I Flew One of Emirates’ Shortest Routes for Just 10K Miles — Here’s How

When you think of Emirates, you probably picture its iconic A380 with an onboard bar and shower on long-haul flights to and from Dubai and the rest of the world, or its luxurious first class suites complete with sliding doors and caviar service.

What you probably don’t think of is a 3 1/2-hour hop between Miami and Bogotá, Colombia. But that’s exactly the route my family and I flew recently — on Emirates — and it turned out to be the best short-haul international flight of my life. It also happens to be Emirates’ shortest route in the Americas.

Here’s how a simple 3-hour flight to Bogotá turned into one of the most unexpectedly luxurious and memorable travel experiences we’ve ever had — in economy, no less.

Booking 5 Economy Seats for Just 10K Miles Each

I’ve flown the Miami-to-Bogotá route more times than I can count — easily over 50 times in my life and on almost every airline that’s served it: American, Avianca, JetBlue, and even Spirit and JetBlue a handful of times from nearby Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

And if you’ve flown this route, you know the drill: narrow-body planes with tight cabins, bare-bones service, and if you’re lucky, a Biscoff cookie and a ginger ale.

But I knew flying with Emirates would be different. I’d experienced the airline’s inaugural business class flight from Miami to Bogotá on June 3, 2024, and it set a new bar for service on this route. What I didn’t expect was just how excellent the flight would be in the economy cabin, too.

Even better? The price.

While Emirates’ cash fares on this route are often priced higher than competitors like Avianca and American, the value flips when you book with points — making it an unexpectedly smart redemption.

Before booking, I first searched for award availability using Seats.aero, and noticed that Emirates offered the most economical redemptions through its own loyalty program in economy class on this route.

Even better, the departure time of 12:35 p.m. was ideal, meaning we didn’t have to wake up too early or arrive late in Bogotá. At a cost of just 10,000 Skywards miles and $59 in taxes and fees per person, I transferred the points from Amex and redeemed Emirates Skywards for 5 award tickets for my family.

I largely earned Amex Membership Rewards points from generous welcome bonus offers on The Platinum Card^® from American Express and the American Express^® Gold Card.

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• You may be eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps get you to your gate faster by using unique facial attributes to verify you are you at 50+ airports nationwide. Receive up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year after you pay for your CLEAR Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) with the Platinum Card^®.
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This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

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You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.

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With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

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• No lounge access

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• You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
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It was one of the best-value redemptions I’ve made from a quality perspective — especially for a short-haul economy flight.

Hot Tip:

Emirates Skywards is a transfer partner of several major programs. If you’ve got Amex Membership Rewards points, now’s the time to transfer to Emirates. With the Amex to Emirates transfer rate dropping from 1:1 to 5:4 on September 16, locking in a redemption now can save you thousands of miles — the same ratio as Citi ThankYou Points. Capital One Miles transfer at a 1:1 ratio to Emirates Skywards, while Chase Ultimate Rewards transfers to Emirates are ending in October 2025.

Full-Service Flight Even in Economy

Emirates flies this route on a Boeing 777-300ER, the same widebody jet it uses on its long-haul service from Miami to Dubai. Rather than sit idle at MIA overnight, the aircraft is efficiently deployed on this short hop to Bogotá — allowing the airline to tap into a new market, pick up connecting passengers heading to its Dubai hub, and transport valuable cargo in the belly.

We were in the economy cabin, and yes, it still felt like economy. However, the cabin was comfortable, with seats offering 32 inches of pitch and roughly 17.5 or 18 inches of width — a few inches less legroom than American Airlines’ Main Cabin Extra (which offers 35 to 36 inches) but with comparable seat width and recline.

Each seat featured a personal entertainment screen loaded with movies and shows, and we were provided a pillow and a blanket.

Yes, There Was a Full, Hot Meal

Remember when airlines used to serve full trays in the economy cabin? Emirates still does. We were even handed printed menus before departure.

Then, shortly after takeoff, we were received a hot entrée with sides, bread, and dessert — all included in the fare. Drinks (including alcohol) were complimentary, and the cabin crew provided attentive, friendly service throughout the flight.

I ordered the barbecue chicken with mashed potatoes, which came with a guava cheesecake and a warm roll.

My well-traveled kids even looked at me in astonishment when they were served a full tray with a chicken meal on such a short-haul flight.

This was a real meal — and it made a real difference.

Given the midday departure, having a proper lunch on board meant we landed in Bogotá satisfied and ready to deal with immigration and baggage, not cranky and hungry. Several other passengers even asked if the meal were free, clearly surprised, not used to being served a full meal on a short international flight like in the old days.

While this may be standard on many Emirates flights, it stands in stark contrast to what travelers typically experience on regional flights in economy within the U.S., where even water can come at a price and service is minimal.

Free Wi-Fi and IFE That Feels Anything but Economy

Each seat featured a massive HD seatback entertainment screen, packed with over 5,000 channels, movies, music, games, and even live TV, including international sports.

I even caught part of the 153rd Open Championship while cruising over the Caribbean.

Emirates also provides complimentary headphones in every seat, and my favorite feature by far was the external camera feed: a real-time view from the forward-facing and belly-mounted aircraft cameras, offering stunning perspectives from takeoff to landing.

Wi-Fi was complimentary for Emirates Skywards members. And if you were not already a member, you could sign up instantly for free and log in during the flight.

With fast, reliable internet and a world-class entertainment system, the experience felt more like a transatlantic journey than a short hop to South America.

True Widebody Experience With 4 Cabins

Flying a widebody jet like the Boeing 777-300ER on such a short route is rare — but flying one configured with 4 cabins is virtually unheard of. At the very front of the plane, Emirates’ First Class featured fully enclosed private suites.

Just behind, the lie-flat business class seats provided direct aisle access and plenty of privacy for long-haul comfort.

The premium economy cabin was outfitted with wider seats, extra legroom, and enhanced dining — a noticeable upgrade from standard economy.

And even in economy, the seats were spacious and well-cushioned, making the short flight feel far more comfortable than the typical narrow-body experience.

Kid-Friendly Amenities That Made a Difference

Shortly after takeoff, flight attendants surprised each of my kids with an adorable amenity kit complete with a coloring book and an Emirates-themed tote bag.

That alone won them over.

But the real highlight came even before we left the gate. As the boarding process wrapped up, a flight attendant stopped by and offered to take our photo with an instant camera.

She later handed it to me inside a charming keepsake card featuring cartoon illustrations of the crew.

It was a small gesture, but it made us feel special — like welcomed guests, not just passengers.

Final Thoughts

This wasn’t a bucket-list flight or a once-in-a-lifetime splurge. It was a simple family trip to Bogotá — but Emirates made it feel like so much more.

As we cruised toward Bogotá, I couldn’t shake the feeling that more people needed to know about this. For AvGeeks and curious travelers alike, this short-haul hop offers a rare opportunity to experience Emirates’ signature service — without flying all the way to Dubai. It’s an easy, budget-friendly glimpse into world-class aviation, and I couldn’t wait to spread the word.

For just 10,000 Emirates Skywards miles per person, we got a true full-service experience, a smooth widebody ride, and memories that my kids are still talking about days later.