This article is part of our ongoing Business Travel 101 series for newcomers to the world of business travel.
Lifetime Gold status with the Qantas Frequent Flyer program is the goal of many business travellers and high flyers, and with good reason.
It means you get all of those prized perks of a Gold-grade member – such as priority check-in, a more generous checked baggage allowance, airport lounge access, bonus points and a higher spot in the pecking order for upgrades – for the rest of your life.
Forget about trying to re-qualify each and every year: once you have enough status credits for Lifetime Gold, that card and its many benefits are yours to enjoy for a lifetime, regardless of how often you fly.
Of course, you'll also enjoy similar benefits on all other airlines in the Oneworld alliance for the rest of your life, such as access to the business class lounges of British Airways, Cathay Pacific, JAL, Malaysia Airlines, Qatar Airways and more, even when you're flying economy.
Qantas Lifetime Gold status is clearly a goal worth pursuing, so here's how to map out your strategy to get there.
Earning Qantas Lifetime Gold status
Earning Qantas Gold status for a single year requires 700 status credits to get your first Gold card, and then 600 status credits each year after that to keep it.
But while your annual status credit count is wiped clean at the start of each membership year, the total number of status credits accumulated across the life of your Qantas Frequent Flyer membership is your tally for lifetime status.
To reach Lifetime Gold you'll need 14,000 status credits. And make no mistake, that's a lot of flying.
Smile: you're on your way to earning Qantas Lifetime Gold...
It’s the equivalent of 175 business class return trips between Sydney and Melbourne; 59 return business class treks between Sydney and Singapore; or 25 return business class jaunts to London (all when travelling with Qantas on a QF flight number).
Naturally, a frequent international traveller who typically flies in business class or first class will find it easier – and faster – to reach Lifetime Gold than somebody primarily flying within Australia on the lowest-cost economy class fares, which earn far fewer status credits.
Lifetime Gold: is it reachable within your lifetime?
Begin by checking your lifetime status progress via the Qantas website: login using your frequent flyer details, head to the Your Account page, scroll down and click on “show additional status information” underneath the paper aeroplane icons:
In the example above, this traveller's 4,370 lifetime status credits peg him as roughly one-third of the way to Lifetime Gold.
A harsh reality is that only the most frequent travellers will ever ascend to the ranks of Lifetime Gold, so before you embark on the long journey, doing a few quick sums now can save much disappointment later.
Let’s say you’re a high flyer in your mid-30s with a lifetime balance of around 4,000 status credits. You plan to do most of your business travel over the next five years before winding things back to spend more time at home.
To reach Lifetime Gold by the end of that five-year period you’d need to earn an average of 2,000 status credits every year. If that's do-able, then go for it.
However, if you’re the type who just scrapes 600 status credits each year to retain year-on-year Gold status, you’d need to keep that up for just over 15 years (assuming you also start with 4,000 lifetime status credits under your belt) to reach your target. That's a much tougher ask, so be realistic about your expectations.
(As a fall back, Lifetime Silver membership is yours after racking up a total of 7,000 status credits, but the relatively meagre benefits such as priority check-in and a single Qantas lounge pass each year make this more of a 'mile marker' on the road to Lifetime Gold than a goal in its own right.)
Can you fast-track to Lifetime Gold?
Status credits, not frequent flyer points, are the key to Lifetime Gold - so every time you book a flight, consider all of your options and how those options will affect your haul of status credits.
For example, Qantas 'flexible' fares in economy, premium economy and business class earn up to twice as many status credits as lower-priced tickets although they don’t necessarily cost twice as much (and they're often better suited to business travellers and their changeable schedules).
You'll end up with a higher number of status credits per dollar spent (and per flight), which makes flexi fares particularly useful if a client is picking up the bill.
Your choice of airline and flight number is also important: you’ll generally earn the highest number of status credits on flights booked via Qantas (with a QF flight number) and a reduced number of status credits on flights booked via partner airlines.
Book a journey directly with Emirates under an EK flight number, for instance, and you’ll actually earn no status credits at all (along with a much smaller serve of frequent flyer points).
