Qantas Frequent Flyer - Greetings and Perks in Y for QF Platinum

Just caught up with a friend who is a QF Platinum for dinner and we talked her experience with QF when flying International Y.

According to her, she could get the followings when flying Y:

1. ISM Greetings;
2. A J noice-cancelling headphone;
3. A J meal (sometimes no choice though) or Y+ meal when J is too full;
4. A J/F amenity kit;
5. A J/F pillow;
6. A bottle of water + a bottle of other drinks upon request;
7. Sydney express arrival card;

My question is... this sounds too good - really?

Well when flying CX, I believe GO and DM (equivalent to QF Platinum) get greetings, water and express cards... and maybe a J pillow... but certainly not other stuff...

It would be good if some QF Plat or Plat One could share their experiences with QF in International Y.

I have got greetings but not other perks...

Only on my last long haul from the USA, where the flight was 100% full, did the CSS (not CSM) come by and apologise I couldn't get a better seat, and give me three glasses of wine from First. Couldn't get anything else as it was all taken.

Most of the time the CSM on the (QF) SIN-PER flights did stop by when I was flying as an AA EXP. Though I only talked them into a glass of J wine once.

Happy wandering

Fred

Just caught up with a friend who is a QF Platinum for dinner and we talked her experience with QF when flying International Y.

According to her, she could get the followings when flying Y:

1. ISM Greetings;
2. A J noice-cancelling headphone;
3. A J meal (sometimes no choice though) or Y+ meal when J is too full;
4. A J/F amenity kit;
5. A J/F pillow;
6. A bottle of water + a bottle of other drinks upon request;
7. Sydney express arrival card;

My question is... this sounds too good - really?

Well when flying CX, I believe GO and DM (equivalent to QF Platinum) get greetings, water and express cards... and maybe a J pillow... but certainly not other stuff...

It would be good if some QF Plat or Plat One could share their experiences with QF in International Y.

no - none of those things mentioned are outside the realm of possibility. When I was a WP I got the welcome (100% of the time for international flights) plus the express arrivals card, and always a request if there was anything else i wanted.

I never asked for anything particular so never got anything, except once they made my drinks in business class (vodka soda). (Actually a couple of times the CSM pressed me and I asked for a newspaper, or for my preferred choice of Y cl meal to be kept for me...)

I know people like the additional perks such as a J amenity kit or noise cancelling headphones, but i always think it takes great courage to accept items from a class you are not travelling in. I think it is unfair to the passengers sitting around me.

I have also seen the same sort of service/benefits for passengers in business class. One flight I did to Hong Kong the crew gave out three or four of the Fcl Payot amenity kits. This was on a full upper deck, but still quite a high number of people receiving the perks.

In F class there are obviously fewer things they can offer, but they usually find something if they want to reward you for any inconvenience (like the IFE not working etc).

So yes your friend is right - but of course one usually gets one or two of the things from the list... I haven't seen anyone get the whole lot on a single flight.

I just wish that they would actually offer drinks before a meal service - in J - rather than the crew sitting for 2 hrs before serving food (as has happened twice ex HKG to both SYD and MEL on flights that left before or at 20:00 (so there "should" have been the drinks service). Nothing but an apology when complaining to the feedback FF web page.

Maybe I should have paid to sit in whY instead of J where it appears such service still does exist.

During my Plat days, I have never been greeted/offered anything while flying with QF in Y.

On CX, I was consistently greeted, offered choice of meals ('just to make sure your choice is available) and sometimes also champagne from J.

Greeting is pretty normal. I usually ask for J wine to have with my meal and it's never been refused. Express cards into LHR have been hit and miss though, sometimes they pretend they don't have any.

Amenity kit + J meal would be pushing it IMO.

During my Plat days, I have never been greeted/offered anything while flying with QF in Y.

+1
When l did go Int sectors as a WP, nothing.

Thanks! It makes more sense to me.

I don't think she BS to me though as she's been a Plat and now Plat One for years. But these perks might not come to her in one go. She might have one of them in one trip then another in another trip.

Still - it doesn't seem that CX would offer J meal or Amentity kids to elites...at least no one seems to get them.

I've found you can sometimes (depending on crew) get better service in Y than J as a Platinum.

But, try getting some F drinks when travelling J. Impossible!

I've found you can sometimes (depending on crew) get better service in Y than J as a Platinum.

