Life Time Gold - The [Realistic] Holy Grail

[Chrizztofa]

They changed the system fundamentally (revenue based, different multiplier, pro-rated progress) but the outcome is that 1 TP = £1 so someone starting today would need to spend on the realm of £550K to get there

It's actually slightly worse than that too - you don't get tier points for taxes and fees, so you end up having to spend more than £550k.

Iberia Club have a similar model now for lifetime Emerald (400,000 elite points @ 1EUR = 1 elite point). I don't hear too much of that program on here, but with current exchange rates that might be better value? The way of calculating elite points on partner earn may be slightly better too - BA use a percentage of miles flown based on fare class, whereas IB use a fixed earn rate based on distance zones based on class of travel only.

 

[Chrizztofa]

Incidentally, after 11 and a half years, I've finally made it to LTG via a loyalty bonus carried over from my last membership year (if only those gifted SCs in September had counted, I'd be there already!)

Thanks to everyone here for sharing their knowledge over the years!




Just the small matter of 60,979 SC to LTP...but given I'm 37 and usually just requalify for WP each year thanks to DSC / strategic connecting flights there's no point going for it.

From here I think the plan is:
- Switch to Avios as my primary currency since it provides flexibility for both QF and VA redemptions, and I usually fly QR internationally.
- Use Y redemptions where possible for domestic narrowbody flying / where a Dom J lounge is not available (especially as I expect lie-flat seats to become increasingly rare on domestic flights as more A321s come online).
- Use J redemptions where possible when a lie-flat seat / Dom J lounge is available.
- Pay cash J for international flights (I usually fly QR to or from non-oneworld hubs, so can access the QR premium lounges via class of service and am not missing out on F lounges except when flying through SIN/HKG).

 

[MH_fan]

I had thought about chasing LTP with BA but glad I didn't now. I'd hit LTG with QF just before Covid and my flying patterns have changed where I don't fly as much as I used to (all self-funded). I would've been mighty pissed if I'd started to aim for BA's LTP and they changed the goal posts to such a ridiculous level. Anyway, LTP with QF is too far away and impossible for me now. It took me 10 years to reach LTG and I've continued to maintain WP with QF, so I'll just enjoy the benefits of WP for as long as I can.

 

[nerdag]

They changed the system fundamentally (revenue based, different multiplier, pro-rated progress) but the outcome is that 1 TP = £1 so someone starting today would need to spend on the realm of £550K to get there

Prediction: QF will do this in the next wave of QFF enhancements, just as VA have done recently, and many other airlines around the world have done in the last 10 years.

 

[CaptJCool]

I’m quite fine sitting at LTG
ADELAIDE never had a J lounge until May last year. And besides the beverage is the same in both lounges anyway, and you can be downgraded to the J lounges on particular days of the week (weekends or nights). There’s a thread on that somewhere

Or the J fares / reward tics are “low enough” given my now income to purchase a few every so often.

This leaves the international F lounges. While the pinnacle of luxury in the QF network which can be accessed on JQ DOM legs of international flights, short of that and short of paying for F, there’s no real way to get in there from where I reside so I don’t want it to run my life. It’s a great servant but a lousy master

PS the best value is the short hop JQ rewards flights where I can bring a friend along and we can drink the cost of the co-payment in coffee and champagne, G&T and Chivas regal before I board for the one hour to Melbourne.

 

[Invisible Monkey]

I have just ticked over 13000 SC, since starting in 2010. so at the current rate by this time next year I will be close to LTG.

As a 95% domestic traveler on 737/dash8 and occasional 330. I have been thinking a lot about what happens when or if I get to LTG. Having just scraped in to maintaining WP since 2014 with a bit of help from status keeper through covid, it may be a bit of an anti-climax.

I am not sure if I will keep traveling for work like I have been, but if I do, I like being Platinum. So it almost feels like a big part of the game will be over. Already this year I am just shy of 1200 with five months to go, thanks to QF giving credits away and a few extra sectors coinciding with DSC, part of the thrill is gone for this year. What I am saying is that in any given year more than 1200 seems a waste and so I am thinking if I reach LTG then the domestic shuttle shoved in a tiny cramped seat will seem less interesting. The club lounges in MEL and BNE are far less appealing compared to the J as well.

