Finally reached Lifetime Gold... what next?

[Durin's Bane]

Hello AFF’s,

Following my recent DONE4 I have reached Lifetime Gold with QFF, and notice the little SC accumulator in my profile to have disappeared. Took me just under six years.

Now the question begins… do I join another FF program (AA, CX, etc) or do I remain with QF. Due to the number of domestic flights I take to the Pilbara, my jaunts across the continent from PER to SYD and MEL, and international DONE4’s I can easily retain Platinum for a while yet. (F lounges are the best! )

I've read some of the other posts by AFF's who have reached LTG to see what they were planning... Knowing my flying profile above, does anyone have any suggestions? I have also been thinking about purchasing the best F or J fare available for a sector, rather than focusing on Oneworld exclusively.

(Wish there was Lifetime Platinum formally available to strive for!!)

Regards,
DB.

 

[Must...Fly!]

CongrAAtulations!

 

[ChrisFlyer]

(Wish there was Lifetime Platinum formally available to strive for!!)

I have heard whispers that LTP can be achieved after earning 28k status credits exclusively on QF flights... though as this is only a unconfirmed rumour, I certainly wouldn't base your decision around it!

 

[serfty]

You get paper statements they will continue to show your lifetime tally.

If the vast majority of your travel is with QF/*O than I'd suggest re-earning WP each year, then crediting your other flights (excluding N, Q, E class) to AA.

I use AirNZ for *A as an alternative program, but this may not suit everyone.

 

[moa999]

You get paper statements they will continue to show your lifetime tally.

If the vast majority of your travel is with QF/*O than I'd suggest re-earning WP each year, then crediting your other flights (excluding N, Q, E class) to AA.

I use AirNZ for *A as an alternative program, but this may not suit everyone.

Congrats Durin's Brain.
Am not far behind sitting at just over 13000scs but with about it pretty much all locked in by end march thanks to the hk promotion. am thinking of finally putting some points to my very underutilised AA account I have had for four years.

 

[gwilli1]

Congrats , what an awesome effort .

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Congrats Durin's Brain.
Am not far behind sitting at just over 13000scs but with about it pretty much all locked in by end march thanks to the hk promotion. am thinking of finally putting some points to my very underutilised AA account I have had for four years.

I'm coming up to the LTG target very soon too. Figure I'll start planning now and slowing down on the QF SC while looking at other progrAAms for QF retirement. This also means switching CC points somewhere else. I wonder if other airlines would match a P1 to their uber FF level?

Lifetime Platinum however would keep me and no doubt MANY MANY others flying exclusively with QF.

 

[amaroo]

I'm also fast approaching LTG and have caught myself day dreaming "what now"

I've had to face the facts & admit that I'm addicted to the QF Flounge & would really struggle signing up with another program knowing that I've got to go cold turkey when flying internationally.

Unless my circumstances change & I fly F all the time (never say never).......I'm resigned to the fact that I'll be sticking with OW.

 

[dfcatch]

I'm still a year or so away from LTS, so LTG is a way to go.

That said, after toying with it over the last few months, I have made a firm decision that my goal for 2012 is to find a job that allows me to keep flying on someone else's dime

 

[TonyHancock]

After a year of shocking QF customer service, which continues as I write, my response to reaching LTG, in July 2011, has been to focus on maintaining DJ/VA Platinum and, hopefully, going on to Partner Platinum.

I just wonder how long it will be before the LTG benefits are enhanced. :-|

 

[AnonymousCoward]

Currently on 13,977 SCs, but being based in SG means no quick flights to get the remaining 23SCs - probably stuck here for another 3-4 weeks.

Also pondering what to do at the LTG mark.

 

[JohnM]

I've been LTG for quite a few years now and I stick with QF and OneWorld to keep WP. I'm a SFSC, so there are limits. A DONEX at least every year plus a bunch of other bits and pieces comfortably keeps me WP.

Keeping PG is a bit more of a stretch these days since XONEx's dropped from 20 to 16 sectors but I'm hanging in with some judicious use of JASAs - and the recent double SC HKG offer is particularly sweet for it .

