Life Time Gold - The [Realistic] Holy Grail

[Beano]

I would love IB. I will look into that too. Our daughter lives in Madrid and has just given us a second grand child and we will be going to visit them..

 

[AshM]

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’ve been LTG for several years, having dropped back from WP immediately before the pandemic in Feb 2020 - so just missed out on the WP status extension.

As soon as things looked like they were opening up again last year, I booked a OW classic reward ticket in business. Unfortunately, dealing with Qantas about it ever since has been a series of unmitigated disasters - and I desperately missed the premium call centre access that comes (or, at least, used to reliably come) with WP status. The experience of trying to deal with Qantas over the past six months was so consistently bad, in fact, that notwithstanding my Qantas LTG status, I have now switched all my regular domestic travel - which is mainly for work - to Virgin. I’m also in the process of switching other points earning (eg. credit cards, etc) to Velocity.

Anyway, I know I’m not Robinson Crusoe re the customer service stuff but the point of all that is that all the advantages of LTG weren’t enough to offset the appalling customer service - so the biggest advantage of WP, as it turns out, is the access to the premium call centre. (Assuming it has been reliably restored.)

Also, as you say, I found the (unofficial) ability to request reward seats in premium cabins very useful. Mind you, that’s related to the benefit of being able to get through to someone in the call centre who knows about it!

Other worthwhile benefits are the Sydney international First lounge (less so in other cities). And the baggage allowance, sure, if you travel like an Emirati sheik.

I quite liked the ability to check in at OW First desks around the world - where they know who you are before you’ve opened your mouth - though that’s mainly just novelty/flattery more than practical benefit over gold status.

 

[mviy]

My problem for WP seat releases is that the only route I'm interested in requesting that for is a return trip to LHR (and only J/F on that route) which is probably one of the hardest routes to get it on. I'll be back to WP soon, so maybe I'll try again in the next year or two, though if successful that would slow my progress towards LTG as I get a lot of my SCs from LHR trips.

 

[Flashback]

My problem for WP seat releases is that the only route I'm interested in requesting that for is a return trip to LHR (and only J/F on that route) which is probably one of the hardest routes to get it on. I'll be back to WP soon, so maybe I'll try again in the next year or two, though if successful that would slow my progress towards LTG as I get a lot of my SCs from LHR trips.

In the past (this is a decade ago from when I had experience of it) WP seat releases were for Y only; do they do F/J now?

 

[Ansett]

In the past (this is a decade ago from when I had experience of it) WP seat releases were for Y only; do they do F/J now?

Yes they do I recently had a seat released in J to LHR in September

 

[fifo]

see i dont agree with this. i think it disincentived the chase, oh i've got there so now i can fly business with anyone cane get the same benefits pretty much. i agree that not every will run off, but lots will and lots will be disincentivized , particularly with 75k being the next tear. 35k or 40k would be much more conducive to me staying with qff.

 

[SYD]

My problem for WP seat releases is that the only route I'm interested in requesting that for is a return trip to LHR (and only J/F on that route) which is probably one of the hardest routes to get it on. I'll be back to WP soon, so maybe I'll try again in the next year or two, though if successful that would slow my progress towards LTG as I get a lot of my SCs from LHR trips.

If you have PC/PC+, you can still earn some SCs on award QF award bookings. It really is quite handy for those of us with a bunch of points but still like retaining WP for the additional benefits.

 

[MH_fan]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The best way to keep people tied to QF after reaching LTG is to make it so that LTG automatically means that you have 600SCs each year and you just have to earn another 600SCs to maintain platinum but the caveat will be that all 600 of those SCs have to be earned on QF or JQ. They can then keep LTP at that ridiculous level if they want to for customers who really want to achieve that.

 

[fifo]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The best way to keep people tied to QF after reaching LTG is to make it so that LTG automatically means that you have 600SCs each year and you just have to earn another 600SCs to maintain platinum but the caveat will be that all 600 of those SCs have to be earned on QF or JQ. They can then keep LTP at that ridiculous level if they want to for customers who really want to achieve that.

