Life Time Gold - The [Realistic] Holy Grail

[JohnM]

Spot on. Got the letter a few weeks ago but only just opened it. Now wishing I had just thrown it in the bin - zero personalisation, signed off by "The QFF Team". What a way to acknowledge someone who has contributed serious dollars to your company.

Lifetime gold is a good benefit, don't get me wrong. But how hard would it be to add a few paras to make the achievement feel special and acknowledge the circumstances of the individual? (eg, "over 20 years as a loyal member" or "flying in our premium cabins and being a valued P1".)

Well, I'm 2.5x around the LTG dial and my biggest fear is actually having to invoke the SG status :shock::-|.

 

[mviy]

Some of us would be quite happy with LTG. Sure WP is amazing and the F Lounge is much better than the J lounge, but SG sure is a lot better than PS.

I'm a WP for now and hoping not to fall back to PS or NB. At about 15% of the way to LTG it's still a long way off for me.

 

[JohnK]

Well, I'm 2.5x around the LTG dial and my biggest fear is actually having to invoke the SG status :shock::-|.

Life beyond Platinum? Very scary....

 

[swilk]

Life beyond Platinum? Very scary....

Yep. Very scary.

Its happening to me in 2 weeks. Didn't re-qualify this year due to the bad strategic decision to fly on holidays using points. Im guessing my shiny new LTG card is nearly on its way.

I'll should get back to WP with projected retirement flights at the end of next year though.

Do Virgin still have their family SC system - with 2 of us flying I reckon I could get to Virgin Plat in one trip whereas QF will take all year..

 

[dairyfloss]

265 to go...

Same here!!! You ARE talking about the number of weeks left until LTG, right?

Cheers,
Mat

 

[Rebekkap]

Here is the map of how second-youngest daughter received LTS:

View attachment 83821

Very similar to the way I got to LTS - only mine was MEL/CBR!

 

[tyrolean]

Her comes mine...

 

[Flying mermaid]

Spot on. Got the letter a few weeks ago but only just opened it. Now wishing I had just thrown it in the bin - zero personalisation, signed off by "The QFF Team". What a way to acknowledge someone who has contributed serious dollars to your company.

Lifetime gold is a good benefit, don't get me wrong. But how hard would it be to add a few paras to make the achievement feel special and acknowledge the circumstances of the individual? (eg, "over 20 years as a loyal member" or "flying in our premium cabins and being a valued P1".)

I dropped my platinum card in the domestic transfer area of the International terminal in July. It was posted back with a nice little letter, saying it had been found and they valued my loyalty to Qantas, or something like that. I know at the time it made my feel a lot more warm and fuzzy than my LTG letter did.

 

[coyote25]

It is a surprise there are no incentives other than aiming for WP each year once you get to LTG.

I saw another post on AFF where a member had a conversation with QFF rep and they indicated LTG is huge cost and not much benefit to QF. I'm assuming this is because the earn patterns on QF change for those who can't get to WP.

Maybe if you requalify for the annual SG (so it shows you are still a loyal revenue earning flyer) you get an extra reward, maybe a choice of either;
- 2 x F Lounge INT passes / J Lounge Dom passes or
- one Dom upgrade certificate or
- 20k points.
- or something else low cost to QF but worth the revenue spend.

They wouldn't need something extra at WP annual level since you get WP benefits.

"Mr/Mrs QFF, in recognition of your strong commitment to QF as a lifetime Gold member and your continuing commitment by meeting the annual requalifying gold status QF is happy to offer you an extra reward, you have the choice of ..."

To further promote the loyal flyer that QF wants and keep down costs you could make it only for status earned on QF (if that is worth more to them).

It would promote reasons for the LTG member to still aim for Gold each year and book flights that earn QF good revenue while costing very little. Once you are LTG cheapest fare on OWE is fine (less revenue for QANTAS) but when aiming for status some people, especially business flyers, go for higher earning fares (flexible etc).

You would think QF would have data analysts who could work out the value of keeping those at LTG level but below WP level on the best revenue earning patterns.

BTW I'd also redesign the status display on tickets that makes it clearer someone is LTG when travelling on that status. Just a little thing so staff know you as a longer term client (especially when fixing operational problems).

 

[wandering_fred]

Be careful what you ask for. Though upgrades with QF are like unicorns, over at AA they are not and the lifetime status people without current flying will be ignored in the upgrade space in 2017. That's when upgrade priority within status will be based on a running (12 month??) EQD (ie $$ spend) Though I suppose the WP1's sort of have that benefit already.

Happy wandering

Fred

 

[Austman]

BTW I'd also redesign the status display on tickets that makes it clearer someone is LTG when travelling on that status. Just a little thing so staff know you as a longer term client (especially when fixing operational problems).

They have no idea at the moment. And mention LTG and you will mostly be met with bewilderment.

