Don’t be offended “mere gold”.... it was meant tongue in cheek. My work (AU govt) makes me fly economy only on un-upgradeable WOG tickets, i.e. cheapest fare available, which usually ends up being discount economy fares. I go from zero to platinum every year in 6 months flat. Sometimes less. That should tell you how much time I spend in QF airplanes. I admit that occasionally I am irritated enough to question my seat neighbours on their experience with the QF FF programme, that’s how these conversations come about.
Domestic business lounge in my experience is no better than Club - in fact, it’s often even more crowded. Food is the same, drinks wine wise is only marginally improved over Club - but Champagne? Comeon, Seppelt bubbly? I’d expect at least Moet, or Veuve Clicquot.
Then on board, you want to charge me for a red wine on Easter monday? As I’ve explained to the purser on that specific flight, and he complied: You DO NOT charge a platinum for wine. Ever!
So what I'm reading is essentially what I've experienced so far: QF Platinum is a bloody label swindle with virtually no better perks than Gold, other than F lounge access which only makes a difference when flying international anyway. To get the real bennies like guaranteed up front seat, one needs P1 or CL. CL is by invitation only, and P1 you drop on order $80k a year on airfares. That's a huge gap from the already quite steep requirements to get to P. How many freakin P members are there!?
As a recent P member I note I am getting access to seats further up the plane than I got with gold and some times rows 4/5 so there is a smidgen of a benefit. Platinum also get domestic business lounges which have a better b’fast and much the same other times, sometimes a nice curry but more room at peak times. The coffee queue is much the same so up to you whether the perks are better. Upgrades and points bonuses are a big deal for me.
Don’t be offended “mere gold”.... it was meant tongue in cheek. My work (AU govt) makes me fly economy only on un-upgradeable WOG tickets, i.e. cheapest fare available, which usually ends up being discount economy fares. I go from zero to platinum every year in 6 months flat. Sometimes less. That should tell you how much time I spend in QF airplanes. I admit that occasionally I am irritated enough to question my seat neighbours on their experience with the QF FF programme, that’s how these conversations come about.
Domestic business lounge in my experience is no better than Club - in fact, it’s often even more crowded. Food is the same, drinks wine wise is only marginally improved over Club - but Champagne? Comeon, Seppelt bubbly? I’d expect at least Moet, or Veuve Clicquot.
Then on board, you want to charge me for a red wine on Easter monday? As I’ve explained to the purser on that specific flight, and he complied: You DO NOT charge a platinum for wine. Ever!
I never asked outside the "normal" drinking times (evening flights). QF have never charged me for that. Except on that woeful easter Monday, where the purser and I ended up in a very public altercation about me dumping tens of thousands of dollars on their business annually and them skimping by not even offering me 1 (one) red wine.
If they fired the person who came up with that rule about weekdays only drinking, they'd have enough money left over to cover for the holiday flights to include wine service.
You DO NOT charge your most loyal customers for wine or beer. That is a non negotiable, and despicable loco carrier behaviour. Period.
Perhaps all of us should send a complaint about this particular topic to bring it to the attention of management (assuming they care/keep some kind of frequent complaints tally). I certainly have lodged my share of emails about that very subject.
To add: Flying from airports where there is no lounge, which usually is on flights operated by e.g. Network, or QL, they always make you pay for wine or beer. I've never received a response to my complaint that if there's no lounge, at least the libations on board for G/P members should be included.
If you're a QF Platinum and flying domestically on QF in Australia you can access a lounge on arrival to have free wine/beer where a lounge is available at your destination.
If they fired the person who came up with that rule about weekdays only drinking, they'd have enough money left over to cover for the holiday flights to include wine service.
You DO NOT charge your most loyal customers for wine or beer. That is a non negotiable, and despicable loco carrier behaviour. Period.
The rule actually came from a time when alcohol was chargeable across the board on the domestic network. When they were going down the Citylink branding (which ended up being most inter capital services), they added complimentary alcohol after 4 pm.
Even now, it is pretty much confined to just the inter capital routes. Go to regional centers (mainline operated), and you will be charged,
I am a QF P/WP and seem to get access to rows 4 and 5 on the 737. Have had no issues. Will remember the T-80 hours as I can't recall this ever being a problem. Booked 2 weeks ago for an end of Feb trip to NZ and got row 5 with ease. Fly on row 5 a lot.
I am a QF P/WP and seem to get access to rows 4 and 5 on the 737. Have had no issues. Will remember the T-80 hours as I can't recall this ever being a problem. Booked 2 weeks ago for an end of Feb trip to NZ and got row 5 with ease. Fly on row 5 a lot.
The blocked seats may differ between domestic and international. For Domestic at least row 4 and 5 tend to be blocked for P1/CL till T-80.
I am a QF P/WP and seem to get access to rows 4 and 5 on the 737. Have had no issues. Will remember the T-80 hours as I can't recall this ever being a problem. Booked 2 weeks ago for an end of Feb trip to NZ and got row 5 with ease. Fly on row 5 a lot.
The blocked seats may differ between domestic and international. For Domestic at least row 4 and 5 tend to be blocked for P1/CL till T-80.
I did get row 5 on my return from Melbourne before T-80. Guess it varies also based on flight times.
