Trust me, 60K for Gold is a joke...unless you make it the mid tier which perhaps is more suitable...

I am with Simon, 60K (up to 75K) may be fine for a mid-tier level, but not for a top-tier level. It is also important to keep in mind the the way tier mile earning works on EK that they are often inflated compared to many other FF programs.

How is Skywards so very different to Sing Air though
As an example London to Singapore return (SQ Krisflier)

Econ (d)6761 return so you would need 8 round trips for gold in Krisflyer
Econ 13522 return so you would need 4 round trips for gold in Krisflyer
Bus 16902 return so you would need 3 round trips for gold in Krisflyer
First 20283 return so you would need 2.5 round trips for gold in Krisflyer
Suites not considered but would be 1.5 trips


As an example London to Singapore return (EK Skywards)

Econ (s)6000 return so you would need 8.5 round trips for gold in Skywards
Econ 12000 return so you would need 4.5 round trips for gold in Skywards
Bus (s) 15000 return so you would need 3.5 round trips for gold in Skywards
Bus 21000 return so you would need 2.5 round trips for gold in Skywards
First 30000 return so you would need 2 round trips for gold in Skywards

Not much difference really unless you are flying first in EK, which if you are what additional benefits do you get with any airline FF program?

Does Star Alliance have the same issue then? too many golds?

There are saver fares on First too.
First (s) 24000 return so you would need 2.5 round trips for gold in Skywards

That is a very interesting comparison though.

Yes not forgetting First saver tickets on EK
i was also going to add it gets even more interesting if you compare London to HK

On SQ in economy 3 round trips would get you Gold in econ, 2.5 in Business and 2 in First

No change for EK flights as still the same zones

I think what probably might be the case is that the tier mile bonus is considerably higher for premium cabins in EK than it might be for other carriers. That's why a lot of folks who fly premium cabins in EK feel that it is relatively easy to reach Gold on EK.

If we compare to UA on Star Alliance, if UA had a SIN->DXB->LHR flight it would look like this:

Econ 14108 return so you would need 7 round trips for top-tier in UA
Bus 21162 return so you would need 5 round trips for top-tier in UA
First 21162 return so you would need 5 round trips for top-tier in UA

With LH on Star there are many variations, but simplified to get to SEN on a hypothetical SIN->DXB->LHR:

Econ (s)7054 return so you would need 14 round trips for SEN in LH
Econ 14108 return so you would need 7 round trips for SEN in LH
Bus (s) 14108 return so you would need 7 round trips for SEN in LH
Bus 28216 return so you would need 3.5 round trips for SEN in LH
First 42324 return so you would need 2.5 round trips for SEN in LH

However, if you really want top-tier in LH, HON, it is triple all of the above round trips and you have to do it 2 years in a row.

all seems pretty fair at the moment though
I still like the SQ FF program though

50k for gold, and accumulate spend for PPS (granted it has depreciated in value the last yr or so)

but all in all seems pretty fair programme.

actually fly 50k miles in econ, 40k in business or 33k in first and get gold
spend a heap load of cash in bus / first and get PPS - extra benefits

why did EK change Skywards 2yrs ago is more to think about

Well, for me it is a no-brainer: EY has set its "Gold Elite" level at 125K. This is what it will be for EK as well.

125 OUCH well I will then be going back to star aliance.

Why bother with skywards if the bar is so high?

Golds just leave as they arnt valued anymore, silver might as well pack it in and what is blue apart from a colour and your details on their computer.

Just join the QF program and earn miles when I use a card in a shop.

I'll never reach 125K and so thats out of bounds for me. I barely make 50-60 K tier miles each year.:(:(:(:(:(:(

I would hardly call 125K tier miles high - its industry standard (ie many of the US programs are 100K-125K BIS miles, BA's equivalent, QF's equivalent etc etc)

I know that for many of us, reaching 50K is tough, especially those who must fly Saver fares and in Y. But by the same token, realise that there are many who exceed the 50K within a single month. EK needs to cater (or try to) for as many as possible. I agree with the above poster - ie the upper limit will probably be set somewhere around the 125K mark, but as I keep telling EK, they need to provide incentive to continue to fly even after this mark.

This bloke seems to have a clue on it.

I am not that loyal to EK and will easily move my money away from them.

Any clues on when the 4th tier is actually going to be launched? This wait is getting longer than the iPhone 5;)

Thought u would have bought one in the grey market at INR 100000 plus :D

PS:That's nearly $2000 for those who don't know the dollar-rupee exchange rates.