Hi Mates,

Have recieved some very interesting and confirmed news that massive changes ave been planned by EK for SKYWARDS beginning from 2010. This is not a rumour anymore. Its confirmed news.

The changes are being worked out but as of what I have been informed the below mentioned are going to be some of them. But pls don't crucify me if this does not happen 101% as mentioned below because this is EK and they can change their mind 1000 times before 1st Jan 2010.

1) The Silver Tier moves to 30K & Gold Tier qualification will move further to 60K.

2) The much awaited new PLATINUM tier will become avialable and it will be 150k with atleast 70% flights in paid J or paid F. I have no idea what EK plans to offer their PLAT tier paxs.

3) Redemption which has already become tough in the premium cabins and it will become even more tougher.

4) No more than 5 seats in I Class for upgrade in any given flight and no more that 2 seats in Z Class for any given flight.

This is all that I know of today. I am sure that perhaps you guys in DXB can figure out more of this & add to it sooner rather than later.

Look's like EK pulled a big one off by giving away all those miles to paxs & taking away other airline's business from them. Like thy say nothing comes for free or there is no such thing as a free ride.

Safe Flying

EGT

Thanks heavens I chose LHR-DXB-BOM at the weekend for my next flight to get me to gold rather than go on BA direct.

as far as redemptions go I have not seen a normal J or F award for months now its all peak peak peak. I will get rid of whatever points I can .

agreed.

emirates is absolutely crazy.. why mess with a winning formula? because of one down year? I guess the oil prices story is bs.

i have a lot of brand loyalty.. but if my miles become worthless i'll be done with it..

Having flown EK on a regular basis for the last 7 years, 2 trips a year BHX to BKK that nets me 26K tier miles and seeing the benefits of a silver card depreciate on a regular basis I think next year will be the year I vote with my feet.

hmmm... should i go for a milage run and get gold this year?? always 10k short of gold every year..

I might just bite the bullet, use what ever miles i have .. and move to eithad... or Qatar airways.. thats a bummer .. have to rethink my strategy ...

Is I class for business class redemption? It's a paid fare bucket now as well for discounted business class.

Good, it is time for the Plat tier. 150k is doable if you compare it say HON with LH (600k in 2 years) but well ok, flying F in LH generates more tier miles than with EK.

Anyway, from a communication point of view, I am wondering how EK will communicate the 70% cutoff. This is not easy to explain with a headline. "7 out of 10 flights must be in Business or First Class"?

Guys - we seem to get this sort of post every 2 or 3 months... normally from someone who has got it from a friend of a friend who once went out with someone who knew an Emirates flight attendant.

The Platinum rumour has been going on for longer than the 3rd MAN flight rumour

Cheers,
Rick

but the OP said it's not a rumor anymore. it's confirmed news!

I believe this will come to fruition .
I have tried to get first class seats for next year and am unable for a reward ticket, it has not been a problem in the past.

I am Gold status and and complete around 10-12 flights per year in F, sometimes J however If they are going the same way as many others and making it near impossible for the loyalty to be rewarded I shall use what points I can , prob on their partners, and ,move to another carrier.

They have waitlisted me for an award which prob will not be confirmed until about 3-4 weeks before , if it does get confirmed , useless to me really .

Anyway I hope they have a change of mind but dont really think that will happen, have to wait and see I guess.

I am on 162'000 Tier and 87% have been in J & F, with more trips this year, and more than 09 next year, am looking good for Platinum - it's long awaited if you ask me! If it happens of course

Ideas for plat members:

Our own lounge (acceptable for this to be just in DXB), or our own areas in the lounges, with waiters
Extra people in the lounge
The ability to kick other none platimun out of our preferred seats (I like 2B)
Free economy tickets for family, or at least family members being treated as Platinum
Free upgrades for colleagues/mates on the same flight in a lower class, if seats are available
F champagne when (if) in J
Champagne in the Car Service (cold), or water in DXB at least! - They can manage it in BOM

some more benefits i think:

More baggage allowance
Chauffeur drive in dubai even when travelling economy class
100% bonus miles
Free upgrades from J to F???

Like these too, however, surely once you get platinum, with a free upgrade, how many passengers would be booked into F when you can get there for free..

A special male only cabin just for platinum holders with women only FA's and we get to chose the uniforms.