re: What else is burning members about recent "enhancements" to QFF?
In conjunction with the addition of 'on arrival' Qantas Club access . . .
It's not an addition, Qantas rep. That benefit always existed. Don't pretend you're doing Platinums a favour.
I'm not sure why the arrival access wasn't included in the initial email, but can confirm that it's a benefit available to Platinum members from February 2011.
Call me a cynic but this makes me think that the 'concession' announced by
Red Roo was not a concession at all, merely an omission from the original email. I'm not for a moment suggesting she/he was dishonest in her/his post, but maybe we've been 'had' by this apparent middle-grounding.
2. Compared to Gold membership, the difference in benefits are quite significant. Double the Status bonus
Okay, fair enough.
access to International First Lounges and Domestic Business Lounges
Where they exist. Qantas said there'd be one a domestic J in Perth and that got scrubbed.
. . . dedicated priority phone reservations
I find this a very worthy benefit of Platinum.
. . . higher priority for the allocation of upgrades and membership services
This is debatable. And with Silvers now getting a bigger slice of the pie, there's even more frequent flyers trying to get their hands on the very limited seats.
According to your website the benefit of priority boarding applies only to "selected Qantas international flights". Oh, and the Qantas website also states this benefit applies - identically - for Platinum
and Gold.
Of course, Qantas rep, you may be talking about priority security, in which case yes, that's a Platinum- oh, nope, sorry. According to your website access to priority security lanes at selected domestic airports is available to
both Platinum
and Gold.
and [priority] baggage handling
We've all debated this and I think the general consensus is it doesn't live up to its promise. My home port of Perth is particularly bad, not just from my experience it seems. I'll see this as a benefit when it actually works out as it should.
and more. Basically, you receive a higher level of service compared to Gold Frequent Flyers, whether if be membership benefits, enquiries or day of travel facilities and services.
Ummmm, like what? Aside from the domestic J lounge (again, where they exist), the Qantas website lists on-departure upgrades, priority waitlisting, the loyalty bonus, the 1000 point minimum guarantee . . . they're all the same for Platinum
and Gold.
So when you take out the hyperbole and the propaganda and the spin-doctoring, Qantas rep, Platinums are indeed left with very little.
I'd like to be clear: I don't wish to sound like a 'do you know who I am?' I'm simply trying to determine (like many others, it seems) why I or any other QFF would want to strive to achieve Platinum over Gold. On the upside, no doubt one day I'll drop to Gold - and while the grass won't be greener, it'll look much the same.
Time to re-work your standard email response defence, Qantas!
