Hi everyone,

I've started flying EK in Y since Sep 2010 between HK and UK (usually 12000 miles return) and have since achieved Silver just a few days ago. In fact I've flown quite a bit that it came as a surprise I'm just 8000 miles short by Sep this year to achieve Gold. However I have no intention of doing that, still, it's a shame that I'm so close.

So, I was hoping that I could well continue my Silver membership in the coming years, but unfortunately I couldn't quite make the 25000 mark by Apr 2012 which is the review date from now, as I will definitely only fly 24000 until then. I will only make 25000 in July 2012. I'm sort of kicking myself for flying too much this year that I haven't thought that I wouldn't be flying as much next year. I should have spread them out oer a longer time - I don't need all these miles now as I can clearly reach SL by Sep this year!

Is there anyway that I can beg EK to defer my SL membership to start this coming July instead of now or something like that? (I know it sounds a bit silly) Or to ask them that I've flown so much this year, and are still flying in future, that please don't take my membership away since I'm only 1000 miles short? Any suggestions/ideas?

Book one of your upcoming flights to BKK instead of HKG. You'll get the same amount of miles.

Have a day out in BKK and go to HKG on a seperate ticket the following day for an extra 1,000 miles.

Problem solved, kudos to EK

Although in my case the review date is 30 Apr 2012 the validity of SL is until July 2012. And I've received a message below from EK:

"As you are aware, our new tier qualification period is more flexible. Your account will be reviewed every month to calculate the tier miles earned in the past 12 months until you have earned the required tier miles for achieving the higher status. Therefore, should you travel in July 2012, the system will auto-calculate the tier miles earned in the past 12 months (until 01st July 2011). If you achieve 25,000 tier miles in this period, your account status will be upgraded back to Skywards Silver."

So when they review the account by July 2012, they will have found I've travelled over 25000 tier miles so my Silver will be retained.

If I'm incorrect please feel free to correct me, but for now I think it's solved!

It sounds pretty reasonable but one point to clarify. If your current review point is End April 2012, you should remain Silver until End June 2012 if you don't re-qualify, not July as they have said. This should be shown on the rear of your new Silver Card although you probably don't have it yet.

If the first of the 24,000 miles you will travel since qualifying will be in July 2011 or later, then yes, you will re-qualify after your first 1,000 miles in July 2012 due to the 13 month rolling qualification period.

This means you will not technically be Silver on your outward flight in July (so no lounge in DXB or queue jumping at check in or boarding) but will be OK for the return.

I think I've got it right - maybe someone else can confirm my understanding.