A couple of commenters said early on in the thread that row 4 and 5 seats were blocked but ExpertFlyer showed nobody seated there. I think the explanation for this is that even after T-80 there may be CL or P1 Y reservations who haven't sought seat allocation, but the system knows that it must keep the seats for allocation at check-in.
Dunno bout QF but VA block 4 and 5 on the basis that they may be required for people with mobility issues, i.e wheelchair bound, prosthetic legs and other movement issues.
Have found best likelyhood of snaring such a seat is usually at checkin (with an actual person)...or at lounge after electronic checkin is done.
freshthoughts
freshthoughts
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 08 Aug 2016
Total posts 112
The +80h rule just worked for me this morning for the first time. Was able to book previously blocked row 23 on the A333 service SYD-PER.
if I'm not mistaken, it stands for Wanker Platinum. made up by the flyer talk community as a term of endearment ;)
Doktor
Doktor
Member since 24 Jan 2018
Total posts 19
Don’t be offended “mere gold”.... it was meant tongue in cheek. My work (AU govt) makes me fly economy only on un-upgradeable WOG tickets, i.e. cheapest fare available, which usually ends up being discount economy fares. I go from zero to platinum every year in 6 months flat. Sometimes less. That should tell you how much time I spend in QF airplanes. I admit that occasionally I am irritated enough to question my seat neighbours on their experience with the QF FF programme, that’s how these conversations come about.
patrickk
patrickk
Qantas
Member since 19 Apr 2012
Total posts 731
As a recent P member I note I am getting access to seats further up the plane than I got with gold and some times rows 4/5 so there is a smidgen of a benefit. Platinum also get domestic business lounges which have a better b’fast and much the same other times, sometimes a nice curry but more room at peak times. The coffee queue is much the same so up to you whether the perks are better. Upgrades and points bonuses are a big deal for me.
Dr Al
Dr Al
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 07 Mar 2017
Total posts 34
What? free wine? They don't publicise that!
rnickey mouse
rnickey mouse
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 13 Jan 2018
Total posts 5
"What? free wine? They don't publicise that!"
Doktor
Doktor
Member since 24 Jan 2018
Total posts 19
I never asked outside the "normal" drinking times (evening flights). QF have never charged me for that. Except on that woeful easter Monday, where the purser and I ended up in a very public altercation about me dumping tens of thousands of dollars on their business annually and them skimping by not even offering me 1 (one) red wine.
If they fired the person who came up with that rule about weekdays only drinking, they'd have enough money left over to cover for the holiday flights to include wine service.
You DO NOT charge your most loyal customers for wine or beer. That is a non negotiable, and despicable loco carrier behaviour. Period.
Perhaps all of us should send a complaint about this particular topic to bring it to the attention of management (assuming they care/keep some kind of frequent complaints tally). I certainly have lodged my share of emails about that very subject.
To add: Flying from airports where there is no lounge, which usually is on flights operated by e.g. Network, or QL, they always make you pay for wine or beer. I've never received a response to my complaint that if there's no lounge, at least the libations on board for G/P members should be included.
mviy
mviy
Member since 05 May 2016
Total posts 322
If you're a QF Platinum and flying domestically on QF in Australia you can access a lounge on arrival to have free wine/beer where a lounge is available at your destination.
brinkers
brinkers
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 16 Jun 2011
Total posts 233
If they fired the person who came up with that rule about weekdays only drinking, they'd have enough money left over to cover for the holiday flights to include wine service.
You DO NOT charge your most loyal customers for wine or beer. That is a non negotiable, and despicable loco carrier behaviour. Period.
.
Last edited by Doktor at Jan 27, 2018, 10.50 AM.
The rule actually came from a time when alcohol was chargeable across the board on the domestic network. When they were going down the Citylink branding (which ended up being most inter capital services), they added complimentary alcohol after 4 pm.
Even now, it is pretty much confined to just the inter capital routes. Go to regional centers (mainline operated), and you will be charged,
sanj747
sanj747
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 01 Nov 2016
Total posts 146
I am a QF P/WP and seem to get access to rows 4 and 5 on the 737. Have had no issues. Will remember the T-80 hours as I can't recall this ever being a problem. Booked 2 weeks ago for an end of Feb trip to NZ and got row 5 with ease. Fly on row 5 a lot.
mviy
mviy
Member since 05 May 2016
Total posts 322
The blocked seats may differ between domestic and international. For Domestic at least row 4 and 5 tend to be blocked for P1/CL till T-80.
sanj747
sanj747
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 01 Nov 2016
Total posts 146
The blocked seats may differ between domestic and international. For Domestic at least row 4 and 5 tend to be blocked for P1/CL till T-80.
I did get row 5 on my return from Melbourne before T-80. Guess it varies also based on flight times.
CBR boy
CBR boy
Member since 12 Feb 2015
Total posts 61
A couple of commenters said early on in the thread that row 4 and 5 seats were blocked but ExpertFlyer showed nobody seated there. I think the explanation for this is that even after T-80 there may be CL or P1 Y reservations who haven't sought seat allocation, but the system knows that it must keep the seats for allocation at check-in.
Donovan301
Donovan301
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 10 Nov 2015
Total posts 5