Emirates Makes First Class Awards Available Only to Elite Members

There’s been a big change in how first class awards can be booked on Emirates, and for most people, it’s not a good one. Starting May 12, 2025, only travelers who have elite status with Emirates can book these award seats.

Let’s see what’s changing.

Changes to Emirates First Class Awards After May 12

As of Monday, May 12, first class awards on Emirates using Skywards miles can be booked only by people who are Silver, Gold, or Platinum members of the airline’s Skywards frequent flyer program.

The change, initially reported by Loyalty Lobby, will greatly restrict the number of passengers who can book one of the most coveted first class cabins in the world.

A notice on the Emirates miles calculator page clearly spells out the new policy: beginning Monday, “classic rewards in first class will be a tier benefit available only to Platinum, Gold and Silver tier members” of the Skywards program.

With this change, Emirates is doing something other airlines already do. Among the few carriers that offer first class — 1 step above business — Air France notoriously restricts mileage redemptions in first class only to Platinum and above members of its own Flying Blue loyalty program. SWISS, although with a first class less storied than Air France’s coveted La Première, also limits awards in first to flyers who have HON Circle status, the highest in the Miles & More program.

While Emirates didn’t specify that first class awards booked with partner programs are also restricted to elite members, it seems clear that they will be.

Using partner awards, as opposed to Skywards miles, was another way to book Emirates first class. For example, the private suites on the Boeing 777-300ER — the best among the first class cabins on different Emirates aircraft — can be booked for a relative bargain right now, thanks to a 20% transfer bonus from Capital One to Qantas. But that window will close on May 12.

If you’re looking to book Emirates first class with miles, either from a points transfer or using Skywards miles accumulated organically, you should act fast.

Do note, though, that there’s a loophole. You can still go for an alternate strategy after Emirates rolls out this new restriction.

How You Can Still Fly Emirates First With Miles, After May 12

If you don’t have Emirates elite status, you aren’t necessarily shut out of booking first class awards after May 12. There are 2 other ways you can still pull it off.

The first tactic is booking Emirates business class with miles, then upgrading a step to first class, also using miles. Upgrades to first don’t appear to be restricted to elite flyers.

The catch in this case is that the ploy might not work if there aren’t available seats in first class on the day of the flight, although most Emirates first class cabins are pretty big. If it doesn’t work and you’re stuck in business, be aware that Emirates business class, except on the Airbus A350, is not very good: It either has a 2-3-2 layout with a middle seat or a 2-2-2 without direct aisle access for all seats.

The other tactic is to earn Emirates Skywards elite status through a credit card.

Emirates has 2 co-branded credit cards in the U.S.:

• The Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard^® has a $99 annual fee and offers Silver status for the first year. Silver status can be maintained after spending at least $20,000.
• The Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard^® has a $499 annual fee and offers Gold status for the first year. Gold status can be kept after spending at least $40,000.

Paying $99 for a status that lets you then book Emirates first class could make sense. If having a co-branded Emirates card fits within your financial strategy and you’re after an Emirates first class award, it’s an option worth considering.

Final Thoughts

Emirates is making a change that will be unwelcome for most flyers. Starting May 12, only people who hold elite status with Emirates can book first class seats using miles. This will thin out the number of passengers flying Emirates first, adding to the aura of exclusivity that first class cabins tend to have — which is a major part of why people go to great lengths to fly in them.

That said, there are still ways to book Emirates first without elite status. It may be worth exploring those alternatives, especially for the private suites on the Boeing 777, which are among the best first classes around.