The Unloved WP Thread

[samiam]

I am sitting in the SYD J lounge having a 2008 Tollana Pinot Noir with a decent meal of Minestrone with smoky bacon and Argentinia style braised beef ...

Hope it's adequately defrosted

The changes do not encourage any additional travel for me with Qantas - *SHOCK* - might be BFOD from now on.

 

[russ]

Enjoy the J lounge while you can!

In order to provide some differentiation between WP and P1, I reckon they'll be pushing the WPs out of the J lounge.

Hooray!

 

[el_rooto]

Enjoy the J lounge while you can!

In order to provide some differentiation between WP and P1, I reckon they'll be pushing the WPs out of the J lounge.

Hooray!

Fewer people could just be not re-qualifying for WP hence dropping the numbers.

 

[QF029]

Enjoy the J lounge while you can!

In order to provide some differentiation between WP and P1, I reckon they'll be pushing the WPs out of the J lounge.

Hooray!

More likely they'll give anytime access.

 

[medhead]

I am sitting in the SYD J lounge having a 2008 Tollana Pinot Noir with a decent meal of Minestrone with smoky bacon and Argentinia style braised beef & I have been allocated an exit row. My tummy is full & I feel good and I will use the flight to respond to emails - I'd rather be a WP than a SG.

The Minestrone was good last week, I didn't notice the argentinia beef bit. But then the guy brings the meal to me anywhere in the lounge. Did you read the tasting note for the Pinot Noir - nose of cherries and forest floor. Ummm, cherries and damp, rotting vegetation.*

* to those who saw, yes I did mention this on facebook

 

[JohnK]

Did I miss the thread on Platinum One? Was there an official announcement of a new level?

I have been saying, expecting, for a while that the new Platinum status will require 2400 SCs (2100 SCs to requalify), Gold status 1400 SCs (1200 SCs to requalify) and Silver Status 700 SCs (600 SCs to requalify).

Have Qantas raised the bar to 3600 SCs?

Although I feel unloved I will still try to maintain Platinum status for now as there are no viable alternatives....

 

[awilcockson]

Did I miss the thread on Platinum One? Was there an official announcement of a new level?

Not sure if you are serious, but ...

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....ming-qantas-frequent-flyer-changes-30095.html

 

[oz_mark]

Nup! PO (i.e. "pooh') I reckon as Plat One.

QPoo has a ring to it....

 

[serfty]

I have been a top level QFF for ~12 of the last 17 years. Other than the beginning when had QP for ~19 months (while being "old" Blue/Silver) and was 2nd Tier SG for 4 years.

I have seen many alterations to the program over that time. During that period, being WP (or "Old" Gold) has always had significant additional benefits over SG (or "Old" Silver) and certainly worth striving for (if one was regularly travelling).

This year's (so far) two major changes really devalue being WP in relation to SG.

PO will be a new tier with "special" (to be determined) benefits - it's really not a new level; it's just out on the open, publicised and specifically attainable. This points to WP not really having been top level within Qantas for several years - it has indeed been obvious there were unpublished criteria for additional benefits.

So WP is no longer the Eldorado of QF Status!

OTTOMH, Some of the current defined benefits WP have over SG are:

1. Oneworld First Class lounge access.
2. Ability to pre-allocate from a greater range of seating on a QF flight.
3. 33% greater QFF status bonus earn on QF/JQ/AA/BA flights.
4. Amongst the first group of PAX being considered for points reward upgrade on international QF Flights on QF metal.

In relation to each point:

1. As against Business lounge/QP, I would expect this to continue for the foreseeable future.
2. This is apparent from anecdotes, Qantas can vary this at their whim.
3. This was 50% greater
4. Probably no longer, I'm sure PO will get first dibs going forward. (i.e. a PO on a U ASA will be upgraded before a mere WP on a B fare)

In the last two decades I have had various employment roles, most of which had me doing a lot of work related travel. I could have travelled on industry fares if I desired, but was generally able to get permission use strategic Apex fares and later Red e-deals and the like to continue status. If I perceived insufficient travel for the status level I considered attainable, I would do (what I now know to be) a Mileage Run.

My employment related travel is basically no more these days. For the last 18 months I have been travelling out of my own pocket. I have met some great people and seen some wonderful places in that time.

Now to the Crux of this post! Being now Lifetime Gold, I am wondering if WP is still worth pursuing. I am AirNZ gold Elite, as such I can book any fare (including awards) and upgrade on the spot (just like the early 2000's with QFF). Oneworld sapphire stills gets reasonable benefit with oneworld travel (just no F/Lounging on non F fares).

I really am re-considering my loyalty to Qantas.

 

[JohnK]

Not sure if you are serious, but ...

Well there you go. I only logged on to AFF tonight and it is one of the hottest threads of all time and I missed it. :shock:

Can't be too good by the sounds of things so off I go to read the bad news....

 

[gibbo8]

So what would be needed to fix things?

I have been WP for the past 5 years and think the effort/expense (all self funded) is worth it for the OW emerald status alone. I did not receive the latest double SC offer, but have been op-upped from discount Y to J or Y+ on my last 4 flights to LAX and the F departure lounge is certainly worth something. The total package is still better than SG, even despite the recent "enhancements". Perhaps WP1 will be worth aiming for if additional benefits are gained (but not at the expense of the current WP status).

 

[notzac]

SP! Now I'll know what to tell people when they ask me where I was when NYCguy coined the acronym.

Shall we take a vote? I think SP covers it quite nicely as well

As for my own impression of the changes ... I'd already decided to drop down to SG, these changes merely confirm that there is little reason for me to attempt to maintain WP.

 

[serfty]

Shall we take a vote? I think SP covers it quite nicely as well ...

I prefer the Pooh as in PO ...

