The content on this page is accurate as of the posting date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired.

How much Emirates Skywards Miles are worth depends on how you redeem them. For example, using them to pay for an Economy Class ticket with Emirates may come with a value of 1 cent or lower per mile, and you may get upward of 2.5 cents per mile for Business Class tickets.

You earn miles each time you fly with Emirates, flydubai or any of the program’s airline partners. As you move up the membership ladder, you can earn miles faster. You may also earn miles by using a co-branded Emirates Skywards credit card and by spending with the program’s hotel, car rental and other partner merchants.

When it comes to how to use Emirates Skywards Miles, you may redeem them for flight tickets with Emirates, flydubai or any of the program’s airline partners. You can also redeem them with Emirates' partner merchants, which include hotels and car rental companies.

MoneyGeek’s Takeaways

metalCard icon

An Emirates Skywards Mile’s value may vary from less than 1 cent to around 3 cents based on the redemption method.

airplane icon

You usually get better value for your miles when booking Business Class tickets instead of Economy Class tickets.

cashCard icon

You can earn Skywards Miles by flying with Emirates and its airline partners, as well as in a few other ways.

Some of the links on this page will take you to one of our partner's sites, where you can compare and apply for a selected credit card.

How Much Are Emirates Skywards Miles Worth?

There is no official Emirates Skywards redemption chart that lets you see at a glance how much your miles are worth. Economy award flights typically offer a value of 0.8 cents to 1 cent per mile, while you may get 2.4 cents to almost 3 cents per mile for Business Class awards. Fortunately for members, this frequent flyer program no longer charges the steep fuel surcharges on award flights that it was infamous for in the past.

discount icon
HOW TO COMPUTE EMIRATES SKYWARDS MILES VALUE

If you wish to calculate an Emirates Skywards Mile’s value, you need to divide the actual cost of the ticket by the number of miles you need to get the award flight.

Ticket Cost / Equivalent Miles = Miles Value

How Emirates Skywards Miles Compare to Other Airlines

Most other popular airline loyalty programs offer better value than the Emirates Skywards program when it comes to flying Economy Class. Nevertheless, this program is well-liked, especially by flyers who wish to redeem miles for the airline's famed Business Class seats and enjoy a more luxurious flight experience.

Emirates Skywards vs. Other Frequent Flyer Programs
Airlines
Value per Mile

Emirates Skywards

1 cent to 1.4 cents per mile

Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan

1.2 cents to 1.8 cents per mile

Air Canada Aeroplan

1.5 cents to 1.9 cents per point

Air France/KLM Flying Blue

1.2 cents to 1.4 cents per mile

American Airlines AAdvantage

1.5 cents to 1.7 cents per mile

British Airways Avios

0.8 cents to 1.5 cents per point

Delta Air Lines SkyMiles

1.4 cents to 1.5 cents per mile

Frontier Miles

0.9 cents to 1.1 cents per mile

Hawaiian Airlines HawaiianMiles

0.9 cents to 1 cent per mile

JetBlue TrueBlue

1.3 cents to 1.6 cents per point

Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer

1.1 cents to 1.3 cents per mile

Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards

1.3 cents to 1.5 cents per point

United Airlines MileagePlus

1.2 cents to 1.6 cents per mile

Virgin Atlantic Flying Club

1.1 cents to 1.5 cents per point

How to Earn and Maximize Miles From Emirates

Earning Skywards Miles is relatively simple. You earn them when you fly with Emirates, flydubai or the program's airline partners. Using a Barclays Emirates Skywards credit card is another way to earn miles. You may also earn miles when you spend with the program's partner merchants.

Earning Miles Using Emirates Co-Branded Credit Cards

Barclays offers two co-branded Emirates Skywards credit cards that allow you to earn Skywards Miles through category-based spending. Both offer new cardholders bonus miles via spend-based welcome offers. And the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard gives you an opportunity to earn bonus miles each year.