That's genius actually. I'd never leave qantas in this instance and likely have to do extra travel to keep WP, but I certainly would do it. and i'd never obviously live 100 more years to get LTWP.
it'd be a gauranteed income stream for qantas, i'd be smashing a status run annually for sure.

 

[Basalt]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The best way to keep people tied to QF after reaching LTG is to make it so that LTG automatically means that you have 600SCs each year and you just have to earn another 600SCs to maintain platinum but the caveat will be that all 600 of those SCs have to be earned on QF or JQ. They can then keep LTP at that ridiculous level if they want to for customers who really want to achieve that.

100% agree. When I make LTG, I'll be semi-retired and able to afford overseas flights in the pointy end on any damn airline I please and it won't be Qantas if they continue with their mediocre and paltry rewarding of loyalty.

 

[pauleg]

100% agree. When I make LTG, I'll be semi-retired and able to afford overseas flights in the pointy end on any damn airline I please and it won't be Qantas if they continue with their mediocre and paltry rewarding of loyalty.

True, Basalt. But where we do find it useful now is that any cheap domestic trip to see kids or to holiday can be book ended by a refreshing stint in the Q Club!!!

 

[Beano]

True, Basalt. But where we do find it useful now is that any cheap domestic trip to see kids or to holiday can be book ended by a refreshing stint in the Q Club!!!

Totally agree, pauleg. And if you are QP, then make it First Class lounges in Sydney and Dubai.

 

[wandering_fred]

Alternative suggestion for life time status holders...
Life time silver means annual gold qualification at renewal (600 SC) levels
Life time gold means annual platinum qualification at renewal levels (1200 SC)
Perhaps requiring 6 flights on QF or JQ?

I did observe that QFF noticed intra Asia Z class flights on Malaysian were an easy source of QFF SC.
Z class on Malaysian now earns economy SC in QFF......
Somewhat more challenging in setting up local wandering?
Fred

 

[winfred]

I've said it before and I'll say it again. The best way to keep people tied to QF after reaching LTG is to make it so that LTG automatically means that you have 600SCs each year and you just have to earn another 600SCs to maintain platinum but the caveat will be that all 600 of those SCs have to be earned on QF or JQ. They can then keep LTP at that ridiculous level if they want to for customers who really want to achieve that.

Won't work for people like me who spent 360 days a year outside of Australia. Trying to earn 600 SC on Jetstar is hard work.

 

[Beano]

Won't work for people like me who spent 360 days a year outside of Australia. Trying to earn 600 SC on Jetstar is hard work.

I can sympathise with that but with Covid restriction finished, Australia hear I come.

 

[fifo]

I can sympathise with that but with Covid restriction finished, Australia hear I come.

I've been in this position and I flew to Thailand/singas to smash out my 4 flights. He also said 6 flights not 600 SCS. Very doable

 

[winfred]

I can sympathise with that but with Covid restriction finished, Australia hear I come.

Wife and kids going back to Melbourne to see family but I am trapped in HK to attend some meetings in late August. I tried to join them but it is hard to find a quarantine hotel and can't justify being locked up for 7 days for a 10 days trip.

 

[Beano]

Wife and kids going back to Melbourne to see family but I am trapped in HK to attend some meetings in late August. I tried to join them but it is hard to find a quarantine hotel and can't justify being locked up for 7 days for a 10 days trip.

Hasn't Australia removed all restrictions and the only one for VIC is a "recommendation" to test unless you arrive by cruise ship?

 

[Kiwi_Flyer]

Hasn't Australia removed all restrictions and the only one for VIC is a "recommendation" to test unless you arrive by cruise ship?

It's Hong Kong restrictions on the return.

 

[Beano]

It's Hong Kong restrictions on the return.

Ah, is see. Sorry I misunderstood.