Read: How to max your Qantas frequent flyer points, status credits on Emirates flights
Another notable example: a Malaysia Airlines business class ticket from Australia earns Qantas status credits at the much lower economy rate.
Malaysia Airlines business class earns status credits only at economy rates...
The gap becomes more noticeable on longer trips such as between Sydney and Paris: a business class journey with Qantas partner Emirates on QF flight numbers nets a solid 560 status credits, but choosing to fly the same route with Cathay Pacific via Hong Kong returns a lower 360 status credits.
Also keep your eyes peeled for any bonus status credit deals which may land in your inbox from time to time: there's typically an extra 50% or even 100% of status credits if you book within the promotion period, even if the flights are up to a year in advance.
Also read:
- Qantas and Virgin Australia: frequent flyers go for 'double gold'
- How to get Qantas Lifetime Platinum (well, sort of...)
- Qantas Frequent Flyer Gold: the unofficial guide
- How to maximise Qantas status credits on Emirates
Follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter: we're @AusBT
Chris Chamberlin is the Associate Editor of Executive Traveller, and lives by the motto that a journey of a thousand miles begins not just with a single step, but also a strong latte, a theatre ticket, and later in the day, a good gin and tonic.
06 Sep 2015
Total posts 26
I'm not sure that this article says much more than any gold flyer would know already. everyone knows more expensive flights get more status credits, and that Qantas emails you special status credit offers.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 3036
You'd be surprised to learn how many frequent flyers know very little about the frequent flyer program they're enrolled in – and while some readers on this site are very knowledgeable in that regard and we write some higher-level articles from time to time tailored to those readers, this article (like much of what we write) is positioned at a mainstream audience, comprised of those many people who aren't as clued-in as you are.
13 Sep 2013
Total posts 110
So true!
One of the guys at the office made it to P1. He had no idea there was a higher status than Gold. (Let alone that he must've previously been Plat)
Some people are regular commuters to Europe in J and have very little knowledge about their FF program
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3034
To achive Lifetime Gold one has to attain and retain Gold for (14,000 - 100)/600 = 23.16 years.
To achieve Lifetime Gold in a more realistc timeframe one has to attain and retain Platinum for (14,000 - 200)/1,200 = 11.5 years.
What's the likelihood of a Platinum members of 11.5 years standing to be contented with Lifetime Gold, when he/she would have tasted the benefits of First Class lounges and other perks of Platinum/Emerald?
Is there a way for QFF to earn Lifetime Platinum? No. So what's the value proposition here, when the lifetime offering is a step down?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 438
When your travelling decreases, a soft landing at Lifetime Gold is better than descending to bronze. At the same time QF offers little incentive to earn status points for its members that are at Lifetime Gold, but cannot maintain Platinum status. There was speculation that with the introduction of P1 status, there was a case for offering Lifetime Platinum.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 566
Not quite sure your question/point?
I made LTG over 20 years. I went from lifetime silver to gold over a 4 year period I lived in London.
My travel patterns now won't get me seeing platinum again, so rather happy to have LTG as the fallback for those 4 intensive years (and the previous 16 not so intensive years)
21 Aug 2015
Total posts 90
Oh so true...........and not mentioned is the high cost of QF fares and the often 2nd grade product compared to other carriers, more comfortable, more convenient routes and timetable and very often cheaper.
23 Aug 2012
Total posts 33
That's exactly my issue with QF - I considered BA's lifetime Emerald, but do they offer kind of a fast track, looking at my lifetime QF Gold?
British Airways - Executive Club
28 Mar 2014
Total posts 75
No. You will need to start from scratch if you want BA status!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
29 Nov 2013
Total posts 477
Chris, quick clarification question...
Even with Lifetime Gold don't you need to do a minimum of 4 sectors per year to retain?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 3036
Nope – once you have Lifetime Gold, it's yours for life.
Of course, if you hope to attain or retain Platinum status or higher in individual years, you still need to meet the regular requirements of that higher status (including the minimum sector requirements).
