Life Time Gold - The [Realistic] Holy Grail

[AIRwin]

I finally hit LTG today!

Welcome to the club!

 

[Captain Halliday]

Some DSCs from a recent trip have posted getting me over the line for LTG.

Coincidently these SCs also secured WP for another year.

The confetti animation in the app is almost as underwhelming as flying economy in the triangle.

 

[AIRwin]

Some DSCs from a recent trip have posted getting me over the line for LTG.

Congrats Captain!

 

[Q Class Plebeian]

Congratulations to all on reaching LTG .I would have to admit on passing into the LTG barrier I felt a little like the George Clooney character at the end of the film ,Up in the Air.

 

[Bundy Bear]

Some DSCs from a recent trip have posted getting me over the line for LTG.

Coincidently these SCs also secured WP for another year.

The confetti animation in the app is almost as underwhelming as flying economy in the triangle.

I liked it and kept it as a photo, happened 27 May 2025 (so last year)

 

[Dvg]

Finally hit LTG last Friday and now thinking should I do a DSC run in the next promo to retain platinum for another 18 mths or so. Or just start flying Cathay, most of my travel is Asia bound. Maybe the wrong thread but On another note has anyone else noticed the rapid decline in Classic rewards seats and the rapid increase in Classic Plus seats ?

 

[mviy]

Finally hit LTG last Friday and now thinking should I do a DSC run in the next promo to retain platinum for another 18 mths or so. Or just start flying Cathay, most of my travel is Asia bound. Maybe the wrong thread but On another note has anyone else noticed the rapid decline in Classic rewards seats and the rapid increase in Classic Plus seats ?

Availability was already bad to Europe but even worse atm due to Middle East travel disruption.

The major benefit to possibly still encourage keeping up WP if you have LTG is going to be requesting release of points seats if you have a big pile of points to use.

My plan has been to push for LTG (still working on that) then switch to flying on points, but the lack of availability of points seats may lead to a rethink as to what I do after reaching LTG. I may fly other airlines more than I had intended.

It remains to be seen if increased QF international capacity once Project Sunrise starts leads to improved classic reward availability (with/without needing to make a request to release reward seats) on any routes e.g. SYD-SIN-LHR if that remains on an A380 after SYD-LHR Sunrise flights start.

 

[CaptJCool]

Finally hit LTG last Friday and now thinking should I do a DSC run in the next promo to retain platinum for another 18 mths or so. Or just start flying Cathay, most of my travel is Asia bound. Maybe the wrong thread but On another note has anyone else noticed the rapid decline in Classic rewards seats and the rapid increase in Classic Plus seats ?

Yes

With the current domestic sale, the CR+ are LOWER cost than CR.

 

[BD1959]

Yes

With the current domestic sale, the CR+ are LOWER cost than CR.

This! Usually only economy but also I've seen this on International Sale fares.

Regards,

BD

 

[SYD]

The major benefit to possibly still encourage keeping up WP if you have LTG is going to be requesting release of points seats if you have a big pile of points to use.

Another, since OP is flying to Asia (via HKG?) is access to the CX F lounges as OWE.

This! Usually only economy but also I've seen this on International Sale fares.

NZ J can be also but that’s probably because CRs to/from NZ are overpriced relative to some other routes.

 

[justin23]

This! Usually only economy but also I've seen this on International Sale fares.

I'm about to head to europe, F to London on a sale F fare and back via J on a CR+ fare. It was only about 10k more points for the CR+ fare at the time. I can earn 10k points pretty easily, i can't find good CR and CR+ fares that quickly

 

[Dvg]

Another, since OP is flying to Asia (via HKG?) is access to the CX F lounges as OWE.

NZ J can be also but that’s probably because CRs to/from NZ are overpriced relative to some other routes.

Yes I must admit, normally I would try for a brief connection but with the HK lounges it’s a very pleasant way to spend a couple of hours lol

 

[mviy]

Another, since OP is flying to Asia (via HKG?) is access to the CX F lounges as OWE.

As much as I love using F lounges that’s more of a nice to have. Maybe $100-$200 in lounge experience vs potentially saving thousands for a points seat release. There’s no comparison.

 

[SYD]

As much as I love using F lounges that’s more of a nice to have. Maybe $100-$200 in lounge experience vs potentially saving thousands for a points seat release. There’s no comparison.

My comment was about a WP perk in addition to (CR seat release).

There are of course a bunch of others: early and free access to whY+ seating is a huge new perk also - when sitting down the back.

 

[mviy]

My comment was about a WP perk in addition to (CR seat release).

There are of course a bunch of others: early and free access to whY+ seating is a huge new perk also - when sitting down the back.

A lot of the time on domestic at least, especially if willing to travel off-peak and accept a middle seat you can still select an Economy Plus seat as SG come check-in.

Without the lure of a realistic Lifetime status target to aim for after LTG you do have to think seriously about what benefits justify keeping WP up. Which benefits are worth giving thousands more to QF each year?

I know when I reach LTG, I’ll have to think carefully about whether to keep WP up or not and with the target changing to be the same to obtain and retain it’s going to be no easier to retain that it is to attain it once lost.

 

[SYD]

A lot of the time on domestic at least, especially if willing to travel off-peak and accept a middle seat you can still select an Economy Plus seat as SG come check-in.

Fortunately I have a shadow in the middle seat next to me flying to MEL later this week. Another WP perk - Hopefully it sticks.

Without the lure of a realistic Lifetime status target to aim for after LTG you do have to think seriously about what benefits justify keeping WP up. Which benefits are worth giving thousands more to QF each year?

There is a myth-conception that you have to spend a lot of money directly with QF to maintain status. Yes, flying QF in premium cabins (with or without DSCs) is a Fastrack but you can still do it flying on partners for a fraction of what it costs to get/maintain VA WP.

If you’re still doing a lot of domestic flying after reaching LTG, you also need to balance cost / benefit of still flying QF or trying to climb the VA ladder (which is a lot harder now).

I know when I reach LTG, I’ll have to think carefully about whether to keep WP up or not and with the target changing to be the same to obtain and retain it’s going to be no easier to retain that it is to attain it once lost.

We’ve been LTG for many years now and self-funded travel on QF, CX and QR etc ticks over WP requal (usually with minimal reliance on DSCs). We keep an eye out for QF Sales that match our travel needs (eg India earlier this year and a cracker of a deal to Sth Am at the end of this year - J $4,999), as well using the cheap J fares ex Asia on QR and CX etc.

Yes, the change to requal thresholds could be tough for some.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I actually neglected to post that I made Lifetime Gold in early June last year.
Earned the crucial SCs in the best way possible.
In F on QF2 LHR-SIN as part of CDG-LHR-SIN-PER.
The London based crew were a delightful surprise.
Their gift to celebrate both this milestone and my engagement (they spotted the ring) was delightfully bubbly.