Life Time Gold - The [Realistic] Holy Grail

[drross]

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.

physical cards started being issued last month - wife and son-in-law both got their Gold cards a few weeks ago

 

[QF WP]

@fifo, I’m about 600 SC’s short of LTG and like most others, that’s where my serious crediting to QF will stop. I started the AA Plat Challenge in 2003 and lucky to have been able to transfer a bunch of Amex miles to AA. Will probably start to credit back there, as I can’t see myself getting anywhere near BA. But someone who has is @JessicaTam so she can give you some knowledge on that program.

As I approached QF LTG I started to use VA for scheduling and cost. Now comfortably Platinum for 6 years and gives me $ savings (as run own business) and better service.

 

[fifo]

@fifo, I’m about 600 SC’s short of LTG and like most others, that’s where my serious crediting to QF will stop. I started the AA Plat Challenge in 2003 and lucky to have been able to transfer a bunch of Amex miles to AA. Will probably start to credit back there, as I can’t see myself getting anywhere near BA. But someone who has is @JessicaTam so she can give you some knowledge on that program.

As I approached QF LTG I started to use VA for scheduling and cost. Now comfortably Platinum for 6 years and gives me $ savings (as run own business) and better service.

Cheers, thanks for the advice, i had not considered AA. I will take a look.

 

[SydneySwan]

As I approached QF LTG I started to use VA for scheduling and cost. Now comfortably Platinum for 6 years and gives me $ savings (as run own business) and better service.

Have you considered changing your handle to VA WP? I believe it is available.

 

[justin23]

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.

I was wondering this myself. I've only really just passed LTS after almost 20 years of self funded mostly leisure travel, but I've been Gold for about 5 years as I can start to fund more business class flights and make use of DSC's. I'm expecting to hit LTG within 5-7 years and i'll be in my 50's then. But if i'm paying for more J fares, the LTG is less useful, although that said will come in handy on short flights i don't want to fork out the money for business. Not sure if I'll ever hit Platinum either. LTG though is a nice minimum standard to have

 

[fifo]

Yeah it's actually funny, if they made ltwp at 28k, I'd keep chasing for sure. Instead it's at ridiculous levels and forget that meaning I'll take my business else where, in J especially.

 

[Pushka]

physical cards started being issued last month - wife and son-in-law both got their Gold cards a few weeks ago

Nothing for us for end of April membership. And nothing for LTS a couple of years ago. As we usually fly from Adelaide on Qatar and Emirates no longer does then there's not much benefit in WP for us anymore as Qatar don't play nice, although MrP had LTG a few years ago. It will come in handy for a BA domestic flight next week with extra luggage.

 

[_TheTraveller_]

3957SC to LTG. It's been an interesting 7 years since I started the case. Also managed to maintain AS MVP Gold for the past 4 years.

I would chase AS MM Gold but it's solely AS flights which is a shame. I've seen some comments between AA and BA, is there any reason why AA is better than BA? With BA, I can see that if you manage hit to Gold for 23 years, you'll at least be rewarded with LTG (OWE).

 

[mviy]

I've seen some comments between AA and BA, is there any reason why AA is better than BA? With BA, I can see that if you manage hit to Gold for 23 years, you'll at least be rewarded with LTG (OWE).

It would depend a bit where you travel. If you do a lot of travel to the US and within the US on AA that’s very different to regular trips to LHR and from there to elsewhere in the UK and Europe.

Also if you intend to chase LTOWE on BA for use on flying QF you are assuming that both will remain in OWE and that you’ll get there and that the benefits will be worthwhile.

 

[VPS]

Has anybody applied for their Qantas club refund lately after attaining LTG - I must get around to it

 

[NM]

Has anybody applied for their Qantas club refund lately after attaining LTG - I must get around to it

Apparently they don't refund QC membership (pro-rata). They place your QC membership on hold until your Gold status expires . Not that the remainder of your QC membership will not be of much use once your LTG expires! But please do let us know if you have any success. I think I have about 18 months of QC sitting on hold.

Well, I suppose they might enhance the LTG benefits in the future in which as the remaining QC membership might be useful. Shhh, perhaps I should not give them any enhancement ideas.

 

[Kangol]

Apparently they don't refund QC membership (pro-rata). They place your QC membership on hold until your Gold status expires . Not that the remainder of your QC membership will not be of much use once your LTG expires! But please do let us know if you have any success. I think I have about 18 months of QC sitting on hold.

Well, I suppose they might enhance the LTG benefits in the future in which as the remaining QC membership might be useful. Shhh, perhaps I should not give them any enhancement ideas.

I definitely had my pro-rata membership refund a few years ago.
Don't know about the current situation but I cannot imagine it would change.

 

[NM]

I definitely had my pro-rata membership refund a few years ago.
Don't know about the current situation but I cannot imagine it would change.

Maybe I'll try again then. But I somehow expect they won't have any record of it, and I know I don't have any proper record of my most recent paid Qantas Club membership. It must have been late 1990s sometime, probably just before they started status tiers which included lounge access.

 

[norby]

I got a pro-rata refund for my QC membership when I hit LTG - it did take 2-3 calls (and 3-4 weeks) to get the money, as they wanted to refund it to the card I had originally used which I'd cancelled. I had to submit a stat dec (!) saying I no longer had the credit card but the money eventually came through.

 

[Flashback]

I got a pro-rata refund for my QC membership when I hit LTG - it did take 2-3 calls (and 3-4 weeks) to get the money, as they wanted to refund it to the card I had originally used which I'd cancelled. I had to submit a stat dec (!) saying I no longer had the credit card but the money eventually came through.

I'm guessing it wasn't a lifetime QP membership though (which is what I have)?

 

[JohnM]

From what I can recall, I (well, work) had bought a five-year QP membership about 25 years ago. After about two or three years I went SG and next year to WP where I've been ever since - but surely soon to come down with a thud to invoking my LTG. Over half way to LTP but won't make it in this lifetime.

Never did ask for a refund of the unused QP fee...

 

[Daver6]

From what I can recall, I (well, work) had bought a five-year QP membership about 25 years ago. After about two or three years I went SG and next year to WP where I've been ever since - but surely soon to come down with a thud to invoking my LTG. Over half way to LTP but won't make it in this lifetime.

Never did ask for a refund of the unused QP fee...

Best to get calling while you're still WP

 

[norby]

I'm guessing it wasn't a lifetime QP membership though (which is what I have)?

No - I know a few people with lifetime QP that didn't get anything back - including one or two who joined when it was still called Qantas Flight Deck!

 

[kpc]

No - I know a few people with lifetime QP that didn't get anything back - including one or two who joined when it was still called Qantas Flight Deck!

I have asked twice about pro rata refund for my LT QP membership when I hit LT Gold a few years ago....no dice!

 

[Vic]

The key with Qantas club refunds, IMO, is to read the T&Cs for the valid refund reasons. I suspect if you say one of those reasons, they cannot really refuse.

hint, I've got lifetime gold is not a valid reason...