Emirates credit cards: what's the difference between premium status and what customers should know

Passengers who frequently fly with Emirates can apply for a special Emirates Skywards credit card. It allows you to take advantage of various bonuses.

However, you should be aware of the pitfalls. Gobankingrates warns about seven things you need to know before using a credit card.

1. There are 2 Emirates Skywards credit cards

If you want to apply for an Emirates Skywards credit card, you have the following options:

• Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard
• Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard

The Emirates Skywards Premium credit card has an annual fee of $499, while the annual fee for the Emirates Skywards Rewards credit card is a much more modest $99.

2. Both cards offer upgraded status for the first year

One of the biggest benefits of having a Premium or Rewards Emirates Skywards credit card is that you automatically get an upgraded status within the first year. With the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard, you'll be upgraded to Gold, while the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard is Silver.

Benefits offered by silver and gold statuses:

- Bonus Skywards miles when flying with Emirates

- Free seat selection

- Ability to spend miles on instant upgrades at check-in

- Priority boarding and check-in

- Baggage allowance by weight

These benefits are exclusive to Gold tier status:

- Guaranteed economy class seats on fully booked Emirates flights

- Baggage allowance per piece

- Free access to selected lounges around the world

- Priority baggage delivery

- Invitations to exclusive events sponsored by Emirates

3. Rewards are equal

If you need either Emirates Skywards card solely for the rewards you can earn, you'll get the same number of miles on either card.

4. Both cards offer bonus miles

As well as earning up to 3 miles per $1, you'll also get tens of thousands of bonus miles on either Emirates Skywards credit card. The Premium card offers 40,000 miles, while the Rewards card gives new cardholders 30,000 bonus miles.

5. Additional bonuses are available with the Emirates Skywards premium card

The Emirates Skywards Premium card provides free access to the Priority Pass Select lounge and waivers of Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fees.

6. You get a discount when you buy or give miles

Both cards offer a 25% discount on Skywards purchases on the Emirates website, including when you gift Skywards miles.

7. Both cards offer discounts on tickets

Another benefit of both Emirates Skywards cards is that you'll get a discount on airfare.

You can save up to USD 99 on up to four economy or business class tickets with the Rewards card, which means up to USD 396 in possible savings.

With the Premium card, you can save up to US$499 on up to four Emirates ticket purchases, totalling up to US$1,966.