How do I get Etihad Guest Gold Tier status?  

This post outlines the steps you need to take to get Etihad Guest Gold Tier status. 

Gold is one of four tiers in Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways. The four tiers of the Etihad Guest programme are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. 

The Bronze is the entry-level tier available to anyone joining the programme. Silver, Gold and Platinum are elite tiers with an increasing range of benefits and privileges as you move up the ranks. 

Gold is the middle tier, sandwiched between Silver and Platinum. It is the sweet spot in the Etihad Guest programme. It comes with the vast majority of perks you would want from an airline loyalty programme while being relatively easy to achieve, particularly for members based in the UAE. 

Explaining Guest Miles vs Tier Miles

Members of Etihad Guest collect both Guest Miles and Tier Miles. Guest Miles can be used to book reward flights on Etihad Airways and up to 22 partner airlines. 

Using Guest Miles for shopping, car rental and hotel booking is also possible. However, this is rarely worth it, and I only recommend spending Etihad Guest miles on flights. 

Meanwhile, Tier Miles are solely used to determine elite status within Etihad Guest. Elite status provides additional travel benefits such as free seat selection, lounge access and excess baggage allowances. 

How elite status is determined?

To earn Gold Tier status, you need to either: 

• Earn 50,000 Tier Miles over a rolling 12-month period, or
• Fly 40 Tier segments in one 12-month period  

Qualifying flights are: 

• Any Etihad Airways-operated flights 
• Certain flights are operated by a handful of partner airlines. These are Air Serbia, Virgin Australia, Gulf Air and Saudia. 

How are Tier Miles and Tier Segments calculated? 

Tier Segments are calculated based on a combination of cabin and distance flown. Business Class flights earn a 50% bonus vs Economy. While First Class earns a 100% bonus vs Economy

For example, on a flight between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow, you will earn the following Tier Miles in each cabin: 

• 3404 Tier Miles in Economy 
• 5105 Tier Miles in Business 
• 6808 Tier Miles in First 

You need eight return flights between Abu Dhabi and London in Economy or ten in Business to earn Gold status.

Tier segments are calculated based on the cabin flown regardless of distance. You will earn one tier segment in Economy, 2 tier segments in Business and 3 tier segments in First. 

You would need 20 return flights in Economy or 10 in Business to attain Gold status.

Use the Etihad Guest Miles calculator to check how many Tier Miles and Tier Segments you should earn on a particular flight.  

Unfortunately, Etihad Guest redemption bookings will not earn any tier miles. However, part pay with miles should earn Guest Miles and Tier Miles. 

Maintaining Status 

Tier status is valid for one year from the month of the Tier upgrade, plus an additional two bonus months.

Keeping status is easier once you have earned it, as the thresholds to renew are lower. To renew Gold status, you will need: 

• 40,000 Tier Miles in a rolling 12-month period, or 
• 30 Tier segments in a rolling 12-month period 

Fast-track to Etihad Guest Gold Tier status with credit card 

An alternative route to Gold status is with an Etihad Guest co-brand credit card. Seven credit cards issued to UAE residents include complimentary Gold status as a card perk.

There is usually a minimum spend or flying requirement to trigger the complimentary. However, each card has a slightly different requirement to trigger the benefit. The list of cards and their requirements can be found in this post. 

What are the benefits of Etihad Guest Gold? 

Once you fulfil the requirements above, you will be upgraded to Gold.

In addition to the benefits of Bronze and Silver status, you will have access to a long list of additional perks as an Etihad Guest Gold card holder. The benefits include:

• Earn 50% Bonus Etihad Guest Miles on Etihad Airways flights and a handful of airline partners 
• Etihad Chauffeur service on Business and First Class rewards bookings 
• Business Class check-in worldwide
• Fast-track immigration and baggage
• Priority boarding 
• Reserve two standard economy seats for free
• 50% discount on the price of extra legroom seats for up to two guests
• Access to the Business Class Lounge at Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH) for self plus one guest 
• Access to Business Class worldwide lounges where available 
• Complimentary excess baggage allowance (15 kgs on weight routes and one extra bag on piece concept routes)  
• Avis Budget Tier match 

Check this article on the benefits of Etihad Guest Gold Tier status.

Which airlines offer benefits to Etihad Guest elites?

Etihad Airways is not part of a global airline alliance, so you do not automatically get elite benefits on a collection of other airlines. However, there are a handful of airline partners that do recognise Etihad Guest Tier status. The full details of which airlines offer benefits to Etihad Guest elites can be found here.   

Aiming for the top?

Once you have attained Gold, the next step up is Platinum, the top tier in Etihad Guest. Read about how to get Etihad Guest Gold Status here. Read about Etihad Guest Platinum benefits here.