Emirates Skywards Co-Branded Credit Cards at a Glance
Credit Card Name
Miles Earned per Dollar Spent
How to Increase Miles Earned

Emirates Skywards Rewards
World Elite Mastercard

Up to 3X miles per dollar

  • Get 50,000 bonus miles if you spend
    $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days

Emirates Skywards Premium
World Elite Mastercard

Up to 3X miles per dollar

  • Get 60,000 bonus miles if you spend
    $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days
  • Earn 10,000 bonus miles if you spend
    $30,000 or more on purchases within a year
    of account opening

Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard

The Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard comes with a $99 annual fee. Eligible Emirates purchases earn 3X miles per dollar. You get 2X miles per dollar on other eligible travel purchases and 1X miles per dollar on all other purchases. Spending $3,000 on purchases within the first 90 days comes with a bonus of 50,000 miles.

All cardholders get complimentary Emirates Silver status for the first year, which they can retain by spending at least $20,000 on purchases every year. Using this card for international purchases comes with no foreign transaction fees.

Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard

The Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard charges a steep annual fee of $499 and is best suited for frequent Emirates flyers. Spending on eligible Emirates purchases earns you 3X miles per dollar. Other eligible travel purchases earn 2X miles per dollar, and all other purchases earn 1X miles per dollar.

If you spend $3,000 on purchases within 90 days of account opening, you earn 60,000 bonus miles. You also earn a bonus of 10,000 miles if you spend $30,000 or more on purchases in the first year. You get complimentary Emirates Gold status for the first year, and spending $40,000 on purchases every year lets you stay at this tier.

Other benefits include Priority Pass Select lounge access, a fee credit for Global Entry/TSA PreCheck and no foreign transaction fees.

points icon
MONEYGEEK EXPERT TIP

Adding an authorized user or more to your primary Emirates Skywards credit card account means you can earn miles faster. All additional cardholders earn miles at the same rate you do.

Sign Up for Emirates Skywards

Joining the Emirates Skywards program is straightforward, and you may do so online. There is no fee to become a member. The information you need to provide to complete the application includes your name, email address, phone number and country/territory of residence. Once you enroll in the program, you can earn and redeem miles in several ways.

To move from one Emirates membership level to the next, you will need to earn a minimum number of miles or take a minimum number of flights each year. Members enjoy various benefits as they move from one tier to the next. These include earning bonus miles, getting seat upgrades and more.

Buying Airline Tickets From Emirates and Affiliates

Members of the Emirates Skywards program earn miles each time they fly with Emirates, flydubai or any of the program’s airline partners. But the number of miles you earn depends on your fare class, fare type and route. If you plan to fly with Emirates or flydubai, you can use the airline’s miles calculator to get a good idea of how many miles you will get for any upcoming trips.

For example, if you fly Economy Special from New York to Dubai, you get around 1,800 Skywards Miles. An Economy Saver fare on the same route comes with around 3,600 Skywards Miles, and you stand to earn around 12,000 Skywards Miles if you fly Economy Flex Plus. Booking an Economy Flex Plus fare from New York to Sydney, on the other hand, lets you earn around 25,000 Skywards Miles.

The number of miles you earn through the program’s airline partners varies based on the airline you select. For example, you can earn up to 2 miles per mile flown with Air Mauritius and Korean Air. You get up to 1.5 miles per mile flown with Air Canada, Copa Airlines, GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, Japan Airlines, Jetstar, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, South African Airways and TAP Portugal. Flying with Bangkok Airways lets you earn up to 1.25 miles per mile flown.

Earn Miles Through Emirates Partner Merchants

Earn Emirates Skywards Miles Through Partner Merchants
  • shoppingBag icon

    Retail and Lifestyle

    Through these retail and lifestyle partners, you can earn more Emirates Skywards miles.

