FAQs

There are 21 FAQs for Skywards.

What is Skywards and how do I become a member?

Skywards is the award-winning frequent flyer programme from Emirates that offers members rewards and benefits beyond the travel experience. To find out more about Skywards membership please visit the Skywards section on emirates.com.

How many Skywards Miles do I need to claim a flight reward?

The number of Skywards Miles required for a round-trip reward ticket varies according to the origin and destination. Please refer to the mileage calculator on skywards.com for more details.

Can I purchase additional Miles?

If you find you have not earned enough Skyward Miles for the reward you want, you can top up your total by purchasing additional Miles online at skywards.com.

The cost is just US$0.025 (2.5 cents) per Skyward Mile with a minimum purchase of 2,000 Skyward Miles and a maximum purchase of 25,000 Skyward Miles in a calendar year.

2,000 Skywards Miles = US$50
5,000 Skywards Miles = US$125
10,000 Skywards Miles = US$250
25,000 Skywards Miles = US$625

You can purchase Miles online with American Express and Diners Club credit cards

Please note that Skywards Miles are non-refundable and must be purchased at least 48 hrs before your booking. Tier miles cannot be purchased.

Can I combine Miles from two accounts to claim a reward?

A reward ticket may be passed on to whomever you choose, as long as the exchange is not made for commercial gain. It is not possible, however, to combine Miles from two separate accounts for a reward ticket.

Why am I asked for a credit card number when redeeming my Skyward Miles for reward tickets?

Credit card information is required in order to charge the government taxes and airport charges levied on all ticket purchases, including those purchased with Skywards Miles.

Can I use my Skywards Miles to book a reward ticket for friends and family?

Yes, you can redeem your Skywards Miles for tickets with Emirates for anyone. Please note that the tickets can only be collected or delivered in the 25 countries from which Emirates offers online booking. For ticket collection, the applicable tax must be paid when the tickets are collected from an Emirates office. In the case of address delivery or eTickets, the applicable tax must be paid online by credit card.

Can I use my Skywards Miles to buy a Silver or Gold membership in Skywards?

No, your Miles cannot be used to buy a Silver or Gold membership. Silver and Gold membership are earned only by accumulating sufficient tier miles when you fly with Emirates.

Can reward tickets be refunded or endorsed to other airlines?

Yes. Skywards reward tickets can be refunded for a fee of US$50. However the reward tickets cannot be endorsed for travel on other airlines.

Can I exchange my Skywards Miles for a one-time entry into the Skywards Lounge?

No. We regret that we currently do not offer this option.

Can my expiring Skywards Miles be transferred to someone else?

No, we regret that pooling of Miles is not allowed. You can, however, give a reward to anyone you wish using your Skywards Miles or spend your Miles at The Emirates High Street.

What if I cannot travel before the expiry date of my Skywards Miles?

Although you must redeem your Skywards Miles prior to their expiry date, the reward tickets for which you redeem them are valid for a further twelve (12) months from the date of issue. This means that you do not have to restrict your travel to dates prior to Mileage expiry. You may also want to consider spending them at The Emirates High Street.

What if I have difficulty redeeming my Skywards Miles on high demand flights?

Try redeeming your Miles for peak Economy rewards, which cost some more Miles but provide you with a wider selection of travel dates.

How long are my Skywards Miles valid?

Your Skywards Miles are valid for three years from the date you earn them. Effective March 2008, your Skywards Miles will expire once in a calendar year, at the end of the month in which you are born.  For example, if you earned Miles in June 2006 and your birthday is in August, your Miles will expire on 31st August 2009.

Can I pay to have my Miles extended for six months?

We do not have a mileage extension option. You may, however, purchase additional Miles to claim the reward you want or to claim another reward with the existing Miles before their expiry.

Can I redeem Miles for a one-way trip?

At this time we do not offer the facility to book a one-way ticket by redeeming your Skywards Miles. If you have a normal one-way ticket (e.g. not purchased using Skywards Miles), you could still upgrade this using your Miles.

How can I upgrade my flights using Skywards Miles?

You can now upgrade using the Manage a Booking facility here at emirates.com. Please log in at the top of the page, and then go to “Manage a Booking”. Enter the booking reference and the family name to retrieve the booking and view the upgrade options, if applicable. You can opt to select one or more flights to upgrade using Skywards Miles. Please note that all passengers on the booking will be upgraded.

I have enough Skywards Miles – why can’t I upgrade online?

In order to upgrade the booking using Skywards Miles through Manage a Booking, eTickets need to be issued for all passengers. The flights also need to be operated by Emirates (for example, no codeshare flights), and the ticket must be issued by Emirates. The departure time of the flight you wish to upgrade should also be at least 6 hours ahead of the current local time in the departure city. The dates and flights on your eTicket should also match the dates and flights in your booking.

Do I have to upgrade all passengers in the booking, or can I just upgrade one?

When upgrading using Skywards Miles via Manage a Booking all passengers on the same booking will be upgraded for the flights selected. If you wish to upgrade one traveller in a booking for multiple passengers, please contact the Skywards Service Centre who can arrange this for you.

Do I have to pay anything extra when upgrading my booking using Skywards Miles?

In some countries there are additional taxes or charges to pay for travelling in a higher class. When upgrading your booking you will be informed of any additional charges. The extra taxes or charges must be paid for by credit card during the upgrade process. If you do not have a credit card you will not be able to upgrade online. Please contact the Skywards Service Centre who can arrange the upgrade and payment at a local Emirates office or ticket desk.

What if I want to cancel the Skywards upgrade?

Please contact your nearest Skywards Service Centre Conditions apply.

What do I get when I upgrade a booking using Skywards Miles?

Passengers will gain all of the benefits applicable to the class of travel to which they have upgraded. This includes the extra baggage allowance, lounge access, and Chauffeur-drive (where applicable). Chauffeur-drive service should be requested at least 48 hours before flight departure. Please note however that the fare conditions of the original ticket purchased remain once upgraded. For example, if there is a change fee that applied to the ticket originally purchased, this would have to be paid.