This post outlines the steps you need to take to get Etihad Guest Platinum Tier status.
Platinum is one of four tiers in the Etihad Guest, the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways. The four tiers are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum.
The Bronze Tier 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.
Platinum is the top published tier in Etihad Guest and has the most perks and benefits.
Explaining Guest Miles vs Tier Miles
Members of Etihad Guest collect both Guest Miles and Tier Miles. Guest Miles can be redeemed 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 Platinum Tier status, you need to either:
- Earn 125,000 Tier Miles over a rolling 12-month period, or
- Fly 60 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 over 18 return flights between Abu Dhabi and London in Economy or more than 12 in Business to earn Platinum 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 30 return flights in Economy or 15 in Business to attain Platinum status.
Check the Etihad Guest Miles calculator to confirm how many Tier Miles and Tier Segments you earn on a particular flight.
Unfortunately, Etihad Guest redemption bookings will not earn any tier points. However, part pay with miles should earn Guest Miles and Tier Miles.
Maintaining Platinum Tier Status
Your Etihad Guest 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 Platinum status, you will need:
- 100,000 Tier Miles in a rolling 12-month period, or
- 48 Tier segments in a rolling 12-month period
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. Your perks include:
- Earn 75% bonus Guest Miles on every flight with Etihad Airways (and a handful of partner airlines)
- Etihad Chauffeur on Business and First Class reward bookings
- Dedicated First Class check-in area in Abu Dhabi
- Priority check-in worldwide
- Fast-track immigration and baggage handling
- Priority boarding
- Reserve up to nine standard economy seats for free
- Reserve one extra legroom seat for free
- 50% discount on extra legroom seats for up to nine guest
- Access to the First Class lounge in Abu Dhabi for self plus one guest
- Access to premium lounges worldwide for self plus one guest
- Complimentary excess baggage allowance (20 kgs on weight routes and one extra bag on piece concept routes)
- Nominate a family member or friend for Etihad Guest Gold status for one year
Read 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, there is nothing left to achieve; you’ve reached the top tier in Etihad Guest. Or have you? Etihad Airways actually has an invitation-only tier above Platinum called Exclusive. However, you’re only likely to get the invite if you’re the CEO or Chair of a firm spending a significant amount with Etihad.
If Platinum doesn’t suit you, consider the tier below, Etihad Guest Gold.