This post outlines the main benefits of earning Platinum Tier status in Etihad Guest.
Platinum is one of the four main tiers in Etihad Guest, the frequent flyer loyalty programme of Etihad Airways. The four tiers are Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Read about what you must do to earn Etihad Guest Platinum Tier status here.
There is also Emerald, a special tier for individuals who spend over $150,000 with Etihad every year.
As the top regular elite tier in Etihad Guest, Platinum status provides the most extensive perks and benefits.
It takes a lot of flying to get Platinum status. Unlike Silver and Gold status, there is no fast-track option via a co-brand bank card. However, you can accelerate your journey to Platinum by earning up to 50,000 Tier Miles from credit card spend.
How do benefits on Etihad Guest work?
Etihad Guest is unusual in that status benefits are divided into three categories. The three categories are:
- Core Benefits
- Custom Benefits
- Beyond Benefits
Core Benefits are offered automatically to every member with a particular tier status.
Custom Benefits are personalised benefits. Once a year, members can select their favourite benefits from a menu of options.
Silver Tier members can choose two perks, Gold Tier members can choose four, and Platinum Tier members can select five benefits.
You must choose your Custom Benefits within 30 days of attaining or renewing a tier. If you do not make a selection, then default benefits will kick in.
Once you make your Custom Benefit choices, they can not be changed until your next renewal.
Beyond Benefits are perks that become available to select when members hit certain Tier Mile thresholds between tiers.
Core Benefits for Etihad Guest Platinum Tier
The Core Benefits for Platinum Tier members are:
- Earn 100% bonus Etihad Guest Miles on every flight with Etihad Airways
- Dedicated First Class check-in area in Abu Dhabi
- Priority check-in worldwide
- Priority boarding
- Priority baggage handling
- Fast-track immigration where available
- Free standard seat selection for the member plus three guests in Economy
- Free chat and wifi onboard
- Etihad Chauffeur for GuestSeat Business and First bookings
- Guaranteed Seat in Economy (24 hours prior)
- Guaranteed Seat in Business (48 hours prior)
- Nominate a family member or friend for Etihad Guest Gold status
- Membership extension (Once in a lifetime)
- Custom Etihad Guest number (Once in a lifetime)
- Tier buyback for 150,000 Guest Miles (Co-brand cards only)
- Access to Business Class lounges for the member plus one guest
- Access to the US Preclearance Lounge in Abu Dhabi
Custom Benefits for Etihad Guest Platinum Tier
Platinum Tier members can choose five Custom Benefits from a list of nine options. The current choices are:
- Access to the First Class in Abu Dhabi for the member plus one guest
- Extra baggage allowance of 20 kg
- Complimentary upgrade on eligible routes (twice per year)
- Extra legroom seat selection in Economy for the member plus three guests
- Same-day change (eligible routes only)
- Etihad Chauffeur on Economy Class bookings (twice per year)
- Refund of GuestSeat bookings (twice per year)
- Home check-in in Abu Dhabi (four times per year)
- Reward shop vouchers (six vouchers)
Default Benefits for Platinum Tier Members
You must make Custom Benefit choices within 30 days of attaining or renewing a tier. If you do not, default benefits will kick in. The default tier benefits for Etihad Guest Platinum members are:
- First Class Lounge access for the member plus one guest
- Extra baggage allowance of 20 kg
- Refund of GuestSeat bookings twice per year
- Extra legroom seat selection in Economy for the member plus three guests
Beyond Benefits for Etihad Guest Platinum Tier
The Beyond Benefits for Platinum Tier kick in when the member earns 175,000 Tier Miles. At this threshold, they can select two options from the following three choices:
- Three Business Class Lounge passes
- Three Priority Access passes
- 20,000 Bonus Etihad Guest Miles
The complete Etihad Guest Platinum Tier benefits list is available on Etihad Guest here.
Informal Platinum Tier benefits onboard
I no longer have Platinum status. However, I spent a few years with Platinum Guest and noticed several unwritten benefits. This was most obvious when flying in Economy.
Generally, regardless of where I was seated in the cabin, the crew would take my meal order first and then deliver it with the special meals at the start of the meal service.
It was also common to be approached by a crew member after boarding was complete to be offered a better seat in the cabin, such as a bulkhead or an empty row to myself. With the focus on monetising seat selection, I am not sure that would still happen today.
Platinum benefits on other airlines
Unfortunately, Etihad Airways is not part of any global airline alliances, so you will not automatically receive elite benefits on other airlines. However, some airline partners recognise Etihad Guest Platinum Tier status and offer specific benefits to travellers. You can find more information on which airlines offer benefits to Etihad Guest elites here.
Is Etihad Guest Platinum Tier worth it?
The significant difference compared to Etihad Guest Gold status is access to the First Class lounge in Abu Dhabi, the option to nominate a family member or friend for Gold status the first time you attain Platinum and complimentary extra legroom seat selection when travelling Economy.
The main advantage of the First Class Lounge at Abu Dhabi is how quiet and serene the space can be compared to the Business Class Lounge and the availability of a la Carte dining.
If you travel in Economy with any frequency, the ability to reserve extra legroom seats for free could also save you thousands of dirhams every year.
If you are tempted to aim for Platinum Tier, read what you need to do to earn it here.
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