How to earn Emirates Skywards status

What are the Emirates Skywards tiers?

Emirates Skywards has four membership tiers, each with increasing benefits, and Emirates publishes the Tier Miles needed to reach the next one. [2] The thresholds and headline benefits below are the ones Emirates listed as of 18 October 2026. [2]

Emirates also sells the card route to status: paying for everyday purchases with an Emirates Skywards co-branded card can earn Tier Miles, and a new Mastercard, once approved, can come with Gold or Silver tier membership for one year. [7] Holders of Skywards+ Premium get 20% more Tier Miles during their subscription period. [2]

Tier Miles vs Skywards Miles: what is the difference?

Skywards Miles are the spendable currency: Emirates says you can use them for reward flights and upgrades on its own flights, with flydubai and with partners, and that they are valid for three years. [1] Tier Miles are the status currency: they are what Emirates counts when it decides whether you keep your current tier or reach the next one. [2] [7]

Tier Miles are calculated at the same rate as Skywards Miles, taking into account the fare you paid, the route and the class of travel. [2] Tier Miles can be earned mainly on Emirates flights, flydubai flights, and codeshare flights marketed by Emirates but operated by another airline. [2] On Emirates and flydubai flights, every fare type in every cabin earns both kinds of Miles, with the amount depending on the fare. [7]

Holding status does not multiply Tier Miles. Emirates says Silver, Gold and Platinum members do not earn additional Tier Miles for being in those tiers; extra Tier Miles come from travelling in Business or First Class or choosing a Flex or Flex Plus fare. [2] What status does multiply is Skywards Miles: Silver members earn 30% bonus Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights, Gold 75% and Platinum 100%. [2] [7]

How is Emirates Skywards status reviewed each year?

A new tier is held for 12 months. Emirates says your first tier review takes place 12 months after you move into a new tier, and during that review period you need to have met the Tier Miles for the tier you hold: 25,000 for Silver, 50,000 for Gold, or 150,000 plus at least one qualifying First or Business Class flight for Platinum. [2] Meet the requirement and you retain the status; fall short and you are downgraded. [2] Each time your tier is reviewed and retained, the next review is scheduled automatically 12 months from the date you qualified. [2]

Moving up is assessed continuously rather than once a year. Emirates checks whether you are ready for the next tier every time you earn Tier Miles, so you may be assessed several times a year, and the test is whether you have earned enough Tier Miles in the last 12 months — your assessment period. [2] There is no application: Emirates moves you up automatically once the Tier Miles are there, and your My Overview page shows your tier and key review dates. [2]

Platinum comes with privileges that members activate from their account, including Tier Miles Rollover, discounted upgrades and complimentary upgrades; Emirates directs members to the My account page for the details. [2]

What lounge access and upgrades do Skywards tiers include?

Lounge access. Silver members get complimentary Emirates Business Class lounge access for themselves in Dubai, while Platinum members get complimentary access for themselves and their guests in all Emirates First Class and Business Class lounges in Dubai and worldwide. [2] Depending on your tier, you can also invite guests travelling on the same flight into the lounge using a complimentary guest access entitlement or by purchasing additional lounge access. [2] The Emirates lounge page covers the lounges themselves.

Upgrades and airport service. Blue members can use Skywards Miles for instant upgrades at check-in or on board, and can request instant upgrade rewards with Skywards Miles for companions on the same flight. [2] Platinum adds complimentary Home check-in in Dubai, First Class check-in at the airport and baggage delivery. [2] Gold members get complimentary Economy Class seat selection for themselves and passengers in their booking, and Platinum members can pass Gold tier membership to a spouse, partner or friend. [2] How the upgrades are priced and requested is set out in the Skywards upgrade awards guide.