    • Skywardsmilesmall.com: Earn 120 miles for every 10 dollars
    • Skywards Everyday: Earn 1 mile per AED 3 and 1 mile for every AED 5 on groceries
    • Dubai Mall: Earn up to 1 mile per dollar
    • The Bicester Collection: Earn up to 1 mile per EUR 1, GBP 1 or RMB 10
    • Arabian Adventures: Earn up to 1 mile per dollar
    • ASMALLWORLD: Earn up to 500,000 miles
    • Cabforce: Earn 1 mile for every 2 dollars
    • Emirates Holidays: Earn up to 1 mile for every 4 dollars
    • Emirates Official Store: Earn 1 mile per dollar
    • GetYourGuide: Earn 1 mile per euro
    • Heathrow Rewards: Get 250 Skywards Miles for 250 Heathrow Rewards points
    • utu: Earn 4,167 miles for every 100 dollars on tax refunds across 50 countries
  • car2 icon

    Car Rentals

    Booking rental cars from these partners can help you earn miles.

    • Hertz: Earn 5 miles per dollar
    • Avis: Earn up to 8 miles per dollar
    • Budget: Earn up to 8 miles per dollar
    • CarTrawler: Earn 1 mile per dollar
    • Europcar: Get up to 1,200 miles on each rental
    • SIXT: Get up to 1,200 miles on each rental
  • balanceTransfer icon

    Emirates Skywards Transfer Partners

    When you transfer your points or miles from these partners, you can add miles to your Skywards account.

    • Brex: Get 1 Skywards Mile for 1 Brex rewards point
    • Capital One: Get 1 Skywards Mile for 1 Capital One mile
    • Chase Ultimate Rewards: Get 1 Skywards Mile for 1 Chase Ultimate Rewards point
    • American Express: Transfer Amex Membership Rewards points to your Skywards account
    • HSBC US: Transfer HSBC reward points to your Skywards account
  • hotel icon

    Hotel and Lodging

    There are many hotel and lodging options that allow you to earn Emirates Skywards miles.

    • Emirates Skywards Hotels: Earn up to 12,500 miles per night
    • Your World Rewards/Marriott Bonvoy: Earn twice on stays and flights
    • 25hours hotels: 4,000 ALL points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • Aloft Hotels: Earn twice on stays and flights; 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 Skywards Mile
    • Atlantis The Palm, Dubai: Earn 1 mile per U.S. dollar
    • Booking.com: Earn 1 mile per euro
    • Crown Hotels: Earn up to 2 miles per Australian dollar on room rates
    • Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts: Earn 2 miles per U.S. dollar; 10,000 IHG One Rewards points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • Fairmont Hotels & Resorts: 4,000 ALL points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • Four Points by Sheraton: Earn twice on stays and flights; 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 Skywards Mile
    • Hilton Hotels & Resorts: 10,000 Hilton Honors points convert to 1,000 Skywards Miles
    • Holiday Inn: Earn 2 miles per U.S. dollar; 10,000 IHG One Rewards points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • Hyatt Hotels and Resorts: Earn 500 miles per qualifying stay; 2.5 World of Hyatt points convert to 1 Skywards Mile
    • ibis Hotels & Resorts: 4,000 Reward points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • InterContinental Hotels & Resorts: Earn 2 miles per U.S. dollar; 10,000 IHG One Rewards points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • Jumeirah Hotels & Resorts: Earn 1 mile per U.S. dollar
    • JW Marriott Hotels: Earn twice on stays and flights; 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 Skywards Mile
    • Le MERIDIEN: Earn twice on stays and flights; 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 Skywards Mile
    • Marriott Hotels & Resorts: Earn twice on stays and flights; 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 Skywards Mile
    • Novotel Hotels, Suites & Resorts: 4,000 ALL points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • One & Only Resorts: Earn 1 mile per dollar
    • Pullman Hotels & Resorts: 4,000 ALL points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • Raffles Hotels & Resorts: 4,000 ALL points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • Rixos Hotels: 4,000 ALL points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • Rotana Hotels and Resorts: Earn 500 miles per qualifying stay
    • Sheraton: Earn twice on stays and flights; 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 Skywards Mile
    • Sofitel Hotels & Resorts: 4,000 ALL points convert to 2,000 Skywards Miles
    • St. Regis: Earn 2 miles per dollar
    • The Luxury Collection: Earn twice on stays and flights; 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 Skywards Mile
    • The Ritz-Carlton: Earn twice on stays and flights; 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 Skywards Mile
    • W Hotels: Earn twice on stays and flights; 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 Skywards Mile
    • Westin Hotels & Resorts: Earn twice on stays and flights; 3 Marriott Bonvoy points convert to 1 Skywards Mile

