Maximising Qpoint accrual
Aug 4, 2017, 7:32 am
#16
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: NZ
Posts: 1,548
Yes I see the advantage of blocked rows for frequent long range Y flyers, though it's useless when not flying with QR.
I never really understood Qcredits, I find it very hard to put them to good use, but I think that might be because I hardly ever book Y tickets with QR. Basically I end up with upgrading a single leg for 35 Qcredits and let the other 25 go to waste, effectively getting no benefit from Plat over Gold.
Compared to AA's complimentary upgrades, these benefits are pretty benign.
The only Platinum benefits that matter to me are getting 100% instead of 75% bonus Qmiles and not having them expire. I take it as a nice little extra, but I don't see it as a huge step up from Gold.
Compared to that, going from Silver to Gold matters way more. Complimentary lounge access for all OW flights, not having to pay for baggage on no baggage fares, 75% instead of 25% Qmiles, those things really make a difference.
I never really understood Qcredits, I find it very hard to put them to good use, but I think that might be because I hardly ever book Y tickets with QR. Basically I end up with upgrading a single leg for 35 Qcredits and let the other 25 go to waste, effectively getting no benefit from Plat over Gold.
Compared to AA's complimentary upgrades, these benefits are pretty benign.
The only Platinum benefits that matter to me are getting 100% instead of 75% bonus Qmiles and not having them expire. I take it as a nice little extra, but I don't see it as a huge step up from Gold.
Compared to that, going from Silver to Gold matters way more. Complimentary lounge access for all OW flights, not having to pay for baggage on no baggage fares, 75% instead of 25% Qmiles, those things really make a difference.
Aug 4, 2017, 4:47 pm
#17
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: LHR / LCY / DXB
Programs: QR Silver / BA Silver
Posts: 324
Well, yes, lounge access is a nice bonus, but I believe there's a whole thread on Platinum status. For me:
- rows blocked so I can sleep in economy on every flight with low loads
- personal greeting (don't care) AND advance choice of meal prior to departure (quite nice)
- QCredits for upgrades
It's not a long list, but given the amount of time I spend in Y, it pays off. If I were primarily a J flyer I'd probably feel it wasn't worth it.
- rows blocked so I can sleep in economy on every flight with low loads
- personal greeting (don't care) AND advance choice of meal prior to departure (quite nice)
- QCredits for upgrades
It's not a long list, but given the amount of time I spend in Y, it pays off. If I were primarily a J flyer I'd probably feel it wasn't worth it.
Aug 5, 2017, 6:47 pm
#18
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 776
Aug 6, 2017, 3:06 pm
#21
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: LHR / LCY / DXB
Programs: QR Silver / BA Silver
Posts: 324
Actually, I meant the latter, i.e. row blocking happens for me despite having been downgraded to Silver just recently.
Case in point - two flights with medium loads, KUL-DOH/DOH-LHR, flew around two weeks ago, the row I was occupying was blocked out from ticket purchase until flight date. How I know? ExpertFlyer.
So the only thing I didn't receive from that list above is the Qcredits. I have been greeted without fail and given the opportunity to choose my meal before departure on the 4 flights I've taken in the past month (same route).
Case in point - two flights with medium loads, KUL-DOH/DOH-LHR, flew around two weeks ago, the row I was occupying was blocked out from ticket purchase until flight date. How I know? ExpertFlyer.
So the only thing I didn't receive from that list above is the Qcredits. I have been greeted without fail and given the opportunity to choose my meal before departure on the 4 flights I've taken in the past month (same route).
Aug 7, 2017, 2:28 am
#22
Join Date: Sep 2016
Posts: 776
Actually, I meant the latter, i.e. row blocking happens for me despite having been downgraded to Silver just recently.
Case in point - two flights with medium loads, KUL-DOH/DOH-LHR, flew around two weeks ago, the row I was occupying was blocked out from ticket purchase until flight date. How I know? ExpertFlyer.
So the only thing I didn't receive from that list above is the Qcredits. I have been greeted without fail and given the opportunity to choose my meal before departure on the 4 flights I've taken in the past month (same route).
Case in point - two flights with medium loads, KUL-DOH/DOH-LHR, flew around two weeks ago, the row I was occupying was blocked out from ticket purchase until flight date. How I know? ExpertFlyer.
So the only thing I didn't receive from that list above is the Qcredits. I have been greeted without fail and given the opportunity to choose my meal before departure on the 4 flights I've taken in the past month (same route).
Aug 7, 2017, 5:44 am
#23
Original Poster
Join Date: Nov 2013
Programs: NZ
Posts: 1,548
Actually, I meant the latter, i.e. row blocking happens for me despite having been downgraded to Silver just recently.
