A complete guide to Emirates Skywards Platinum

No matter how you look at it, serious flying is needed to unlock Platinum status in Emirates’ Skywards loyalty program. So exclusive is this tier, in fact, that it’s essentially out of reach for economy passengers, even on the most flexible fares.

Three return business class flights from Australia to London via Dubai – enough to land Skywards Gold status – would still fall well short of the requirements needed to unlock Platinum. Flying first class though? Now that’s a different story. 

Emirates' A380 first class.

Among the desirable Platinum perks are access to Emirates and Qantas First lounges, two upgrades from business to first class, Gold status to gift your partner, and no expiry on Skywards Miles for as long as you retain the tier.

You also enjoy boosted lounge guest and baggage allowances, plus greater flexibility when using Skywards Miles for points-based bookings.

How to earn Emirates Skywards Platinum status

Unlike Skywards Silver and Gold, both of which can be earned through earning Tier Miles or taking Emirates flights, Skywards Platinum can only be secured by racking up 150,000 Tier Miles (TM) with Emirates and FlyDubai flights in a membership year. 

(Qantas flights with an EK flight number also collect Tier Miles, though you will still need to take one qualifying first or business class flight on Emirates to seal the deal.)

Skywards Platinum is the highest of Emirates' public status tiers, beneath the invite-only iO.

On reaching the required Tier Miles, the 12-month clock to keep Platinum resets, though it’s worth noting that once your status has been earned, you actually have 14 months to reap the benefits, even if you don’t manage to retain the tier the next year.

The below graphic is the number of Tier Miles earned in a Sydney-Dubai-London return business class ticket in various fare classes.

Based on the above, you’d need six such trips in Business Special or four in Business Flex Plus to attain Skywards Platinum.

Flying Emirates first class is, of course, the most efficient way to reach Skywards Platinum: the same Sydney-London return trip earns 62,000 Tier Miles each run, meaning three trips is enough to get you to Platinum.

The Emirates Mileage Calculator will show you how many Tier Miles you can earn on your next journey.

Perks for Skywards Platinum members

Emirates Skywards Platinum benefits stand apart from lower tiers with:

• two free upgrades from business class to first class
• entry to Emirates and Qantas first and business class lounges
• complimentary Gold status partner nomination
• 100% bonus Skywards Miles for EK-coded flights
• access to first class check-in, including with Qantas
• no expiry on Skywards Miles, for as long as you retain Platinum
• booking priority in economy and business class on sold-out flights
• Tier Miles rollover, allowing you a head-start on retaining your status
• free standard economy class seat selection for you and passengers in the same booking (even where a fee would normally be charged for your booking class)
• free exit row economy seats for you only when on a Flex Plus economy fare

Through a partnership with Marriott, your status also has some pull after leaving the airport.

Emirates’ Platinum members earn 1 Skywards Mile per US$1 spent at participating Marriott Bonvoy hotels. Plus, as indeed with Gold status, your card also provides free 4pm late check-out, access to the Elite check-in line and enhanced in-room WiFi.

Lounge access for Skywards Platinum members

As you’d expect, lounge access is far better for Skywards Platinum members.

Step up to any Emirates-operated first or business class lounge and you’re entitled to bring in one adult guest and two children under 17 years of age, as long as everyone is on the same Emirates or Qantas codeshare flight.

The Emirates flagship First lounge in Dubai.

Thanks to the Emirates-Qantas tie-up (Skywards Platinum is roughly equivalent to Qantas Platinum) you and one guest also enjoy entry to Domestic Business Lounges and International First Lounges, when travelling on Qantas-operated flights.

Emirates isn’t part of the Oneworld alliance though, so don’t expect any Oneworld Emerald benefits on other airlines, unless a separate partnership is also in place.

Emirates Skywards Platinum members can also pay to bring more of their buddies to the First Class lounges in Dubai for US$300 (~A$460) per passenger, or for USD$155 (~AUD$237) at other selected lounges outside Dubai.

Skywards Platinum members enjoy entry to Qantas first and business lounges.

FlyDubai passengers do have some further restrictions on lounge access, even for Skywards Platinum holders.

In Dubai Terminal 2 and around the world, you only have access to FlyDubai’s business class and partner lounges for yourself – no guests.

On the flip side, departures from Dubai Terminal 3 means you can access the Emirates First Class lounges in Concourse B and C, along with your usual guest entitlements (one adult and two children up to 17 years old).

Checked baggage allowance for Skywards Platinum members

Platinum-grade members get an extra 20kg allowance on top of their included fare allowance for destinations where the weight system applies, which covers most flights except those to The Americas. This extends to Qantas-operated flights.

For flights with the piece system, Platinum members have no advantage over Gold. The allowance is a flat two x 23kg on all economy fare types.

This is only a benefit when booked on the cheapest Economy Special fare which includes one 23kg bag, as all other fares and travel classes already include two pieces.