Buying Miles From Emirates

If you wish to buy Emirates Skywards Miles, it will cost you $30 for every 1,000 miles you buy. That works out to 3 cents per mile — considerably less than the average value you receive when you redeem them. The maximum number of miles you may purchase during a year stands at 100,000 or 200,000, depending on your Emirates membership level.

Buying miles might be worth it if you need extra miles to cover an award flight that comes with great value. Bear in mind that there are times when the Skywards program offers bonus miles, such as through targeted offers via email. For example, a brief promotional offer that ran in September 2022 offered 35% bonus miles. In this case, $30 would get you 1,300 miles, where you would pay around 2.3 cents per mile. If you use them for a flight ticket with a better redemption value, it might make sense to move forward with the purchase.

How to Redeem Emirates Skywards Miles

If you're wondering how to redeem Emirates Skywards Miles, you have several options. You can redeem your miles for flight tickets with different airlines or use them for seat upgrades on Emirates flights. Alternatively, you can redeem your miles to pay for hotel stays and car rentals or to shop. Donating them to charity is also an option.

With Emirates, you can use your miles to book flights in any class to and from any destination. Redemption starts at 15,000 miles. If you need more miles than you've banked to book a flight ticket, the Cash+Miles option allows you to pay the difference in cash.

You also can redeem your miles through Emirates Skywards transfer partners. These include flydubai, Air Canada, Air Mauritius, Bangkok Airways, Copa Airlines, GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes, Japan Airlines, Jetstar, Korean Air, Malaysia Airlines, Qantas, South African Airways and TAP Portugal. Redemptions with most airline partners start at 8,000 miles.

  • hotel icon

    Hotel accommodations

    You may redeem your miles for free or discounted hotel stays through Emirates Skywards Hotels. Redemptions start at 5,000 miles.

  • shoppingBag icon

    Retail and lifestyle

    You may redeem your Skywards Miles through Arabian Adventures (starting at 16,969 miles), Dubai Duty Free (4,500 miles are worth AED 75), Emirates Official Store (starting at 16,969 miles), Heathrow Rewards (get 2,000 Heathrow Rewards points for 6,000 Skywards Miles) and marhaba (use miles for airport Meet & Greet services)

  • airplane icon

    Flight upgrades

    Flying with Emirates gives you the ability to use miles for class upgrades. For example, you may use them to upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy, Economy to Business or Business to First Class. In some cases, upgrades require as few as 4,500 miles. Using your miles to upgrade when you’re checking in at the airport or have boarded a flight is possible. The Emirates Skywards program also runs exclusive offers for upgrades using miles, which you may look for by logging in to your account.

When Best to Redeem Emirates Skywards Miles

There is no official Emirates Skywards redemption chart, and the program determines the number of miles you need to get an award flight based on the distance a flight covers. Bear in mind that the miles you need depend on the actual fare of the ticket, which, in turn, might vary based on your travel dates. For example, flying from New York to Bombay, India, would need more miles during the last week of December than the first week of March.

While the Skywards program offers Saver, Flex and Flex Plus award flights, availability in the Saver segment remains limited, so it’s best to book well in advance. You can also look for discounted fares by checking the Featured Fares section to determine if rescheduling your plans might fetch a better deal.

If you wish to use your miles for a First Class Suite ticket, you may be able to find some good deals if you book around one week before the travel date.

