Firstly in relation to my earlier posts, last year CSM seemed to always meet/greet, offer headphones, maybe a drink and/or newspaper, and handout express arrival cards inbound. This year (if you count 1 of them being just before xmas) 0 out 4 meet/greet as WP. Maybe this has been discontinued?
I'm in two minds around upgrades. These things come at a cost, and there is a tendency out there for airlines who are fairly "mean" with their upgrading policies (either through FF programs or otherwise) to be some of the more profitable airlines. As airlines in Australia don't have an equivalent of Chapter 11 protection I'm happy to live without the "charity" of an overly generous upgrade policy threatening the viability of the airline and therefore my status and points.
Having said that, I think an NZ style program with a small number of complementary (but not confirmed) upgrades has merit. The "lottery" coupled with the small quantity is probably enough to prevent a lot of leakage of J customers to the Y cabin expecting upgrades, but generous enought to create goodwill and encourage use of NZ.
The other thing that would be nice - would be for QF to be a little more generous in requesting classic award seats, as they used to be. Once upon a time you could request on most flights - but now (don't know if it's true or not) was told only can request if Q class available (or D in the business cabin). If Q class is available usually its not very good value using points (unless of course part of a oneworld award).
Generally though I think the benefits offered to platinum's are reasonable, always important to remember "enhacements" usually come with a cost. Probably for many, comparisons to other programs are not so pertinent, but for me in the last 12 months I had a choice to try to keep WP or SQ PPS - and decided on WP. Comparing to SQ PPS status, I think QF WP is considerably better - 100% status bonus (vs 25% - although the burn rates negate some of this), anytime lounge access, FCL access whenever fly OW, access to FC check-ins, priority seating. I think QF actually have a reasonable offer (by contrast on SQ, no access to F lounge unless flying F, must be flying * to access SQ J lounge and even worse in SIN where must be flying SQ to access KF (J) lounge, priority seating with aisle preference = window allocation or aisle in back half of 777 for my last 6 SQ flights in Y ....etc).
but of course you actually have to fly). I don't like the idea how in AA you can become an elite without having to set foot on a plane.