But, try getting some F drinks when travelling J. Impossible!

I imagine that there is no greetings when taking Jetstar flights? ;)

But, try getting some F drinks when travelling J. Impossible!
IME, it is possible if the crew know you. Trouble is that they make it obvious to others who are not getting the F drinks. :(

I look forward to at the very least a welcome from the Customer Service Supervisor (an get it 95% of the time.) They oversee the Y cabin rather than the CSM who is busy saying hola to P and J pax. I have had the CSS say hi at the end of the flight with an apology for not touching base sooner due to various excuses such as medical emergencies/disruptive passengers/"issues" which I appreciate they must have to deal with more and more. Understandable.

Just caught up with a friend who is a QF Platinum for dinner and we talked her experience with QF when flying International Y....

My question is... this sounds too good - really?

The official offering to Platinums in Y is a greeting, offer to hang jacket (if space permits), newspaper (if available) and an express card in applicable ports. Anything else you get is a crew member's personal take on how they should look after you.

I am careful not to go overboard, as some customers are not comfortable accepting items that those around them are not privy to (as has been mentioned). It is also very hard, but not impossible, to be discreet in the Economy cabin.

My own version of doing all I can for premium customers travelling in Economy is to ask if there is anything that I can get for them. I am not comfortable with loading up a customer with items from other cabins if they do not actually request anything.

The official offering to Platinums in Y is a greeting, offer to hang jacket (if space permits), newspaper (if available) and an express card in applicable ports. Anything else you get is a crew member's personal take on how they should look after you.

I am careful not to go overboard, as some customers are not comfortable accepting items that those around them are not privy to (as has been mentioned). It is also very hard, but not impossible, to be discreet in the Economy cabin.

My own version of doing all I can for premium customers travelling in Economy is to ask if there is anything that I can get for them. I am not comfortable with loading up a customer with items from other cabins if they do not actually request anything.

Interesting comment - thanks for sharing. Sorry if you have answered this before, are you working for Qantas on their flights?

Until a few years ago I flew a fair bit in QF international economy (and certainly much more than I'd like!) and as Platinum it was always pretty much the personal greeting and the express arrivals card, with anything else on request.

I never requested any special meals but asked for (and received) a J amenity kit, and a few times having mentioned to the FA about my love for Noble One dessert wine which they serve at the QF 1st Lounge and also in J, they've brought back a glass for me to enjoy. :)

Hubby is a plat and when he is in pleb class, he normally got a personal greeting by name. But he never asked for anything because he is shy. However, I have sat in proximity of other plat pax in pleb class and observed they got a personal greeting, and a few asked for pyjamas, amenity kits, headphones, newspapers, and wines. One time, there was this man (a spare seat between him and the aisle pax) who asked for the some of the above, then this lady sitting on the aisle (not a plat) saw what was happening so she asked for wines and they brought it to her before the flight took off!

IME, it is possible if the crew know you. Trouble is that they make it obvious to others who are not getting the F drinks. :(

I agree that it depends on whether the crew know you, but it can be done without making it obvious. I have had a number of flights where the CSM has brought me glasses of the F champagne when sitting in J - and in a J glass.

It can be hit and miss. You have to ask - sometimes they bring champagne and sometimes they just bring attitude.

I fly trans tasman a lot in Y and normally get the following offered.

1. CSM Greetings;
2. J noise-cancelling headphone;
3. Sydney express arrival card;
4. Newspapers;

Fairly regularly I will also get J drinks with the meal.

I also recently had to fly to MNL in Y and got

1. CSM Greetings;
2. J noise-cancelling headphone;
3. Newspapers;
4. J Wine with meal
5. Sydney Express card was offered but I was in transit to WLG so did not need it.

None of this is requested, simply offered.

I have to admit to not being sure how far to take it when the CSM says 'Let me know if there is anything I can help you with'.

It would be good if some QF Plat or Plat One could share their experiences with QF in International Y.

Yep, this is me...first year WP and about 40 sectors so far this year all in Y except for 2 op-ups on A380 to PE which were great.

Of 40 sectors, about 30 on QF and 10 on CX. My strike rate on QF for even just the greeting is around 50%, but for CX it's near 100%. On one flight, I got 3 separate "welcome aboards, (name)" from three different staff walking around with passenger lists.