05 Oct 2011
Total posts 192
Up the pecking order for Lifetime Gold is a complete joke. I have been lifetime Gold for about 5 or six years now. There are probably 20 or 30,000 people who are Platimum or Chairman who are alwyas in front of you. I looked for something BNE>>HKG>>BNE in business next March (yes nine months away). I couldn't find anything buit it didnt really matter because I am still waiting two weeks after cancelling a flight from JFK for the points to be refunded. Getting into the Qantas Club IS a benefit but not much of one. What WAS a teriffic LOYALTY scheme is now justa way of selling economy tickets to banks to bestow on their customers. I gave up defaulting to QF about 4 yaers ago, swapping opver to Virgin as I knew there was no chance of advancing on a long term basis on Gold with QF.
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 3036
Hi readosunnycoast, just to clarify, what you're referring to above is outright award bookings on Qantas flights rather than upgrade priority after booking Qantas flights with money and using points to upgrade, which is what we've referred to in the article.
29 Jun 2016
Total posts 19
I couldn't agree more. I am LTG and Platinum but this year due to personal reasons I have not been able to retain the 1200 points required to continue as Platinum. QF just informed me that all the extra status points I had earned over and above the 1200 last year will neither be taken into account not considered to review extending my platinum status for next year. Other than access to first class lounges, fast track service at airports where it is available and excess luggage with all Oneworld carriers I have not seen any other benefits, not once have I been offered an upgrade on any international flight from economy to biz or from biz to first class, being Platinum is all too common and nothing special, much contrary to what Qantas claims as they (in my opinion) don't really care about their 'customer experience' and will only go out of their way if you are a member of their Chairman's Lounge which, we all know, is only reserved for and offered to politicians, ambassadors and people from business and leaders who do not necessarily support Qantas. I know one such member whose company is on contract with Singapore Airlines yet he was offered Chairman's Lounge status and only uses it for personal long haul flights once a year with his family, so someone do tell me how fair is this loyalty program?!!!!!
10 Dec 2019
Total posts 1
You should read the article again. Gold gives you a higher priority for a "POINTS" upgrade, not a free one. If you're looking for free upgrades these days, you're dreaming.
QF LTG
29 Feb 2016
Total posts 19
Know what u mean Readosunnycoast - theres a resentment to knowing there are thousands ahead of you in the pecking order for upgrades/points bookings, and those same thousands on any day enjoying dom biz class and Intl F lounge that your long-laboured lifetime status won’t provide...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2014
Total posts 252
Wouldn't points plus pay be one way of effectively buying status credits, if someone has a heap of points and is a liitle short of lifetime gold and travel is slowing, if I read it right points plus pay still earn status credits I believe.
06 Sep 2015
Total posts 26
yes if you're willing to "burn" points as the value of points are much less in point plus pay but there is the significant advantage of earning status credits as opposed to reward flights
06 Feb 2014
Total posts 120
I was made lifetime gold some years ago...just checked my balance now...I have ~36,000 status credits...given life silver @7k; gold @14k... how about Plat @28k?
11 Mar 2012
Total posts 297
No there has never been a Lifetime Plat level.
Start crediting to AA if you're happy at Gold or post retaining platinum if you're still travelling regularly.
06 Feb 2014
Total posts 120
that's my point I suppose...why dont they have life time Platinium...it would logically kick in at 28k status credits.
01 Jul 2016
Total posts 1
Can anyone tell me please when status credits were introduced and if there was any recognition of flights prior to their introduction for the purpose of calculting lifetime Gold?
QFF
16 Oct 2015
Total posts 13
Would the extra SCs earned from the double SC campaigns count towards lifetime gold?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 3036
Yep – any status credits you've earned in any way are counted.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
08 Aug 2014
Total posts 21
Except for those 50 loyalty bonus SC you can choose instead of a points boost, every 500 SCs you reach. Those 50 bonuses are great for requalifying, but don’t unfortunately contribute to Lifetime.
