How long does it take to earn Qantas Lifetime Platinum?
Looking to move on from Lifetime Gold? It's going to take a while.
Qantas introduced Lifetime Platinum in 2019, adding to its existing Lifetime Gold and Lifetime Silver options.
Lifetime Platinum sounds great: guaranteed lifetime access to Platinum perks, which include Qantas Business Domestic and First International lounges, a 100% boost in the number of points you earn for flights, and preferential access to upgrades.
However, the barrier is set very high. To earn Lifetime Platinum, you need 75,000 lifetime Status Credits. (Even though your Status Credits expire each year, they remain in your lifetime total.) That's a massive leap on lifetime Gold, which requires 14,000, and Silver, which needs 7,000.
How long would that take to achieve? Let's assume that you've just reached Lifetime Gold (14,000 lifetime credits) and that your current status is Platinum. Requalifying each year for Platinum requires 1,200 Status Credits. Assuming you hit that every year, it will take you 51 years to reach Lifetime Platinum status.
Imagine you're an even more active flyer, with monthly business class trips overseas, and have actually hit Platinum One. Maintaining that requires 3,600 Status Credits each year. In that case, you're looking at around 17 years. That's still a long time, but seems rather more plausible.
So the realistic conclusion is this: if you haven't ever achieved Platinum One, it seems unlikely that you'll ever reach Lifetime Platinum. There are a couple of caveats though.
The best way to boost your total number of Status Credits is to take advantage of bonus status credits offers. Qantas runs these regularly (usually at least twice a year), and if you opt in and book during an offer, you'll earn twice as many Status Credits as normal.
It's unlikely you'll be able to book all your travel during a bonus offer, so that won't get you to Lifetime Platinum twice as quickly. But it could shave a few years off the qualifying period.
You can also boost your Status Credits if you qualify for membership of Qantas Points Club. That requires earning 150,000 Qantas Points through non-flying activities each year. That might sound high, but a rewards credit card bonus sign-up offer would go a long way towards earning that total.
If you qualify for Points Club, you'll earn Status Credits on rewards flights. That will help boost your total too, though not by massive numbers.
Bottom line? Lifetime Platinum isn't going to be an option for most flyers, but if you're in a job where the airport lounge feels more familiar than your own home, it might be a possibility. Happy tiering!
Want to keep your frequent flyer points balance growing? Check out the latest credit card sign-up deals.
We updated this guide in May 2023 with current points details.
Image: Supplied: Qantas