Just took my first four flights with EK, all in paid F. Got >40000 miles. Just before I left (about 10 days ago ) joined Skywards and asked them to match my SQ Solitaire (10 years consecutive) - about 25 long-haul sectors per annum plus assorted short-haul. Today have heard that Gold has been given, valid until Dec 2012. Good turnaround time.