Emirates Skywards: From a Good to a Weak Frequent Flyer Program

Emirates Skywards was once considered a lucrative frequent flyer program until the airline suddenly increased its mileage prices and taxes and fees for reward tickets. The changes were made without any prior notice, leaving many loyal customers frustrated. While the program has become weaker, there are still some benefits to using it.

TL;DR

• Emirates Skywards increased its mileage prices for Business and First-Class flights by 20% last year, followed by two more increases in 2021, without prior notice.
• Taxes and fees for reward tickets have skyrocketed, with some routes costing up to €2,400, in addition to the high mileage price.
• Emirates still offers a good flight experience and excellent ground services, with Dubai as a popular hub and a vast fleet of Airbus A380s.
• Emirates Skywards is a transfer partner of American Express, allowing for the conversion of membership rewards points to Skywards miles.
• Booking Emirates’ Fifth Freedom routes offers a loophole for lower taxes and fees.

Emirates Skywards: From Good to Weak

Emirates Skywards has become a weak frequent flyer program after three sudden increases in mileage prices for Business and First-Class flights and soaring taxes and fees for reward tickets without prior notice. Despite the negative changes, Emirates still offers a good flight experience and excellent ground services, with Dubai as a popular hub and a vast fleet of Airbus A380s. The Skywards program is also a transfer partner of American Express, allowing for the conversion of membership rewards points to Skywards miles. One loophole is booking Emirates’ Fifth Freedom routes with significantly lower taxes and fees. Emirates Skywards was once a popular frequent flyer program due to its good mileage prices and availability of reward tickets. However, the program has undergone significant changes in the past year that have weakened its appeal. Emirates suddenly increased its mileage prices for Business and First-Class flights by 20% last year, followed by two more increases in 2021, without prior notice. As a result, the cost of reward tickets in Business or First Class has increased by more than 50% in some cases. Taxes and fees for reward tickets have also increased significantly, with some routes costing up to €2,400, in addition to the high mileage price. Availability of reward tickets has also decreased, with only one seat for Meilenbuchungen in the First Class typically available.

What Makes Emirates Skywards Still Attractive?

Despite the negative changes, Emirates still offers a good flight experience and excellent ground services, with Dubai as a popular hub and a vast fleet of Airbus A380s. Flights with reward tickets are still a great option for saving on the purchase of Business and First-Class tickets. Emirates Skywards is also a transfer partner of American Express, allowing for the conversion of membership rewards points to Skywards miles.

Loopholes for Using Emirates Skywards

Booking Emirates’ Fifth Freedom routes offers a loophole for lower taxes and fees. These are Emirates flights that do not start or end in Dubai. While the mileage prices are not lower, the taxes and fees are significantly less than usual. Emirates flies to several destinations, including New York-JFK, New York-Newark, Mexico City, Malta, Male, Hong Kong, Melbourne, and Christchurch.

Conclusion

Emirates Skywards has undergone significant changes in the past year that have weakened its appeal to frequent flyers. The sudden increase in miles prices and the exorbitant taxes and fees for reward flights have made it less attractive compared to other loyalty programs such as Miles & More. However, Emirates still offers an excellent flying experience with a great product and exceptional ground services, especially for business and first-class travelers. The airline’s extensive network of long-haul flights and large fleet of Airbus A380s also adds to its appeal. Despite the changes, there are still opportunities to maximize the value of Emirates Skywards miles, such as booking on fifth-freedom routes and through partner airlines. It is essential to keep an eye on the program’s updates and changes and use the miles strategically to make the most of them.

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