Start here: Emirates Skywards

Step 1: What the programme is

Emirates Skywards is the shared loyalty programme of Emirates and flydubai, with Emirates operating it on its own behalf and on behalf of flydubai. [1] [6] Members can earn Skywards Miles with airline, hotel, car rental, retail and banking partners, as well as on flights. [1] [3] They can spend Miles on Emirates and flydubai reward flights, upgrades, partner flights, hotel stays, events and other rewards. [1] [4] The programme has four tiers: Blue, Silver, Gold and Platinum. [1] [5] For the full profile, see Emirates Skywards.

Step 2: Join and set up

Enrolment is open to any individual aged at least two; companies and other entities are not eligible. [6] Applicants must provide all information required in the enrolment form, and applications for under-18s must be signed or consented to by a parent or guardian. [6] Emirates may accept or reject any application in its absolute discretion. [6] After enrolment, Emirates issues a permanent digital membership number and account, accessible through the Emirates App, and each account must have a unique email address. [6] Under-18 members cannot conduct certain transactions on the website or app, including buying or transferring Miles and redeeming Rewards. [6]

Step 3: How earning works

Emirates and flydubai flights earn both Skywards Miles and Tier Miles, with the amount set by route, fare type and class. [1] [3] Tier Miles are calculated at the same rate as Skywards Miles using fare, route and class, and are earned mainly on Emirates, flydubai and Emirates-marketed codeshare flights. [5] They are separate from Skywards Miles and count toward membership status. [6] Silver, Gold and Platinum members receive 30%, 75% and 100% tier bonus Skywards Miles respectively. [3] [6] A higher tier does not itself earn more Tier Miles; extra Tier Miles can come from Business or First class travel or Flex and Flex Plus fares. [5] Miles are credited after the member has flown, first after the outbound trip and again after the inbound trip. [3] The member must choose the earning programme at reservation or check-in, and the membership number cannot be changed after check-in for the first flight. [3] Additional Miles can be bought, multiplied up to four times, or pooled in a My Family account, and co-branded cards can credit Miles monthly. [3] See Start here: airline miles for the broader earning picture.

Step 4: How to use Skywards Miles

Classic Rewards let members use Miles for flights to any Emirates or flydubai destination in any class, paying the full ticket cost with Miles excluding taxes. [4] They start from 5,000 Miles, offer Saver and Flex Plus fares, and can be round-trip or one-way. [4] Cash+Miles lets members pay with any combination of cash and Miles and can also cover Emirates lounge access, excess baggage, paid seat selection, flydubai meals and flydubai insurance. [4] Reward Upgrades move members from Economy to Premium Economy, Economy to Business, Premium Economy to Business, or Business to First, starting from 7,020 Miles, with instant upgrades at check-in and on board. [4] Members can book an Emirates flight reward for friends or family through the same process as for themselves, while partner flight rewards use separate guidance. [4] Miles can also be spent through Skywards Exclusives, with partner hotels and excursions, or donated to the Emirates Airline Foundation. [4]

Step 5: How status works

Emirates Skywards has four tiers: Blue, Silver, Gold and Platinum, and privileges last for 12 months after a member reaches the next tier. [1] [5] Blue includes instant upgrades at check-in or on board, waitlist priority, free Wi-Fi in First or Business, and free unlimited messaging in Premium Economy or Economy. [5] Silver requires 25,000 Tier Miles, Gold 50,000, and Platinum 150,000 plus at least one qualifying First or Business flight. [5] [6] Silver can alternatively qualify with 25 qualifying flights and Gold with 50, excluding flights bought with Cash+Miles or granted as a Reward; Platinum's qualifying flight has the same exclusions. [6] Benefits include 30% bonus Miles and Dubai Business Class lounge access for Silver, 75% bonus Miles and Economy seat selection for Gold, and 100% bonus Miles, worldwide Emirates First and Business Class lounge access for the member and guests, and Gold tier for a spouse, partner or friend for Platinum. [5] The first tier review is 12 months after moving into a new tier; meeting the requirement retains the tier, while falling short means downgrade. [5] Tier Miles above the requirement are not carried forward, and Emirates may change the requirements at any time without notice through the Programme Rules, website or app. [6] The status and lounges course covers these benefits in more detail.

Step 6: Plan a first award booking

Start with expiry: Skywards Miles are valid for three years. [1] Miles due to expire in the next three months can be extended for another 12 months beyond the original expiry for a fee, and Miles must be redeemed before expiry, though an award ticket can be valid for up to 12 months. [4] Use the Miles Calculator to check the Miles needed for an Emirates Flight Reward. [6] For a Classic Reward, select Classic Rewards, compare Saver and Flex Plus fares, and pay the full ticket cost with Miles excluding taxes. [4] For an upgrade, check the fare brand: Special fares are not eligible; Saver fares can only be upgraded at online check-in between 48 and 6 hours before departure and cost more Miles than Flex or Flex Plus; Flex and Flex Plus can be upgraded online up to six hours before departure while seats are available. [4] Some multi-flight journeys allow only one section to be upgraded, and some upgrade only if seats are available on the entire journey; Emirates advises calling its contact centre for a specific booking. [4] Passengers aged 8 and below are not eligible for First Class Emirates Classic Rewards or Upgrade Rewards, and under-18 members cannot conduct certain transactions on the website or app, including redeeming Rewards. [6]

Exceptions and limits

• From 1 April 2024, Skywards Miles held in a Skysurfer account no longer expire. [6] When a Skysurfer turns 18, Miles still held on that birthday expire on the last day of the month in which they turn 21, while Miles earned on or after the 18th birthday follow Clause 9.1. [6]
• Deleting an account is permanent and immediately forfeits all unused Miles, Rewards and associated benefits, with no cash value; linked Skywards+ and My Family arrangements are also terminated or de-linked. [6] Emirates may also suspend, delete or terminate a membership or account and void unused Miles at any time. [6]
• Programme misuse, including selling or transferring Miles or Rewards outside the rules, can lead to termination and forfeiture of unused Miles. [6]
• On death or bankruptcy the account terminates immediately. [6] On death, Emirates may credit unused Miles to legal beneficiaries if the account held at least 2,000 Miles at termination and the beneficiary contacts Emirates within six months with a death certificate and a will, court order or other satisfactory documentation. [6]
• Special fares are not eligible for upgrades, and Saver fares have a narrower online check-in window and a higher Miles cost than Flex or Flex Plus; these are fare-specific rules, not a universal upgrade policy. [4]

Related pages

Emirates Skywards programme profile, Start here: airline miles, Start here: status and lounges, and the Frequent Flyer Encyclopedia glossary.

Sources

Sources checked on 18 October 2026. It covers Emirates Skywards only; other airline, hotel and credit-card programmes are not covered.

1. Emirates Skywards loyalty programme, checked 18 October 2026
2. Earn Miles — Emirates Skywards, checked 18 October 2026
3. Spend Miles — Emirates Skywards, checked 18 October 2026
4. Membership tiers — Emirates Skywards, checked 18 October 2026
5. Emirates Skywards Programme Rules, checked 18 October 2026