Status: checked against official sources; automated independent review
Part of Emirates Skywards hub
GUIDE
How to use Emirates Skywards Miles for upgrade awards
Skywards Miles are the Miles Emirates Skywards credits for flights with Emirates, flydubai and airline partners. [6] The number of Miles credited for a flight depends on the route, the fare type and the class of travel, and higher-tier members receive bonus Miles on top of that base. [6]
Facts checked: 18 October 2026
Key takeaways
- Skywards Miles are earned on Emirates, flydubai and airline-partner flights, and the amount depends on the route, fare type and class of travel. [6]
- Silver members receive a 30% bonus on Miles earned, Gold members 75% and Platinum members 100%. [6]
- A balance can be topped up by buying Miles, multiplying Miles or pooling them in a My Family account. [6]
- From 1 June 2027, Miles earned from that date will be valid for three years from the flight or partner activity date, rounded to the end of the month. [5]
What can Skywards Miles be spent on?
Emirates lists Skywards Miles as something members can spend with airline, hotel, car rental, retail and lifestyle partners. [3] On its partners page, Emirates publishes starting levels for spending Miles with airline partners: several carriers begin at 3,000 Skywards Miles, Air Canada, Japan Airlines, Jetstar and United Airlines begin at 8,000, and Qantas begins at 9,500. [3]
Emirates also lists hotel, car rental, retail and lifestyle partners alongside its airline partners, including Skywards Hotels, car-rental companies and the Skywards Miles Mall. [3]
How do you earn Skywards Miles?
Miles are credited after you have actually flown, and a return trip is credited in two stages: first when the outbound part is finished, then when the inbound part is completed. [6] Every fare type in every cabin earns both Skywards Miles and Tier Miles, and Emirates takes the fare type as well as the distance flown into account. [6]
Tier Miles, which are used to keep or reach a membership tier, are calculated by route, fare and class on Emirates and flydubai flights, and can also be earned on everyday spending with Emirates Skywards co-branded cards. [6] That card offer is currently available for select Emirates Skywards co-branded cards in the USA. [6] On the joint Emirates–Qantas network, members keep their Skywards tier privileges, but Emirates advises booking flights with an EK flight number in order to keep collecting Tier Miles. [4]
| Tier | Bonus Miles on top of the base earn |
|---|---|
| Silver | 30% |
| Gold | 75% |
| Platinum | 100% |
Emirates Skywards lists these tier bonuses as an additional way to earn Miles alongside the route, fare and class calculation. [6]
How can you add Miles to a Skywards balance?
Inside an Emirates Skywards account, Emirates lists Buy Skywards Miles, Multiply Miles — which can boost a balance up to four times — and pooling Miles in a My Family account. [6] Emirates also lists credit-card conversion partners, including American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One at 1,000 miles for 750 Skywards Miles, Brex at 1.5 points for 1 Skywards Mile, Ramp at 2 points for 1 Skywards Mile and Revolut at 2 RevPoints for 1 Skywards Mile. [3]
| Hotel programme | Conversion into Skywards Miles |
|---|---|
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3 points = 1 Skywards Mile |
| Hilton Honors | 10,000 points = 1,000 Skywards Miles |
| World of Hyatt | 2.5 points = 1 Skywards Mile |
| IHG One Rewards | 10,000 points = 2,000 Skywards Miles |
These are the hotel conversion ratios shown on Emirates' partners page. [3]
How long do Skywards Miles stay valid?
Emirates is changing how Skywards Miles expire from 1 June 2027. [5] From that date, Miles will be valid for three years from the flight or partner activity date, rounded to the end of the month, replacing the current approach of three years rounded to the end of the member's birth month. [5] The change applies to Miles earned from 1 June 2027 and does not affect Miles already in an account. [5]
| Miles earned | Expiry date |
|---|---|
| Before 1 June 2027 | Three years, rounded to the end of the member's birth month |
| From 1 June 2027 | Three years from the flight or partner activity date, rounded to the end of that month |
Emirates describes the change as making the validity period consistent for all members and easier to track. [5]
Exceptions and limits
- Quote the membership number when you book. Emirates says a membership number cannot be amended once a member has checked in or completed travel. [4]
- Choose the earning programme early. Members must decide which programme they want to earn Miles with at the time of reservation or check-in for qualifying flights, and no changes can be made once they have checked in for the first flight of an itinerary. [6]
- Two-stage crediting. On a return itinerary, Miles are credited once at the end of the outbound and again after the inbound. [6]
- Miles already in the account. The expiry rule taking effect on 1 June 2027 will not apply to Miles already held. [5]
- Partner spend levels differ. Airline-partner starting levels range from 3,000 Skywards Miles on several carriers to 9,500 on Qantas. [3]
- Terms come from Emirates. Emirates publishes its Emirates Skywards Program Rules, and its Program Updates page carries changes such as the revised expiry rule. [4] [5]
Frequently asked questions
Do Skywards Miles expire?
Yes. From 1 June 2027, Miles earned from that date will be valid for three years from the flight or partner activity date, rounded to the end of the month. [5] Miles earned earlier follow the current approach, which rounds expiry to the end of the member's birth month. [5]
Do higher tiers earn Miles faster?
Emirates lists bonus Miles of 30% for Silver, 75% for Gold and 100% for Platinum members, calculated on top of the base earn. [6]
Can you buy Miles to add to a balance?
Emirates lists Buy Skywards Miles and Multiply Miles inside the Skywards account as ways to add to a balance, alongside pooling Miles in a My Family account. [6]
Can you change which programme a flight is credited to after check-in?
No. Emirates requires members to choose their earning programme at reservation or check-in, and the membership number cannot be changed after check-in for the first flight. [6]
Are Miles earned at different rates in the same cabin?
Yes. Emirates takes the fare type as well as the distance flown into account, so two passengers in the same cabin can earn different amounts of Miles. [6]
Sources
Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It covers earning, partner spending examples, top-up routes and the announced expiry change only.
- Emirates Skywards partners, checked 18 October 2026
- Emirates Skywards membership benefits, checked 18 October 2026
- Emirates Skywards program updates, checked 18 October 2026
- Emirates Skywards earn Miles, checked 18 October 2026