Lifetime Gold or not ?

[serfty]

It's an airline issue. The airlines don't want to pay for it, hence it doesn't exist.

We will have to agree to disagree.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I haven’t gone for LTG and settled for LTS. The main issue for me is skipping queues at the airport, which LTS does. And it gives slightly better access to award seats. The money that would go to LTG is used for buying miles, and lounge access is covered by priority pass in most cases, or cheap BA club europe fares. For the USA I get most lounge access through OW connecting rules. For the odd flight that I’m not connecting the only available lounges are sometimes AAdmirals Club rather than flagship, so not really a big issue.

 

[New to this]

I have a LTG friend who is now semi-retired and travels less so can see it for what it is (i.e he has no status apart from the LTG).

He claims that while it’s ‘fine’ there are subtle reductions e.g. seat choices more limited than normal Gold, less helpful when it comes to flight bookings etc

 

[mviy]

I’m over half-way to LTG and likely have many years of flying ahead of me. If there’s an offer close to as good as this year’s status run to NZ or a good offer to LHR on DSC I’d be likely to do the flying to at least retain WP. Probably a bit far away to push for LTG in one year, but once I get closer I may try to do a bigger push for it.

 

[Ade]

does status trump the cabin?

IMHO, it's yes & no ...

Yes because, I travel mostly Y domestic & international, except for the occasional, once-in-a-bluemoon, points upgrade that I'm able to secure as QF WP. Status also helps during issues - like in the past 2 or so years, I never had to wait in line to talk to someone from customer service for more than 5 mins (or 10 mins, tops) ... status helps in getting to talk to someone from HBA/AKL rather than CPT/MNL (not that CPT/MNL ain't good, but they are no HBA/AKL).

As @RichardMEL mentioned, status (in this, case LTG) is a crutch that will come in handy when travel patterns change and there is need to rely on reward/status tickets rather than paid tickets that can effectively "buy" the same level of service as a status pax.

No, because if I were to travel J most of the times, then I'm afforded the same/similar level/quality of service as a WP.

@mrsterryn - I'd think you can go on with your travel patterns as is and it will accumulate credits towards LTG ... but as many others in this forum, once you are LTG, it is considered the right time to switch to avios or other earning systems.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

The other consideration for LTG is where and how you intend to use it.For example how do the benefits compare to the best available fare across various carriers?

 

[SYD]

If you're asking about doing status runs to get closer to LTG gold, it doesn't sound like it would be worth it to me.

I'd just put that money towards J fares instead for intended travel.

If they’re OW carriers, those J fares are also a Fastrack to LT status (even at discounted SC earn rates for non QF codes). eg 1 or 2 AY J returns per year (3 sectors each way) or better a RTW can add up.

I found that it took half as long to go from LTS to LTG than getting to LTS. Simply from being able to afford to travelling up front (helped with some work travel but a lot of that was going to VA at the time).

 

[Sprucegoose]

For example, on Tuesday, flying U from Oz to LAX, the business class meal orders were taken by status.

Well, thats a new environment, and I presume that was a QF service Serfty?

Meal service was the most predictable aspect to travel.

 

[Sprucegoose]

IMHO, it's yes & no ...

Yes because, I travel mostly Y domestic & international, except for the occasional, once-in-a-bluemoon, points upgrade that I'm able to secure as QF WP. Status also helps during issues - like in the past 2 or so years, I never had to wait in line to talk to someone from customer service for more than 5 mins (or 10 mins, tops) ... status helps in getting to talk to someone from HBA/AKL rather than CPT/MNL (not that CPT/MNL ain't good, but they are no HBA/AKL).

Agreed. You can at least get seats if available and even seats in J; the flip side, you would need to pay for them with no status.

As @RichardMEL mentioned, status (in this, case LTG) is a crutch that will come in handy when travel patterns change and there is need to rely on reward/status tickets rather than paid tickets that can effectively "buy" the same level of service as a status pax.

Agreed. This will drive P1 or CL membership aspirations (either being written into contracts or spending copious amounts of alcohol in shady overnight establishments with 'Relationship' Managers) P1's are the rarity, with CL being an organisational entitlement. WP is reasonably obtainable.

No, because if I were to travel J most of the times, then I'm afforded the same/similar level/quality of service as a WP.

Generally, but when you have two pax and one option - they will undoubtedly go for the P1/CL at that point, possibly even WP. (We used to discuss PCV). There are classes of WP within that range. There will be newly minted WPs and those with over 20 years of 'service'.

I know someone very well who was one of two pax on a flight (technically cancelled) and had to get to SYD - it was overheard when deciding to go/no go; 'we have a P1/WP' on board. They were both flying Y. The flight went with two pax, almost out of hours.

It may come down to the Ops Supervisor on the day over policy. There is a point where you cant over plan but react to forward-facing challenges in the best way possible.

I'd think you can go on with your travel patterns as is and it will accumulate credits towards LTG ... but as many others in this forum, once you are LTG, it is considered the right time to switch to avios or other earning systems.

Generally, I would say you are spot on, and I admire those that have pulled themselves out of the addictive P1 sewer.......however my weak human side has exposed demons that I must continue to grapple with.

