Added few again. Thank You all for the lovely remarks, it's been fun to pull this together in the dark November of Finland.

Thanks cistavoda for the kalsarikänni icon, now added

By the way, why AY Lifetime is classified as "mission impossible" here on FT ?
We have several LT's here and with flight pattern like FT'rs have, it cant be impossible.

Totally agree with that. Even a random flyer like myself will become LT in 6-8 years if I continue to fly as today, which, however, I am not at all sure I will/want to do..

Becoming LT Gold in 6 years would require 25 long haul AY flights in J every year. Even though the flight pattern would be random it would have to be really frequent. Also not very many companies allow traveling in J so for most of the people flying that much in J is out of the question.

Many people started the lifetime count with some 2 000 000 points or so. For them LT tier is obtainable. It doesn't change the fact that LT tier takes 20-40 years of intense flying, headstart or not.

i assume this is the situation NWS has, collecting LT points since 1992 or so, and so he now "only" needs additional 6-7 years of 2-300 k.

No, it is not mission impossible but it is much much much more difficult that in many other programs and thus not much of a motivator for newish members (i.e anyone signing up this side of the millenium)

I missed about ten years of AY flying as I was messing with BAEC. Managed to get about 18000 LT tier points - half way to LTG, they have no LTS. With AY currently little over 1 000 000 and expecting to collect 150 000 to 250 000 annually. As I still have 10 years of working career with current flying pattern, I might be able to gain the AY LTG for the days after retirement. However, as I expect to fly more after that (second home in somewhere in south and more time to spend also for some long haul "holidays") the Plat should be easy to renew annually. 5 000 000 still remains out of question for me.

Guys, let's remember that at the AY organized seat-evaluation meeting there was a lady clocking in well over 1m points per year - so yes, LTP is doable. Would I want to fly ca 3-4x more than I do these days? Helvetti, no.

Yep, it definately is achievable, but for how many and does it make any incentive for more than a handfull of members? LTP needs 33years of Plat with present minimum Plat accrual, Gold 20 years as Plat, which at least I find not motivating at all, meaning there is nothing preventing changing to another program if an attractive possibilty emerges. I got Plat first time in 2009 or 2010 having it every year since, before that Gold for several years, and not even at 2M LT-points. Do these lifetime tiers make any incentive for me? No, as it is not realistic reaching those levels within foreseeable future, as I totally agree with WilcoRoger that I wouldn't either want to spend my life onboard. This level of flying is fine with me, to keep Plat for the time being, but that's enough. No hopes to reach either of those LT levels.

I Hope AY plus wont go € earning soon so I might reach LTG as a birthday present for my self when I'm 50 (I'm 25 now :D ). And of course we dont know what are benefits for Gold after 8-10 years. Gold level can be same as Silver now or even weaker.

But I'm afraid this game turns difficult to play in a couple of years.

And Lifetime Platinum then would kill this heavenly hobby. There is nothing to reach for after Platinum is secured and what would happen after that? TallinkSilja MR's? Hobby-horses? Pokemons? Collecting insects?

Also remember she was the current record holder, ie one of a kind. Seems silly to design a LT program around those who fly 500k-1M as they are
a) extremely few
and
b) not likely to fly more just to reach a tier

Yes, I agree with the sentiment, that LT levels of AY are not aspirational at all. And let's not forget - LT means the lifetime of the programme. I absolutely don't chase LT status in any loyalty scheme, be it airline or hotel.

CKG: an over-sized Chinese international airport that is solely served from Europe by AY. Not so good as DEL for MR due to visa requirements, but major MT destination if you trust AY marketing!

Group 1: There is no such thing as priority boarding in egalitarian Finnish society! Group number on Finnair ticket is purely indicative.

Premium lounge: not-a-First-class-lounge lounge for OWE and Kultsi who obvious don't need USB charging. Also a zoo in the afternoon daily. (Please do not feed the frequent fliers.)

Spa: a mythological peaceful location that supposedly existed in the non-Schengen terminal; not to be confused with the overcrowded with the Finnair premium lounge (or the sauna within it - see also Towel).

Sorry, I didn't mean I would become LT in 6-8 years from scratch. I have been AY Plus member since the 90s and even spent many years with BA in the between. I had some 1,7-1,8M in the bank already when I first heard of AY and their LT levels. Also, the points really added faster back in the day when all OW J was 200%..doing a DONEx trip easily gave you 150-200k with a single 20 leg ticket...but those days are long gone now..

Hmmmm, clearly you are missing Erik as a potential male spouse for those who prefer his company over Erika's. Also, äijät juo kaljaa refers to an all-male, beer-lovers' DO. How about Akat kittaa viiniä or porukka vetää pommacia?? To be 100% all-inclusive. :)