How to Book an Emirates Flight with Points
Booking an Emirates flight with points is one of the easiest ways to enjoy premium travel, especially if you're eyeing that world-famous Emirates Business Class or the iconic First Class private suites. Emirates flies to over 148 airports in 80 countries and ensures a comfortable travel for passengers.
Whether you collect Emirates Skywards miles or have points from partner banks and airlines, redeeming them for flights can help you save big.
In this guide, we'll walk you through the exact steps, best ways to earn miles, tips to maximize value, and common mistakes to avoid when booking your next Emirates flight using points.
What Are Emirates Skywards Miles?
Emirates Skywards is the airline's loyalty program, where you earn Miles for flying Emirates, Flydubai, or partner airlines, and for spending with credit card partners, shopping portals, hotels, and car rentals.
You can use Skywards Miles to book:
- Emirates flights
- Flydubai flights
- Upgrades
- Hotel stays
- Experiences and partner rewards
For most travelers, redeeming miles for Emirates flights offers the highest value.
How to Book an Emirates Flight Using Reward Points (Step-by-Step)
Step 1: Log In to Your Emirates Skywards Account
Visit the Emirates website Click Log In Enter your Skywards number or email.
If you don't have an account, sign up for free.
Step 2: Go to the Emirates Booking Page
Head to the flight search page.
Check the box that says "Book Classic Reward Flight or "Search for reward flights to ensure you’re using miles instead of cash. Before booking, always check the latest Emirates coupons to save even more on flight fares.
Step 3: Enter Your Travel Details
Fill in:
- Departure and arrival cities
- Travel dates
- Number of passengers
- Cabin class (Economy, Business, First)
| Pro Tip: If your dates are flexible, tick the Flexible Dates option to view a wider range of available reward seats. |
Step 4: Review Available Flights
You'll see a list of flights with:
- Miles required
- Taxes and carrier charges
- Availability across different cabins
Emirates does charge taxes and surcharges on award flights, so expect to pay a small cash amount.
Step 5: Select Your Preferred Flight
Compare options and choose the flight that gives the best value in miles. Sometimes Business Class offers a better redemption value per mile than Economy, and off-peak dates may require fewer miles. Click Continue after making your selection.
Step 6: Enter Passenger Details and Complete the Booking
Add traveler information Review the fare Proceed to payment.
You'll pay only the taxes and fees using your card and use miles for the rest. Once payment is processed, your e-ticket will arrive in your e-mail inbox.
How Many Emirates Miles Do You Need?
The number of miles varies based on route, cabin, and date, but here is a quick reference:
| Route Example | Economy (Return) | Business (Return) | First Class (Return) |
| India to Dubai | 25,000 – 36,000 | 44,000 – 62,500 | 70,000 – 100,000 |
| USA to Dubai | 72,500 – 95,000 | 145,000 – 180,000 | 200,000 – 260,000 |
| UK to Dubai | 45,000 – 60,000 | 90,000 – 126,000 | 150,000 – 170,000 |
Please note that these ranges depend on the demand and travel season.
How to Earn Emirates Skywards Miles Quickly
Use credit card transfers, partner offers, shopping portals, and promotional bonus offers to rack up Emirates Skywards Miles quickly. Focus on stacking methods, such as credit cards, retail partners, travel bookings, and watching for special point promotions to increase your earning rate. Here are more easy and quick ways to earn Skywards Miles:
- Utilize American Express, Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou branded credit cards to get transferable points, then transfer them to Emirates Skywards Miles with your favorable ratios.
- Earn up to 120 miles per $10 spent with partner retailers when you shop online via Emirates Skywards Miles Mall. Always log in and access the retailers via the portal for tracking.
- Watch for double or triple point offers on flights to destinations, shopping seasons, or promotional periods. You'll get to know about these through Emirates newsletters and partner communications.
- If you’re close to redemption, buy Skywards Miles directly. The current cost is about $30 per 1,000 miles, and from time to time, there are offers of bonus miles or discounts for multiple purchases.
- Book with partner hotel chains such as Marriott, Hilton, and Booking.com, where you will get miles per dollar spent, along with the possibility of transferring hotel points for Skywards miles, often with bonus incentives.
- Earn miles at participating restaurants, cafes, gyms, and spas, especially in the UAE, using the Skywards Everyday app.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is 50,000 Emirates miles worth?
50,000 Emirates Skywards miles are generally worth between $500 and $1,200, depending on how they are redeemed. The best value per mile tends to come with business or first-class flights, while redemptions for economy or non-flight options generally offer less value.
Can you pay for Emirates flights with points?
Yes, you can pay for Emirates flights with Skywards miles, either by booking a full award ticket using miles or by using the "Cash+Miles feature, which lets you offset part of any fare with miles and pay the remaining balance in cash.
Do Skywards miles expire?
Skywards miles are valid for 3 years from the month they're earned and expire at the end of the month of your birthday in the third calendar year, with options to extend or reinstate expired miles sometimes available for a fee.
Is it worth buying Emirates points?
Buying Emirates miles usually makes sense when you’re just a little short of what you need to get a valuable reward, like an upgrade or business class ticket, or there’s a major bonus promotion.
