Qantas Platinum One Frequent Flyer Membership Full Details Announced

 

The Qantas Platinum One Frequent Flyer Membership Card

Qantas have announced full detail including launch date of new  Super Elite Qantas Platinum One Frequent Flyer membership Tier, which members will require earn 3600 Status Credits to Qualify for, that’s three times the Status Credits required for ‘regular’ Platinum status

In a nutshell greater access to upgrade awards, a dedicated Platinum One Service team as well as personalised gifts and experiences are what set this membership tier above ‘regular’ platinum in detail the benefits include:

  • A dedicated contact number to link members to the Platinum One Special Service Team, which will monitor, support and enhance their travel experience every step of the way;
  • Assistance with access to additional Qantas Classic Awards and Flight Upgrade Awards, on Qantas operated flights (with a Qantas flight number on their ticket);
  • Confirmation of successful upgrade requests as early as seven days prior to departure (for Qantas operated services with a Qantas flight number on their ticket),
  • Complimentary membership of epiQure by Qantas Frequent Flyer, the recently launched premium food and wine club; Personalised gifts and experiences, from a ticket to a
  • Qantas sponsored event to an experience inside a Qantas flight simulator and more.

Qantas Frequent Flyer Chief Executive Officer Simon Hickey said he was very pleased to be launching the Platinum One program.

“Qantas Frequent Flyer has introduced Platinum One based on feedback from many of our Platinum members,” he said.

“Platinum One will offer members access to an outstanding range of benefits as well the exceptional service delivered by a dedicated Platinum One Special Service team.”

The new super elite Qantas Platinum One tier will take effect from 7 November 2011 and Qantas will notify eligible members of their inclusion in the Inaugural Platinum One membership year by 7 November 2011.

Along with the Qantas Platinum One Frequent Flyer details Qantas announced changes to upgrade awards, our coverage of these improvements can be found here: Qantas Frequent Flyer Upgrade Award Improvements Announced

To achieve 3,600 status credits in a single calendar year requires a significant amount of flying, below is our analysis of the minimum number of flights required

Route
Return

Class

SCs

RTN Trips Required

Aprox Min Total Cost

Melbourne
to Perth

Business Class

160

23

AU
$6,8126

Sydney
to Melbourne

Business
Class

80

45

AU
$56,475

Sydney
to Los Angeles

First Class

540

7

AU
$125,202

Sydney
to Los Angeles

Business
Class

360

10

AU
$110,910

Unless you spend half your life in a Qantas or Partner aircraft and have plenty of cash to splash Platinum One is outside the realm of regular flyers, or is it? Back in May 2011 we detailed how to achieve Platinum status for a fraction of the cost and miles with the use of American Airlines YUPP instant upgrade fares the article is here: Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinumstatus cheaply with American Airlines YUPP Instant Upgrades

It should be noted that Qantas Platinum One is still OneWorld Emerald status so you should not expect any preferential treatment on OneWorld Partner airlines however when flying Qantas you these added extras are what makes the differences when flying on a regular basis. Given the cost to achieve Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum One status are the benefits provided worthy? Also are there any other benefits you believe Qantas should have included

 

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    I easily rack up 3,600 SCs in my calendar year and I am in mixed minds about the Platinum One status.

    What I like: i.e. Advantages The dedicated Plat One Service desk, when I am in the middle of a business trip it is good to know that there is a team within Qantas that will look after me with better attention than the current FF service desk

    The upto 7 day confirmation of successful upgrade requests is an improvement, however I think Qantas can do better

    Disadvantages: No Anytime Lounge access Qantas when we are flying and spending as much as we do surely you can throw us anytime lounge access even if we are not flying Qantas or Oneworld partner for one or our flights.

    I am thinking that there is likely to be more undocumented benefits such as comp upgrades with the program which will be provided at the discretion of the Plat One service center and ground staff. We wont hear about these until our Plan One membership kicks in from November and have had some time in the sky, I will keep you updated

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    $50,000+ to $120,000 to make Platinum One status thats a big spend I would expect Qantas to roll out the red carpet for us but instead we get extra benifits that are not that much more than what is currently provided to us with regular platinum status. The least I would expect is a return of anytime lounge access.

    Unless as Jason speculates there will be some unpublisised benefits.