Convert MilesHow It WorksOur RatesSell PointsGuides

Skywards membership tiers · Tier points per flight

Emirates Skywards elite status explained

Emirates Skywards status runs on Tier Miles, earned almost entirely by flying Emirates and flydubai. Silver takes 25,000 Tier Miles, Gold 50,000 and Platinum 150,000 plus at least one Business or First Class flight, all within a 12-month tier period.

Emirates is not in an alliance, so status is recognised only on Emirates, flydubai and bilateral partners such as Qantas and Air Canada. The tier benefits are strongest in Dubai, where Gold and Platinum unlock the Emirates Business and First Class lounges.

Written and reviewed by the Points Plug team. Last reviewed .

Redeemable miles versus Tier Miles

What you spend

Miles

The balance that books award flights, upgrades and other rewards. See how to earn them and what they are worth.

What counts toward status

Tier Miles

A separate counter that decides your tier. You cannot spend it on flights or rewards.

Skywards Miles are what you spend on reward flights, upgrades and lounge access; Tier Miles only decide your tier and can never be redeemed, bought or transferred. Emirates calculates Tier Miles at the same rate as base Skywards Miles, from the fare paid, the route and the cabin.

The two split in three places. Your tier bonus (30% for Silver, 75% for Gold, 100% for Platinum) is paid in Skywards Miles only, so elites earn more spendable miles but no extra Tier Miles. Partner airline flights, hotels, shopping and most card spending give Skywards Miles but no Tier Miles (select US co-brand cards are the exception). And reward tickets earn neither.

Worked example with a round figure: a Gold member flies an Emirates ticket that earns 10,000 base Skywards Miles. They receive 10,000 Tier Miles toward the 50,000 needed to keep Gold, and 10,000 + 7,500 (the 75% tier bonus) = 17,500 Skywards Miles to spend. A Blue member on the same ticket gets the same 10,000 Tier Miles but only 10,000 Skywards Miles. The Skywards Miles calculator gives the exact figure for a real route and fare.

Emirates Skywards tiers and what each one takes

TierTo qualifyBonus milesAlliance tier
Silver25,000 Tier Miles or 25 flights+30% on Emirates and flydubai flightsNone
Gold50,000 Tier Miles or 50 flights+75% on Emirates and flydubai flightsNone
Platinum150,000 Tier Miles + 1 premium flight+100% on Emirates and flydubai flightsNone

There is no calendar year. Tier Miles are valid for up to 13 months from the date you start earning them, and you move up as soon as you hit a threshold. The new tier runs from that date to the last day of the same month the following year (Gold reached on 1 November 2025 lasts to 30 November 2026), and each tier is then reviewed every 12 months.

Benefits of each Emirates Skywards tier

Silver

Earn 25,000 Tier Miles or take 25 qualifying flights on Emirates, flydubai or Emirates-marketed codeshares within the tier period.

  • 30% tier bonus Skywards Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights
  • Extra 12 kg of checked baggage on weight-concept routes
  • Dedicated Silver check-in in Area 6 of Dubai Terminal 3, and Business Class check-in at other airports
  • Priority boarding and priority baggage tagging
  • Free advance selection of standard seats
  • Access to First Class Classic Rewards, which have been limited to Silver, Gold and Platinum since 12 May 2025
  • Premium Economy check-in and 12 kg extra baggage on Qantas

Gold

Earn 50,000 Tier Miles or take 50 qualifying flights on Emirates, flydubai or Emirates-marketed codeshares within the tier period.

  • Emirates Business Class lounges in Dubai Terminal 3 and the flydubai Business lounge in Terminal 2, with one guest
  • Qantas Club and International Business lounges, and Air Canada Maple Leaf lounges in Toronto and Montreal, when flying those partners
  • Extra 16 kg on weight-concept routes, or one extra bag (23 kg in Economy, 32 kg in Business or First) on piece-concept routes such as the Americas
  • Business Class check-in at every Emirates airport
  • Free seat selection, including preferred seats, for you and the passengers on your booking
  • 75% tier bonus Skywards Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights
  • Reserved booking priority on sold-out flights when buying a Flex Plus fare with 48 hours notice

Platinum

Earn 150,000 Tier Miles and take at least one qualifying flight in Business or First Class within the tier period. There is no flight-count alternative.

  • Emirates First Class lounges and Qantas First lounges, with one adult and two children under 17 as guests
  • Extra 20 kg on weight-concept routes, or one extra bag on piece-concept routes
  • First Class check-in everywhere and complimentary home check-in in Dubai
  • Gold tier for a nominated spouse, partner or friend (Gold Partner) while you hold Platinum
  • Skywards Miles do not expire while you hold Platinum
  • Last Seat Flex Plus: redeem Miles for any Business or Economy seat still for sale
  • Exclusive Platinum Privileges you can activate, including Tier Miles Rollover and discounted or complimentary upgrades
  • Free full Wi-Fi in every cabin
  • 100% tier bonus Skywards Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights

How flights earn Tier Miles

  • Tier Miles are earned on flights with Emirates, flydubai and codeshare flights marketed by Emirates but operated by another airline. A Qantas flight with a QF number, or any other partner airline flight, earns Skywards Miles but no Tier Miles.
  • Silver and Gold can also be reached by counting qualifying flights instead: 25 for Silver and 50 for Gold. That route favours frequent short flights, where each flight earns few Tier Miles but counts as one full flight. Reward tickets and Cash+Miles tickets do not count as qualifying flights.
  • Select US co-brand cards now also earn Tier Miles on purchases, which Emirates describes as 1 Tier Mile for every 4 base Skywards Miles from card spend. Skywards+ Premium subscribers earn 20% more Tier Miles on flights while subscribed.
  • Paying cash to upgrade on board or at check-in does not change your earning: you receive Skywards Miles and Tier Miles for the cabin you originally ticketed.