Bear in mind that your miles expire three years from the date you earn them, so it’s important to use them before this happens. You can extend the validity of your miles by 12 months, but this comes at a cost. It’s also important to place orders with your miles at least two working days before they are slated to expire.

If you plan to fly from the U.S. to Italy or Greece, you may benefit by taking a look at the fifth freedom routes this airline flies. These flights are ones that originate and terminate in countries other than the carrier’s home country. With Emirates, its U.S.-specific fifth freedom routes include New York – Athens and New York – Milan. More often than not, Emirates’ fifth freedom flights operate in very competitive markets. International options include Mexico City – Barcelona, Hong Kong – Bangkok and Sydney – Christchurch.

When it comes to fifth freedom flights operated by Emirates, you may benefit not just through lower prices but higher reward availability as well. These flights also tend to offer members the best value for Skywards Miles.

airportLoungeAccess icon
EXPERT TIP:

Emirates miles are extremely valuable for travelers who fly overseas and hope to fly in the airline’s luxury First Class or Business Class products. As always, be sure to spend your miles wisely.
Brett Holzhauer, contributing expert for MoneyGeek

How to Get the Emirates Elite Status

The Emirates Skywards program comes with four membership tiers, and you may move from one to the next in different ways, such as flying a minimum number of flights or using an Emirates Skywards co-branded credit card. As you move up the ladder, you earn miles faster and enjoy a variety of perks. The Emirates Skywards elite benefits you receive vary depending on whether you're flying with Emirates or flydubai.

1

Blue

All members start at this tier. Emirates remembers members' personal preferences at this level, and members may also benefit through waiting list priority over nonmembers. Other perks include special member offers and free in-flight Wi-Fi access.

2

Silver

You get to this tier by earning 25,000 tier miles or taking 25 Emirates/flydubai flights in a year. Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard holders get complimentary Silver-level membership for the first year, which they may retain by spending $30,000 on purchases in a year. Benefits other than those offered through the Blue tier include bonus miles on Emirates flights, complimentary seat selection, excess baggage allowances, priority check-in and boarding, complimentary lounge access and check-in at Business Class counters.

3

Gold

You need to take 50 Emirates/flydubai flights or earn 50,000 tier miles in a year to get to this level. Those with the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard get to retain the complimentary Gold status they receive during the first year by spending $40,000 on purchases each year. Benefits specific to this tier include priority service through the airline's contact centers, guaranteed seats and priority baggage delivery.

4

Platinum

To get to the Platinum tier of this program, you must earn at least 150,000 tier miles in one year. In addition to the benefits Gold-level members receive, this tier offers Last Seat Classic Flex Plus reward tickets and Gold Partner nomination. Plus, your points don't expire if you're at this level.

How We Determined the Value of Emirates Skywards Miles

MoneyGeek experts have taken a close look at how the value of Emirates Skywards Miles changes based on different redemption methods. They have also carried out in-depth market research to determine the worth of your miles.

Other Questions You May Have About Emirates Skywards Miles

Take a look at other questions about the Emirates Skywards program and how the value of your miles may change according to different redemption methods to determine which alternative might work best for you.

Compare and Review Miles and Points

Compare and Review Credit Cards

*Rates, fees or bonuses may vary or include specific stipulations. The content on this page is accurate as of the posting/last updated date; however, some of the offers mentioned may have expired. We recommend visiting the card issuer’s website for the most up-to-date information available.
Editorial Disclosure: Opinions, reviews, analyses and recommendations are the author’s alone and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any bank, credit card issuer, hotel, airline, or other entity. Learn more about our editorial policies and expert editorial team.
Advertiser Disclosure: MoneyGeek has partnered with CardRatings.com and CreditCards.com for our coverage of credit card products. MoneyGeek, CardRatings and CreditCards.com may receive a commission from card issuers. To ensure thorough comparisons and reviews, MoneyGeek features products from both paid partners and unaffiliated card issuers that are not paid partners.