I've been flying North England to Japan for decades, three or more times each year, and started flying with Emirates last year, mainly because of the then generous Skywards programme. I mostly fly MAN-NRT in economy and buy tickets from the UK Emirates website. I found it easy to qualify for Silver status, and decided to fly exclusively with Emirates despite the less than daily frequency to Tokyo and very long total flying time from UK to Japan.

Since April 2011 Emirates have downgraded the status of most tickets bought on this route so that they earn half the miles - from 7,000 miles one way before April to 3,500 miles one way now. Apart from the loss of mileage rewards, it now becomes impossible to gain silver status without at least four return trips a year.

Fortunately the bookings already made will continue to earn the full mileage rate, and so I will be able to renew silver for a further year, but after that I'll be looking for a new airline. It has to be said that Emirates have the best and most comfortable economy class cabin on this route, but the limited schedule and inconvenient schedule (only 5 days a week, plus overnight both ways) far outweigh the cabin comfort. Without the inducement of silver benefits there seems to be no reason to stay with Emirates.