Emirates Skywards is one of the most accessible airline loyalty programs, thanks to its partnerships with all major transferable points programs and its own co-branded credit cards. Whether you’re planning a luxurious First Class experience on the Emirates A380 or simply looking to boost your mileage balance for a future redemption, here are the best ways to earn and use Emirates Skywards Miles.
1. Transfer Points from Credit Card Rewards Programs
One of the easiest and fastest ways to accumulate Emirates Skywards Miles is by transferring points from major credit card rewards programs. Fortunately, Emirates is a transfer partner of:
- Chase Ultimate Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio)
- American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio)
- Citi ThankYou Points (1:1 transfer ratio)
- Capital One Miles (1:1 transfer ratio)
Transfers from these programs typically process within a few hours to a day, making them a convenient way to top up your account when you find an award flight you want to book. Occasionally, these programs offer transfer bonuses, which can provide even more value when moving points to Emirates.
2. Earn Miles with Emirates Credit Cards
If you’re looking for a direct way to earn Emirates Skywards Miles on everyday spending, consider applying for an Emirates-branded credit card. Emirates offers the following U.S. credit cards:
- Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard
- Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard
These cards offer Skywards Miles on everyday purchases, with bonus categories for spending directly with Emirates and select travel-related expenses. Cardholders may also enjoy perks such as priority boarding and lounge access.
3. Earn Miles by Flying Emirates and Partner Airlines
Naturally, flying with Emirates is another primary way to earn Skywards Miles. The number of miles you earn depends on:
- Fare class
- Distance flown
- Your Skywards membership tier (higher tiers earn bonus miles)
Emirates also partners with several airlines, including JetBlue, Qantas, Air Canada, Japan Airlines, and others. You can credit flights with these partners to your Emirates Skywards account and earn miles accordingly.
4. Transfer Miles Between Skywards Members
If you need to consolidate miles for an upcoming redemption, Emirates allows you to transfer Skywards Miles between accounts. Here’s what you need to know:
- Miles can be transferred in blocks of 1,000, at a cost of $15 per 1,000 miles.
- The minimum transfer is 2,000 miles.
- Each member can send and receive up to 50,000 miles per calendar year.
- Transfers cannot be made to or from a My Family Account.
- Only Skywards Miles (not Tier Miles) can be transferred.
While this is not the most cost-effective way to accumulate miles, it can be useful in situations where you’re just short of an award redemption.
5. Other Ways to Earn Emirates Skywards Miles
Beyond credit card transfers and flights, there are several other ways to earn Skywards Miles:
- Hotel Stays:Â Earn miles by booking with partner hotel chains like Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, and Accor Live Limitless.
- Car Rentals:Â Companies like Hertz, Avis, and Sixt offer Skywards Miles when renting a car.
- Shopping & Dining:Â Emirates offers promotions with retailers and dining partners worldwide.
- Emirates Skywards Shopping Portal: Earn miles on online purchases through Emirates’ shopping portal.
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The Points Mom’s Got It!
6. How to Use Emirates Skywards Miles
Once you’ve earned a substantial balance of Skywards Miles, here are the best ways to redeem them:
- Award Flights on Emirates:Â Use your miles to book Economy, Business, or First Class tickets on Emirates flights. Skywards Saver fares provide the best value when available.
- Partner Airlines:Â Redeem miles for flights on partner airlines like JetBlue, Qantas, and Air Canada.
- Upgrades:Â Use miles to upgrade paid tickets to a higher class of service.
- Hotel Stays & Car Rentals:Â Convert miles into stays at partner hotels or car rentals.
- Shopping & Experiences:Â Redeem miles for duty-free shopping or unique Emirates experiences.
Personal Experience: Booking Business Class to Athens
Once we had our stays locked in, I was able to move on to flights. Unfortunately, I was too late to book the 90,000 Emirates Skywards Saver tickets (people had the same idea as me!). But I was able to book both tickets for 125,000 miles apiece. No, I did not have Emirates Skywards Miles laying around. Emirates is both a partner of Chase and Amex, and I transferred my points from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Amex Membership Rewards INSTANTANEOUSLYand booked the tickets. I always have a lot of Amex and Chase points as I have many cards that are tied to those programs.
My favorite part… guess how much these business class flights would have been? $11,200 each. How much value did I gain? Remember, I secured the tickets by transferring 250,000 points to Emirates from Chase and Amex. Those Chase and Amex points are worth about 2 cents each. So I used $5,000 in value for flights that were more than double that cost. Or I got 8.96 cents per point (22400/250,000 x 100). If only I could have gotten the Saver Reward price. 🙂
Final Thoughts
With so many earning and redemption options, Emirates Skywards Miles provide incredible travel opportunities. By strategically using transferable credit card rewards, leveraging co-branded credit cards, and taking advantage of airline and partner promotions, you can quickly build a sizable balance and enjoy luxurious travel experiences. Start planning now, and you’ll be on your way to an unforgettable Emirates journey!