flydubai and partner flying. Skywards members earn Skywards Miles and Tier Miles on flydubai flights and get benefits including up to 100% bonus Miles, up to 20 kg extra baggage allowance and priority baggage delivery depending on tier; travelling companions of Platinum members may also get priority baggage delivery, subject to availability. [2] On the joint Emirates–Qantas network, members continue to receive their Emirates Skywards tier privileges, and Emirates advises booking flights with an EK flight number to keep collecting Tier Miles. [5]

Exceptions and limits

• Platinum has two conditions. 150,000 Tier Miles alone is not enough: at least one qualifying flight in First Class or Business Class is also required, a condition Emirates dates to 1 April 2023. [2]
• The card route is market-specific. As of 18 October 2026, the Tier Miles offer on Emirates Skywards co-branded cards was available for select cards in the USA only. [1] [2] [7]
• Same cabin, different earnings. Because the fare type and route feed the calculation as well as the class of travel, two passengers in the same cabin on the same route can earn different numbers of Tier Miles. [2] [7]
• Quote your number at the right moment. Emirates says you must choose the programme you want to earn with at reservation or check-in, and that the membership number cannot be changed once you have checked in for the first flight of an itinerary. [7] On the Emirates–Qantas network, Emirates adds that the number cannot be amended once you have checked in or completed your travel. [5]
• Spendable Miles run on their own timetable. Emirates currently expires Skywards Miles three years after they are earned, rounded to the end of the member's birth month; from 1 June 2027, Miles will be valid for three years from the flight or partner activity date rounded to the end of the month, a change that applies to Miles earned from that date and does not affect Miles already in the account. [1] [6] This expiry rule concerns Skywards Miles, not the 12-month tier review. [2] [6]
• On the joint Emirates–Qantas network, tier privileges continue. Members continue to receive their Emirates Skywards tier privileges, and Emirates advises booking an EK flight number to keep collecting Tier Miles. [5]

Frequently asked questions

How many Tier Miles do you need for Silver, Gold and Platinum?

Silver requires 25,000 Tier Miles, Gold 50,000, and Platinum 150,000 plus at least one qualifying flight in First or Business Class. [2] Blue is the entry tier and needs no Tier Miles at all. [2]

How long do you keep a new Emirates Skywards tier?

Emirates gives you your membership privileges for 12 months after you achieve the next tier, and then reviews you against the same Tier Miles threshold. [2] Retain the tier and the next review is scheduled 12 months from the date you qualified. [2]

Do you earn Tier Miles on partner airlines?

Tier Miles can be earned mainly on Emirates flights, flydubai flights, and codeshare flights marketed by Emirates but operated by another airline. [2] On the joint Emirates–Qantas network, booking the Emirates flight number is what keeps Tier Miles collecting. [5] The partner earning guide covers the airline, hotel and card partners.

Does Silver status include lounge access?

Yes, in Dubai: Silver members get complimentary Emirates Business Class lounge access for themselves in Dubai. [2] Platinum extends complimentary access to guests and to Emirates First and Business Class lounges in Dubai and worldwide. [2]

Can you give Emirates Skywards status to someone else?

Platinum members can give Gold tier membership to a spouse, partner or friend. [2] Members can also use Skywards Miles to request instant upgrades for companions travelling on the same flight. [2]

Related pages

Start with Start here: Emirates Skywards and the Emirates Skywards programme page. Also useful: Emirates lounges, Skywards upgrade awards, Skywards partner earning, Emirates Skywards vs Etihad Guest, and the frequent flyer glossary.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. This guide covers Emirates Skywards only; other airline and hotel programmes, including Etihad Guest, are not covered here.

1. Emirates Skywards loyalty programme overview, checked 18 October 2026
2. Emirates Skywards membership tiers and tier review questions, checked 18 October 2026
3. Emirates Skywards membership benefits, including the Emirates–Qantas network, checked 18 October 2026
4. Emirates Skywards programme updates: Skywards Miles expiry policy change, checked 18 October 2026
5. Emirates Skywards earn Miles page, including Tier Miles and tier bonus Miles, checked 18 October 2026