21 Aug 2015
Total posts 90
Yes, and can you be sure that after years of chasing the goal QF won't change the rules? Live for the day, book the flight that works best for you and offers the best value.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
09 Dec 2015
Total posts 10
When I converted from QF to VA my biggest concern was I could not find a lifetime benefit with VA. Is this still the case. As a PT member, but only scraping in each year, I think it would be great to reach gold status for life.
British Airways - Executive Club
27 Feb 2016
Total posts 7
I have been Platinum for the last 10 years and Lifetime Gold for the past 5 years.
I cannot understand what the fuss is all about. Qantas does not give any special treatment in recognition-in fact I feel they look upon me as been a fool for flying with them; they already are aware of my stupidity (loyalty), so why try to accomodate me with non paying upgrades as an example etc?
QF
01 Jul 2016
Total posts 4
I am about to go from Platinum to Lifetime Gold.
Will Lifetime Gold have me higher up the pecking order for upgrades, F/Flyer Rewards etc, than normal Gold?
British Airways - Executive Club
27 Feb 2016
Total posts 7
It should however it hasn't work me but good luck anyway!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
26 May 2014
Total posts 438
I think your situation is probably the most common (Platinum aquiring Lifetime Gold). It makes no difference while you continue to earn status points at Plat or Gold level. It is only if you reduce your flying with QF that you will see some benefit. It got me into a CX lounge earlier this year !
09 May 2015
Total posts 34
Don't you get all these perks and more by purchasing Business and First class tickets? That seems to me to be the easier way amd how I get them.
14 Jun 2013
Total posts 360
Yes you'll get Gold perks by purchasing business class fares but those last only for as a long as you're flying business class. If you end up flying economy or premium economy, forget about lounge access etc. Jonnie, if you are always flying business or first you definitely want to be in a QFF member so you can start earning those status credits to get lifetime Gold or one day you may look back and wish you'd done so!
21 Dec 2012
Total posts 31
status also nets benefits when things go wrong - most elite statuses have their own call centre number but business/first class ticket holders join the regular call queue. At the end of the day - if you're already flying you might as well get something extra, you never know when you might only be able to fly economy class on a flight and need/want your usual business class perks that status would give.
Qantas
19 Apr 2012
Total posts 709
Lifetime Gold is really about retirement travel for those used to the pointy end paid for by someone else. I have been a member since 1992 and will get lifetime gold in the the next 2-3 years when I am heading to retirement. Perfect I can find cheaper tickets on wider range of airline and still have shorter queues and lounge access not to mention the odd upgrade (for the QF flights).
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
20 Aug 2014
Total posts 110
The article mentions about the 1 free qantas club pass per year with lifetime silver. I remember another thread on here a few years ago where it was discussed that you only get that pass as you requalify for silver each year, but once you make lifetime silver, you are no longer offerred that pass once a year. It's actually a disadvantage of becoming LTS. Has that now changed?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
07 Feb 2013
Total posts 558
Negative, I'm LTS and get the passes still in the mail
QFF
19 Sep 2013
Total posts 160
I'm QP Life and Lifteime Silver, so I don't receive any passes. So you are correct in one particular case.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Mar 2014
Total posts 209
I am happy with LTG
I have never paid for QF Club and appreciate the lounges overseas and here in Australia. I see that as bonus. If you fly at the right time form Asia you will get free upgrades.
Lounges have got better and so has the overall experience on QF.
Oneworld LTG is a bonus also
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3034
The prize is Lifetime Oneworld Emerald.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Mar 2014
Total posts 209
For me never to pay for Q Club ever has been the prize.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3034
Horses for courses. But as a retention tool I wonder about its effectiveness. I still find the audience that this is pitched at a bit muddled. Seems like a throwback from another time before the great strides in First Class offerings...
13 Jul 2016
Total posts 5
When will Virgin Australia be adding this lifetime status program and will they allow for points gianed since membership retrospectively?
22 Jun 2013
Total posts 98
One wonders where in the upgrade pecking order LTGs sit. Whether they are above or below 'paying' Golds. Does anyone know?
