Why aim for LTG? Am I being ridiculous?

[Supersonic Swinger]

The alternative is that every time you book a fare on another airline which is cheaper than the QF fare, you deposit the difference into a bank account which you use to fund your travels in retirement. A "rewards scheme" which has a much lower likelihood of being continually 'enhanced' (subject to your views on what central banks will do).

I'm in a very similar situation (but only about 10 years to retirement), and while work continues to pay for most of my travel, LTG remains an ambition. Though, I do wonder about the long term value of it. Will the benefits continue to be "enhanced"? Will QF remain in One World? But in the absence of anything else, it remains a target and a safety net for future travels when I can no longer maintain SG/WP through frequent travel..

For this reason, I credit to QFF when appropriate as I already have LTS, but I'm not chasing it to the detriment of my wallet. In the airline industry, I'm not banking on anything around currently still being in place when I retire.

 

[samh004]

I hope to someday get to LTG just for the benefit (subject to changes) that travelling as a family we'll be able to get into a lounge. Sure, it wont be the First lounge I'm used to now from the good old days, but it'll be a lounge, I will be looked after a little bit, it'll mean something, if not to them, but to me. Beyond LTG there's a lot of talk of switching programs for better rewards, but as a safety net for when you can't earn the top tier I think it's a lovely thing to have. For now I'll just have to make do with LTS.

 

[Pushka]

I plan on getting MrP there. Within reach within 3 years I think.

 

[Captain Halliday]

The alternative is that every time you book a fare on another airline which is cheaper than the QF fare, you deposit the difference into a bank account which you use to fund your travels in retirement. A "rewards scheme" which has a much lower likelihood of being continually 'enhanced' (subject to your views on what central banks will do).

A Self Managed Frequent Flyer scheme. I like it. The more you fly whY the more points (dollars) you get. I'd be whacking a Trademark on that quick smart Supersonic Swinger.

 

[drross]

I hope to someday get to LTG just for the benefit (subject to changes) that travelling as a family we'll be able to get into a lounge. Sure, it wont be the First lounge I'm used to now from the good old days, but it'll be a lounge, I will be looked after a little bit, it'll mean something, if not to them, but to me. Beyond LTG there's a lot of talk of switching programs for better rewards, but as a safety net for when you can't earn the top tier I think it's a lovely thing to have. For now I'll just have to make do with LTS.

agree Samh004. and as a previous poster stated 'lounge food is better than cat food' ..always plan for the future

 

[Alanslegal]

As a self funded flyer my goal is to be able to fly J/F and not need to worry about status. I would rather be a Nobody Bronze, fly in the last row of business class of an A380 than having to rely on LTG (or some elite status) and hoping one can choose an exit row seat in economy class. That said, if someone else is paying for your status credit haul by all means aim for LTG and beyond.

 

[samh004]

As a self funded flyer my goal is to be able to fly J/F and not need to worry about status. I would rather be a Nobody Bronze, fly in the last row of business class of an A380 than having to rely on LTG (or some elite status) and hoping one can choose an exit row seat in economy class. That said, if someone else is paying for your status credit haul by all means aim for LTG and beyond.

Not arguing with your sentiments, but being self funded myself I fall onto the other side of the line, of only being able to fund Y, not J/F, hence why status suddenly has more of a value

That being said, the price of points from US-based programs these days is pretty amazing!

 

[boomy]

Not arguing with your sentiments, but being self funded myself I fall onto the other side of the line, of only being able to fund Y, not J/F, hence why status suddenly has more of a value

That being said, the price of points from US-based programs these days is pretty amazing!

It all depends on how much $$ from your own pocket you think it's worth spending to reach LTG. If my flights were mostly self-funded I would not bother chasing it, instead I would buy points and fly long haul in J/F at a fraction of the real cost. My logic is that if I won't be able to reach SG in the future then I probably won't fly a lot anyway so giving up Dom lounge access a few times a year is a small price to pay, especially when I can use the money I saved to fly long haul in style while not being shackled to any particular airline or alliance.

 

[vt01]

My work funded flying stopped in 2012 when I was at 13000 odd SC's. I'm now at 13300. Another 700 SC's to LTG. My paid QF club ended at the end of August and I haven't renewed.
I've looked at options to get the last 700 SC's but the expense is just not worth it. $300 per year access to QC when I need it gives me quite a few years access instead of spending thousands of $$$$ to get the SC's.
Of course if anyone knows of a reasonable cost way of getting the 700 SC's I need, I'm all ears! I did get a double SC offer a couple of months ago with 1 week to book but of course the timing was no good. :-(

 

[samh004]

My work funded flying stopped in 2012 when I was at 13000 odd SC's. I'm now at 13300. Another 700 SC's to LTG. My paid QF club ended at the end of August and I haven't renewed.
I've looked at options to get the last 700 SC's but the expense is just not worth it. $300 per year access to QC when I need it gives me quite a few years access instead of spending thousands of $$$$ to get the SC's.
Of course if anyone knows of a reasonable cost way of getting the 700 SC's I need, I'm all ears! I did get a double SC offer a couple of months ago with 1 week to book but of course the timing was no good. :-(

DSC combined with a J flight across to AKL for the weekend, perhaps on an EK codeshare for F if you want to treat yourself would earn I think 480SC? Yes, it's the cost of a weekend away plus a couple thousand on flights, but it'd be a nice way of getting there. There are probably cheaper options as well. I'd love to be on 13300... but I wouldn't be there long, I'd have already booked and flown

 

[straitman]

My work funded flying stopped in 2012 when I was at 13000 odd SC's. I'm now at 13300. Another 700 SC's to LTG. My paid QF club ended at the end of August and I haven't renewed.
I've looked at options to get the last 700 SC's but the expense is just not worth it. $300 per year access to QC when I need it gives me quite a few years access instead of spending thousands of $$$$ to get the SC's.
Of course if anyone knows of a reasonable cost way of getting the 700 SC's I need, I'm all ears! I did get a double SC offer a couple of months ago with 1 week to book but of course the timing was no good. :-(

Qantas Club is a little dearer than $300 per year now though.
Through the AFF scheme it is $240 to rejoin (you said yours had lapsed) plus $420pa or $750 for 2 yrs. They would probably still do you a renewal back dated to August and so save you the rejoin fee.

After the end on November which is my anniversary I should have 12865SC so if I just get 600SC next year and 535Sc the following year it would be a bit like starting LTG early.

 

[Durin's Bane]

Although I am still making Platinum (just) these days, I know when my regular travelling ceases I will at least have access into a lounge with my young family on any overseas trips (with OW carriers obviously).

 

[Walrus1948]

I made LTG about 5 years ago while still Platinum then got stationed in the ME where I could not access QF or OW flights so not a lot of earning. Now I am retired and back in Melbourne it is nice to think that LTG is giving some little touches to travel. I have had a couple of trips for some short consultancy jobs and domestic access to the lounge is a nice touch. I have also requested upgrades and received them at the time of booking which I can only credit going to my status. Even got upgrades for 6 family MEL-AKL-MEL recently. Also checking in at business desk has been a blessing in AKL with 2yo granddaughter. I like the benefits but getting there was a lot of years at >250 thousand Km per year on QF and OW.