Life Time Gold - The [Realistic] Holy Grail

[mviy]

I'm still trying to get to LTS. LTG is a long way off. The targets are hard to get to, however if they were too easy then the lounges would be even more busy which would cause other problems.

 

[bPeteb]

Only 4200 to go to get to LTG. More than 2/3s of the way there

 

[ksthommo]

I thought QF would send me some sort of congratulatory email but no.

Congrats, wait by the inbox for the "Congratulations on reaching Lifetime Gold status" email.

 

[JessicaTam]

Finally made it after many years.

I thought QF would send me some sort of congratulatory email but no.

Now only need 60,900 status credit for LTP. Ahahahaha.

But in reality with LTG, no need to be loyal to QF anymore.

Congrats!

Now feel free to look around at other programs.

 

[MH_fan]

It's weird, isn't it... You feel like the shackles to QF come off after hitting LTG. Don't get me wrong, I still try to maintain OWE but usually with partner airlines when flying overseas. I really can't justify the premium QF charges in their premium cabins when partner airlines are usually better for 2/3 the cost!

 

[fifo]

Hi all,

I'm pretty close to LTG. Less than 2k SC to go. I've been WP ever since first starting flying (well 5 months after), around a decade ago. I'm wondering what LTGs think about stopping 'the chase' for WP every year and the realistic benefits? What I see:

- better lounges. sure, but the QP vs biz lounges aren't much of an upgrade these days tbh (food/bar wise almost identical).
- ability to request a release of classic award seats > the big one i think?
- better chance at upgrades. sure, happens so frequently now anyway, shrug?
- better baggage allowance... slightly.
- the real benefit i see is the MUCH better baggage allowance when flying AA + better lounges (well lounges of any usefulness, admirals club sucks).

thoughts and opinons?
what do people do after LTG? credit to BA or something?

I highly value extra baggage, as I travel a lot for specialist diving and often take 2 x 32kgs or even 3 x32kgs bags just based. sometimes x3 bags just for volume, weight is under 23kgs.

I also love a lounge, but thats just appealing to the 'get free stuff' person in me + comfort when traveling like showers and quiet place to sit. ie, most any lounge fulfills this.

 

[NM]

Hi all,

I'm pretty close to LTG. Less than 2k SC to go. I've been WP ever since first starting flying (well 5 months after), around a decade ago. I'm wondering what LTGs think about stopping 'the chase' for WP every year and the realistic benefits?

The day I hit LTG I gave up the pursuit of QF WP status. I then focused on AAdvantage as I was at that time able to reach Executive Platinum for several years following, and achieved much better value from my AAdvantage miles than from QFF points. But that switch from QFF to AAdvantage was over 10 years ago now, and both programs have changed significantly in that time. I have LTG in AAdvantage, but that is only OneWorld Ruby level (similar to Lifetime Silver in QFF) and still a few thousand miles short of AA LTP (OneWorld Sapphire, similar to QFF LTG).

However, I am travelling much less now and unlikely to reach OneWorld Emerald status again, so its good to have my QFF LTG to fall back on for the benefits such as lounge access, boarding priority, etc.

These days I accrue more QFF points than AAdvantage miles, but still have a healthy balance of both (over 1M QFF points and around 400K AA Miles).

So the biggest decision criteria around what to do when you reach QFF LTG will be based on how much and what type of flying you continue to do, and how you can maximise the benefits for that travel profile. Its going to be different for each person.

 

[fifo]

Thanks for your analysis. I totally understand it will be diff for each person, hoping to garner some understanding of the factors to consider that I may not have thought of. Cheers.

 

[kookaburra75]

Hi all,

I'm pretty close to LTG. Less than 2k SC to go. I've been WP ever since first starting flying (well 5 months after), around a decade ago. I'm wondering what LTGs think about stopping 'the chase' for WP every year and the realistic benefits? What I see:

- better lounges. sure, but the QP vs biz lounges aren't much of an upgrade these days tbh (food/bar wise almost identical).
- ability to request a release of classic award seats > the big one i think?
- better chance at upgrades. sure, happens so frequently now anyway, shrug?
- better baggage allowance... slightly.
- the real benefit i see is the MUCH better baggage allowance when flying AA + better lounges (well lounges of any usefulness, admirals club sucks).

thoughts and opinons?
what do people do after LTG? credit to BA or something?

I highly value extra baggage, as I travel a lot for specialist diving and often take 2 x 32kgs or even 3 x32kgs bags just based. sometimes x3 bags just for volume, weight is under 23kgs.

I also love a lounge, but thats just appealing to the 'get free stuff' person in me + comfort when traveling like showers and quiet place to sit. ie, most any lounge fulfills this.

I hit LTG, in mid 2020 when travel all went to custard as they say, but I was WP in the run up up, and through the status extensions have maintained until Jun 2023. I retire in a three years, so it's been a tussle whether to maintain WP until I retire so we get a chance at some good reward flights for the first round of post-work trips, or tried out BA with their scheme to get LTP. I'm still trying to work it out too.

 

[drross]

Thanks for your analysis. I totally understand it will be diff for each person, hoping to garner some understanding of the factors to consider that I may not have thought of. Cheers.

LTG has been a great back up. Trying Virgin more lately and due to Singapore’s recent offer Gold without flying (though booked to suites sydney to Singapore and return on points - thanks Citi). Happy to suggest look for status elsewhere and see if it suits your lifestyle

 

[JohnK]

I'm Lifetime Gold and Platinum.

Covid came along at the right time. I now don't care about loyalty programs whether it be airline or hotel. And I am not going out of my way chasing credit card points either. Less headaches.