QF
21 Jul 2016
Total posts 37
Sorry to leap in at this stage. I am Platinum going for LTG in the next 18 months and Platinum again next year. I joined in 2001 but only intensive travel in the last 5 years. I am looking forward to LTG but Gold is no problem, but at least it takes out the worry. I have been in the Sydney F lounge many times and appreciate the environment and food so I can work in comfort after a hard few days in Australia. (I live in NZ). Travel next week is to Glasgow Scotland with EK via Dubai on a QF ticket. The EK F lounge in Dubai is soemthing else. Been there once before, just not enough time between flights.
04 Dec 2016
Total posts 1
What does lifetime gold actually mean when it comes to the on-plane experience? Are you called out like Platinum and above members by flight attendants at service time? Or are you just regarded as an ordinary gold member? I have almost 8000 status credits of almost 7 years of solid air travel and I'm in my early 40s. Would love to get it.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 566
It’s just bog standard gold in the air. It just never expires.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
23 Jun 2014
Total posts 36
Have 8500 status credits, also looking forward to the privilege of getting lifetime gold status. Not looking forward to moving down from Platinum in the later years. Got a taste of the difference this year when a Qantas flight attendant was very aggressive towards me during the boarding process, almost got my carry on thrown at me. Got the royal suck up treatment the rest of the flight after no doubting doing the check of the seats of the frequent flyers post takeoff.
03 May 2012
Total posts 114
My two cents worth, for people who want these things for later in life leisure travel. Only shoot for these goals if they are a happy by product of flying that you would do anyway and which someone else is paying for. The airline industry is one of the most unstable in the world. This does not just mean survival of airlines, but the nature of products, routes and services each airline offers change markedly over time, as do the "alliances" or "relationships" they are in. Do not waste your own money trying to acquire status credits in a product or service that may, or probably will not offer in 20 years what you think it will now. Save or invest that money, and if you are fortunate later in life and want to take the occasional leisure trip, buy a cheap business class airfare with an airline that will take you where you wish to holiday. Airlines are so advanced in determining their load factors now that as "Lifetime Gold" you will always get your clock cleaned by a Chairman's Lounge member. Trust me, unless you have lived in the CL world, or know somebody who has, you do not know how much better they get treated than an "ordinary" FF. Even then, there are 1000s and 1000s of Plats out there. Even a low priced business class fare will have you guaranteed of a spot on the plane, lounge access and decent service, on the airline that can take you where you want to go at any particular point in time.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
02 Aug 2012
Total posts 74
I have more than 28000 status credits but still have to qualify each year for platinum. It seems strange and a little unfair that QF dont give life platinum .
14 Apr 2015
Total posts 4
Actually, there's only one. Platinum One. "Chairmans Lounge" is by invite only and is not based on flying. It's for 'captains of industry', politicians and celebrities. People who control $1m plus p/a travel budgets may also be considered if anecdotal evidence is to be believed. Every member must be signed off by the Chairman of Qantas, and membership numbers are strictly capped.
13 Jul 2016
Total posts 5
Qantas used to be the Best airline in the world but they've lost it - when Virgin Australia bring lifetime status on board guess where I am going! Yes, I am a Lifetime Gold FF with Q
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2012
Total posts 140
I achieved Lifetime Gold about 4-5 years ago but have retained Platinum so I've not got the card yet. I stopped flying Qantas in January 2016 and will default down to Lifetime Gold in July 2017. I really cannot see the logic in Qantas NOT setting a lifetime Platinum level as once the gold card is in the pocket, there's really not much point continuing to fly with them. I switched to Air NZ and am now "Elite" level with them (for Star Alliance benefits) and will retain the Lifetime Gold card for flights on One World network. I think Qantas have really missed a trick here and lost my spend of about $75,000 per year. If they had lifetime Platinum I'd probably have kept going for several more years. I'm 52 now and have at least 8 years business flying ahead. then the retirement flying will start. I'm sure there must be a lot of frequent flyers in a similar spot.
