EK announces Platinum level

[markis10]

Today, Emirates Airlines will announce a new elite tier in their Skywards program: Platinum. Just before the announcement, I was able to sit down with Brian LaBelle, Senior Vice President of Emirates Rewards in Dubai to ask some questions and learn more about the airline’s program.

Blue: just register, Silver: earned at 25,000 miles and Gold: earned at 50,000 miles. Starting April 1st, 2013, passengers will be able to attain Platinum status flying over 150,000 miles.

• Access for the cardholder and one guest to the Emirates First Class lounge in Dubai and Emirates Lounges across the network
• Complimentary Emirates Skywards Gold card for each member’s partner, giving them the benefits of Gold status, even when flying on their own.
• ‘Last Seat’ Flex reward, enabling Skywards Miles to be utilised on any flight, as long as there is an open seat.
• Additional 20kg luggage allowance.
• ‘Guaranteed Business Class‘ revenue seat, meaning you will not be bumped if you use cash or rewards for a business class seat.
• 75% bonus Skywards Miles

Emirates Airlines Announces New Skywards Tier: Platinum | Airline Reporter | Blogging on the airline business

 

[Sprucegoose]

Is this equivalent to QF Plats?

 

[serfty]

Is this equivalent to QF Plats?

Sort of - the benefits may be a little better.

At the moments Skywards Platinum requires three times the tier earning of Gold and six times of Silver.

To compare with QFF, Platinum it is two times the status earning of Gold and roughly four time that of Silver.

 

[simongr]

I think it sort of sits between QF WP and QF WP + PG in terms of qualification requirements.

Just to compare expanding on what serfty has show:

EK Gold -> WP = 3x

QF SG -> WP = 2x

QF SG -> WP + PG = 3.42x

QF SG -> P1 = 5.14x

I think that possibly might put the naysayers back in their box if they think that EK WP = P1.

 

[moa999]

I agree that it sits between on pure mileage, but on average I suspect that EK's average sector lengths are longer (being an international airline only) and not having short 600mile golden triangle routes, thus on an average segments to qualify, would not surprise if QF is more difficult for most (of course there are always exceptions)

 

[vitagen]

Makes me wonder if QF are going to convert to a mileage/sector setup like the majority of other airlines.

 

[simongr]

I agree that it sits between on pure mileage, but on average I suspect that EK's average sector lengths are longer (being an international airline only) and not having short 600mile golden triangle routes, thus on an average segments to qualify, would not surprise if QF is more difficult for most (of course there are always exceptions)

I am not sure I agree - for QFFers you are either taking short domestic hops or very long haul flights. For EKFFers you are either taking short flights around the region or very long flights. I expect that in both cases the majority of top level elites are earning that from long haul premium so I don't think the nature of the carrier influences the difficulty of earning status.

Makes me wonder if QF are going to convert to a mileage/sector setup like the majority of other airlines.

I can't see a change coming - they effectively have this anyway through the nature of SC earn. It is a little more binary than others which I think reflects the short haul operations for a lot of the flights.

 

[vitagen]

I hope they dont change it, i suspect quite a few deaths occuring from DVT travelling 150k miles PA in Y

 

[Fantic125]

I am not sure I agree - for QFFers you are either taking short domestic hops or very long haul flights. For EKFFers you are either taking short flights around the region or very long flights.

Or for QFF people from ADL, PER, and other cities outside of MEL, SYD & BNE, in the next few months it will be a greater increase in the short domestics hops just to get to a long haul......

 

[globalexplorer]

So are QF plats getting access to the F lounge in Dubai as well under this new arrangement?

 

[Deleted member]

So are QF plats getting access to the F lounge in Dubai as well under this new arrangement?

I think that was covered in a different thread, an he answer I believe is yes.
It is the ability to bring a guest that may be a problem

 

[Simo]

I think that was covered in a different thread, an he answer I believe is yes.
It is the ability to bring a guest that may be a problem

Yep has been answered before.

I wonder if EK Plats will get access to Flounges when on a QF flight.

An EK plat is equal to a WP1 in QF language.

I wonder how many EK Plats they are expecting.

Guaranteed J seat is a good offering.

 

[markis10]

I think that was covered in a different thread, an he answer I believe is yes.
It is the ability to bring a guest that may be a problem

No issue with guests:

Lounge Access
All tiers can bring one guest who must be travelling on the same onward Qantas or Emirates flight
on the same day.
Benefit Qantas Frequent Flyer Members
Platinum,
Platinum One
Emirates First Lounges or Business Lounges in Dubai and Emirates Lounges
across Australia, Europe, Asia, North Africa and the Middle East
Gold
Emirates Business Lounges where available in Dubai and Emirates Lounges
across Australia, Europe, Asia, North Africa and the Middle East
Qantas Club
members
Emirates Business Lounges in Dubai, the American Airlines Admirals Lounge
at London Heathrow T3 and Qantas International Business Lounges in
Australia when their next onward flight is with Qantas (QF) or Emirates (EK) to
Dubai or Australia.

 

[globalexplorer]

I hope they dont change it, i suspect quite a few deaths occuring from DVT travelling 150k miles PA in Y

I got to 150k in 12 months in Y and still very much alive.

 

[vitagen]

I got to 150k in 12 months in Y and still very much alive.

Ouch, i really feel for you. When I went SIN-DXB-JFKvv on emirates I only got 9500 tier miles, wow imagine doing that 16 times over....

 

[Must...Fly!]

Ouch, i really feel for you. When I went SIN-DXB-JFKvv on emirates I only got 9500 tier miles, wow imagine doing that 16 times over....

Doable if one avoided the ghastly 10-wide 777!