What Emirates Skywards membership is and who runs it
Emirates Skywards is the frequent flyer program run by Emirates airline. You earn miles when you fly Emirates or partner airlines, stay at partner hotels, rent cars, or use co-branded credit cards. Those miles convert into free flights, seat upgrades, lounge access, and other rewards on Emirates and its partner network.
The program is free to join. You create an account on the Emirates website, get a membership number, and start earning when ready on any Emirates flight. The paid tier — Skywards Membership Plus — costs money and adds benefits like bonus miles, priority customer service, and lounge access without needing to fly.
Emirates Skywards operates differently from some other airline programs because it does not have traditional status tiers you earn by flying a certain number of miles or segments per year. Instead, you either hold the free membership or pay for Membership Plus. Your earning rate and redemption options stay the same either way.
Key Takeaways
- Emirates Skywards is free to join and you earn miles on Emirates flights, partner airlines, hotels, car rentals, and co-branded credit cards.
- Skywards Membership Plus is a paid tier that costs a set annual fee and adds bonus miles, priority support, and lounge access without requiring flight activity.
- Miles do not expire as long as your account has activity at least once every three years, and activity includes earning or redeeming miles.
- Co-branded credit cards let you earn miles on everyday spending and often come with a sign-up bonus, though annual fees vary by card type.
- You can transfer miles to partner airlines and hotels, but the conversion rate and availability depend on the specific partner.
How you earn miles in the program
You earn miles on every Emirates flight based on the distance flown and the cabin class — economy earns fewer miles than business class on the same route. The exact earning rate depends on your ticket type; some discounted fares earn at a lower rate than full-price tickets.
Partner airlines in the oneworld alliance (including British Airways, Cathay Pacific, and Japan Airlines) also credit miles to your Skywards account when you fly them, though the earning rate may differ from Emirates flights. You can also earn miles through hotel stays, car rentals, and shopping portals that are linked to the program.
Co-branded credit cards are the most consistent way to earn miles outside of flying. The cards earn a set number of miles per dollar spent on all purchases or bonus rates in specific categories like dining or travel. Each card has its own annual fee, sign-up bonus structure, and earning rates, so the value depends on your spending habits.
Skywards Membership Plus: cost and benefits
Skywards Membership Plus is an optional paid tier. The annual fee varies by region and currency — it is typically in the range of 300 to 500 AED (United Arab Emirates Dirhams) or equivalent in other currencies, though the exact amount changes and you should check the Emirates website for your location.
The main benefits of Membership Plus include a may provide annual bonus of miles (usually 5,000 to 10,000 miles, depending on the tier), priority customer service with a dedicated phone line, complimentary lounge access on Emirates flights, and sometimes discounted or waived fees for things like seat selection or baggage.
Membership Plus does not give you status on partner airlines or change your earning rate on flights. It is purely a paid convenience tier, not a replacement for frequent flying. Whether it makes sense depends on whether you value the annual bonus miles and lounge access more than the annual cost.
How miles expire and what keeps your account active
Emirates Skywards miles do not expire as long as your account has activity within any three-year period. Activity includes earning miles, redeeming miles, or even just logging into your account. This is more generous than some airline programs that require activity every 12 or 24 months.
If your account goes inactive for three years with no earning, redeeming, or login, your miles will be forfeited and your account may be closed. You can reactivate a closed account by flying Emirates or a partner airline, but the miles are gone. The three-year window resets each time you have activity, so a single flight or redemption keeps your miles alive for another three years.
Redeeming miles for flights and upgrades
You can redeem miles for free flights on Emirates and partner airlines through the Skywards website or by calling customer service. The number of miles required depends on the route, cabin class, and how far in advance you book. Economy redemptions typically cost fewer miles than business or first class on the same route.
Award availability varies by route and season. Popular routes and peak travel dates often have limited award space, so booking further in advance increases your chances of finding availability. Some routes may have no award space at all on certain dates.
You can also use miles to upgrade from economy to business class on Emirates flights if you already have a paid ticket. The upgrade cost in miles is usually lower than booking a business class award from scratch, making this a common use of miles for frequent flyers.
Partner transfers and redemption options
Emirates Skywards allows you to transfer miles to partner hotels and airlines, though not all partners accept transfers and the conversion rates vary. For example, you might transfer miles to a hotel chain at a rate of 1,000 Skywards miles for a certain number of hotel points, but that rate is set by the partner and can change.
Transfers are usually permanent and non-refundable, so confirm the value before you transfer. Some partners offer bonus conversion rates during promotional periods, which can make transfers more valuable at certain times of year.
Not all redemption partners are equally valuable. Transferring to a hotel chain might give you a free night worth $200, while transferring the same miles to an airline might only get you a $100 flight. Comparing the value of each transfer option before you commit is part of maximizing your miles.
Co-branded credit cards and sign-up bonuses
Emirates offers co-branded credit cards in partnership with banks in different regions. These cards earn miles on everyday purchases and typically come with a sign-up bonus of miles after you meet a spending threshold in the first few months.
The annual fee, earning rate, and sign-up bonus vary by card and by region. Some cards are designed for high spenders and offer premium benefits like lounge access or travel insurance, while others are basic earning cards with lower fees. The card issuer (the bank) sets the terms, not Emirates, so terms differ by country.
The value of a co-branded card depends on whether you will use it enough to earn back the annual fee in miles, plus whether you value any additional perks like travel insurance or purchase protection. If you spend enough to justify the fee and redeem your miles at a reasonable rate, the card can be a steady source of miles outside of flying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to fly to earn miles in Skywards?
No. You can earn miles through hotel stays, car rentals, shopping portals, and co-branded credit cards without ever flying. However, flying is the fastest way to accumulate large numbers of miles, especially on long-haul flights in premium cabins.
Can I use Skywards miles on airlines other than Emirates?
Yes, through partner airlines in the oneworld alliance and other partners. You can redeem miles for flights on British Airways, Cathay Pacific, Japan Airlines, and others, though award availability and mile requirements vary by partner. You can also transfer miles to partner airlines, though the conversion rate depends on the partner.
What happens if I do not fly for a year?
Your miles will not expire as long as you have activity within three years. Activity includes earning, redeeming, or logging into your account. A single purchase on a co-branded card or a hotel stay through the Skywards portal counts as activity and resets the three-year clock.
Is Skywards Membership Plus worth the annual fee?
That depends on your travel patterns and how you value the benefits. If you value the annual bonus miles and lounge access more than the annual cost, it may be worth it. If you rarely fly or do not use lounges, the free membership is sufficient. Calculate whether the bonus miles alone cover the fee based on how you typically redeem.
Can I combine miles from multiple Skywards accounts?
No, miles cannot be transferred between accounts. Each account is separate. However, you can link family members' accounts for some benefits, and some credit cards allow you to earn miles in a household account. Check the current rules on the Emirates website for your region.