I have a friend who was comped gold, actually, but under different circumstances. Before he was retired, he would do some hardcore flying from London to the mainland. Something like 4+ flights a week for over 10 years in paid biz. Worked as an exec for a large company near Reading. Anyway, when he retired, he asked that he become lifetime gold, and they gave it to him. He also told a friend to ask for it, and BA comped him also. I don't know the friend's circumstances, but it sounded like he flew a lot also.