Emirates Skywards Says Award Tickets and Upgrades Will Cost More Soon, so Book Now

Updated: May 14, 2026, 10:32am CDT

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Emirates Continues Gutting Value From the Skywards Program
Final Thoughts

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Emirates Skywards members have another reason to lock in award bookings sooner rather than later.

The Dubai-based airline announced that it will increase the number of miles required for select Classic Rewards and Upgrade Rewards starting May 20, 2026.

While Emirates hasn’t disclosed yet which routes will be affected, the change clearly represents another step in the airline’s ongoing shift toward rewarding cash-paying customers over mileage redemptions.

If you’ve been eyeing an Emirates redemption or upgrade, you’ll probably want to finalize those plans before the new pricing takes effect next week. Here’s what you need to know.

Emirates Continues Gutting Value From the Skywards Program

Emirates is once again stripping value from its Skywards loyalty program — this time by increasing the mileage cost of Classic Rewards and upgrades starting May 20, 2026.

The Dubai-based carrier says select awards will require more miles, marking yet another negative change for members hoping to maximize their points.

Emirates Classic Rewards and Upgrades Devaluation Notice — Image Credit: Emirates

Emirates refers to its Classic Rewards as its saver-level award tickets — essentially the lowest-priced mileage redemptions available in each cabin. These are the awards most Skywards members actually target, which makes this latest increase especially frustrating. And let’s call this what it is: a devaluation.

This move isn’t happening in a vacuum. Over the past several years, Emirates Skywards has steadily become less rewarding for the average traveler while placing greater emphasis on revenue fares and premium cash tickets.

We’ve already seen Emirates restrict first class award redemptions to Skywards elite members only, cutting off many transferable points users from booking one of the world’s most aspirational premium-cabin experiences. The airline also introduced a minimum age requirement for children redeeming first class awards — another unusually restrictive policy.

At the same time, Emirates has made Skywards less accessible for travelers using transferable points.

The airline reduced transfer ratios with programs like Capital One miles, American Express Membership Rewards, and Citi ThankYou Rewards, while also completely losing Chase Ultimate Rewards as a transfer partner. Together, those changes have made Emirates awards significantly more expensive for many travelers in practical terms.

Now, the airline is raising prices on Classic Rewards and Upgrade Awards — arguably the 2 redemption types most Skywards members care about most.

Emirates First Class Seat Boeing 777 300 — Expect Emirates Skywards Classic Rewards across the board to require more miles starting May 20, 2026. Image Credit: Juan Ruiz

The frustrating part is that Emirates awards were already difficult to justify in many cases. Between sky-high mileage requirements and hefty carrier-imposed surcharges, many redemptions already felt disconnected from the value travelers can find through competing airline programs.

Still, some Emirates loyalists continue to find value in Skywards, particularly for premium cabin redemptions where cash fares can easily cost several thousand dollars.

Hot Tip:

Emirates hasn’t revealed exactly how much award pricing will increase on May 20 (or which routes will be affected), but based on the airline’s recent track record, Skywards members should probably expect higher mileage costs across many Classic Rewards. If you’ve been considering an Emirates redemption or upgrade, now is the time to book. You only have a few days left to lock in current pricing before awards likely become even more expensive.

Final Thoughts

Emirates Skywards will raise the mileage cost of select Classic Rewards and Upgrade Rewards beginning May 20, 2026, and it’s hard to see this as anything other than another devaluation.

Between reduced transfer ratios, restrictions on first class awards, and now higher award pricing, Emirates continues making Skywards less attractive for travelers looking to maximize points and miles.

If you’ve been considering an Emirates redemption, booking before the changes take effect could save you a substantial number of miles.