Life Time Gold

[Ikara]

I was lucky enough to qualify for life-time Gold some years ago due to very heavy interstate travel schedule for nearly 8 years. Two years ago I retired. I have done very little flying since I retired and in fact this status year I will not set foot inside an aircraft (or visit the Adelaide Airport). I have been comped Platinum for the past two years but I don't expect that to have this year in August.
My question is this. My summary says that I have zero status credits and zero segments flown. And I note that I have to fly four segments to retain my status. Will this apply to my lifetime gold? I suspect not and I can't find any reference to it anywhere, but I'm just curious in case I have to think about doing a couple of return trips to Melbourne or similar.
Has anyone had any experience of this?

JB

 

[samh004]

The first few posts of NM’s thread on his attaining of LTG suggest that 4 segments will not be required.

 

[JohnK]

I have not read the fine print but logically one would think Lifetime Gold means you will have Gold status for the life of the QFF program regardless of whether you are able to attain Gold status.

So SC's and the 4 qualifying segments are not necessary to retain Lifetime Gold status.

 

[ejb_nz]

... I have been comped Platinum for the past two years ...
JB

Hi Ikara,

This goes against all opinion here that QF will only comp WP once.

How many SC's had you been earning each year prior to this?

Thanks

ejb

 

[Ikara]

Hi Ikara,

This goes against all opinion here that QF will only comp WP once.

How many SC's had you been earning each year prior to this?

Thanks

ejb

Up to the time that I retired, I achieved Partner Gold for the previous 7 years. All in slightly discounted economy I might add.

The other thought that I have had on that is that there is no "real" difference in cost to Qantas between Life-time Gold and Platinum. Both get free Qantas Club, so any other benefits are "soft" rather than "hard" (read $$$$$"s)

JB

 

[ejb_nz]

Up to the time that I retired, I achieved Partner Gold for the previous 7 years. All in slightly discounted economy I might add.

The other thought that I have had on that is that there is no "real" difference in cost to Qantas between Life-time Gold and Platinum. Both get free Qantas Club, so any other benefits are "soft" rather than "hard" (read $$$$$"s)

JB

Thanks for the info. I guess 7 years of WP+PG will get you a little extra from QF.

ejb

 

[JohnK]

This goes against all opinion here that QF will only comp WP once.

How many SC's had you been earning each year prior to this?

There is no hard and fast rule on who gets comped status and who doesn't. Some people are 20 SCs short of Platinum and do not get comped while others do not have enough SCs to even make Gold yet get comped Platinum 2 years straight. And in my opinion SC's averaging is a myth. A person can have 3,000 SCs this year and if they do not qualify Platinum next year there is no guarantee they will be comped Platinum.

FWIW I have been comped Platinum twice (I have qualified in my own right by reassessment date) in the 2 years since qualifying Platinum for the first time.

 

[dajop]

The other thought that I have had on that is that there is no "real" difference in cost to Qantas between Life-time Gold and Platinum. Both get free Qantas Club, so any other benefits are "soft" rather than "hard" (read $$$$$"s)

Especially if the LTG member is not having any flights. Any $$$ costs are more likely to be incurred on international travel (eg accessing First Lounges, instead of J lounges; extra 50% QFF pts for AA, QF & BA flights), or when traveller is not travelling QF but still accessing lounge to consume a few "quiet ones".

 

[oz_mark]

The other thought that I have had on that is that there is no "real" difference in cost to Qantas between Life-time Gold and Platinum. Both get free Qantas Club, so any other benefits are "soft" rather than "hard" (read $$$$$"s)

Well there i s - any time access to the QP. If there were an LTP you could cost Qantas $$$ and they would not necassarily getting any revenue from you any more.

 

[tuapekastar]

FWIW I have been comped Platinum twice (I have qualified in my own right by reassessment date) in the 2 years since qualifying Platinum for the first time.

I presume (I know, I probably shouldn't) that in effect, according to QF now you've never been comped. That is, because you've made it under your own steam each after being comped, they've 'uncomped' (decomped?) you each time, so you're eligible to be comped next time, should the need arise.

Or maybe not.

 

[JohnK]

I wish I knew the answer to that one tuapekastar although I am not in a hurry to find out.

Not likely to be commuting SYD-BNE for too much longer so need to get as much flying as possible while I have the chance. My main target at the moment is to get to Lifetime Gold (probably another 5-6 years at current flying patterns) and after that to reassess the situation.

There are various scenarios but it is easily possible to attain Platinum status every 2 years. One heads off for a few status runs right after reassessment date and earns enough SCs to reach Platinum status which will be good for another 23+ months. Then do the same thing again....

 

[NM]

definitely do not need the 4 QF/JQ flights each year to maintain Lifetime Gold. Since reaching LTG quite a few years ago I have not earned any SCs or credited any flights to my QFF account yet have maintained Gold status since my Platinumness was revoked, making me an ex-Platinum member in more than one way