Similar experience here.12 years as VA Platinum but on review of my history I should be pretty close to lifetime gold.But like many of you, I have had a lot of activity with partner airlines.So even after 12 years at Platinum, I may not even be halfway to lifetime gold. 

infinity_and_beyond I totally agree.I spent 12 years as a VA platinum and recently dropped back to gold as I have stopped flying with them after repeated cancellations, downgrades etc etc.I have been bombarded with special offers to get me back to platinum but if a marketing person just look...

I have given up on using flight upgrades.On a couple of occasions recently I paid more just so I could use them only for the flight to be cancelled and downgraded without ever getting the flight credits back.

I spoke too soonAMEX refunded $3400 only for it to be reversed because VA has issued a travel credit that expires April 2021.So I have just over 6 months to use over three thousand dollars for domestic travel = useless.

I booked a Tokyo flight in Business and VA gave me a travel  credit but with limited options to use it under the current situation there was no way I was going to use thousands in credit in the validity of the credit.I processed a dispute through my bank and was refunded the full amount.JASON