 

[mrsterryn]

I do think my regular flying trips would eventually net me LTG. However it is likely to be near the end of my travelling days (possibly)
I do like the idea of status runs I think that it could fun doing one of the marathons mentioned on the status run posts.
I have been saying for years that I am unlikely to requalify for platinum but I do try to keep it going lol
I would like the backup of LTG just cause

 

[Sprucegoose]

I do think my regular flying trips would eventually net me LTG. However it is likely to be near the end of my travelling days (possibly)
I do like the idea of status runs I think that it could fun doing one of the marathons mentioned on the status run posts.
I have been saying for years that I am unlikely to requalify for platinum but I do try to keep it going lol
I would like the backup of LTG just cause

When I started travelling, I never imagined who or where I would be; I just kept on doing it. I joined Flight Deck in 1993, thinking I would only use this a few times per year. The same applies to everyone, including you, mrssterryn. Predicting the future can be dicey art.

I was told there is only one ideal time to start anything, and that was a while ago; the next best time is today.

Onwards and upwards.

 

[SYD]

Well, thats a new environment, and I presume that was a QF service Serfty?

Meal service was the most predictable aspect to travel.

I believe that was a reference to UA. They’ve been doing meal orders by status for decades. Almost comical on a wide body domestic run.

I don’t recall it so much on international long haul.

 

[serfty]

I joined Flight Deck in 1993

I joined QP in Oct 1994 - flight deck had been gone a month.

Some insights here from a 3 decade old AFR article: QANTAS UPGRADES TO 'BLOW ANSETT OUT OF THE WATER'

FlyerTalk insight showing the Flight Deck membership was $35 PA: What is/was the Captains Club | FlyerTalk Forums (@NM, let alone Free Spouse)

 

[serfty]

Well, thats a new environment, and I presume that was a QF service Serfty?

I believe that was a reference to UA.

Nup, QF - It happened Tuesday - after taking my order the CSM headed down to to another WP - I was watching as I has seen similar earlier this year.

 

[SYD]

Nup, QF - It happened Tuesday - after taking my order the CSM headed down to to another WP - I was watching as I has seen it earlier this year.

Oh…

I usually pre-order (when available) so as to avoid disappointment.

 

[mviy]

I probably don't fly enough to need status, however I value benefits such as:
Lounge access
Domestic Business/International First Lounge access (requires WP status)
Domestic arrivals lounge access (requires WP status, except for overnight flights from PER in J, I think)
Priority security when flying domestic
Priority check-in for international
Priority boarding (when it works) - I really don't like not being able to find space for my carry-on near where I am sitting. So having status helps to take away one of the most stressful things about flying for me.
Higher priority for upgrades (I've generally had pretty good success with this, but sometimes the upgrades don't come through)
Access to better seats earlier
Earlier access to QF classic award seats (though I generally am not ready to book nearly a year out, so this is of limited benefit at the moment).

I am hopefully less than half way through my flying years and over half way to LTG so I think I am a chance of getting there.

 

[serfty]

Oh…

I usually pre-order (when available) so as to avoid disappointment.

No pre-order currently with QF international Business.

 

[JohnK]

Why? I have been SG or better (or their 90's equivalents) since 1995 and have never had to join an airline 'regular queue' when flying QF/oneworld.

You must be doing things differently to me. I'm in the regular queue and get special treatment too.

Flew out of BNE on SQ last week. I made a huge effort to get away from the new detectors.

In terms of Lifetime Gold I used to think it was worth it. I've got it now but if I was ~5,000 SCs away I would not be spending money to try and get there quicker.

 

[MEL_Traveller]

I joined QP in Oct 1994 - flight deck had been gone a month.

Some insights here from a 3 decade old AFR article: QANTAS UPGRADES TO 'BLOW ANSETT OUT OF THE WATER'

FlyerTalk insight showing the Flight Deck membership was $35 PA: What is/was the Captains Club | FlyerTalk Forums (@NM, let alone Free Spouse)

Those were the days. I remember life membership was $440… which back then was a lot of money! Would have been a good investment.

 

[kookaburra75]

I do think my regular flying trips would eventually net me LTG. However it is likely to be near the end of my travelling days (possibly)
I do like the idea of status runs I think that it could fun doing one of the marathons mentioned on the status run posts.
I have been saying for years that I am unlikely to requalify for platinum but I do try to keep it going lol
I would like the backup of LTG just cause

That's a similar situation to me. I just ticked over to LTG a year ago, I got over the line with status credits from a Qantas Wine order - rather appropriately says MrsK. I only have 3 years left of my working life, so hitting LTG now is good timing, as I can use it when we start travelling again in our retirement years.

I had hit LTS several years ago after 20+ years of travel, as I used to use Ansett for predominately for domestic travel, and Qantas for international. Between 2015 - 2020 I was working for a UK company, and with 2 - 3 trips a year to the UK - in flex Economy, plus a heap of domestic & NZ travel, I got and maintained WP status for that time. Those years as WP got me up to LTG. If I was still several years off retirement and not doing as much flying as I used to, I'm not sure whether I would have spent the extra money to chase LTG, but you never know.