Life WP would be the ultimate dream but I don't think QF will introduce it . Think about it - it would be counter-productive; there always has to be a dangling carrot to maintain the interest :-|. WP is a highly addictive drug :mrgreen:.

 

[Brisbane Flyer]

Just crossed 30k SC's, been flying QF since 1994.
For me, I utilize the FF points on J/F awards to / from USA, and the odd LTG/Plat benefits that come around.

Lounges are okay, but I'd rather minimize my travel time. Service for me seems to match expectations, all I really expect is the bloody aircraft takes off and lands in tact, maybe its my view that its a glorified bus.

My wife is currently in the Caymen Islands, used FF points to secure J seats, son #2 is off by himself (age 17) to LAX in June and his 6'4" frame can squeeze into the new J seats, whilst son #1 (age 19) and I are on the BNE-SYD-DFW-BNE in June, bought economy, seated in PE exit rows (the one time of the year that we use the FLounge as its a good place for dad/son to chat...or get pissed together). LTG combined with generous CC spend (it does help to push alot of the company expenses on the card) gives us a family experience on Qantas that we all enjoy.

Cheers
BF

 

[simongr]

For me a lot would depend on if you are earning lots of CC points as well that are going to QFF. My is heavily weighted to flights so if I could be assured of hitting AA EXP each year then it would be an easy switch to AA once I hit LTG. My travel pattern has been too variable for me to switch to AA and the worse thing is seating allocation on QF domestic flights (sadly the majority of my flights currently) is awful for AA EXP - I was regularly getting row 17 on a 73x SYD-MEL and then went QFF WP and got for 6...

 

[JohnM]

I would have had a bucketload more QF SCs and LG way sooner if the organisation I worked for didn't have Ansett as its travel contractor and I hadn't had to start almost from scratch with QF :evil:.

And I wouldn't have lost 300+K FF points . Thankfully I had used plenty as I went along and at least I got on the last flight PER-MEL the night it went bust - sitting in J with the only catering a plastic cup of water :shock:.

 

[N860CR]

I just wonder how long it will be before the LTG benefits are enhanced.

I've always thought that SG should be fairly secure as it needs to match the OneWorld Sapphire benefits. Worst case, it could only be reduced to whatever OneWorld stipulate that SG is (i.e.: Lounge access and business checkin should be ok).

However... to contradict myself in the same post , I guess QF could theoretically do what AA has and refuse access to domestic lounges or something. That would be a pretty low act though.

 

[simongr]

I dont expect QF to change the current benefits to make LTG different to SG but I can see a few other scenarios coming out:

- Increase in Scs to get LTG - this is the most obvious and most likely I think
- Cease giving out new LTG - in the same way that LTQP stopped being sold
- Rebrand LTG as QFLHG - Qantas Lifetime Honoured guest with it's only special set of benefits

However - the longer and stronger VA/DJ operates the less likely any of those scenarios will come up.

 

[awilcockson]

- Increase in Scs to get LTG - this is the most obvious and most likely I think
- Cease giving out new LTG - in the same way that LTQP stopped being sold
- Rebrand LTG as QFLHG - Qantas Lifetime Honoured guest with it's only special set of benefits

If they did any of these then there would be a large group of very pissed off people who are currently working towards a published benefit. I don't think they'd be that silly (98.5% to LTS, 49.25% to LTG here ...)

 

[simongr]

I agree. I think two years ago any of the above three things was actually likely and probable - now not so much.

 

[Grooba]

I'm coming up to the LTG target very soon too. Figure I'll start planning now and slowing down on the QF SC while looking at other progrAAms for QF retirement. This also means switching CC points somewhere else. I wonder if other airlines would match a P1 to their uber FF level?

Lifetime Platinum however would keep me and no doubt MANY MANY others flying exclusively with QF.

Absolutely. Even if it was something like 28-30K SC's for LTP there would be SO MANY MORE people striving for this rather than switching over once LTG was attained.