Paid tier status upgrade Gold and Silver
Oct 14, 2018, 4:28 am
#46
Join Date: Aug 2008
Location: SIN
Posts: 846
Got the same email a couple of days ago:
Being targeted seems a bit odd, since I am not close to reaching Gold, and have no future bookings at the moment. Current Skywards Miles balance is 154,174, Tier Miles balance is 27,300. I am DXB-based and most of my trips are in Y.
$800 seems steep for limited additional benefits over Silver. I already have Lounge Key and usually never stick for a lounge away from DXB. I believe that leaves extra miles bonus, priority baggage delivery with a few extra kg's, free wifi, and free preferred seats.
Has anyone else received or taken up an offer recently?
Being targeted seems a bit odd, since I am not close to reaching Gold, and have no future bookings at the moment. Current Skywards Miles balance is 154,174, Tier Miles balance is 27,300. I am DXB-based and most of my trips are in Y.
$800 seems steep for limited additional benefits over Silver. I already have Lounge Key and usually never stick for a lounge away from DXB. I believe that leaves extra miles bonus, priority baggage delivery with a few extra kg's, free wifi, and free preferred seats.
Has anyone else received or taken up an offer recently?
Oct 14, 2018, 6:32 am
#49
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Got the same email a couple of days ago:
Being targeted seems a bit odd, since I am not close to reaching Gold, and have no future bookings at the moment. Current Skywards Miles balance is 154,174, Tier Miles balance is 27,300. I am DXB-based and most of my trips are in Y.
$800 seems steep for limited additional benefits over Silver. I already have Lounge Key and usually never stick for a lounge away from DXB. I believe that leaves extra miles bonus, priority baggage delivery with a few extra kg's, free wifi, and free preferred seats.
Has anyone else received or taken up an offer recently?
Being targeted seems a bit odd, since I am not close to reaching Gold, and have no future bookings at the moment. Current Skywards Miles balance is 154,174, Tier Miles balance is 27,300. I am DXB-based and most of my trips are in Y.
$800 seems steep for limited additional benefits over Silver. I already have Lounge Key and usually never stick for a lounge away from DXB. I believe that leaves extra miles bonus, priority baggage delivery with a few extra kg's, free wifi, and free preferred seats.
Has anyone else received or taken up an offer recently?
Oct 14, 2018, 11:48 am
#50
Moderator, Emirates
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: Where My Heart Is
Programs: BAEC Silver, FB Platinum, KQ Asante Gold, Shebamiles Blue, Emirates Blue
Posts: 3,385
It is certainly something I would consider doing if in the same position. To go from silver to gold through normal routes would cost a lot more than $800. Plus you get the added benefits that you have mentioned including EK outstation lounge access when travelling Y.
Would your travel pettern with EK over the next year give you your moneys worth?
S
Would your travel pettern with EK over the next year give you your moneys worth?
S
Oct 15, 2018, 12:56 am
#51
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: Houston, TX
Posts: 104
Interesting to hear everyone's thoughts. My travel pattern is somewhat unpredictable, and not always with EK. The route I have flown most frequently over the last year has been DXB-IAH-DXB (4 trips). EK doesn't have its own lounge at IAH, so I don't feel like I'm missing out on much there.
I've also done a couple of short hops to DMM recently, where there is no EK Lounge. My next trip is DXB-EBL-DXB with FZ in a couple of weeks, and I can't see there being much advantage having Gold over Silver with FZ. I am still thinking about it though.
I've also done a couple of short hops to DMM recently, where there is no EK Lounge. My next trip is DXB-EBL-DXB with FZ in a couple of weeks, and I can't see there being much advantage having Gold over Silver with FZ. I am still thinking about it though.
Oct 15, 2018, 1:35 am
#52
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,267
I 'like' to have Gold, but would I pay U$800 for it? I don't think so.
The main advantage (to me) would be lounge access at outstations. But with my credit cards / bank account benefits I can access alternative lounges at the outstations I use most often (CPT, LGW, AMS - in fact that 'alternative lounge in AMS is the same as the EK lounge so no Gold benefit there). And although these are not on the same level as the EK lounges by some distance, I am not that much of a lounge geek that it matters that much.
