Qantas unveils the biggest changes to status in program history

[esseeeayeenn]

Although I completely understand the desire to have the words "Lifetime Platinum" written on your digital membership card. Very expensive words but understandable nonetheless.

I don’t care about the words on my card.
I care about lifetime access to priority lanes and to a slightly lesser extent F lounges.
On flights within Europe access to priority lanes can save you hours on each and every flight.

 

[eminere]

I care about lifetime access to priority lanes and to a slightly lesser extent F lounges.

Then really all you need is LTG.

 

[LionKing]

I don’t care about the words on my card.
I care about lifetime access to priority lanes and to a slightly lesser extent F lounges.
On flights within Europe access to priority lanes can save you hours on each and every flight.

Same. The only thing I care is extra baggage allowance and lounge access which gives social distancing and ability to bring 100s of kgs of baggage into and out of Australia.

 

[Cloud9]

Then really all you need is LTG.

I think perhaps they meant priority security lanes (the express lanes)?

In which case, LTG isn't going to cut it.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

I think perhaps they meant priority security lanes (the express lanes)?

In which case, LTG isn't going to cut it.

Exactly.
Priority check in is essentially meaningless now we can check in online.
The only time I do use it is when there is a dedicated F check in service as in MEL.
And you need platinum status for that.
Priority boarding doesn't work, and I generally prefer to stay in the lounge as long as possible and board last, anyway.
Although that can become a problem if they are using only one aero-bridge for boarding a wide body.

As for the alternative of retaining WP every year, there are two issues with this.
The first issue is that this argument applies to any lifetime status level, not just WP. So it doesn't address the threshold which is specific to lifetime WP .
The second issue is that most of us would like to stop working before we die, and for most of us that will mean reducing our expenditure a little.
So the realistic prospect of qualifying for lifetime status is attractive. This applies to every status level but it is only lifetime WP which sets such an inconsistently high threshold for qualification so as to seem unachievable and manifestly unfair.

 

[CaptJCool]

Sale price J tics
Syd-Melb or adl-Syd were $299
SC = 40
DSC = 80
X 18 = 1440 $5,400

J tics ADL via Melb to OOL $550
SC = 100
DSC = 200
X 7 = 1,400 $3,850

From memory the offshore status runs earn similar amount for less spend
So it’s not out of the question
No mortgage
No income taxes on Superannuation
No children support

 

[aikman]

The first issue is that this argument applies to any lifetime status level, not just WP. So it doesn't address the threshold which is specific to lifetime WP .

According to the maths, LTG is 20 years of annual requalifications. LTP is 53 years. The argument that it is cheaper to qualify every year is a lot stronger for LTP, not so much for LTG.

The second issue is that most of us would like to stop working before we die, and for most of us that will mean reducing our expenditure a little.

Budgeting issue? Part of the money spent flying earlier in life to earn LTP can be set aside to fund annual requalifications later in life.

So the realistic prospect of qualifying for lifetime status is attractive.

So the words on your membership card do matter!