 

[mviy]

I would think someone with SG would be likely to have a higher PCV than someone relying on LTG, but someone with LTG and flying enough to retain SG anyway would have a higher PCV than an ordinary SG. All else being equal, of course.

But QANTAS doesn't provide this information so one can only guess.

I do think they could do more to keep LTG fliers flying QF too.

 

[ScottM]

Be careful what you ask for. Though upgrades with QF are like unicorns, over at AA they are not and the lifetime status people without current flying will be ignored in the upgrade space in 2017. That's when upgrade priority within status will be based on a running (12 month??) EQD (ie $$ spend) Though I suppose the WP1's sort of have that benefit already.

I didn't think it was possible to request an upgrade with AA as a QF FF (and have your status recognised)? I'm pretty sure it is definately not recognised when flying on a QF itinerary (The upgrade option isn't even available)

Any advice? [definately got treated as Executive Platinum though. The Flight attendant gave me an entire row to myself on a quite full flight last time and they often keep pouring the wine after the first "complimentary" one at no cost. I actually felt more valued on AA than QF.

P.S. I qualified for QF LTG this year

 

[drross]

I didn't think it was possible to request an upgrade with AA as a QF FF (and have your status recognised)? I'm pretty sure it is definately not recognised when flying on a QF itinerary (The upgrade option isn't even available)

Any advice? [definately got treated as Executive Platinum though. The Flight attendant gave me an entire row to myself on a quite full flight last time and they often keep pouring the wine after the first "complimentary" one at no cost. I actually felt more valued on AA than QF.

P.S. I qualified for QF LTG this year

we thoroughly enjoyed our EP experience when flying with AA to mexico city...told we were the only 2 EPs on the flight and we received great service, better seating(exit row to ourselves) free food and drink the whole flight - great recognition by AA

 

[ScottM]

Yes, they really seem to make a point of it throughout the flight. I asked for my complimentary wine. Then tried to purchase more wine 4 more times but they wouldn't take my money! Took several opportunities to ask "Is everything ok Mr. <ScottM>"?

 

[ScottM]

As a side question. If / when I drop from Platinum, do they actually send a card that says "Lifetime Gold"? [noting my WP cards have an expiry date]

 

[CaptJCool]

"Mr/Mrs QFF, in recognition of your strong commitment to QF as a lifetime Gold member and your continuing commitment by meeting the annual requalifying gold status QF is happy to offer you an extra reward, you have the choice of ..."

To further promote the loyal flyer that QF wants and keep down costs you could make it only for status earned on QF (if that is worth more to them).

You would think QF would have data analysts who could work out the value of keeping those at LTG level but below WP level on the best revenue earning patterns.

They do
it's really only a loyalty card with the way QF currently treat it.

People come and go but is past loyalty an indicator of future loyalty? Usually yes except the boffins whose boss pays. No loyalty when it comes to them paying their own way !

is free lounge access sufficient carrot ? Don't think so,,,, at prices QF prefer to charge, it's an impost to fly with them in preference to many good competitors ....

 

[ScottM]

I disagree with that. I pay more to fly on QANTAS on personal travel with family due to my status with QANTAS. Try a 5 hour layover at LAX with no lounge access and get back to me

Perhaps it's less of an issue domestically but we (my family and I) truely value the extra baggage when travelling international [and the opportunity to have a shower between connections!]

 

[coyote25]

There are definitely benefits that LTG give that you would lead you to make bookings, think no baggage fees with AA if you hold OW Sapphire.

I was really thinking how QF and keep getting a lot of bookings for those who can't get to 1,400 SCs. Whether that be higher (Flexi fares) or paying the QF fare premium on INT flights so you get something extra at 600.

Right now once you get LTG and know you can't get WP you only do bookings they are totally in your favour. Loyalty schemes are usually about modifying customer behaviour to benefit the company. You'd think QF would look for something that gets more revenue towards them, ie motivator goals from a group of FF who have a proven track record of spend.

No real concern since I'll be LTG in 12 or so months and then I won't be playing the max SC gain game with QF. Just weird QF doesn't try to keep you in the game (to their advantage).

 

[Ansett]

Right now once you get LTG and know you can't get WP you only do bookings they are totally in your favour. Loyalty schemes are usually about modifying customer behaviour to benefit the company. You'd think QF would look for something that gets more revenue towards them, ie motivator goals from a group of FF who have a proven track record of spend.

No real concern since I'll be LTG in 12 or so months and then I won't be playing the max SC gain game with QF. Just weird QF doesn't try to keep you in the game (to their advantage).

I will hit LTG in April and can feel a big weight coming off of my shoulders as I now Know I will always have access to OW J lounges even when flying Y. This frees me to now look at best fare on a OW airline rather than focusing on QF.

Now if they had LTP then I would be concentrating on obtaining that and remaining a loyal and valued customer of Qantas.