It is the bone of a few weeks for the Emirates Skywards loyalty program, but it has just announced the greatest change so far. As of Monday, May 12, 2025, Emirates will begin to restructure the first -class awards to its status members of platinum, gold and silver. First we saw this news about the loyalty lobby.
This is an important change that will prevent many travelers from accessing one of the most aspiring award tickets at the points and thousands World, and comes with little notice for members.
Related: obtain the value of my money in Emirates First Class: Backless Champagne and Endless Caviar
This is what you need to know.
New restrictions begin on Monday
As of May 12, 2025, only elite travelers in the Emirates Skywards program will be able to reserve the opulent first class product of the carrier using thousands Skywards. The notice is published in the upper part of the calculator thousands of emiralates online.
Emirates is far from the awarding rates of most of its first class flights, with high amounts of mileage and significant taxes and rates. This unique flight from the John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) in New York to the Dubai International Airport (DXB) would cost 163,500 miles more almost $ 900.
However, there are much more attractive rates on some of the fifth -freedom flights of the carrier, which include:
- Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) to Athens International Airport (ATH)
- New York-JFK to Milan Malpensa Airport (MXP)
- Miami International Airport (MIA) to El Dorado International Airport (BOG) in Bogotá, Colombia
Here is an example of a unidirectional first class flight from JFK-MXP, which is 102,000 plus $ 101.50.
Daily Bulletin
Reward your entrance tray with the TPG Diario Bulletin
Join more than 700,000 readers to receive news, in -depth guides and exclusive agreements of TPG experts
It is true that it is a lot to spend on a flight that is less than eight hours, but for some, it is worth the waste.
As of Monday, you must have the elite status to reserve this flight.
Beyond the new significant restriction, it is frustrating that Emirates is not notifying Virtualy to travelers. The new policy enters into force in just two days, giving little time to the members to end the plans.
First class updates seem not to be affected
Grateful, the desire at the Emirates site makes it seem that this does not apply to first -class updates using thousands Skywards, since it explicitly says that “classical rewards” can no longer be made. And the update to the first class tends to be an easier process than to reserve first class in advance, because Emirates usually publishes available seats for updates on the day of the departure.
I used this same option in June 2024. I was flying from AH to EWR in commercial class prize tickets with my wife and daughter, and seven of the seats of eight classes were innovated when we arrived at the airport. I transferred 117,000 capital a mile-39,000 per person to my Emirates Skywards account at the check-in counter (to the agent’s surprise). A few minutes later, we had first -class boarding passes in our hand.
Yes, it was a waste, but it was the first time that my daughter had flown the first international class, and it was an incredible flight.
Hopefully this new restriction on award flights will be extended to updates in the future.
Related: Emirates Skywards Loyalty Program: How to win and redeem miles, elite status and more
What is happening with Emirates Skywards?
This new change comes at an interesting moment for Emirates and its loyalty program. At the end of May, both the American express membership rewards and Chase Ultimate Rewards will temporarily suspend transfers to Emirates. Then, on July 27, the transfer ratio to convert Citi Thankyou Rewards to Emirates Skywards Miles will change, where 1,000 points of thanks only will give you 800 miles of Skywards.
This also occurs when the carrier recently reported a great increase in profitability, already differentiated from most US airlines. UU., Emirates margins come largely from their operations instead of their loyalty program.
So, are these changes a sign that the Skywards (and its transferable banking partners) will play a narrower role in the long -term strategy of Emirates? Only time will say it, but a safe thing: American travelers and credit card holes will soon be more difficult to use the program to obtain a large value.
End
If you have a redemption of the first class of Emirates (and does not have the elite status in the Skywards), you have very little time to block your prize ticket. As of Monday, May 12, 2025, this will only be available for platinum members, gold and silver.
Fortunately, Emirates is associated with most transferable points currencies, including Amex membership rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One Miles, Chase Ultimate Rewards and Citi Thankyou Rewards. You just don’t expect too much.
