A very long run comes to an end...

[kpc]

I'm over 33K and . ... <crickets> ...

Apart from maintaining Plat with Qf, any reason (s) not to credit to another program given QF have stated they have no intention of having LT Plat?

 

[OzEire]

The biggest issue with the LTG arrangement as it currently stands is that future status earn is an 'all or nothing' affair. If you are not going to earn the 1400/1200 SC pa to earn/retain WP there is no incentive to earn any SC at all.

I've seen mentioned here before the idea of LTG being implemented as a free/baseline 600 SC each year for the member (ie. resets to 600 rather than 0). This way they are half way to WP and have an incentive to shoot for it rather than simply switching to another FF program.

 

[dajop]

Platinum is worthwhile if you are flying enough to retain it ...

After 9 years of WP I dropped back to LTG in early 2011, and I haven't looked back, although moving helped me overcome the "need" to fly QF.

I'm also philosophical about the F lounges, yes they are nice, but ultimately I've found I am less tempted to get to airport early for the F lounge (so have more time at destination or home) and whilst the food is good, it's not as if I can't afford to go to a nice restaurant and have even better food. In MEL anyway, the EK lounge is a reasonable substitute anyway, if open. And here in SIN, we don't have FCL.

Probably the things I miss the most are ability to request awards (although my last few before I dropped to LTG were denied anyway) , free access to exit rows (axed), anytime access to lounge (axed), and most importantly the shiny card to show off to others (joking on this one ).

If flying mainly domestically, or domestically + US travel, VA Gold is good to have to supplement LTG, if flying mainly to Asia/Europe plus domestic, then VA Gold or SQ Gold. Of course with a credit card Priority Pass as well.

 

[serfty]

Apart from maintaining Plat with Qf, any reason (s) not to credit to another program given QF have stated they have no intention of having LT Plat?

I credit to QF for WP - as I do like the Emerald status.

This year in on November 1, I will finish with 1219 sc's - that since May and it won't increase. Last year I earned no loyalty bonus; this year one.

I cannot realistically generate more than 350K total airline miles/points per year; so status is where it's at for me.

Note ... I am also VA WP ...

 

[kermatu]

I would love it if QF offered a LTP. Can't see it happening, but would be something to aim for.

If they set the bar high enough and with the SC earn needing to be on QF metal only (as seems to be their practice now with anything above standard) surely it is something worth them considering.

Given how easily CL status is given to a whole cohort of people who contribute very little discretionary spend to QF, I remain amazed at how little is given to those who contribute so much more.

 

[JohnK]

Apart from maintaining Plat with Qf, any reason (s) not to credit to another program given QF have stated they have no intention of having LT Plat?

Lifetime Platinum would be a huge benefit. In my opinion if offered it definitely won't be at 28,000 SCs unless it was Qantas SCs only.

Lifetime Platinum has to be a stretch target otherwise it will be the same shemozzle as Lifetime Gold is right now where everyone is attaining Lifetime Gold.

 

[JessicaTam]

Lifetime Platinum would be a huge benefit. In my opinion if offered it definitely won't be at 28,000 SCs unless it was Qantas SCs only.

Lifetime Platinum has to be a stretch target otherwise it will be the same shemozzle as Lifetime Gold is right now where everyone is attaining Lifetime Gold.

How many LTGs are there?

 

[cove]

Probably between 20,000 and 30,000 LTGs is my wild guess. I really don’t know.
Mrscove and I are both LTGs.

 

[dajop]

Lifetime Platinum has to be a stretch target otherwise it will be the same shemozzle as Lifetime Gold is right now where everyone is attaining Lifetime Gold.

Is LTG such a shemozzle, if pax aren't using it? Remembering those who are flying a lot on QF/OW would retain Gold anyway, and those who aren't, probably aren't such a burden.

My frequency of flying QF is ~ 2.5 flights/year since dropping to LTG, and I probably visit QF lounges about 7 -8 times a year if you include 3K, JQ and MH flights where there are QP's (noting if I fly EK, I use the EK lounge..).

 

[JohnK]

Is LTG such a shemozzle, if pax aren't using it? Remembering those who are flying a lot on QF/OW would retain Gold anyway, and those who aren't, probably aren't such a burden.

It's a shemozzle as the benefits are ordinary and it's just a fallback option for most on AFF.

I really don't undedstand the rush to achieve Lifetime Gold and then credit to other carriers. Why not just credit to other carriers? What's so great about Lifetime Gold?

 

[pauly7]

where everyone is attaining Lifetime Gold.

