Platinum status
Mar 21, 2013 | 9:43 pm
#6
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 10,048
This differs from the information given at the launch when Brian LaBelle said there were currently 110,000 Gold members and 5% of these (5,500 members) will automatically be Platinum.
Quite a significant difference.
Quite a significant difference.
Mar 22, 2013 | 7:24 am
#8
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: QR Plat | SK Diamond | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,612
Why should anyone bother qualifying for Plat unless they have to, given how crappy the benefits are? I'd rather rack up Gold status on the alliances, or just fly less EK but in better cabins.
At least once the program is launched we'll have an idea of the unpublished benefits
At least once the program is launched we'll have an idea of the unpublished benefits
Mar 22, 2013 | 7:48 am
#9
Join Date: May 2010
Location: BOM
Programs: EK Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,000
Op-up priority could be one of the most significant ones.
Mar 22, 2013 | 8:52 am
#10
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Dubai, UAE
Programs: Skywards Plat, Etihad Gold, Aerosvit Gold, Virgin Silver, AA lifetime Gold, Sirius Gold
Posts: 1,229
Mar 22, 2013 | 11:45 pm
#11
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: OSL
Programs: QR Plat | SK Diamond | A3 Gold
Posts: 4,612
Op ups with EK (in all of my experience) are just strange. I seem to always end up on flights that are not quite full, even flights that have been sold out 2-3 days before that then had seats available day of departure. Either I have bad luck, of eightblack has gone and asked EK to put me on some kind of blacklist!
Mar 23, 2013 | 5:11 am
#12
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Dubai / NYC
Programs: EK-IO, UA-1K2MM, ETIHAD-GOLD, SPG-PLAT LIFETIME, JUMEIRAH SERIUS GOLD
Posts: 5,218
Why should anyone bother qualifying for Plat unless they have to, given how crappy the benefits are? I'd rather rack up Gold status on the alliances, or just fly less EK but in better cabins.
At least once the program is launched we'll have an idea of the unpublished benefits
At least once the program is launched we'll have an idea of the unpublished benefits
I have always been amazed how easy it is to attain Gold on EK (I've done it on 3 one ways) and there is NOTHING Gold or Platinum will give me that I don't get with my paid tkt anyway. I assume the F lounge access is nice for those that fly mostly on J fares but other then that EK has quite a lot of premium passengers and the ONLY reason they even bother with Skywards is a few free trips a year are nice to use ourselves or give to family / friends
Mar 23, 2013 | 5:48 am
#13
Join Date: Apr 2005
Programs: Eurostar Carte Etoile, SBB-CFF-FFS GA-AG, SNCF Grand Voyageur LeClub
Posts: 8,999
I also got that call from a lady who was completely excited (and somewhat baffled that I wasn't as excited as she was).
Let's see whether we'll have op-up priority, more competent call centre agents, some helpful attitudes in "borderline" situations (e.g. requesting limo service some time after the deadline), and maybe something I would really really cherish: some more comfortable way of making a connection from A1 to C44 like I had to do the other day.
Let's see whether we'll have op-up priority, more competent call centre agents, some helpful attitudes in "borderline" situations (e.g. requesting limo service some time after the deadline), and maybe something I would really really cherish: some more comfortable way of making a connection from A1 to C44 like I had to do the other day.
Mar 23, 2013 | 6:12 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: 30,000ft
Programs: EK, BA, EY, SQ, IHG, HH, SPG
Posts: 670
Platinum status
Well I assume the privileges will be somewhere between gold and I/o in which case it will be a nice enhancement to gold but nothing earth shattering. I do believe that platinum will be the new gold in which case more of a reversion to how gold members ( apologies to Austin powers!) used to be treated when there wasn't so many of them.
Mar 23, 2013 | 8:55 am
#15
Join Date: May 2010
Location: BOM
Programs: EK Plat, HHonors Gold
Posts: 3,000
That may be the overall trend but I would assume that with the general cost-cutting and cutbacks on premium class travel, there should be quite a few travelers who make platinum on a predominantly Y travel pattern. Would be interesting to hear what their experience is....