We’ve seen a trend whereby many airline frequent flyer programs have made it more difficult to earn status. That’s why it’s exciting to see an airline take the opposite approach.
Continue reading: Oman Air Makes It Easier To Earn Status
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
Am I missing something here? According to the chart, tier miles for both discounted and full-fare business credit at 200%. So flying 20k miles in business, regardless of discounted/full-fare will qualify for gold.
It's a shame they don't have any North America routes, or partner with any US-based airlines. Would've loved to try them on a trip home.
I think it's interesting to think of this as essentially offering their mid-tier status for one business class round-trip from Europe to Asia and top-tier for two round-trips. I would assume there is a large market of upper-middle class travelers in Europe taking one or two $2-3k business class trips to Asia each year, and this could sweeten the deal beyond Oman's great product. Another plus is that Gold status appears to include access to their incredible First Class lounge at MCT. "At the New Muscat International Airport Sindbad Gold members can enjoy the comfort of the Oman Air First and Business Class lounge." Their redemption rates don't seem terrible, but the value would of course depend on what award availability is like.
Gold status doesn't include access to the F lounge, just to the J side.
This is a fairly sensible move by WY at a time when all the other Middle Eastern airlines seem to be competing to make their loyalty programmes as unattractive as possible.
Doesn't their miles expire in 3 years regardless of activity? I normally don't credit flights to frequent flyer programs that have an expiration policy like that but... I do hope Sindbad would partner with Amex MR or Chase UR so I can transfer miles for a specific redemption.
I have started to use them a lot, ideally from Asia back to Europe. An excellent hard product, although the staff need more training and lack some warmth, they are friendly, but small details are missing.
I am planning to use my miles for the duty-free shop, you can get some excellent deals and very good value.
I've been Sindbad Silver for the past 4 years. It really is quite easy to gain with just one Europe-Asia trip in J. Their product is superb as is their new MCT hub. Just wish they would get their new spa open in the lounge in MCT.
@Lucky, if you get exactly 20,000, you are sliver and receive a 25% bonus so In Theory you only need 35,000 at the least.
Oman are great at status matching too, they matched my Etihad Silver status with their Gold Sindbab status. Doesn't really add much in business but great if flying economy!!
I am gold on and off for years @Oman it is easy to maintain besides my One World Emerald. However the 200% are on reward miles. Tier miles are credited differently. I.e eco brings 1/2 of the actual distance while biz gives 1/1 and first 1 1/2 of the actual miles. See there mileage calculator in the app and website , it shows you what you get. I regularly fly MUC to KUL and back and that gives 25k tiermiles, nothing new, same as what the calculator shows now. The Sinbad miles are the reward miles. So such a flight gives you silver only, not Gold. However except for the upgrade voucher and more miles there really isn't a big difference between gold and silver. The additional luggage allowance for one is the same.
Please ignore my comment from just now it is flawed, i just have checked my account, and indeed it is 200% , and it has been this way all the time. So the difference is they lowered it to 40k, but i think that's (not sure though) also for a while, that I see the 40K (maybe that was the re-qualifying) requirement in my account. But the Tier bonuses are only applicable to Sindbad miles not tier miles. I have to agree that the new Muscat Terminal is pretty good compared to the old one, but the lounge still is not up to Emirates or Cathay. In fact the vouchers aside , the accessing the First-class lounge with their highest tier status when flying business would actually be a noticeable benefit, as others said here, Gold make not much of a difference when flying Business.
Oman have just recently reduced the amount of tier points you receive. Last year I was getting 18,000 tier points RTN in R from CDG-BKK, this year I am getting 13500. Don’t be fooled by the 20,000 silver qualification either, because if you were sitting on 18000 tier points for example and then flew again any tier points you earn above the 20000 threshold is lost and the clock is then reset at zero. Hence your extra points do not get carried across to reach Gold.