learn the secret behind JASA’s and FASA’s you’ll never be the same again

 

[markis10]

150,000 wholesaler points gives you 1500 dollars cash or 100,000 QFF points. I am 900 dollars better off not converting the wholesaler points and simply cashing them in and paying for the flight outright, in addition I can earn status credits and also FF points. Diners club was offering a 4 point per dollar spent at one of my wholesalers, so I ending up earning 800,000 points a year doing what I had to do anyway.

I stand by my comments that you should be platinum already, if you are buying flights for 2K return in Y that were mostly paid for using your wholesalers points, then you have missed a Platinum opportunity in my books, eg:



If you were platinum the net cost after points earned is 75K each way + $615 for 220 SC and the terrible need to be in the J cabin!




I am not sure what the taxation differences are between converting those points to cash or QFF points, that will be a factor obviously as well.

 

[serfty]

e.g. Yesterday I booked a JASA MEL-xSYD-LAX for 96K QFF points and $504 all up (including the $30 CC levy).

Being a WP, this will earn 220 SC's and 19,978 QFF points, so base points cost is 76K.

(Also, I earn 1230 from my CC and up to 3250 in pro-rata loyalty bonus.)

To book this as a classic costs 96K points and $350 in +++. No points or SC's are earned.

 

[tuapekastar]

Thought the soft landing applied to all levels, not just Platinum.

Agreed, it was not my intention to imply anything else, just that the specific question here related to Platinum.

 

[Cynicor]

With regards to the Concorde lounge at JFK, are you allowed access if on the BA JFK-LHR flight, as a first class passenger, but on the AA code-share?

 

[MelUser]

A qantas platinum travelling business class is not allowed to use the Business class dining room in BA's JFK lounge. In fact I dare say a Qantas platinum in any class on qantas metal ex JFK would not be allowed into the business class dining room.

BA is very stingy with access to its dining rooms!

 

[el_rooto]

A qantas platinum travelling business class is not allowed to use the Business class dining room in BA's JFK lounge. In fact I dare say a Qantas platinum in any class on qantas metal ex JFK would not be allowed into the business class dining room.

BA is very stingy with access to its dining rooms!

QF only operates J and Y ex JFK.