FAQs - About Miles

All fares flown on Emirates will be categorised into two types; 'Skywards Saver' fares and 'Skywards Flex' fares. 
The above excludes any special fares, for instance those for contracted group travel and package holidays. However they will still earn Miles and in most cases Saver Miles will be applied.

A 'Skywards Saver' fare is any Emirates fare with either:
(a) eligibility restrictions   (such as students; seniors; companions; etc)

(b) a limited sales period (''must purchase by'' date)

All fares sold by other airlines, partly flown on Emirates, also fall into this category.

A Skywards Flex fare is any Emirates fare with none of the above restrictions, i.e. no eligibility or purchase restrictions.

You can view a detailed Miles breakdown for any ticket on skywards.com under 'My Itinerary' or on emirates.com under 'Manage a Booking'. There is also a convenient 'Manage a Booking' look-up tool on the Miles Calculator page on skywards.com.

The fare type will also be indicated on your e-ticket, under the additional information or endorsement text. However, if your ticket contains a combination of fares the endorsement text may not be able to display full information in the space provided. We encourage you to always use the look-up tools on skywards.com and emirates.com to confirm exactly what fare type(s) you have purchased.

You can earn 100% of base Miles when you purchase 'Skywards Flex' fares.  You can earn 50% of base Miles when you purchase 'Skywards Saver' fares. 

You can also earn 75% bonus Miles when you fly Business Class or 150% bonus Miles when you fly First Class. In addition to this you'll receive a 25% bonus if you are a Skywards Silver and 50% bonus if you are a Gold member. You can also earn additional Skywards Miles through the Miles Accelerator bonuses offered on a monthly basis on certain routes.

Base Miles exist for each zone-zone combination. These are the normal Miles you would earn flying in Economy Class on a 'Skywards Flex' fare (i.e. 100% of base Miles). 

Please refer to our earning charts and Mileage Calculator to view the total Miles you will earn inclusive of your fare type, class bonuses and any tier bonuses (if applicable). 

Our Mileage Calculator on skywards.com displays full details on the zone-zone earning.

Class bonuses when flying Emirates are 75% for Business Class and 150% for First Class, allowing you to earn more Skywards Miles and tier miles whenever you fly in our premium cabins.

The bonuses are calculated against zone-zone base Miles. Base Miles exist for each zone to zone combination. They are the normal Miles you earn flying in economy class on a 'Skywards Flex' fare (i.e 100% of base Miles).

When flying Emirates, Silver members receive 25% bonus Skywards Miles and Gold members receive 50% bonus Skywards Miles.  

The bonuses are calculated against zone-zone base Miles. Base Miles exist for each zone to zone combination. They are the normal Miles you  earn flying in economy class on a 'Skywards Flex' fare (i.e 100% of base Miles).

If your ticket contains one or more different fares (e.g. half 'Skywards Saver' and half 'Skywards Flex'), the applicable Skywards Miles will be calculated and credited for each individual fare separately, i.e. for the relevant flights of your journey.

The choice is always yours, depending on what fare best meets your travel needs. A 'Skywards Flex' fare will always allow you earn more Skywards Miles and tier miles.

Emirates fares have different rules and conditions in different markets. Please always check at time of purchase.

This functionality will be developed in the near future. Currently you can search by the lowest available fare, or by schedule.  The fares displayed clearly reflect whether they are 'Skywards Saver' or 'Skywards Flex' fares.  You can also easily identify and choose flights offering Miles Accelerator bonuses when booking online at emirates.com.

Miles are calculated from where your journey begins and ends. Therefore, instead of receiving Miles after each sector flown, Miles are  credited to your account after each leg of your journey (outbound and inbound).

For example, if you purchase a ticket from London to Sydney, you will receive Miles for your outbound leg after you reach Sydney. If you have a return ticket, the same will apply in the reverse direction and you will receive Miles after you complete your inbound leg and arrive back in London.

No. If you purchase a fare from London to Sydney your final destination will always be Sydney, regardless of whether you have one or more stopovers on the way.  The Miles for your outbound leg will be credited when you reach Sydney.