Then if I change jobs and stop traveling, even J points redemption's for overseas travel will not give me access to the F lounge at MEL or HKG. Such a tiny thing I know, but I really still get excited for my occasional visits there.

In summation, I clearly have been doing this too long. As it seems only a few short years ago when I would have been grateful to access any lounge, let alone J lounges.

Traveling for 15 years has been a privilege but also in some ways a curse, as I have become used to certain things that I do not wish to cede.

QF and to a lesser extent VA have done a great job of keeping people mediumly happy to donate to their coffers with these FF programs.

I find myself in a very similar situation. I need 995 SCs to reach LTG, I've been travelling consistently since 2015 for work - I'd be LTG if my travel hadn't of paused for over three years due to COVID - but my travel has already started to reduce significantly.

I've retained Platinum this year with seven months left before the re-set but I most likely won't retain Platinum again so I will enjoy this status while I can until July 2027.

There are no direct perks for the amount of travel I've been doing over the past decade so Platinum was a goal I worked for each year as I flew 90% international and access to the first lounges in Mel, Syd and internationally (various lounges in HK, Auckland etc) were important to me, along with the higher chance of successfully upgrading my flights to business using points.

LTG will be good to have for when I start doing domestic & international holidays with my kids when they are old enough to appreciate the travel and destinations. We'd make full use of the benefits as a family of four and I've got around 20 years before I hit retirement age.

I've calculated it would cost around $8-$9k of my own money to do a status run during a DSC period to hit P1 and in the process achieve LTG this year but I'm still un-decided if both are worth it for the $8-$9k expense and hit to my savings, especially when I'm travelling less through my current job and may change jobs.

It's more a case of looking at what the benefits would be for my family and I in the years ahead and considering that, the outlay now seems more reasonable and a strategic investment given what the benefits of LTG would bring to us as a family over the next ten to 20 years of travel.

Unless I do the aforementioned status run over the remaining seven months to get to P1 which would then extend my Platinum access through to July 2028 (I'd be P1 for Aug 2026 to July 2027, then drop to Platinum for August 2027 to July 2028) I don't know when I'd hit LTG based on current travel plans, so it would be good to get LTG locked in and not have to think about it again.

 

[CaptJCool]

without the DSC on JASA I’d have taken a LOT LONGER

and that got removed then
“re-instated” as $$ qualifications via Points club so you must spend lots to get there with the SC earn devalued by 30% or so. Devaluation

 

[mviy]

I've calculated it would cost around $8-$9k of my own money to do a status run during a DSC period to hit P1

Depending on where you are based you can get ~1000 SC to get over the line for LTG from where you are for a lot less than that. A couple of indirect return flights in DSC J to New Zealand for example would do it or come close. Perhaps also with a positioning flight on points to a city where the indirect flights have better deals. Even better if you have Points Club as you would get a small serve of status credits for the Reward flights that are QF marketed and operated.

There are other options too such as J return indirect to somewhere domestic at the other end of Australia or flying somewhere else internationally, getting creative with economy flights with lots of connections etc.

 

[DejaBrew]

Depending on where you are based you can get ~1000 SC to get over the line for LTG from where you are for a lot less than that. A couple of indirect return flights in DSC J to New Zealand for example would do it or come close. Perhaps also with a positioning flight on points to a city where the indirect flights have better deals. Even better if you have Points Club as you would get a small serve of status credits for the Reward flights that are QF marketed and operated.

There are other options too such as J return indirect to somewhere domestic at the other end of Australia or flying somewhere else internationally, getting creative with economy flights with lots of connections etc.

Pretty sure @Invisible Monkey was referring specifically to cost of pushing for P1 in order to effectively guarantee (minimum) WP for another 2 member years rather than estimating the cost needed to hit LTG.

