More Elite Points earning, but harder requirement. Who wins, and who loses?
Enrich just made its biggest change in years. You can read the official announcement here. And it’s not just a small tweak. More Elite Points to earn, yes, but also higher walls to climb.
We have many Enrich Elites hanging out in our BolehMiles Telegram group who wants to maintain their status, and plenty more who are gunning for that shiny Gold or Platinum tag.
Here’s the breakdown and our thoughts on the changes.
Higher Elite Points Earnings
| Zone | Miles | Economy | Business | Business Suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | <500 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Zone 2 | 501 – 1200 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
| Zone 3 | 1201 – 2200 | 3 | 5 | 6 |
| Zone 4 | 2201 – 3500 | 4 | 6 | 8 |
| Zone 5 | 3501 – 5500 | 6 | 8 | 10 |
| Zone 6 | 5501 – 8000 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Zone 7 | >8001 | 8 | 10 | 12 |
| Zone | Miles | Economy | Business | Business Suite |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Zone 1 | <500 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Zone 2 | 501 – 1200 | 2 | 4 (+33%) | 6 (+50%) |
| Zone 3 | 1201 – 2200 | 4 (+33%) | 6 (+20%) | 8 (+33%) |
| Zone 4 | 2201 – 3500 | 6 (+50%) | 10 (+67%) | 12 (+50%) |
| Zone 5 | 3501 – 5500 | 8 (+33%) | 12 (+50%) | 16 (+60%) |
| Zone 6 | 5501 – 8000 | 10 (+25%) | 15 (+50%) | 20 (+67%) |
| Zone 7 | >8001 | 10 (+25%) | 15 (+50%) | 20 (+67%) |
Note: When flying with oneworld member airlines, Premium Economy is treated as Economy, and First Class as Business Suite for Elite Points calculation.
The number of Elite Points earned on paid flights will increase across all zones except Zone 1.
This update mainly benefits revenue tickets from Zone 3 onwards. Zone 4 (Japan, North China and India) appears to be the sweet spot for this update, offering the biggest boost (+67% for Business and +50% for Economy) in Elite Points earning.
The change doesn’t benefit domestic Economy flights at all. For example, flying KUL–KCH–KUL on MH (Zone 2) or hopping PEN-LGK-PEN on Firefly (Zone 1) frequently will still earn the same number of Elite Points as before.
Higher Qualification Threshold
| Elite Status | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| For 2026 Qualification | 30 | 60 | 100 |
| For 2027 Qualification | 35 (+17%) | 70 (+17%) | 140 (+40%) |
Malaysia Airlines says the updated Elite Points requirements are meant to “better reflect your travel patterns and engagement with the Enrich programme.” This is a corporate spin which really means: “We’ve raised the bar for Enrich Platinum”
With a 40% jump in Elite Points needed, Enrich Platinum is now much harder to reach. Enrich Gold, on the other hand, gets only a modest 17% increase.
Note that the increase takes effect on 1 January 2026, which means you’ll need to earn more Elite Points in 2026 to qualify for Enrich Elite status in 2027.
Increased Enrich Points Earnings
| Tier | Blue | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flights flown by 31 December 2025 | 1.5 MPR | 1.6 MPR | 2.0 MPR | 2.2 MPR |
| Flights flown from 1 January 2026 onwards | 1.5 MPR | 1.8 MPR (+13%) | 2.2 MPR (+10%) | 2.5 MPR (+14%) |
You now earn more Enrich Points per ringgit spent on paid flight tickets (this includes the fuel surcharge YQ).
This is a welcome improvement, though not exactly game-changing. Malaysia Airlines has also offered boosted earnings for AmBank Enrich Visa cardholders during MATTA Fairs (held twice in 2025), with the most recent promotion giving 3.5 MPR for AmBank Enrich Visa Infinite cardholders.
Our take on the changes
Enrich was recently rated the best frequent flyer program (FFP) in Asia Pacific, largely because of how easy it was to earn status.
Despite the changes, we think Enrich Gold is still the easiest Oneworld Sapphire to earn worldwide, and it is now the smarter choice, a better return for your effort, especially if the Enrich Gold Fast Track Promo returns in 2026.
For Enrich Platinum (Oneworld Emerald), it is now tougher but still attainable, especially with the 30% Elite Points discount from the AmBank Enrich Visa. For frequent travelers on company sponsored trips, it should still be within reach.
So with all that said, what should you do if you’re still aiming for Enrich Platinum or Gold?
Ambank Enrich Visa Is a Must
As mentioned in our review of Ambank Enrich Visa, the Visa Platinum version is a no-brainer to get. It’s free for life and includes 4x access to the Golden Lounge, regardless of your Enrich status. Most importantly, it gives you 30% discount on Enrich Elite Points status requirement.
| Elite Status | Silver | Gold | Platinum |
|---|---|---|---|
| For 2026 Qualification (after 30% off) | 21 | 42 | 70 |
| For 2027 Qualification (after 30% off) | 24 (+14%) | 49 (+17%) | 98 (+40%) |
With just a 7 point increase for Enrich Gold, it’s still very achievable, especially with the higher Elite Points earning on paid flights.
Enrich Platinum now requires 28 more points, roughly one extra Business return trip to London or 14 return Economy domestic trips, which is no small feat.
Use Zone 4 to get more Elite Points
Since Zone 4 saw the biggest jump in Elite Points, you can target lower-cost destinations in this zone to maximize your Elite Points while keeping time and expenses low.
And don’t forget, you can also earn Elite Points by flying with OneWorld partners. Just use Google to check the distance between two cities in miles, that’ll tell you which zone the flight falls into. But watch out for fare classes, as certain Saver or Lite fares don’t earn any elite points.
Want to know which destinations give you the best Elite Points value? Ask in our BolehMiles Telegram group.
Use Enrich Points + Cash option to offset the cost
Since redemption flights can be relatively cheap, you can choose pay some cash to qualify for Points + Cash, which earns you 1 Elite Point per flight regardless of destination or cabin.
For example, if you redeem a return trip from KUL to SIN every month, you’d earn 24 Elite Points in a year.
Use Enrich Hotels to earn some Elite Points
You can earn 1 Elite Point for every 8,000 Enrich Points earned from hotel bookings through Enrich Hotels.
Frequent promos, such as 10% bonus Enrich Points, can help you build up a few Elite Points over time.
That said, it’s an expensive route for status/mattress run. For the example below, earning 1 Elite Point might cost about RM1,600++, so it’s best to use this when you’re already paying for real stays, like business trips.
Skip the Domestic Status Run
Unless you’ve got the stamina and time, an empty domestic status run can drain you fast, especially with the higher requirement for Enrich Platinum. Imagine flying 98 domestic Economy sectors just to qualify which takes serious planning, time, and endurance.
In our view, it’s no longer worth it, unless you’re just a few Elite Points short.
There’s really no need to get overly stressed about metrics like Cost per Elite Point. Just enjoy your actual holiday and business trips while earning Elite Points. Life is short.
Conclusion
With the higher Elite Points requirement, those who rely on Economy domestic status runs for Enrich Platinum will feel it the most.
Still, we see this as a net positive move for both Malaysia Airlines and the customers. It rewards frequent long haul travelers, keeps Enrich Platinum more exclusive, yet still gives motivated flyers a fair shot at Enrich Gold. Not to mention it subtly keeps foreign flyers out, since they likely do not have access to the Ambank Enrich Visa.
What do you think? Will you still go for Enrich Elite status in 2027? Share your thoughts in our BolehMiles Telegram group below.