At this moment in time I have lost the desire to chase status. Lounges and extra luggage is nice but not compulsory.

QF Platinum and VA Gold will lapse unless they offer further complimentary retention. Lifetime Gold is enough. Maybe the desire for travel will return when I retire.

 

[fifo]

For some of us extra baggage is a necessity. I've spent many extra dollars to keep plat Vs pay excess baggage. Saved me easily 20k over the years.

I'm Lifetime Gold and Platinum.

Covid came along at the right time. I now don't care about loyalty programs whether it be airline or hotel. And I am not going out of my way chasing credit card points either. Less headaches.

At this moment in time I have lost the desire to chase status. Lounges and extra luggage is nice but not compulsory.

QF Platinum and VA Gold will lapse unless they offer further complimentary retention. Lifetime Gold is enough. Maybe the desire for travel will return when I retire.

 

[TheRealTMA]

Hi all,

I'm pretty close to LTG. Less than 2k SC to go. I've been WP ever since first starting flying (well 5 months after), around a decade ago. I'm wondering what LTGs think about stopping 'the chase' for WP every year and the realistic benefits? What I see:

- better lounges. sure, but the QP vs biz lounges aren't much of an upgrade these days tbh (food/bar wise almost identical).
- ability to request a release of classic award seats > the big one i think?
- better chance at upgrades. sure, happens so frequently now anyway, shrug?
- better baggage allowance... slightly.
- the real benefit i see is the MUCH better baggage allowance when flying AA + better lounges (well lounges of any usefulness, admirals club sucks).

thoughts and opinons?
what do people do after LTG? credit to BA or something?

I highly value extra baggage, as I travel a lot for specialist diving and often take 2 x 32kgs or even 3 x32kgs bags just based. sometimes x3 bags just for volume, weight is under 23kgs.

I also love a lounge, but thats just appealing to the 'get free stuff' person in me + comfort when traveling like showers and quiet place to sit. ie, most any lounge fulfills this.

Been WP for many years but once you reach LTG it’s like a weight lifted and you no longer have to pander only to QFF. IMHO time to work on other programs. And, we never fly in steerage anymore anyway so makes little difference on QF.

 

[JohnK]

For some of us extra baggage is a necessity. I've spent many extra dollars to keep plat Vs pay excess baggage. Saved me easily 20k over the years.

Agreed and that's where Lifetime Gold comes in handy.

For me there is no need to credit to another program. Qantas is just fine as long as airfares return close to old normal. I've achieved Lifetime Gold and can take golf clubs with me each trip to Thailand.

 

[Flashback]

Hi all,

I'm pretty close to LTG. Less than 2k SC to go. I've been WP ever since first starting flying (well 5 months after), around a decade ago. I'm wondering what LTGs think about stopping 'the chase' for WP every year and the realistic benefits? What I see:

- better lounges. sure, but the QP vs biz lounges aren't much of an upgrade these days tbh (food/bar wise almost identical).
- ability to request a release of classic award seats > the big one i think?
- better chance at upgrades. sure, happens so frequently now anyway, shrug?
- better baggage allowance... slightly.
- the real benefit i see is the MUCH better baggage allowance when flying AA + better lounges (well lounges of any usefulness, admirals club sucks).

thoughts and opinons?
what do people do after LTG? credit to BA or something?

I highly value extra baggage, as I travel a lot for specialist diving and often take 2 x 32kgs or even 3 x32kgs bags just based. sometimes x3 bags just for volume, weight is under 23kgs.

I also love a lounge, but thats just appealing to the 'get free stuff' person in me + comfort when traveling like showers and quiet place to sit. ie, most any lounge fulfills this.

Probably a side effect of post-COVID travel, but it's been a while since I've been in a decent F lounge (food wise for sure). So I certainly wouldn't be doing it for the lounges......

 

[FishFood]

I just made it to Silver for the first time, LTG is still a long way away

Also do I get a Silver membership card or do I have to order one?

 

[fifo]

I just made it to Silver for the first time, LTG is still a long way away

Also do I get a Silver membership card or do I have to order one?

Congrats! I got a kit incl card and tags when I got LTS it's likely different now though with covid.

 

[dairyfloss]

I just made it to Silver for the first time, LTG is still a long way away

Also do I get a Silver membership card or do I have to order one?

Hi - do you mean LTS, or regular QFF Silver status? I didn't get a card for LTS, they just sent a simple letter and added the LTS to my profile, which I see on the digital card. That said, I've remained at Platinum since attaining, so possibly they would have done something different if I'd dropped down.

For QFF cards, in general, all have been on hold from distribution since early in the pandemic and until at least the end of this month. You can find out more on that here: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/card-pause.html

Cheers,
Matt.

 

[Flashback]

Hi - do you mean LTS, or regular QFF Silver status? I didn't get a card for LTS, they just sent a simple letter and added the LTS to my profile, which I see on the digital card. That said, I've remained at Platinum since attaining, so possibly they would have done something different if I'd dropped down.

For QFF cards, in general, all have been on hold from distribution since early in the pandemic and until at least the end of this month. You can find out more on that here: https://www.qantas.com/au/en/frequent-flyer/status-and-clubs/status/card-pause.html

Cheers,
Matt.

Given most airlines globally are not issuing physical cards anymore for "environmental reasons", it may well never come off pause again...

 

[dairyfloss]

Given most airlines globally are not issuing physical cards anymore for "environmental reasons", it may well never come off pause again...

Yes - I expect they will move to an 'issued on request-only' basis, and possibly only available to gold & above, unless a regular user of Qantas Money.