When I saw the recent news that the UAE decided to limit first-class awards to elite platinum, gold and silver members of its Emirates Skywards loyalty program, I thought my dream was to bring this ideal product with a boat bar, shower and unlimited caviar.
I have never held it, and may never hold any Sky Elite identity. Pausing this with multiple credit card plans to “temporary” to Skywards, I classify it as “arrival” and should be booked in courses where I can “can” earn and redeem points and miles.
However, there is still an easy way to book a first-class emirate, which ultimately helped me realize my dream. This is what you should know.
Related: UAE First Class Still Shocked: Completely Enclosed Suite and Unlimited Caviar
We are in the golden age of Qantas
Knowing that Skywards is increasing the limits of its members’ ability to book first-class awards, I naturally think they will add similar restrictions to their partner airline plans. After all, if an entry-level Sky member cannot book the UAE Awards, why let another loyalty program entertaining member do this?
But so far, this has not happened.
Traditionally, the best partner program to book the Emirates Awards is Air Canada’s Aeroplan program and Qantas’ frequent flyers. Aeroplan has recently started to price Emirates rewards dynamically, and while Aeroplan can still win first-class awards, it is not a good thing to be priced at up to 750,000 Aeroplan points per flight.
However, all Qantas members still easily receive first-class awards in the Emirates with Qantas points, with rates and fees, taxes and surcharges available with Skywards to charge their elite members.
Use my secret weapon, seat.
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Here is an example of some of the flights available in late September and early October this year, when summer temperatures in the Middle East became mild.
Australians currently charge the following rates for UAE first-class awards (one way one way):
- Flight 0 to 600 miles long: 29,000 points
- Flight 601 to 1,200 miles: 43,500 points
- Flight length from 1,201 to 2,400 miles: 64,500 points (including new Emirates service from Florida to Colombia)
- Flights from 2,401 to 3,600 miles: 89,800 points (this includes most routes from Europe to Dubai)
- Flights from 3,601 to 4,800 miles: 107,700 points (including the fifth route between Emirates)
- Flights from 4,801 to 5,800 miles: 149,800 points (including departures from Northeast to Dubai)
- Flight length from 5,801 to 7,000 miles: 170,800 points (including all other departures in the United States, including from the West Coast)
Related: Reviews on UAE Business Class on Airbus A380 from New York to Milan
I jumped on this great availability and pricing, booked a DXB from the Emirates’ Emirates from London Heathrow Airport (LHR) to the Airbus A380, about two weeks before departure, with 89,800 Qantas points and 572 UK pounds of £572, about $775, about $775, including taxes for Air Air Pressenter the Air Party the All Dectres for All All Alling All Alig of Uried Kire dorming King.
Stay tuned for the full report on my bucket list flight, but we just want to say that this exceeded my already high expectations.
Another reason now is that considering the good time for Qantas points is that for bookings starting on August 5, Emirates flights will be priced based on Qantas reward charts (rather than partner rewards sheets), meaning rates (and surcharges) will mostly increase as follows: as follows:
- Flight 0 to 600 miles long: 29,000 points (no changes)
- Flight length is 601 to 1,200 miles: 43,600 points (added 100 points)
- Flight length from 1,201 to 2,400 miles: 65,300 (up 1,200 points)
- Flight length from 2,401 to 3,600 miles: 102,600 points (12,800 points increase)
- Flight length from 3,601 to 4,800 miles: 123,100 (up 15,400 points)
- Flights from 4,801 to 5,800 miles: 149,800 points (2,100 points drop)
- Flight length from 5,801 to 7,000 miles: 170,800 points (no changes)
Although some of the best-class reward flights we booked from the United States from the U.S. will drop slightly, we don’t know how long it will take for Qantas’ frequent flyer members to access such generous first-class availability.
After all, since this access is better than access provided by entry-level Skywards members, I wouldn’t be surprised if Emirates decided to reduce the number of top-notch seats planned by partner airlines like Qantas.
How to earn Qantas points
Qantas points are easy to make money, as Qantas frequent customers are transfer partners for American Express membership rewards, Capital One and Citi Thankyou Rewards.
Here are some of the best credit card welcome offers, and now you can use a 1:1 interest rate to transfer to Qantas:
- American Express Platinum Card®: Earn 80,000 member reward points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of a card member.
- American Express® Gold Card: Earn 6,000 in purchase fees in the first six months of card members to earn 60,000 member reward points.
- American Express Business Platinum Card®: Spend $20,000 in the first three months of card membership, $20,000 in qualified purchases, earning 150,000 membership reward points. Additionally, on eligible flights booked directly with the airline or in the first three months of card membership, it cost $2,500 on eligible flights and $2,500 on eligible flights. You can earn these two offers ending on June 30.
- Capital One Venture X Reward Credit Card: Spend $4,000 in the first three months of opening and earned a bonus miles of 75,000 miles.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 miles of bonus miles and spent $4,000 to purchase in the first three months after the account opened.
- Citigroup premiere card (See interest rates and fees): $4,000 spent in three months of opening an account and earned 60,000 bonus points.
Bottom line
If you want to book a great first-class product from Emirates with points and miles and don’t have the elite status in Emirates’ own Skywards loyalty program, this is a great time to check out Qantas’ frequent flyer program.
Given that entry-level Skywards members no longer have access to these seats, I don’t think there’s ever been a supply of frequent flyers through Qantas.
Generous reward availability may not last, and most Emirates’ top-notch awards have risen in booking prices starting August 5, and now is the golden age of Qantas points that can be transferred from Amex, Capital One and Citi.
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