On QF, it's mostly just the greeting, and offer of "anything". Like others, I don't quite know what to ask here, but a couple of times asked for socks (so they bring back the PE kit) or a drink if it's still early in the flight. Once I got the paper, I've never had headset, and probably about half of the times that I get the greeting I also get the express card.

Where you sit might help? When in 80A/K on A380 seem to have a good strikerate, or also if around row 50, ie. further forward. If in the double seats at the back of the 747 around row 70+ am usually out of luck...it could be just too far to walk.

It does hurt when you are sitting there looking out of the corner of your eye to see if anything is coming, and the CSM or whoever walks right past you loaded up with a headset, paper, drinks, J amenity kit and blanket etc. for someone two rows behind you, and you never get even a welcome aboard....but just learn to rejoice in that other person's good fortune -- they may even deserve it for some good reason. And you are in Y, travelling on the lowest possible fare you could find, and all the profit margin from that fare already got drunk/eaten out at the Flounge, so just be thankful for whatever other small mercies that might happen to come your way. I'd just encourage any cabin staff reading this to keep up the good work of trying to make us feel welcome even when in Y. It must be a bit of a chore at the busy start of the flight, and maybe sometimes there are just too many WPs etc. in the Y cabin, but even the small gesture of the personalised welcome message is always much appreciated.

I fly trans tasman a lot in Y and normally get the following offered.

...
2. J noise-cancelling headphone;
...

I have flown trans tasman in J a few times and have never got noise-cancelling headphones. I have only received the over the ear type head phones. The headphones you received are they active noise cancelling headphones with a three pin plug?

In Y have only received the cheap lightweight on the ear headphones.

I have flown trans tasman in J a few times and have never got noise-cancelling headphones. I have only received the over the ear type head phones. The headphones you received are they active noise cancelling headphones with a three pin plug?

In Y have only received the cheap lightweight on the ear headphones.
The TT 737 only have the overear noise isolating headphones, not active noise cancelling.
I always am offered the headphones, turned down due to my preference for the NZ ones that a kind FTer gave me:), express pass, personal welcome, and offer of anything.
Sometimes if in the first row of WHY I have received a cheese platter or breakfast pastry from J without even asking for it.

I have flown trans tasman in J a few times and have never got noise-cancelling headphones. I have only received the over the ear type head phones. The headphones you received are they active noise cancelling headphones with a three pin plug?

In Y have only received the cheap lightweight on the ear headphones.

I have always assumed they are noise cancelling, as they certainly seem to make the cabin quieter and I thought it was not just because they cover the ears. What ever they are, I get offered the J head phones when sat in Y

I would also agree the sometimes I get offered the J snacks and/or the cheese platter. These normally go hand in hand if being offered the J wines. :-)

richie9x is correct.

To check for active noise cancelling in flight, put them on and turn the volume down to zero.

... listen ...

while still listening, pull the plug out of the socket ... do this a couple of times ..

Doing this with Active NC should introduce a dull 'roar' whenever the plug is pulled out, this will cut out when the plug is re-inserted.

With the black headphones, nothing really perceptible happens when you do this.

The official offering to Platinums in Y is a greeting, offer to hang jacket (if space permits), newspaper (if available) and an express card in applicable ports. Anything else you get is a crew member's personal take on how they should look after you.

I am careful not to go overboard, as some customers are not comfortable accepting items that those around them are not privy to (as has been mentioned). It is also very hard, but not impossible, to be discreet in the Economy cabin.

My own version of doing all I can for premium customers travelling in Economy is to ask if there is anything that I can get for them. I am not comfortable with loading up a customer with items from other cabins if they do not actually request anything.

Flew 50+ QF TT sectors last year (all in Y). IME this is pretty much what I get. Have never been offered NC headsets but I have my own Bose so doesn't really worry me.
On the odd occasion I've been offered a few extra perks in row 4, but I can understand what Bunkeight is saying that when that happens you feel a little uncomfortable being singled out for extra attention that other travelers sitting beside you don't get.

Flew CX PER/HKG/SGN recently. No recognition on first leg, but CSM welcomed me after meal service to SGN and asked if I required anything else,including drinks. Nothing return flights.
For first time ever domestically, on MEL/PER QF A330 last Frday (QF777) I and other Platinum pax were offered extra drinks or snacks by the Y cabin senior FA. Never happened before and I fly out of PER every two weeks. Most of the time I get greeted by name at the gate and/or acft door.