How many miles each tier earns

  • Base Skywards Miles depend on route, cabin and fare brand (Special, Saver, Flex, Flex Plus), and the same figure is credited as Tier Miles. Tier members then add 30% (Silver), 75% (Gold) or 100% (Platinum) of the base Miles as bonus Skywards Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights.
  • A Platinum member therefore banks twice the Skywards Miles of a Blue member on the same ticket, though both earn identical Tier Miles.
  • Partner airline flights credit at the partner's own rate with no tier bonus. Classic Reward tickets earn no Skywards Miles or Tier Miles, and Cash+Miles tickets earn only on the cash portion.

Upgrades for Emirates Skywards elites

  • Emirates gives no complimentary upgrades for holding a tier; upgrades are bought with Skywards Miles, starting from 7,020 Miles. Platinum is the exception, with discounted or complimentary upgrades available as Exclusive Platinum Privileges under separate terms.
  • Flex and Flex Plus tickets can be upgraded online at any time up to six hours before departure for fewer Miles. Saver tickets can be upgraded only during online check-in, 48 to 6 hours before departure, for more Miles, and Special fares cannot be upgraded at all.
  • Miles upgrades apply only to Emirates-operated flights; codeshare, interline and partner-issued tickets are excluded. Instant upgrades with Miles or cash are also sold at check-in and on board, and can be bought for a companion.

Credit cards that help with Emirates Skywards status

  • The Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard from Barclays gives Emirates Gold tier for the first year, which you keep by spending US$40,000 each cardmembership year. It earns 3 Skywards Miles per dollar on Emirates, 2 on travel and 1 elsewhere, with 60,000 bonus Miles after US$3,000 in 90 days.
  • The Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard from Barclays gives Silver tier for the first year, retained by spending US$20,000 each cardmembership year, with 50,000 bonus Miles after US$3,000 in 90 days.
  • Emirates says select US co-brand cards now also earn Tier Miles on everyday purchases, at 1 Tier Mile per 4 base Skywards Miles. Cards issued outside the US (HSBC, Emirates NBD, ICICI and others) earn Skywards Miles only.

Fees, sign-up bonuses and every other benefit are compared in the Emirates Skywards credit cards guide.

Other ways to get Emirates Skywards status

Gold Partner nomination

A Platinum member can nominate another Skywards member for Gold, which lasts as long as the nominator keeps Platinum. The nominee can be changed on requalifying once the current partner finishes their tier cycle.

Co-brand card status

The US Barclays cards grant Gold (Premium card) or Silver (Rewards card) for the first year, renewable each year through card spend of US$40,000 or US$20,000.

Skywards+ subscription and promotions

Skywards+ Premium subscribers earn 20% more Tier Miles on flights. Emirates also runs campaigns such as the 2026 season of rewards, which paid 20% bonus Tier Miles on every Emirates and flydubai flight from 21 May to 31 August 2026.

No buying, match or lifetime status

Tier Miles cannot be bought or transferred, and tier status cannot be bought with Miles. Emirates publishes no status match, challenge or lifetime tier.

Keeping Emirates Skywards status

  • To keep a tier you repeat the same requirement within each 12-month tier period: 25,000 Tier Miles or 25 flights for Silver, 50,000 or 50 for Gold, and 150,000 plus a Business or First flight for Platinum.
  • Miss it and you drop one tier, so a lapsed Platinum becomes Gold. Surplus Tier Miles and flights do not carry into the next period, except through Tier Miles Rollover, which is an Exclusive Platinum Privilege.

Emirates Skywards status: FAQ

How many Tier Miles do I need for Emirates Gold?
Gold needs 50,000 Tier Miles, or 50 qualifying flights, within your 12-month tier period. The same target keeps Gold for another year, and only Emirates, flydubai and Emirates-marketed codeshare flights count.
What is the difference between Skywards Miles and Tier Miles?
Skywards Miles are redeemable for flights, upgrades and other rewards, and are earned from flying and many partners. Tier Miles only count toward status and are earned mainly on Emirates and flydubai flights. Your tier bonus adds Skywards Miles, not Tier Miles.
Do Qantas flights earn Emirates Tier Miles?
Only when the flight carries an Emirates (EK) flight number. A Qantas-coded flight earns Skywards Miles but no Tier Miles, so it does not help you reach Silver, Gold or Platinum.
Can I buy Emirates Skywards status?
No. Emirates says Tier Miles cannot be bought or transferred. The closest shortcuts are the US Barclays cards, which include a year of Silver or Gold, and a Platinum member nominating you as their Gold Partner.
Does Emirates Gold get lounge access?
Yes. Gold members use the Emirates Business Class lounges in Dubai Terminal 3 and the flydubai Business lounge in Terminal 2 with one guest, plus Qantas and Air Canada lounges when flying those partners. Platinum moves up to the Emirates First Class lounges.
Do Emirates elites get free upgrades?
No. Silver and Gold members pay for upgrades with Skywards Miles like anyone else. Platinum members can activate discounted or complimentary upgrades as Exclusive Platinum Privileges.
Do reward tickets count toward Emirates status?
No. Classic Reward tickets earn no Tier Miles and are excluded from the qualifying-flight count, and Cash+Miles tickets do not count as qualifying flights either.

Sources

More on Emirates Skywards