Value of Platinum (published or unpublished) benefit to create classic award
Nov 22, 2011, 1:55 am
#19
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: OOL/DOH
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Posts: 3,192
Nov 22, 2011, 3:00 pm
#20
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Melbourne
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[OFF TOPIC]
As for an acronym, such is the diversification of members here, that any mini impertinent acronym to represent QFF Platinum One members should do. In reality it's up to the individual as to what one prefers to use.
Principle is a fine thing, and I respect it.
But the reality is there's basically a far greater amount of useful information in relation to Antipodean Frequent Flying/Loyalty Schemes posted/available on AFF than on FT these days.
It's not an accident that the "Red Roo" handle has 46 posts at .11 per day on FT but 201 at .48 on AFF, ~4½ time the rate. (FWIW "Virgin Australia" has 35 post here at .18 per day here and 254 at .59 per day on AFF)
I referred to AFF because it was topical and may have been of assistance in this thread. I will continue to do so where I deem it of assistince to FT thread and appropriate.
Both sites are commercial. Please don't discount AFF references when it may be beneficial due to principal.
[/OFF TOPIC]But the reality is there's basically a far greater amount of useful information in relation to Antipodean Frequent Flying/Loyalty Schemes posted/available on AFF than on FT these days.
It's not an accident that the "Red Roo" handle has 46 posts at .11 per day on FT but 201 at .48 on AFF, ~4½ time the rate. (FWIW "Virgin Australia" has 35 post here at .18 per day here and 254 at .59 per day on AFF)
I referred to AFF because it was topical and may have been of assistance in this thread. I will continue to do so where I deem it of assistince to FT thread and appropriate.
Both sites are commercial. Please don't discount AFF references when it may be beneficial due to principal.
As for an acronym, such is the diversification of members here, that any mini impertinent acronym to represent QFF Platinum One members should do. In reality it's up to the individual as to what one prefers to use.
Nov 24, 2011, 1:38 am
#21
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: Melbourne, Australia
Programs: QF Platinum & Lifetime Gold
Posts: 1,340
This thread has brought up some interesting comments. Note that we are talking about the creation of U, and not D inventory with this supposed benefit.
Some contributors have had successful experience in the past with this benefit. My question would be was it before the creation or P1?
Due to my lack of success with being able to score one award seat on a First class flight (QF29) on Dec 26 (Boxing day, holiday season), with F9A8 availability, I suggest that this benefit is worth very little now to Platinums. There is no way that Qantas are going to sell atleast 9 First Class seats on this flight for cash. This suggests to me that this benefit is now worth very little to Platinum frequent flyers.
Some contributors have had successful experience in the past with this benefit. My question would be was it before the creation or P1?
Due to my lack of success with being able to score one award seat on a First class flight (QF29) on Dec 26 (Boxing day, holiday season), with F9A8 availability, I suggest that this benefit is worth very little now to Platinums. There is no way that Qantas are going to sell atleast 9 First Class seats on this flight for cash. This suggests to me that this benefit is now worth very little to Platinum frequent flyers.
Nov 24, 2011, 3:32 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: On the beach
Programs: QF P1 (OWE) LTG (OWS)
Posts: 822
I'm an optimist. As a WP I've been deficient in my knowledge regarding benefits to secure un-seen F & J award seats therefore, I've spent many a point on CX & BA.
I've tried recently to release seats via the WP line....not successful however, I'm embolden by other members tales that they've been successful in accomplishing this dark art.
I've tried recently to release seats via the WP line....not successful however, I'm embolden by other members tales that they've been successful in accomplishing this dark art.
Last edited by amaroo; Nov 24, 2011 at 3:38 am
Nov 24, 2011, 4:07 am
#23
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
This thread has brought up some interesting comments. Note that we are talking about the creation of U, and not D inventory with this supposed benefit.
Some contributors have had successful experience in the past with this benefit. My question would be was it before the creation or P1?
Due to my lack of success with being able to score one award seat on a First class flight (QF29) on Dec 26 (Boxing day, holiday season), with F9A8 availability, I suggest that this benefit is worth very little now to Platinums. There is no way that Qantas are going to sell atleast 9 First Class seats on this flight for cash. This suggests to me that this benefit is now worth very little to Platinum frequent flyers.
Some contributors have had successful experience in the past with this benefit. My question would be was it before the creation or P1?
Due to my lack of success with being able to score one award seat on a First class flight (QF29) on Dec 26 (Boxing day, holiday season), with F9A8 availability, I suggest that this benefit is worth very little now to Platinums. There is no way that Qantas are going to sell atleast 9 First Class seats on this flight for cash. This suggests to me that this benefit is now worth very little to Platinum frequent flyers.
Nov 24, 2011, 10:11 pm
#24
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Singapore
Programs: QF LTG, SQ EGTP, Bonvoy LTG
Posts: 4,847
Some historical perspective and some data points (which may or may not be correct) on this, from when I used to be a platinum (Apr 2002-Jan 2011):
- Originally you could put in a request for pretty much any class on any flight - domestic or international, it went off to yield management and you heard back within a certain period of time - sometimes quickly, or if a weekend you might have to wait. I know once I had a Y seat opened up on a very full MEL-PER flight. [and of course there weren't phone booking fees for platinums back then].