05 May 2016
Total posts 576
Seeing they don't want to give LTP it would be good if they gave some benefits for continued loyalty to flying QF at higher lifetime status tallies or at discounted rates for continued flying on QF marketed and operated flights after reaching LTG. Things like reduced number of SC to get WP (provided QF marketed and QF operated) or a QANTAS first class lounge invitation after so much QF flying, partner gold etc. could all make a difference.
Until/unless the market puts pressure on them to do so I think there's unlikely to be any change. LTG is as good as it gets on QF for lifetime loyalty.
QFF Platinum
27 Jun 2016
Total posts 9
12670 lifetime status credits. 18 months and I'm there.
02 Jul 2017
Total posts 13
Some interesting comments. Have accrued around 30,000 status credits but haven't - for 15 yrs (and wouldn't) by choice fly QF long haul. Very occasionally I'm on a CX/JAL/BA or AY ticket and unfortunate enough to get one QF sector. It's enough to reinforce my resolve do dodge the Red Roo wherever possible. LTG came my way about 10 yrs ago and to be frank it's of little value while retaining the black card. The point I am making is that even without selecting a QF flight number, it is relatively simple to accrue around 2,000+ SCs p/a. There seems to be a disproportionate OW SC earn on sectors not operated by QF. Check out for example NRT/HND to Europe or HK to HEL then HEL to anywhere in Eu. It may be an hour or two longer but any flight with CX or JAL eclipses QF.
11 Jan 2017
Total posts 15
Compring to SQ, TG or even AA, Qantas loyalty people - their FF department - in Auckland was the most ignorant and inactive FF team that I used to experience. I was so wondered where Qantas recruitment got these people from.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
16 Jul 2017
Total posts 1
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 365
Requalification to Plat is 1,200 SCs. It's only 1,400 to attain it the first time, then 1,200 each year to retain it.
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 566
That really depends upon ones flying habits and personal circumstance.
QFF Platinum
27 Jun 2016
Total posts 9
I am that close, I can just about smell it
.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Apr 2018
Total posts 7
Have over 40,000 SC's, been LTG for approx 10 years. Not flying as much now retired and yes, grateful for LTG. However, the flights and loyalty required to achieve that number of status credits deserves a Lifetime Platinum (IMO)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 300
As I only earn between 600-700 status credits annually, I am pleased I signed up for lifetime QC membership back in the day, as reaching lifetime gold is unlikely.
07 Jan 2011
Total posts 45
How much did you pay for that Mightyreds?
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 300
Around $4500 in mid 2000's. Great value I believe.
QFF
19 Sep 2013
Total posts 160
Only paid around $2k for my Senior QP life. Good value at the time as I was still doing a lot of overseas flying in cattle class.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
09 Feb 2015
Total posts 300
Yeah as Virgin do now, Qantas also offered senor pricing if you were 55 or 60, for obvious reasons. I was 25 at the time, so it was a no brainer to sign up to life. They also got rid of life memberships not long after this.
06 Feb 2014
Total posts 120
I have just over 40,000 status credits...Why doesn't Qantas offer lifetime platinum. This could be achieved at 28,000 SCs noting silver is 7,000, Gold 14,000...
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
25 Mar 2014
Total posts 209
Ltg is fantastic
05 May 2016
Total posts 576
Not even half way there. Would love to get LTG but it seems so far away at the moment.
12 Dec 2012
Total posts 981
30 Jul 2018
Total posts 7
I just made Lifetime Silver after 20 years of flying! I have been on Platinum for the last few years and got mighty close to P1 on a couple of occasions.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
14 Sep 2018
Total posts 13
I have been a QFF member for 19 years and was Silver for about half that time, with no idea what benefits came with Gold and above. That all changed 2 years ago when after a double status class flight, I reached Gold. I am now Platinum with LTS possible within the next 12 months. I am retired, but with the help of double status credit Qantas flights I am hoping to get LTG within the next 7 years. My travel has only been for leisure, but international travel has been in business class.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
22 Apr 2018
Total posts 7
41,157 Lifetime Status Credits, an additional 843 SC's and I'll have 3 x LTG's. Alas!!......still no sign of a Lifetime Platinum Status.