Case in point - two flights with medium loads, KUL-DOH/DOH-LHR, flew around two weeks ago, the row I was occupying was blocked out from ticket purchase until flight date. How I know? ExpertFlyer.
So the only thing I didn't receive from that list above is the Qcredits. I have been greeted without fail and given the opportunity to choose my meal before departure on the 4 flights I've taken in the past month (same route).
Case in point - two flights with medium loads, KUL-DOH/DOH-LHR, flew around two weeks ago, the row I was occupying was blocked out from ticket purchase until flight date. How I know? ExpertFlyer.
So the only thing I didn't receive from that list above is the Qcredits. I have been greeted without fail and given the opportunity to choose my meal before departure on the 4 flights I've taken in the past month (same route).
Aug 7, 2017, 5:57 am
#24
Join Date: Feb 2016
Location: AMS / FRA
Programs: Marriott Ambassador Elite / LH Senator / KL Gold / QR Gold
Posts: 214
The benefits of any status with QR is that you have access to the front seats of the economy class (still not access to bulkhead and exit row seats) and that they will block the seat next to you.
As a gold member I have only seen one seat block besides me, not the entire row (e.g. in a 787 or A350 3-3-3 seating)
As a gold member I have only seen one seat block besides me, not the entire row (e.g. in a 787 or A350 3-3-3 seating)
Aug 10, 2017, 9:57 pm
#25
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: LHR / LCY / DXB
Programs: QR Silver / BA Silver
Posts: 324
my post was also written in a relative haste, it took me a while to understand what I wrote when I re-read it too.Yes, they do that without you asking. I've never asked for a row/seat block before.
The benefits of any status with QR is that you have access to the front seats of the economy class (still not access to bulkhead and exit row seats) and that they will block the seat next to you.
As a gold member I have only seen one seat block besides me, not the entire row (e.g. in a 787 or A350 3-3-3 seating)
As a gold member I have only seen one seat block besides me, not the entire row (e.g. in a 787 or A350 3-3-3 seating)
QR was definitely unaware of their presence because I booked them on a separate PNR. On the second flight though, a man decided to swap himself into my blocked row, despite me knowing that it was my row to be had. Usually we'd only move around once the aircraft doors are closed - but this man was adamant, so decided not to kick up a fuss and let the man have it.
This was the mid-section by the way, as my family does not have status, so no row 14-20 seating.
Mar 27, 2018, 5:23 pm
#26
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: Star Alliance Gold, Expedia Gold, British Airways Silver, Club Carlson Gold
Posts: 21
Hmmm just wanted to thank the people in this thread for good information. Not too much good tips on the internet. Happy to see I stumbled across the "solution" for Qpoints accrual: Cathay Pacific. Just ordered a RT OSL-LHR-HKG-SGN which give 100 Qpoints in premium economy if I remember correctly. That's quite a lot considering we only got 130 QP BRU-DOH-NRT last year in biz with QR themselves. This trip will secure my QR good and I am happy to see people are satisfied with their gold memberships 😃 happy travels.
Mar 30, 2018, 10:59 am
#27
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Surrey, UK
Programs: BAEC Gold, QRPC Silver
Posts: 518
No worries my post was also written in a relative haste, it took me a while to understand what I wrote when I re-read it too.
Yes, they do that without you asking. I've never asked for a row/seat block before.
I have had a whole row blocked out for me both Y flights I took two weeks ago, both on the 3-4-3 seating 777. I had my family booked into the row in front, so essentially we had 7 seats to ourselves. QR was definitely unaware of their presence because I booked them on a separate PNR.
On the second flight though, a man decided to swap himself into my blocked row, despite me knowing that it was my row to be had. Usually we'd only move around once the aircraft doors are closed - but this man was adamant, so decided not to kick up a fuss and let the man have it.
This was the mid-section by the way, as my family does not have status, so no row 14-20 seating.
my post was also written in a relative haste, it took me a while to understand what I wrote when I re-read it too.Yes, they do that without you asking. I've never asked for a row/seat block before.
I have had a whole row blocked out for me both Y flights I took two weeks ago, both on the 3-4-3 seating 777. I had my family booked into the row in front, so essentially we had 7 seats to ourselves.
QR was definitely unaware of their presence because I booked them on a separate PNR.On the second flight though, a man decided to swap himself into my blocked row, despite me knowing that it was my row to be had. Usually we'd only move around once the aircraft doors are closed - but this man was adamant, so decided not to kick up a fuss and let the man have it.
This was the mid-section by the way, as my family does not have status, so no row 14-20 seating.
Mar 30, 2018, 9:27 pm
#28
Join Date: Mar 2017
Programs: QR Platinum, Star Alliance Gold (LH Sen)
Posts: 764