- Then domestic requests were dropped, I was advised could no longer request domestic.
- Next (circa 2008/9) the process went fully automated, and requests were submitted to computer and seemed to processed almost straight away. I was advised that they couldn't send off a request unless there was a D availability (for business class) or Q (for economy). Don't know if this was true or not but sounds right. I certainly felt that success rates for requests dropped.
- Also added service fee for requests which was refunded if request not successful, but not if request was successful (ie phone booking fee) (irrespective of chosing to ticket or not).
Of course YMMV.
- Originally you could put in a request for pretty much any class on any flight - domestic or international, it went off to yield management and you heard back within a certain period of time - sometimes quickly, or if a weekend you might have to wait. I know once I had a Y seat opened up on a very full MEL-PER flight. [and of course there weren't phone booking fees for platinums back then].
- Then domestic requests were dropped, I was advised could no longer request domestic.
- Next (circa 2008/9) the process went fully automated, and requests were submitted to computer and seemed to processed almost straight away. I was advised that they couldn't send off a request unless there was a D availability (for business class) or Q (for economy). Don't know if this was true or not but sounds right. I certainly felt that success rates for requests dropped.
- Also added service fee for requests which was refunded if request not successful, but not if request was successful (ie phone booking fee) (irrespective of chosing to ticket or not).
Of course YMMV.
Nov 26, 2011, 5:52 pm
#25
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: 1A
Programs: Elite Diamond Purple Dot Gold Silver Titanium for life
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Due to my lack of success with being able to score one award seat on a First class flight (QF29) on Dec 26 (Boxing day, holiday season), with F9A8 availability, I suggest that this benefit is worth very little now to Platinums. There is no way that Qantas are going to sell atleast 9 First Class seats on this flight for cash. This suggests to me that this benefit is now worth very little to Platinum frequent flyers.
I called up the special services team this week to book a SYD-SIN in F (a380) just after Christmas and a return in J very early in the New Year. Clearly there is no award availability online at all, but they say to call the P1 team to book flights if you can't find them online.
30minutes later I have 2x confirmed tickets on the flights I wanted, in F over the busiest travel period of the year.
Flights were showing F5 A3 when I booked FYI....
Nov 26, 2011, 9:28 pm
#26
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Melbourne, AU
Programs: QF WP, Hyatt Diamond, Hilton Diamond, Hertz PC, Europcar Privilege Elite, Velocity Platinum
Posts: 326
Those of us who were at the AFF lunch had a bit more background about this, described over there.
In a nutshell - standard WP members can place requests for seats to be released but they rely on discount J or F being available (from memory its A for First and D for biz) and yield management being agreeable to the request.
The basic understanding of how these requests will be treated is based upon time of year, availability of revenue vs award, etc. I'd suggest that Boxing Day, being one of the biggest travel days of the year, would likely be blacked out for these award conversions unless you have P1 Special Services doing it.
Platinum One can do this directly through Special Services, and can take classic award seats from the highest level of revenue fare bucket - F and J. Special Services have direct access to perform these conversions and do not require yield management to release the seats.
Domestically you can still get them to open up seats as WP (I did this only a couple of weeks ago) but only in J.
In a nutshell - standard WP members can place requests for seats to be released but they rely on discount J or F being available (from memory its A for First and D for biz) and yield management being agreeable to the request.
The basic understanding of how these requests will be treated is based upon time of year, availability of revenue vs award, etc. I'd suggest that Boxing Day, being one of the biggest travel days of the year, would likely be blacked out for these award conversions unless you have P1 Special Services doing it.
Platinum One can do this directly through Special Services, and can take classic award seats from the highest level of revenue fare bucket - F and J. Special Services have direct access to perform these conversions and do not require yield management to release the seats.
Domestically you can still get them to open up seats as WP (I did this only a couple of weeks ago) but only in J.
Nov 28, 2011, 6:12 am
#27
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Feb 12, 2016, 2:44 pm
#28
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Germany
Programs: *A Gold, OWE
Posts: 971
Just tried this for the very first time - didn't know it existed - for QF73 in April.
The paid booking classes look like:
J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0 E9
so I was a bit surprised that my request for a BC seat was declined.
Are there any insights how to get the award after all - by requesting it closer to the daparture date, or by looking at a certain paid class and its availability ?
Thanks for your help in advance.
The paid booking classes look like:
J9 C9 D9 I9 W9 R9 T9 Y9 B9 H9 K9 M9 L9 V9 S9 N9 Q9 O9 G0 E9
so I was a bit surprised that my request for a BC seat was declined.
Are there any insights how to get the award after all - by requesting it closer to the daparture date, or by looking at a certain paid class and its availability ?
Thanks for your help in advance.
Feb 12, 2016, 6:03 pm
#29
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,527
Unofficially some days of the week are always denied according to internal policy.
Also, being a weekend revenue management aren't working to manually review your request.
Are you WP or higher?
Also, being a weekend revenue management aren't working to manually review your request.
Are you WP or higher?
Feb 12, 2016, 7:32 pm
#30
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Location: SYD
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Some flights won't have any seats released for lowly WPs - even if it's J C D I 9s. Typically these are North American during peak Oz holiday season. P1 or CL may have more leverage?