When considering luxurious flying experiences, Emirates’ first class likely tops the list. As a first-class passenger on one of their Airbus A380s, you can indulge in their renowned inflight bar and even take a shower. If you’re on one of the new Boeing 777s, you’ll enjoy the latest first-class cabin featuring fully private suites.
Recently, Emirates unveiled new first-class amenities across its entire fleet.
However, using the airline’s Skywards loyalty program to book these awards has become more challenging. Japan Airlines’ Mileage Bank has stopped offering Emirates first-class awards, and the partnership with Alaska Airlines was terminated in 2021.
To complicate matters further, effective May 12, you now need Emirates elite status to book these flights. Fortunately, this restriction does not apply to partner loyalty programs.
Keeping these changes in mind, let’s explore the best ways to utilize points and miles to book Emirates’ first class, including how to earn Emirates status quickly, upgrade from business class, and use partner programs.
Booking with Emirates Skywards
Traditionally, Emirates Skywards was the go-to method for booking first-class award flights. While award space used to be generally accessible, the program’s high award rates and significant taxes became additional factors. On May 12, Emirates further restricted first-class award space to only its elite members, limiting availability for most travelers.
However, there is still hope. To book with Emirates Skywards, consider applying for an Emirates co-branded credit card through Barclaycard to quickly earn elite status. Emirates offers two U.S. credit cards: the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard® and the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard®.
Both cards grant elite status for the first year: the Premium card offers mid-tier Gold status while the standard card provides entry-level Silver status. You can maintain this status beyond the first year by meeting specified annual spending requirements.
Note: The information regarding the Emirates credit cards has been gathered independently and has not been reviewed by the card issuer.
If you hold elite status, you can redeem 163,500 miles for a one-way first-class ticket from various Midwest and East Coast U.S. cities to Dubai International Airport (DXB), or 186,000 miles from the West Coast. Be prepared, though, as taxes and fees can exceed $900 for a one-way flight.
You can transfer various points—such as American Express Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards—to Emirates Skywards. However, be aware that Amex and Chase will temporarily halt transfers to Emirates on May 28 and May 29, respectively, while Citi will reduce its transfer ratio from 1:1 to 1:0.8 starting July 27.
Upgrading to First Class with Emirates Skywards
Another viable, albeit costly, option to experience Emirates first class is to first book a business-class ticket—either with miles or cash—and then upgrade using miles. Note that only business-class tickets qualify for upgrades; economy and premium economy tickets can only be upgraded to business class.
The mileage needed for an upgrade depends on the type of business-class fare booked. You can use Emirates’ mileage calculator to determine the upgrade costs based on your routing, cabin class (business), and Skywards status tier.
For instance, a flight from New York’s JFK to DXB can showcase the “all-in” upgrade price without additional cash copays.
The lower the business-class fare you book, the higher the mileage required for an upgrade. Be mindful that Business Special fares cannot be upgraded, whereas Business Saver fares are only upgradeable at check-in or onboard.
To ensure you can upgrade in advance, you’ll need to book either Business Flex or Business Flex Plus, although this option tends to be more expensive and doesn’t guarantee an upgrade. If first-class award tickets are visible on partner websites like Air Canada or Qantas, it’s likely that upgrade space is open.
If there’s no confirmed upgrade space available, you can opt to waitlist for an upgrade through the “Manage booking” option on Emirates’ website.
Additionally, some travelers have successfully upgraded to first class at the airport if seats are still for sale during check-in or boarding. One such experience was shared by Nick Ewen, Flying Frugal’s senior editorial director, who managed to upgrade his family from business to first on a recent Emirates flight.
Booking with Air Canada Aeroplan
Air Canada and Emirates maintain a nonalliance partnership allowing Aeroplan members to redeem points for Emirates flights, although these awards are dynamically priced. Prices can fluctuate significantly depending on when bookings are made and the route taken.
Emirates flights still appear on the Aeroplan award chart, but only as “Starting at” prices for each distance band. Flights between the U.S. and Dubai are categorized under the “Between North America and Atlantic zones” award chart.
Booking with Qantas Frequent Flyer
Qantas and Emirates have a similar arrangement, permitting Qantas Frequent Flyer members to redeem points for Emirates flights. Notably, Qantas maintains a standard award chart that is less expensive than Aeroplan’s pricing. The Current Partner Classic Flight Reward chart enables first-class award bookings, though rates will increase on August 5.
Bottom Line
Securing Emirates first-class award tickets isn’t as straightforward as it once was. Your best approaches now are either to book a first-class ticket through Qantas Frequent Flyer or purchase a business-class ticket to upgrade with Emirates Skywards miles, potentially even at the airport. Regardless of your method, be ready for a substantial investment in both points and cash—an over-the-top experience worth considering under the right circumstances.