Now such decisions apparently need to be made in conjunction with [-]copious[/-] reasonable [RSA] quantities of HP [or equivalent], generally in a QP. Also, it was an FT QP meet at BNE meet where these terms had their conception.

I propose a meet of "unloved WPs" and other AFF and/or FT members to shortly to discuss this and other released issues.

Just need to set a date and a QP for it.

 

[Danger]

I propose a meet of "unloved WPs" and other AFF and/or FT members to shortly to discuss this and other released issues.

Just need to set a date and a QP for it.

Sounds like the anytime access wake in January.

I'm keen.

 

[connieguy]

Perhaps WP1 will be worth aiming for if additional benefits are gained (but not at the expense of the current WP status).

Agreed. But why announce WP1 and give no details? That bit makes me concerned QF are buying WP loyalty for the next 6 months until they tell us the details. If they were WP positive, then I suggest they would be telling us now.

So QF, 1/12 of your WPs are starting their new year, like I'm doing and I suggest most will easily re-qualify as I will. My issue is I can make WP and AA EXP OR WP1. My question is will WP1 be worth what AA EXP is to me as I do a lot of AA system flying in the states and South America. I fund my flying myself and will never be a big J and F spender. AA EXP will give me AA domestic F travel at discount Y prices and 8 AA system wide upgrades to J from discount Y per year cost without it costing any QF or AA miles.

To me even if WP1 gives CL access and red carpet curb to plane service, it would not be worth what QF WP and AA EXP combined can offer.

So my pathway seems clear. I can't afford to spend 6 months waiting for QF to define what benefits WP1 will deliver. So now I will reluctantly push as much $$ to AA as quickly as I can to get AA EXP as soon as possible and then re-qualify for QF WP.

Had QF made it very clear what the new WP and WP1 benefits will be, I may have decided to shoot for WP1 but with QF not revealing what I'm trying to achieve nor what the benefits are, it will never happen for me. Sorry guys. I'm a loyal Aussie and QF customer since 1971 but announcing WP1 and delaying the details for 6 months just forced my hand.

Sad day actually.

 

[dfcatch]

So what would be needed to fix things?

I have been WP for the past 5 years and think the effort/expense (all self funded) is worth it for the OW emerald status alone. I did not receive the latest double SC offer, but have been op-upped from discount Y to J or Y+ on my last 4 flights to LAX and the F departure lounge is certainly worth something. The total package is still better than SG, even despite the recent "enhancements". Perhaps WP1 will be worth aiming for if additional benefits are gained (but not at the expense of the current WP status).

Nice OpUp results!

I'm jealous. Wish I got that the last few LAX flights that I was stuck in whY.

 

[notzac]

I prefer the Pooh as in PO ...

Now such decisions apparently need to be made in conjunction with [-]copious[/-] reasonable [RSA] quantities of HP [or equivalent], generally in a QP. Also, it was an FT QP meet at BNE meet where these terms had their conception.

I'll pay that.

I propose a meet of "unloved WPs" and other AFF and/or FT members to shortly to discuss this and other released issues.

Just need to set a date and a QP for it.

In addition to this, we also have the troubling issue of coming up with official abbreviations for Velocity status levels. As a number of us now have status with VA, would it perhaps be appropriate to test out the fabled "coughtail hour" that AusBT assures us will exist soonish at one of the remodelled VA lounges?

 

[Bundy Bear]

Shall we take a vote? I think SP covers it quite nicely as well

As for my own impression of the changes ... I'd already decided to drop down to SG, these changes merely confirm that there is little reason for me to attempt to maintain WP.

I think a vote is in order, but I would wait until we hear a bit more about it.

SP - Smug Platinum. (we already have the S for (Scum as in Scum Gold)
or
PO - Platinum One.

I prefer the Pooh as in PO ...

Now such decisions apparently need to be made in conjunction with [-]copious[/-] reasonable [RSA] quantities of HP [or equivalent], generally in a QP. Also, it was an FT QP meet at BNE meet where these terms had their conception.

I propose a meet of "unloved WPs" and other AFF and/or FT members to shortly to discuss this and other released issues.

Just need to set a date and a QP for it.

Your memory is good for someone who wasn't there, 8 years ago time flies :shock:, I think a few of the terms were used before the initial first AGM but they were passed into law, Folk law

I think the upcoming Ozfest will be quite a bit of discussion about the new changes.

 

[drewbles]

I'm not sure we'll see a further devaluation of WP with the introduction of WP1. While the 'intangible' or 'invisible' benefits may change slightly, such as availability of awards, I think QF has copped enough flack lately to not dilute WP any further. The benefits I would suspect will come with WP1 will be more akin to Chairmans Lounge level (although certainly not Chairmans Lounge in its entirety), rather than picking off some of the WP benefits as they are now.

Still, I'd like to see others' thoughts on what the WP1 benefits should be.

I'm of the belief that by actually enhancing (in the true sense of the word) PS and SG, they are in effect de-valuing WP.

Is WP worth flying twice as much (based on SC earn only) than SG? Hell no. And when PO/SP/Whatever we'll call it comes in, what will happen then?

I see Platinum One being a cautionary move. They know the Velocity re-vamp is coming. They know they have pissed off WP's recently (the current flood of surveys and the appearance of Red Roo on here is evident they know they've done something NQR) and are just waiting to see what Velocity brings.

Personally, I see this as a golden opportunity for DJ/VA to have a major win here, but who knows what'll happen.

WP seems to be in limbo-land. All I can see is Platinum One being an 'official' CL for the rest of us. If the numbers of people earning that many SC's really are that low, the CL Lounges shouldn't become over-crowded.

 

[OverrideServlet]

I'm of the belief that by actually enhancing (in the true sense of the word) PS and SG, they are in effect de-valuing WP.

This, this, this. A million times this.