 

[Invisible Monkey]

Pretty sure @Invisible Monkey was referring specifically to cost of pushing for P1 in order to effectively guarantee (minimum) WP for another 2 member years rather than estimating the cost needed to hit LTG.

That's correct, the figure I've estimated was based on pushing to P1 over the remainder of this member year to be guaranteed WP for the next two years regardless of what happens with my work travel. As a result of doing that, I would achieve LTG this member year. So those two outcomes in combination is what makes the estimated cost worth considering.

 

[Invisible Monkey]

Depending on where you are based you can get ~1000 SC to get over the line for LTG from where you are for a lot less than that. A couple of indirect return flights in DSC J to New Zealand for example would do it or come close. Perhaps also with a positioning flight on points to a city where the indirect flights have better deals. Even better if you have Points Club as you would get a small serve of status credits for the Reward flights that are QF marketed and operated.

There are other options too such as J return indirect to somewhere domestic at the other end of Australia or flying somewhere else internationally, getting creative with economy flights with lots of connections etc.

Absolutely, if my target was only to get LTG this year, I would do as you suggest and book two return trips to Auckland from Mel via Brisbane which would cost substantially less than what I've estimated to push for P1 this member year. That $8-9k estimate was based on pushing to P1 from my current 1200 SCs starting point, with LTG achieved as a result but not the primary reason.

I wrote a post on this topic elsewhere relating to status runs:

Post in thread 'The Qantas Status Run Master Thread'

Dec 24, 2025

I've done a little more digging into the Mel to Auk return flight options via Brisbane.

Option 1 is Mel > Bri > Auk then Auk > Bri > Mel the following day for $2,104 = 580SCs during a DSC promo, which is $3.62 per SC. If a hotel stay was required that would push the $ per SC closer to $4.

Option 2 is Mel > Auk then same day back Auk > Bri > Mel for $1,841 earning 450SCs during a DSC promo, which is $4.09 per SC.

Two runs of option 1 would be enough to get someone close to Platinum status starting from 0 SCs and four runs of option 1 to get someone to Platinum 1 if starting from having...

• Invisible Monkey

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[craven morehead]

Absolutely, if my target was only to get LTG this year, I would do as you suggest and book two return trips to Auckland from Mel via Brisbane which would cost substantially less than what I've estimated to push for P1 this member year. That $8-9k estimate was based on pushing to P1 from my current 1200 SCs starting point, with LTG achieved as a result but not the primary reason.

I wrote a post on this topic elsewhere relating to status runs:

Post in thread 'The Qantas Status Run Master Thread'

Dec 24, 2025

I've done a little more digging into the Mel to Auk return flight options via Brisbane.

Option 1 is Mel > Bri > Auk then Auk > Bri > Mel the following day for $2,104 = 580SCs during a DSC promo, which is $3.62 per SC. If a hotel stay was required that would push the $ per SC closer to $4.

Option 2 is Mel > Auk then same day back Auk > Bri > Mel for $1,841 earning 450SCs during a DSC promo, which is $4.09 per SC.

Two runs of option 1 would be enough to get someone close to Platinum status starting from 0 SCs and four runs of option 1 to get someone to Platinum 1 if starting from having...

• Invisible Monkey

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• 

I would have thought spending $8-9k to lock WP in for another 2 years is well worth it IMO with LTG being an added bonus.

 

[kevviek]

Depending on where you are based you can get ~1000 SC to get over the line for LTG from where you are for a lot less than that. A couple of indirect return flights in DSC J to New Zealand for example would do it or come close. Perhaps also with a positioning flight on points to a city where the indirect flights have better deals. Even better if you have Points Club as you would get a small serve of status credits for the Reward flights that are QF marketed and operated.

There are other options too such as J return indirect to somewhere domestic at the other end of Australia or flying somewhere else internationally, getting creative with economy flights with lots of connections etc.

I need 865 more and Mel-Syd at 20 SC’s return is going to take a long time to get there. Seems like I need to start doing some planning ;-)