Bit of an a John K exaggeration

But I do agree with you that a lifetime plat at a super high level would be interestihg though QF have indicated they are less so!

Why doesn’t VA have lifetime gold I wonder. Bit irritating, I’d be there 4x over by now

 

[RooFlyer]

I just checked my account; after 7 months I haven't earned a single ~ ! 10 years as WP not so much coming to an end as a screeching halt.

 

[rocketboy]

What's so great about Lifetime Gold?

I am on the home run with 100SCs to go. I don't fly enough to have status with 2 airlines/alliances. I'm currently Star Gold with Lufthansa so LTG will ensure I always have lounge access and other benefits whenever I do fly Qantas or other OW airlines

 

[Drpopper]

Have now completed proxies for the QAN AGM. I have booked flights to be there. It should be fun.
Thanks for your OK.
One of my questions is about Lifetime Platinum and the other is to do with the book value of 12 A380s now that SQ have been unable to sell 2 10 year old A380s. I know they are still operating but their values may need to be written down a lot faster than previously believed.

Didn’t they sell them to HiFly?

 

[Drpopper]

I agree that LTP has to become a thing (and asap) .... I’ve already mostly given up QF internationally for the past few years ( actually nothing to do with status or fares but rather I can no longer afford to sit on any long haul flight without WIFI) but 90% of my travel is domestic in any case and I can’t honestly say I find the QF to be anything other then stellar in domestic sectors. I think I’ve had two sub par experiences in the past year in QF domestic J (coincidentally or not both with the same CSM who was just appalling on both occasions) out of about 100 flights. I think frankly that they need to look after their WP’s and particularly P1’s a lot more however operationally I think they do a pretty good job.

 

[dajop]

It's a shemozzle as the benefits are ordinary .....?

Many these day would say benefits of WP are only marginally better than SG!

Personally, lounge access, J class check in, 75% status bonus, a little extra luggage, alliance wide recognition, and marginally better award availability (compared to bronze and silver) are enough for me.

I wouldn't bother trying for LTP, I really don't see it offers all that much more for what I assume would be a major commitment.

 

[RichardMEL]

I've been an advocate of multiple program use across alliances for a couple of decades now.. for me it's QF and UA so wherever I need to go I have options across 2 of the 3 global alliances and I can redeem on some pretty good carriers from EK, CX to LH, SQ(kinda) and the ever popular TG F (before price rise next month of course).

Really though these sorts of things are very much a personal situation/choice thing. And not everyone can get to elite status in multiple programs, or has the travel to do it (for example, I might consider jumping ship to BA but I simply don't go to/through europe enough to get a BA minimum, so that doesn't make a lot of sense for me, unlike say TonyHancock).

I absolutely understand and agree about how P1 is a disappointment, as I head into my 4th full year of it and like last few years have no real plans to requalify, but if DSC etc help then fine great but it's certainly not a goal... nice to have htough... and agree that WP isn't what it was bar the F lounge access (something oneworld has long had as an advantage over Star Alliance)

There can still be some sweet spots to be found at QFF even with the devaluations and changes (which all loyalty schemes are going through, like the UA November devaluations coming up) and it's a matter of readjusting to the new realities and finding a mix that works fr one's own situation. In a year or two QF may well be the "better" option for all we know.. and that's always going to be a problem in a shifting landscape like this.

So I keep my options open and try to make the most of them as it applies to my own goals and situation - as we all should - but everyone's personal choices, priorities and goals will be different and there's no one "right" answer

my view anyway

 

[JohnK]

Many these day would say benefits of WP are only marginally better than SG!

Agreed although some of the unwritten benefits are important to me.

Not only were wife and daughter moved to earlier flight but we checked in 3 bags + golf clubs + stroller on separate bookings QF-EK-3K itinerary. Don't think I can do that with only Lifetime Gold.

 

[OzEire]

This year in on November 1, I will finish with 1219 sc's - that since May and it won't increase.

That all sounds very familiar @serfty - I'm also LTG and on 1 Nov I will still be 1240 QFF SC, as I have been since earlier this year (it might have been May). The SC will roll to 0 and I will continue mostly flying VA as I retained WP with 10 months to run and have been working on getting Mrs OzEire partner WP. The message for QF is that they removed any incentive to fly with them on domestic. I have an QF Int flight coming up and will use the Flounge, so it was worth retaining WP this year, but after Nov why not just fly JQ and still use that Flounge for the next 12 months? C'mon QF, give me some incentive.

 

[JessicaTam]

Probably between 20,000 and 30,000 LTGs is my wild guess. I really don’t know.
Mrscove and I are both LTGs.

So not "everyone is attaining LTG" then.