If you do not complete all your ticketed flights, for instance you refund or void part of your ticket, we will credit your Miles for any flown flights as soon as you submit the remainder of your ticket for cancellation or refund.  You will need to contact an Emirates ticket office to assist you with this.

For all remaining flights on your ticket, you will earn Miles based your origin and destination of travel, type of fare purchased and class of travel.  You would already have received your Miles for flights taken up to that stage.

To ensure we can track and credit the bonus Miles to your account, you are required to opt-in prior to travel.  This has been the case with all past Skywards promotions also.  We store this in your profile, so when you fly the bonus is automatically  triggered and appears in your statement. You can opt-in before or after you buy your ticket, as long as you opt in during the month in question.   

Yes. The bonus Miles offered under the Miles Accelerator will be credited separately, on top of any other Miles you earn.   This gives you the opportunity to maximise your earning, and reach your desired rewards even faster.

However, if as a member you opt-in for two or more Skywards promotions, only the higher of the two eligible bonuses will be earned.

Yes. The Miles Accelerator bonuses are a fixed amount of Miles, credited separately to any other Miles you earn. Thus, you can earn the same Miles Accelerator bonus whether you purchase a 'Skywards Flex' or a 'Skywards Saver' fare. 

Purchasing a 'Skywards Flex' fare can still earn you more Miles for your journey overall, allowing you to reach your desired rewards even faster.

Depending on what changes you make to your ticket, a number of different scenarios are possible.Please log on to our Miles Accelerator on skywards.com and refer to the terms and conditions for more details.

No. Miles Accelerator bonuses are displayed as part of the booking process on emirates.com, and you can easily see and select any flights that offer bonus Miles. To keep the process simple, anybody booking and issuing a ticket via emirates.com will automatically qualify for any Miles Accelerator bonuses . You will not need to separately register on skywards.com. if you purchase your ticket over the phone or via a travel agent . Please ensure you opt-in to to avail the bonus Miles on skywards.com.

Yes, you can purchase a ticket over the phone or via a travel agent. However, you will need to visit skywards.com to view and select from the list of eligible flights offering bonus Miles. To qualify for the bonus Miles you simply need to ensure that you opt in for the bonus Miles, by the end of the month in question and prior to travel. 

Skywards Saver Rewards offer you exceptional value when travelling in lower demand periods or when you are willing to choose alternate flights to reach your destination.  They are offered on a return basis only, in all classes of travel.

Skywards Saver Rewards allow a maximum stay of 3 months and permit you one stopover on your journey.  Note that a fee of USD 25 will apply if you change your travel dates after your ticket has been issued. If you cancel an unutilised Skywards Saver Reward ticket, a fee of USD 75 will apply.

'Skywards Flex' Rewards offers you more reward seats during high demand periods and on high demand flights. They are offered on a return and one-way basis, in all classes of travel.

Skywards Flex Rewards provide you full flexibility when making your travel plans. They allow you to stay up to one year, permit up to two stopovers and you can change your travel dates at any time without charge. However, if you wish to cancel an unutilised Skywards Flex Reward ticket, a fee of USD 50 will apply.

A one-way Skywards Flex Reward is available anytime you wish to take a journey from one zone to another zone and your journey is in one continuous direction. You may only transit a city once on a one-way reward.

One-way Skywards Flex Rewards are offered in all classes of travel, but note that one-way rewards are not available for travel within a zone.

One-way Skywards Flex Rewards are offered at 50% of return Skywards Flex Reward levels. 

Saver Rewards are special discounted rewards with certain restrictions, such as maximum stay.  Hence these are only offered on a return basis. 

Yes.  You are permitted one stopover on any one-way Skywards Flex Reward.

Skywards Saver Rewards permit a maximum stay of 3 months and allow you one stopover on your complete journey.  Note that  a fee of USD 25 applies if you change your travel dates after your ticket has been issued, and that refund charges of USD 75 apply if you cancel your ticket.

Skywards Flex Rewards provide you full flexibility when making your travel plans.  They allow you to stay up to one year, permit up to two stopovers and you can change your travel dates at any time without charge. Refund charges of USD 50 applies if you cancel your ticket.

