UPDATED: How do I get Etihad Guest Platinum Tier status?

This post outlines the steps you need to take to earn Etihad Guest Platinum Tier status.

Platinum is one of four main tiers in Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways. The four tiers 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 offering increasing benefits and privileges as you move up the ranks.

Platinum is the highest regular tier in Etihad Guest and has the most perks and benefits.

However, there is also Emerald, a special tier for individuals who spend over $150,000 with Etihad every year.

Explaining Guest Miles vs Tier Miles

Members of Etihad Guest collect both Guest Miles and Tier Miles. Guest Miles can be earned flying on Etihad Airway and with over 20 other partner airlines.

Those Etihad Guest Miles can be redeemed to book reward flights on Etihad Airways and over 20+ 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 Platinum Tier status, you need to:

Earn 125,000 Tier Miles over a rolling 12-month period, AND
Earn at least 40,000 of those Tier Miles from flying

Qualifying flights are:

Any Etihad Airways-operated flights.
Certain flights on a handful of partner airlines also earn Tier Miles. The four airlines are Air Serbia, Virgin Australia (Until 31 May 2025), Gulf Air and Saudia.

You can no longer earn or retain PlatinumTier status simply from spending on credit cards.

Maintaining Platinum Tier Status

Your Etihad Guest Tier status is valid for one year from the month of the Tier upgrade.

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

100,000 Tier Miles in a rolling 12-month period, AND
Earn at least 40,000 of those Tier Miles from flying

How are Tier Miles calculated?

Tier Miles are calculated based on a combination of distance, cabin and fare class. This means that the most expensive Economy fare earns more Tier Miles than the cheapest Business Class fare.

For example, on a one-way flight between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow, you will earn the following Tier Miles for each fare type:

525 Tier Miles in Economy Basic
1,225 Tier Miles in Economy Value
2,625 Tier Miles in Economy Comfort
4,375 Tier Miles in Economy Deluxe
3,500 Tier Miles in Business Value
7,000 Tier Miles in Business Comfort
8,750 Tier Miles in Business Deluxe
10,5000 Tier Miles in First Class

The number of Tier Miles you will earn for a particular fare type is shown clearly during the booking process.

How many Etihad Guest Tier Miles will I earn?

The number of return flights you require to earn Platinum status will vary greatly depending on the fare class purchased. It would take 119 return trips in Economy Basic but only 7.5 in Business Deluxe.

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

Accelerate your path to Etihad Guest Platinum Tier status with a bank card

Several co-brand credit cards issued in the UAE include complimentary Etihad Guest Gold Tier status as a perk. Unfortunately, there is currently no card offering Platinum status. Why not? I suspect it would be too popular and overwhelm the First Class lounge in Abu Dhabi.

However, some co-brand bank cards include earning Etihad Guest Tier Miles as a benefit. In fact, it is possible to earn up to 50,000 Tier Miles per year from card spend. That is more than a third of what you need to qualify for Platinum in the first place and half the requirement for renewal.

The list of co-brand bank cards that earn Tier Miles can be found here.

What are the benefits of Etihad Guest Platinum?

Once you fulfil the requirements above, you will be upgraded to Platinum. To have come this far, you must have spent a lot of time flying. The benefits for Platinum members make that time more comfortable.

Etihad Guest elite benefits are now divided into Core, Custom and Beyond categories.

The Core Benefits for Platinum Tier members include:

100% Bonus Guest Miles
First Class check-in
Priority boarding and fast-track immigration
Complimentary stand seat selection for member plus three guests
Free chat + wifi onboard
Etihad Chauffeur for GuestSeat Business and First bookings
Gold Tier nomination
Custom Etihad Guest number
Business Class lounge access for self and one guest

Platinum Tier members can choose five Custom Benefits from a menu of options that includes:

First Class lounge access for member plus one guest
Extra baggage allowance of 20 kg
Complimentary upgrade on select routes
Extra legroom seat selection for member and three guests
Etihad chauffeur for Economy Class bookings
Refund on GuestSeat bookings
Home check-in
Reward Shop vouchers

Additional Beyond Benefits can be selected after earning 175,000 Tier Points.

Read all about Etihad Guest Platinum benefits here.

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.

What’s next?

Once you have attained Platinum, nothing is left to achieve; you’ve reached the top tier in Etihad Guest. Or have you? Etihad Airways has an exclusive tier above Platinum called Emerald. However, to secure an invite to Emerald, you must spend $150,000 with Etihad annually.

If the criteria to earn Platinum looks steep, read what you need to do to earn Etihad Guest Tier status.