11 Jan 2017
Total posts 15
I am waiting for that as well. However, it seems to be hopeless.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
21 Jan 2014
Total posts 252
I always wonder why QF don’t allow LTS to upgrade to LTG for a $$ fee or points, if they looked at the cost of providing a pax with a million points worth of flights to the business why not allow the points to be used to move to LTG.
QF
21 Jul 2016
Total posts 37
Since my post in 2016 I achieved LTG, but still maintain QP. I fly exclusively economy and usually Red-e deals or saver with an occasional long haul to Europe. It's hard work and need to fly trans Tasman at least twice a month with an Australian domestic tagged on. I was also in the position of the company paying for QC but it hasn't done since I achieved Gold early on. I absolutely relish the the lounge access, seating at the front and selecting seating before flying without having to pay. I was once ANZ Gold Elite for a year, at a time when I would fly any airline, but more extensive travel in Australia meant Qantas was the best choice (post Ansett and before ANZ codeshared with Virgin), so essentially I am stuck with Qantas.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Sep 2013
Total posts 6
Quick question: I'm 200 status from lifetime Gold and was wondering, do they send a special kit when you attain it? ie: bag tags, specially marked FFCard, etc?
24 Apr 2012
Total posts 3036
I'm not aware of any 'special' baggage tags (beyond the regular Gold kit), although the next time you receive a Gold frequent flyer card, the expiry date printed will be "lifetime".
(If you're currently Platinum or higher, you'll keep getting the higher-tier card with that tier's expiry date on it, but when you drop to Gold, you'll get a "lifetime" card.)
If your status goes up as a result of achieving LTG (from Bronze or Silver), you'll get the LTG card immediately, and I believe if you're already Gold, you'll get the LTG card when your current yearly membership period expires (as your current card will still serve you until its expiry date).
You can see a photo of an older Lifetime Gold card in one of our previous articles, albeit in an older design.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Sep 2013
Total posts 6
Unfortunately, I got my tags when a lowly silver so would love Gold Bag Tags in any event (humiliating to travel as Platinum with silver tags lol)
16 Nov 2011
Total posts 566
Odd you didn’t get platinum tags when you attained that level.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Sep 2013
Total posts 6
Nope. Wish it happened. Platinum for 3/4 years and only have silver tags. Oh well. Hoping for Gold when I get to LTG.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
13 Jan 2017
Total posts 74
ntn001
29 Jun 2016
Total posts 19
I am LTG and Platinum but this year due to personal reasons I have not been able to retain the 1200 points required to continue as Platinum. QF just informed me that all the extra status points I had earned over and above the 1200 last year will neither be taken into account not considered to review extending my platinum status for next year. Other than access to first class lounges, fast track service at airports where it is available and excess luggage with all Oneworld carriers I have not seen any other benefits, not once have I been offered an upgrade on any international flight from economy to biz or from biz to first class, being Platinum is all too common and nothing special, much contrary to what Qantas claims as they (in my opinion) don't really care about their 'customer experience' and will only go out of their way if you are a member of their Chairman's Lounge which, we all know, is only reserved for and offered to politicians, ambassadors and people from business and leaders who do not necessarily support Qantas. I know one such member whose company is on contract with Singapore Airlines yet he was offered Chairman's Lounge status and only uses it for personal long haul flights once a year with his family, so someone do tell me how fair is this loyalty program?!!!!!
11 Jan 2017
Total posts 15
I completely agree with every single word you said 1Worldfreqflyer. Very well said indeed. QF doesn’t care at all abtits G or P. Luckily that it offers something to P1. However, compared to those CL, P1 is just a bit better than nothing for QF. One P1 I knew have generated more than 150,000 aud annually for himself and his family on QF, but still, he is of course lower than CL.