• For cancellation of reward ticket: If you are holding an un-utilised Skywards Flex Reward ticket, a cancellation fee of USD 50 will apply.  If you are holding an un-utilised Skywards Saver Reward ticket, or a combined ticket, then a cancellation fee of USD 75 will apply.  You must submit your ticket for refund within one year from date of issue to claim a refund.  Note that any expired Miles will not be refunded.

• To modify the dates of travel on the reward ticket: If you are holding a Skywards Flex Reward ticket then no date change fees will apply. If you are holding a Skywards Saver Reward ticket, or a combined reward ticket, then a date change fee of USD 25 will apply. If there are multiple passengers, the fee of USD 25 will apply for each passenger.

• Please note for any other changes to a unutilised Skywards Flex or a Skywards Saver reward ticket, such as
  flight change;
  change in class of travel;
  change in destination within the same zone/different zone;
  change your ticket from 'saver' to 'flex' or vice versa;
  a fee of USD 25 will apply. In such cases, your ticket will be cancelled and your Miles will be recredited back to your account. Expired Miles will not be reinstated. A new ticket will be issued with a new validity period and you will be charged taxes accordingly.

• Expired Tickets: Taxes refunded on fully unutilized and expired tickets. No service fee, no refund of Miles.

• Upgrades: Miles are fully refundable, if upgrade is unutilized.

• Al Maha Resort:
  • Cancellation within 7 days of arrival, the total number of nights reserved will be charged.
  • Cancellation within 8-30 days prior to arrival, will be charged for one nights' stay.
  • Cancellation beyond 30 days, a charge of $50 US applies to re-credit the Miles to the account.
  • Change of date will be accepted at no charge provided notice was given 30 days prior to the initial date of reservation.
• Marriott:
  • Reward cancellations should be done 72 hours prior to arrival date.
  • Miles are not refundable for any cancellation within 72 hours of arrival date.
• Arabian Adventures:
  • Miles are not refundable for any cancellation within 72 hours of arrival date.

• Budget, Damas, Danat Dubai, Magrudy's, Le Meridien (Natural Elements Spa & Health club in Le Meridien Airport Hotel, Dubai only), Rivoli, Dubai Autodrome and Ski Dubai:
  • Non-refundable once redeemed.

• Wild Wadi: Once the voucher is issued, no cancellation will be allowed.
• Silver Member E-gate card: Non-refundable.
• 'Expiry of Miles' Raffle Reward: Non-refundable.

Yes.  If you are holding a Skywards Flex Reward ticket then no date change fees will apply. If you are holding a Skywards Saver Reward ticket, or a combined reward ticket, then a fee of USD 25 will apply each time you change. If there are multiple passengers, the fee of USD 25 will apply for each passenger.  All other reward rules continue to apply when changing your ticket, such as maximum stay.

Yes, but only before you commence travel and within the validity of your ticket.  A reissue fee of USD 25 will apply, and you will be required to pay any additional taxes, if applicable.  Once you have commenced travel on any reward ticket the class of travel cannot be changed.

Yes, but only before you commence travel and within the validity of your ticket.  In this situation you can refund your ticket and purchase a new one.  Once you have commenced travel on any reward ticket the reward type cannot be changed.

Yes. If you are changing to another destination with the same reward zone, a reissue fee of USD 25 will apply.  If you wish to change your destination to a separate zone, you will need to refund your ticket and purchase a new one. 

Yes, but only within the same reward zone.  A reissue fee of USD 25 will apply.  Once you have commenced travel on any reward ticket you cannot change your destination zone or refund your ticket.

Yes. On a return ticket, you can book a combination Skywards Saver and Skywards Flex reward, depending on what reward seats are available at time of booking and whether this meets your travel needs. In such cases, Skywards Saver reward rules will apply to the entire ticket, i.e. the most restrictive conditions will apply.

The number of Skywards Miles needed for a round trip reward ticket or upgrade varies according to type of reward; i.e 'Skywards Saver' or 'Skywards Flex' reward, origin, destination and the class of travel. Note that in case of an upgrade reward, if you would have purchased a 'Skywards Flex' fare, less Miles are required to redeem an upgrade reward compared to if you would have purchased a 'Skywards Saver' ticket.

