Emirates Skywards Gold lounge guest privileges return Wednesday
By John Walton, February 25 2013
Emirates' Skywards frequent flyers holding a Gold membership card but flying economy will be able to bring guests into the Emirates Lounges worldwide from this Wednesday, 27 February, the airline confirms.
Golds will also have guesting privileges at the Emirates businesss class lounges in Dubai's Concourse A, B and C.
Last April, the airline suspended "guesting" privileges for its Gold frequent flyers travelling in economy, with cardholders only allowed to bring a guest when in business or first class.
But Emirates revealed the restoration of guest access to Australian Business Traveller earlier this month in an interview with Brian LaBelle, Emirates' Senior Vice President for Skywards, as the airline announced its new Platinum frequent flyer tier.
"What we removed last year was the guest [privilege] for Gold members travelling in economy class," LaBelle explains. "And, yes, we will be reinstating that."
The Dubai lounge was rarely this empty — and that was the problem.
"The reason we did that was only because the lounges were not able to sustain that capacity and we had to find some way to be able to offer the right kind of capacity to business class customers."
"So, very reluctantly, we had to take that step. But now that the Concourse A [in DXB Terminal 3 has opened], with the expansion of the lounge facilities in Dubai, we will be reinstating that benefit."
The new Concourse A is a truly enormous space, with some truly enormous lounges — including the impressive First Class lounge, which Emirates' newly-created Platinum frequent flyers will be able to use from 1 April.
Be the first to know: follow Australian Business Traveller on Twitter — we're @AusBT.
Aviation journalist and travel columnist John took his first long-haul flight when he was eight weeks old and hasn't looked back since. Well, except when facing rearwards in business class.
24 Oct 2011
Total posts 160
if only the abu dhabi airport corporation would allow etihad to expands its lounge.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
Will EK Gold and EK Platinum have access to the QF Business and First lounges respectively? I have not seen that they will get access and wondered about it, if they will it might get very crowded in especially the First class lounges in SYD / MEL as they are a cut above the EK lounge (which in my opinion is better than QF Biz and as a QFF Gold you can access the EK lounge in Syd or MEL which is good news).
03 Jan 2011
Total posts 665
Yep — full lounge reciprocity between the precious metals.
In Sydney and Melbourne, I expect business class passengers to make a beeline for the Emirates lounges, with first class passengers heading for Qantas.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
Am fearing the same. it could get crowded in the QF First lounge, hope they can cope with the additional influx of passengers!
03 Jan 2011
Total posts 665
I really don't think the problem will be in the Qantas lounge — frankly, a few Emirates first class passengers in the morning and late evening shouldn't tip the scales in any direction.
I'd be more concerned about the state of the Emirates lounge, which is smaller and will be open to more people.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
I am thinking that business men flying Ek regularly from EMEA to Australia are likely to be platinum and thus also get access to the F lounge. Have no figures of course on how many Platinums EK has, but looking at the flights EK has (including the Trans Tasman routes) it could add up if they can make use of the lounge.
The EK lounge is rather small and QF gold members will definitely head there (if they are aware of the lounge and that they have access), so I share your concern on this lounge as well.
03 Jan 2011
Total posts 665
Platinum Figures? Emirates let slip: 5500 worldwide from a base of 110k Golds and 8.6m Skywards members. 1m Skywards members in Australia total. So, finger in air, divide 5500 by 9? Roughly 600 Australian Skywards Platinums, a mere drop in the ocean compared with Qantas. :)
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
How many of the 4900 platinums worldwide will visit Australia though John? ;)
Hi Guest, join in the discussion on Emirates Skywards Gold lounge guest privileges return Wednesday