Imagine needing to fly to Sydney with no available flights. Normally this is every traveller’s nightmare, but for some Emirates flyers magic is possible. With just a single call, your Emirates personal relationship manager secures a first–class seat on a fully booked flight, arranging a private chauffeur to take you straight to the airport.
Upon arriving, a staff member personally whisks you to the first–class lounge, bypassing usual check–in and security procedures. And with just a mere 35 minutes before take– off, your private limousine pulls up outside and takes you straight to the plane. Greeted by a flight attendant by name, you’re offered your favourite meal, tailored just for you.
Welcome to iO — the invitation only super premium service for Emirates VIP passengers that most of the airline staff or pilots don’t even know about themselves. “I had no idea it existed”, confirmed a former Emirates pilot, who flew for the airline for over five years. With no mention of the service on Emirates’ website, there’s a great deal of speculation about what this elusive tier offers.
What is the iO Membership Status?
Emirates may not readily divulge information about their invitation–only membership tier and are reluctant to speak about it when asked. While an Emirates spokesperson confirmed the existence of this exclusive tier, they declined to share any specific details, citing the need to “protect the privacy of the members and the integrity of the program”.
Despite the veil of secrecy surrounding iO, we were able to uncover some intriguing details for the curious minds.
The membership of this elite club is restricted to a mere 300 individuals across the globe, each of whom is personally handpicked and endorsed by the President of Emirates himself. It is speculated that this exclusive group includes high–profile figures, such as A–list celebrities and politicians, but the identities of these members remain known to only a select few within Emirates. For Platinum members, eager to discover the privileges that lie beyond their current membership tier, we have gathered some valuable information that you ought to know.
How do you qualify for membership?
Sadly it is not possible to upgrade to iO using your tier miles. Even if you’ve managed to collect over 200,000 tier miles in a year, spending more time in the air won’t grant you an invitation. To be considered, Platinum members should follow these steps:
Spend money with Emirates Group: iO membership is reserved for Emirates’ most frequent and valued flyers. To be considered, it is essential to spend money with the Emirates Group. Interestingly, there’s been cases reported where some travellers with lower tier miles have earned iO status, while others with substantially more points did not. Why? Because they didn’t meet the spending requirements.
According to sources, the eligibility criteria requires a robust travel history of at least 50 trips per year, with flights taken in premium cabins such as business or first class. Alternatively, the program is open to high–ranking executives, such as CEOs and company directors, whose organisations have a substantial travel budget and spends upwards of $1 million on a yearly basis with the airline.
Build strong relationships with the airline: Loyalty gets you priority. If you meet the spending requirements and frequently use Emirates services, it will propel your chances for consideration. Establishing a strong commercial relationship with the airline will also get you a long way. According to sources, Emirates’ main office holds the authority to recommend potential candidates for an invitation.
What happens when you’re invited?
Becoming an iO member is not just about gaining access to exclusive travel benefits. It’s an experience in and of itself. Upon approval, Emirates goes above and beyond to make new members feel valued. Guests are greeted with a bespoke welcome package.
According to reports, the package contains an exclusive enrolment card, a new Mont Blanc wallet, an extra gold card for any chosen individual, and a personalized welcome letter, all of which are hand–delivered to the member’s doorstep. The iO membership card is valid for two years, subject to a review process for renewal, which is conducted three months before the card expires.
What are the perks?
With round–the–clock access to a private relationship manager, iO members and up to 10 guests can rely on personalized assistance for any travel– related task. Whether it’s arranging a private chauffeur or last–minute travel bookings, the relationship manager ensures that members get what they need. iO cardholders have priority wait listing, upgrades, and always have an available seat on overbooked flights. Members have shared that non iO members will get bumped from first–class to business class if the iO member prefers to get upgraded on a fully booked flight.
iO members can expect top–notch customer service as they navigate the world of luxury travel. “It’s amazing”, said one iO passenger who flew from Dubai to São Paolo using iO membership perks. “They escorted me out of the plane before any other passenger, got me a car from the aircraft, and booked me a helicopter to take me to the centre of São Paulo”, the iO passenger confirmed.
Before any flight, Emirates staff goes above and beyond to provide a personal service. “I was really surprised by the service”, said an iO passenger. “When I was back in Dubai, they asked me if I had any favourite restaurants that I would like to eat on the plane”, the passenger elaborated.
Although eating from your favourite restaurant may not be available on every iO flight, members can request any meal of their liking, and the airline will ensure that it is prepared accordingly.
It doesn’t stop there. Members have the flexibility to board the plane at their convenience, either choosing to embark immediately after the airline crew for a head start or have the pilot hold the plane for a few extra minutes if they are running late.
Upon arrival, iO members receive a premium experience with a standby chauffeur to drive them from the plane, if it is parked at a remote bay, and the VVIP concierge service will handle immigration paperwork and any VAT returns as needed.
Apart from travel arrangements and logistics, Emirates offers additional privileges to iO members, including complimentary tickets to sporting events that are sponsored by the airline. These events cover a wide range of activities, from F1 and football games to golf tournaments and festivals.
The Skywards Platinum card is typically sufficient for key benefits, such as lounge privileges, priority queueing, and personalized welcome aboard an Emirates flight. For those lucky enough to get invited beyond platinum, iO members get the flight experience money can’t buy — at least not directly.
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