You can use the Mileage calculator on the Skywards Web site to determine the number of potential Miles required per Emirates flight.

Reward tickets are valid for one year from the date of issue. If multiple coupons are issued, they cannot be used out of sequence.

A Skywards Saver reward ticket allows a maximum stay of three months from date of travel. A Skywards Flex reward ticket allows a maximum stay of one year from date of travel.

• Europe: Austria, Cyprus, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Malta, Russia, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK
• Middle East: Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, UAE and Yemen
• Far East: China, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, Malaysia, Philippines, Republic of Korea, Singapore and Thailand
• South Asian Sub Continent: Bangladesh, Maldives, India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka
• Africa: Cote D'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Libya, Mauritius, Nigeria, Seychelles, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia and Uganda
• Australasia: Australia and New Zealand
• Americas: Brazil, Canada and USA
  

Yes.  Skywards remains one of the few frequent flyer programmes that allows you to upgrade any type of fare and ticket with your Miles.

Yes.  All members (Blue, Silver and Gold) can use their Skywards Miles to upgrade to either Business Class or First Class.  You can easily upgrade your flights via skywards.com or emirates.com, or via any Emirates contact centre, up to 6 hours before departure.

Silver and Gold members can additionally redeem Instant Upgrade Rewards at check-in or on-board.

We recognise that customers often pay different fares while travelling in the same cabin. Therefore, the Miles required to upgrade reflect a distinction based on the fare purchased.  A Skywards Flex fare  requires less Miles to upgrade compared to a Skywards Saver fare, which requires more Miles.

All tickets issued before 31 December 2009 will continue to follow the current programme structure.  You can view a detailed Miles breakdown for your ticket on skywards.com under 'My Itinerary' or on emirates.com under 'Manage a Booking'. There is also a convenient look-up tool on the Miles Calculator page on skywards.com.

Yes. Your nearest Emirates Contact Centre will be pleased to assist you.

• A claim can be made if the Skywards Miles are not credited into your account one week after your flight. Simply login and fill up the online claim form under Earn & Spend.
• Claims submitted online may be resolved immediately and retroactive miles credited to your account, if all the details provided are correct and match those on record and in our system. You can view the status of your claim in your statement online, when you log in.

• A claim can be submitted if the Miles are not credited into your account one to three weeks after your transaction. You will need to provide the following documents when claiming miles for transactions with our partners:
  1. Airlines : The original boarding pass and a copy of the original ticket.
  2. Hotel stays : A copy of the hotel invoice.
  3. Car rentals : A copy of the car rental agreement except for Hertz rentals whereby a claim can be submitted through the hertz website.
  4. Shopping : A copy of the purchase receipt.

• The transaction is being processed.
• The name given when you booked your tickets was different from the name we have in our Skywards membership records/profile. Please ensure the format used by your Travel Agent/Co-coordinator is:
  • Family Name / First name Middle name Title e.g. for Mr. Mohamed Ismail Abdullah the correct format would be: ABDULLA/MOHAMEDISMAIL MR.
• Your Skywards Membership Number was not provided when you booked or checked in for your flight, or when you made a transaction with one of our non-air partners.
• An incorrect Skywards Membership Number was quoted when you booked or checked in for your flight, or when you made a transaction with one of our non-air partners.
• The activity is beyond the retro claim period (6months from the activity date).
• The transaction is not eligible for accrual.

Yes.  The retrospective period for existing members to claim missing Miles continues to be six months.  For tickets issued after 1 January 2010, this will be calculated from the last flight on your ticket. 

The process for claiming missing Miles via skywards.com is also being simplified, to automatically credit Miles for all flights on a ticket.  You will no longer need to claim missing flights separately, one-by-one.

No. New members can claim Miles for flight transactions undertaken on Emirates two months prior to enrolment.

Your Skywards Miles are valid for three years from the date you earn them, during which you can redeem them at any time for rewards. 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 2005 and your birthday is in August, your Miles will expire on 31st August 2008. Or, if you earned Miles in October 2005 and your birthday is in August, your Miles will expire on 31st August 2009.

Tier miles you earn remain valid for up to 13-months from the day the earning begins.