Of course there is also the extra mileage earning. And higher in the upgrade queue (which has not helped me to date).
Having said all that, I'll probably adjust my travel to ensure I (just) renew Gold next year. Will only require booking one sector in J saver instead of Y flex. And before someone shouts that the difference there is more than $800, yes I know that but there is additional real value in a J seat over a Y seat as well! It does not all go into Gold renewal.
Now if I lost Silver and did not have lounge access in DXB, that would be a real problem.....
The main advantage (to me) would be lounge access at outstations. But with my credit cards / bank account benefits I can access alternative lounges at the outstations I use most often (CPT, LGW, AMS - in fact that 'alternative lounge in AMS is the same as the EK lounge so no Gold benefit there). And although these are not on the same level as the EK lounges by some distance, I am not that much of a lounge geek that it matters that much.
Of course there is also the extra mileage earning. And higher in the upgrade queue (which has not helped me to date).
Having said all that, I'll probably adjust my travel to ensure I (just) renew Gold next year. Will only require booking one sector in J saver instead of Y flex. And before someone shouts that the difference there is more than $800, yes I know that but there is additional real value in a J seat over a Y seat as well! It does not all go into Gold renewal.
Now if I lost Silver and did not have lounge access in DXB, that would be a real problem.....
Oct 15, 2018, 1:34 pm
#53
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: SJC, SFO, NYC
Programs: 1K, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 1,030
I started flying EK for the first time this April. Have 139,600 tier miles so far in 6 months. Unfortunately, due to personal commitments, will not be flying again till mid-December so no chance to make that remaining 10,400 miles to make Platinum before November 30th 
I would happily pay $2K or so to make Platinum so I can enjoy the benefits next year - at this year's rate, I'll easily hit 200,000 tier miles next year.
I would happily pay $2K or so to make Platinum so I can enjoy the benefits next year - at this year's rate, I'll easily hit 200,000 tier miles next year.
Oct 15, 2018, 2:14 pm
#54
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,267
I started flying EK for the first time this April. Have 139,600 tier miles so far in 6 months. Unfortunately, due to personal commitments, will not be flying again till mid-December so no chance to make that remaining 10,400 miles to make Platinum before November 30th
I would happily pay $2K or so to make Platinum so I can enjoy the benefits next year - at this year's rate, I'll easily hit 200,000 tier miles next year.
I would happily pay $2K or so to make Platinum so I can enjoy the benefits next year - at this year's rate, I'll easily hit 200,000 tier miles next year.
Oct 15, 2018, 2:18 pm
#55
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: SJC, SFO, NYC
Programs: 1K, Hertz Five Star
Posts: 1,030
Right!!! I should have worded it better... I started flying for business in April. I did have a personal trip last November which must have started the clock for me. Never thought I'd fly them again until this April which started a series of 6 SFO-BOM trips in Business class for me.
Thanks for the clarification!
Thanks for the clarification!
Oct 15, 2018, 8:39 pm
#56
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Right!!! I should have worded it better... I started flying for business in April. I did have a personal trip last November which must have started the clock for me. Never thought I'd fly them again until this April which started a series of 6 SFO-BOM trips in Business class for me.
Thanks for the clarification!
Thanks for the clarification!
Oct 17, 2018, 1:31 am
#57
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: DXB
Programs: EK, AA, DL, UA, SPG, HGP, Amex
Posts: 1,208
Oct 20, 2018, 8:25 am
#59
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: Economy, mostly :(
Programs: Skywards Gold
Posts: 7,801
Oct 20, 2018, 12:49 pm
#60
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: United Kingdom
Programs: Skywards Blue :-(, HHonors Gold, SPG Gold, GHA Platinum
Posts: 2,531
Ray44 had posted about getting IO after hitting 2 million tier miles over 5 years. (This was around 3 years ago)
Obviously policy influencers/company CEO's etc dont have to do this to get IO..
Last edited by ukdoctor; Oct 20, 2018 at 1:01 pm