I notice a few years back I tended to get a better seat (down the back where there is 2 instead of 3 seats) and the greeting as a Gold FF, not to mention jacket hang etc; but not any more, the Platinum lot get it now (but I still get the queue jump card for landing, but that is at check in.

richie9x is correct.

To check for active noise cancelling in flight, put them on and turn the volume down to zero.

... listen ...

while still listening, pull the plug out of the socket ... do this a couple of times ..

Doing this with Active NC should introduce a dull 'roar' whenever the plug is pulled out, this will cut out when the plug is re-inserted.

With the black headphones, nothing really perceptible happens when you do this.

Well just to confirm that I tested this on QF118 from WLG to SYD and they are not noise cancelling. Even though not noise cancelling they are certainly better than the standard economy head sets. I cannot use my own, non NC, headsets as they are Bluetooth and therefore no use on a plane.

... I cannot use my own, non NC, headsets as they are Bluetooth and therefore no use on a plane.Bluetooth can indeed be used on Qantas jet services these days.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/inflight-communications/global/en#jump2



All electronic devices, including PDAs, laptop computers, handheld games, iPads, Ebooks and toys must be switched off during take-off and landing.

Portable electronic equipment such as laptop computers (including WiFi and Bluetooth enabled devices), PDAs (without mobile phones), personal music (for example, iPods) iPads, Ebooks and electronic game devices may be used when the aircraft seat belt sign is extinguished after take-off and can now be used until we prepare the cabin for landing.

Radio transmission using personal communication devices (including walkie-talkies, two-way pagers, or global positioning systems) is prohibited at all stages of flight, as it may interfere with the aircraft's communication and navigation systems.

On QF, it's mostly just the greeting, and offer of "anything". Like others, I don't quite know what to ask here, but a couple of times asked for socks (so they bring back the PE kit) or a drink if it's still early in the flight. Once I got the paper, I've never had headset, and probably about half of the times that I get the greeting I also get the express card.

I used to fly in Y as a WP occasionally. I haven't done that for some time now, so I don't have any recent data point, but here it goes.

On one occasion I asked for a bottle of water when they asked if there was anything I wanted, which was duly met.

On another occasion to my horror I realised I used up my toothpaste in my travel bag and forgot to replenish it so I asked if I could have a toothpaste from the J amenity kit because I forgot it. This was met with a bit of amusement at the tininess of my request and a whole J amenity kit was presented to me instead.

I don't normally ask for anything though.

Bluetooth can indeed be used on Qantas jet services these days.

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/inflight-communications/global/en#jump2

Serfty,

I need to listen to the announcement read by the crew, as I am sure they say that wifi and bluetooth cannot be used at any time during the flight.

They certainly used to say that - I believe there may be those that know the old spiel by rote and continue to repeat it.

But that which I highlighted is certainly on Qantas.com.

Qantas seem to be trying to look after their plats a little more in Y. Any recent experiences?

Qantas seem to be trying to look after their plats a little more in Y. Any recent experiences?

Very much time and load dependent IME:
Light loads / weekends = personal greeting, handshake (shudder), newspaper, J headset, complimentary J wine, nothing is too much trouble etc. Adjacent seat blocking too.
Heavy loads / peak times = nada. Or perhaps just a quick grunt of acknowledgement.

Heavy loads / peak times = nada. Or perhaps just a quick grunt of acknowledgement.

My Y experience from last year was that even on pretty much full Y flights (A380 to/from LAX) you got a CSM greeting and express card. Pretty funny watching the CSM make his way through Y picking out the WP's! And always the "If you need anything during the flight come and find me in F".

Haven't personally had any J things directly offered, or heard of it from friends who are WP, but perhaps on light loads and depending on crew. But I think it would be rude to request J meals/drinks etc.

I've been shown some WP love while in Y: always a friendly chat and Express Card, once a J amenity pack when I asked for a nicer eye mask than the Y offering, and once an F amenity pack, constant F wine refills and an upgrade to Y+ on my next leg after the crew totally missed me on meal service. Nothing too much, but enough to make a difference, I guess.

On TT besides the usual greetings.
In J a fresh bottle of the Shriaz that I was drinking to take home.:D
In Y with Mrs and Miss Blackcloud, predeparture drinks and packets of those Santos things.^ Newpapers, J Headphones, and even a pastry from the J cabin.