Emirates Skywards

[Planner]

Welcome to the forum.

I think your last comments say it all.
I fly to Greece once a year and the best way for Mrs max and I is Emirates.
I have just appplied for 2 Citi Emirates Cards ( one for each of us ) and will direct $100,000 spend on each one ( CBA Plat Cards loss ) which will yield 150,000 Emirates Miles for each of us. Enough to get us there once a year probably in Business Class.
The rest of my flying is with Qantas, so my other cards all opt to Qantas.

Maybe you can work out a run with the help of other posters on this forum to get the extra needed to get to Silver.

One great way to get some extra miles to reach or retain Silver is the Arabian Pass, bought with coupons through Emirates in Australia at the time of booking a trip passing through Dubai, but not bookable on line. This allows for a reduced price side-trip to a range of Arabian destinations from Dubai.

For example, for Zone A, which takes in Muscat or Doha, the Arabian Pass economy fare is $US50 each way, earning 2,000 tier miles for the return trip (on a flex fare). The Business fare for Zone A is just $US110 each way, for 3,500 tier miles, and First is $US170 (5,000 tier miles return). The outer zone extends as far as Cairo, but is still only $US150 each way.

As other posters have already said, the Citibank Emirates platinum card is a great earner. The 150,000 maximum annual points for a $100,000 spend - not hard if it is used for business expenses - more than pays for a Europe round trip upgrade from Y to J (62,500 each way).

Cheers

 

[MAX_1]

Trying to use points for a flight Brisbane to Athens in J with Emirates and cannot find any availability. How far ahead is it advisable to start looking?
I used to get annoyed at Qantas because of the 12 months ahead requirement to get an OS trip redeemed.
Also if I purchase a Y ticket how easy is it to use points to upgrade to J? Would hate to end up with a Y and not able to upgrade.

 

[Dave Noble]

Trying to use points for a flight Brisbane to Athens in J with Emirates and cannot find any availability. How far ahead is it advisable to start looking?
I used to get annoyed at Qantas because of the 12 months ahead requirement to get an OS trip redeemed.
Also if I purchase a Y ticket how easy is it to use points to upgrade to J? Would hate to end up with a Y and not able to upgrade.

As far as upgrading goes, you just need to find availability in I class. If it is there, then you can confirm into business. Expert Flyer is a good resource for checking I availability

Find the I availability , then book the economy ticket and then immediately do the upgrade and you'll be fine

I just did a check for BNE-DXB and DXB-ATH for a random week in June and found availability for upgrade for every day in that week; also available on SYD-DXB too

I would say that EK is pretty reasonable with getting upgrades and far far better than say the QF lottery scheme


For awards, there are seats available in may, july and october from SYD-ATH

 

[craven morehead]

So the Citibank EK plat card is capped at 100k points returning 150k miles?

 

[Planner]

So the Citibank EK plat card is capped at 100k points returning 150k miles?

That's what the conditions say:
"5. An Emirates Citi Platinum Cardholder must be a member of the Skywards Frequent Flyer Programme to earn Skywards Miles. Membership is free and subject to Skywards Terms and Conditions. Up to 150,000 Miles can be earned per annum (from the date of account approval)."

But I don't know how rigidly it is enforced, not having gone over the annual limit in the first year.