05 Dec 2018
Total posts 1
Long time reader, first time responder because I see some QF bashing when it comes to topics such as this. I’m currently on my 2nd year QF Plat having previously been P1 for 3 consecutive years and was Plat for 6 years prior to that. While I was P1, without any prospect of lifetime plat, I did question myself as to why I would keep flying QF. Sure, I earned some status bonuses like complimentary gold membership to gift to a family member, then comp platinum membership to a family member but once I maxed those, what then? I made a decision to just start flying VA/SQ and attained Velocity platinum while also holding P1 for those 3 years. Because I could. It gave me plenty of options for additional flights and lounge access etc etc. My first point here is not what I achieved, my point is we all have choices. The market allows us to take our dollar elsewhere if we don’t believe we are getting value. Second point is I feel like I have been recognised by QF. I’ve experienced domestic upgrades to business while a ‘regular’ platinum flyer on several occasions (prior to achieving P1 but funnily not while I was P1) the customer service on the FF hotline I receive is always excellent, while P1 I have had upgrades to first when flying to the US on several occasions, I’ve been able to access reward seats that were not published online and flying my family of 4 to the US in business AND we were upgraded to first on the return flights (yes, all 4 of us and as a result I have ruined them for life)..wait, there’s more, each Christmas while a P1 FF, QF delivered champagne to my home. During my last year as P1 they couriered me a bottle of Krug. Not being a big bubbles drinker I had no idea the value until I googled it-it’s not exactly cheap. I was also offered, and I accepted, tickets to Liverpool FC vs Sydney FC a couple of years back. They did offer tickets to another sporting event but I can’t recall what it was, I couldn’t go. I would argue QF DO recognise loyalty. Having lifetime gold is recognition. No, it won’t get me into the first lounge, but the business lounge is still better than many other lounges and it’s certainly better than hanging around the public areas during extended delays. I foresee the next part of my career where I am not travelling as much to attain platinum or higher. At that stage, I don’t think I would care, I’m not in the air as much. Better still, I’ll be travelling for leisure in which case my head space is totally different. And honestly, there have been plenty of occasions where now, and in the past I don’t even go into the lounge domestic or international.
10 Feb 2016
Total posts 10
At my current rates of earning, I am now a little under 3 years away from LTG. Once I have achieved it, I will play the field if flying J on my own coin, and will stick to Oneworld carriers if flying Y.
Air New Zealand - Airpoints
12 Feb 2016
Total posts 21
I have been Elite on Air NZ for most of the last 20+ years but they seem to have no lifetime recognition - so i see my colleagues with Singapore and Qantas now with retirement benefits but i will be at the back of the queue again, But the problem highlighted by some comments is that the airlines dont understand loyalty programs. They design the scheme so only people who travel business regularly will qualify for high status, but the 'reward' is access to lounges and priority check in that business class travellers enjoy anyway. When I spend big money buying business class travel, my Air NZ branded credit card gives me free lounge passes - that are not even transferable (and lapse after a year so i cant save them for my retirement).
05 Sep 2018
Total posts 5
I agree that there ought be be something beyond LTG. I have 47,325 status credit and I get more benefits by maintaining platinum.
23 Aug 2012
Total posts 33
QF
21 Jul 2016
Total posts 37
Platinum has/had bag tags. I have two.
11 Jan 2017
Total posts 15
And you can also request two new ones delivered to your door every year, if you wish.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
27 Sep 2013
Total posts 6
Damn. I've missed out on that completely.
QF
21 Jul 2016
Total posts 37
Do the bag tags still work for check-in luggage? I remember once attaching a printed tag on my bag as well as the P tag and tI had to take one off as the machine said there was more than one tag on the bag...clever of it!
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
11 Mar 2015
Total posts 191
enroll your kid and maybe by the time he-she reaches middle age get the top QF status-why bother to aim low when their business and first class product is not even on a par with others??-not to mention such things that Qf charges 3-4 times more in fees when you would like to redeem a flight-if any available at all? which can be like nearly 700AU$ compared with an AA booking for the same flight
QF
21 Jul 2016
Total posts 37
We now have to work out how to get Lifetime Platinum. Not in my lifetime at 75000 SCs
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