How I booked an Emirates Airbus A380 first-class award without elite status, and how you can, too
Editor's Note
When I saw the recent news that Emirates had decided to restrict first-class awards to elite Platinum, Gold and Silver members of its Emirates Skywards loyalty program, I thought my dream of flying this aspirational product with onboard bars, showers and unlimited caviar was over.
I have never held, and will likely never hold, any Skywards elite status. Couple this with multiple credit card programs "temporarily" suspending points transfers to Skywards, and I was chalking this up to a "should have booked it when I could" lesson of earning and redeeming points and miles.
However, there's still an easy way to book Emirates first class, and it ultimately helped me achieve my dream after all. Here's what you should know about it.
Related: Emirates first class still wows: Fully enclosed suites and unlimited caviar
We are in the golden age of Qantas points
Learning that Skywards was adding restrictions to its own members' ability to book first-class awards, I naturally assumed they would add similar restrictions to partner airline programs. After all, if an entry-level Skywards member cannot book an Emirates award, why let an entry-level member of another loyalty program do so?
But so far, that hasn't happened.
The best partner programs to book Emirates awards have traditionally been Air Canada's Aeroplan program and Qantas Frequent Flyer. Aeroplan recently began pricing Emirates awards dynamically, and while Aeroplan still has access to first-class awards, these are priced up to 750,000 Aeroplan points per flight, which is not a good deal.
However, Emirates first-class awards are still readily available to all Qantas members using Qantas points, with similar rates and fees, taxes and surcharges as Skywards charges its elite members.
Using my secret weapon, Seats.aero, I easily found multiple nonstop flights from North America to Dubai International Airport (DXB).
Here's an example of some flights available in late September and early October of this year, when the summer temperatures in the Middle East become milder.
Qantas currently charges the following rates for Emirates first-class awards, one-way, per person:
- Flights 0 to 600 miles in length: 29,000 points
- Flights 601 to 1,200 miles in length: 43,500 points
- Flights 1,201 to 2,400 miles in length: 64,500 points (this includes Emirates' new service from Florida to Colombia)
- Flights 2,401 to 3,600 miles in length: 89,800 points (this includes most routes from Europe to Dubai)
- Flights 3,601 to 4,800 miles in length: 107,700 points (this includes Emirates' fifth-freedom routes between North America and Europe)
- Flights 4,801 to 5,800 miles in length: 149,800 points (this includes departures from the Northeast to Dubai)
- Flights 5,801 to 7,000 miles in length: 170,800 points (this includes all other U.S. departures, including from the West Coast)
Related: A review of Emirates business class on the Airbus A380 from New York to Milan
I jumped on this great availability and pricing, booking an Emirates first-class flight from London's Heathrow Airport (LHR) to DXB on the Airbus A380 around two weeks before departure for 89,800 Qantas points plus 572 British pounds, which is about $775 and includes the compulsory Air Passenger Duty tax for all departures from the United Kingdom.
Stay tuned for a full report of my bucket-list flight, but let's just say it exceeded my already high expectations.
Another reason right now is such a great time to consider Qantas points is that for bookings made from Aug. 5 onward, Emirates flights will be priced according to the Qantas award chart (rather than the partner award chart), meaning rates (and surcharges) will mostly increase as follows:
- Flights 0 to 600 miles in length: 29,000 points (no change)
- Flights 601 to 1,200 miles in length: 43,600 points (up by 100 points)
- Flights 1,201 to 2,400 miles in length: 65,300 (up by 1,200 points)
- Flights 2,401 to 3,600 miles in length: 102,600 points (up by 12,800 points)
- Flights 3,601 to 4,800 miles in length: 123,100 (up by 15,400 points)
- Flights 4,801 to 5,800 miles in length: 149,800 points (down by 2,100 points)
- Flights 5,801 to 7,000 miles in length: 170,800 points (no change)
Even though some Emirates first-class award flights from the U.S. booked with Qantas points will decrease slightly for bookings made from Aug. 5 onward, we don't know how long Qantas Frequent Flyer members will have access to such generous Emirates first-class availability.
After all, as this access is better than what's offered to entry-level Skywards members, I wouldn't be surprised if Emirates decides to reduce the number of first-class seats available to partner airline programs like Qantas.
How to earn Qantas points
Qantas points are easy to earn, as Qantas Frequent Flyer is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One and Citi ThankYou Rewards.
Here are some of the best credit card welcome offers available right now that you could leverage to transfer to Qantas at a 1:1 rate:
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 175,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 on purchases in the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- American Express® Gold Card: Find out your offer and see if you are eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $6,000 on purchases within the first six months of card membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 200,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $20,000 on eligible purchases in the first three months of card membership.
- Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.
- Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Plus, upon approval, you'll receive a $250 Capital One Travel credit to use during your first year.
- Citi Strata Premier® Card (see rates and fees): Earn 60,000 bonus points after spending $4,000 on purchases within three months from account opening.
Bottom line
If you want to book Emirates' fabulous first-class product with points and miles and don't have elite status in Emirates' own Skywards loyalty program, this is a great time to look at the Qantas Frequent Flyer program.
Given that entry-level Skywards members no longer have access to these seats, I'd argue availability through Qantas Frequent Flyer has never been better.
The generous award availability may not last, and with most Emirates first-class awards increasing in price for bookings made from Aug. 5 onward, now is the golden age of Qantas points, transferable from Amex, Capital One and Citi.
Related reading:
- The best ways to book Emirates first-class award tickets with points and miles
- Emirates adds new offerings to first class as award tickets face new restrictions
- Just enough bling: A review of Emirates' new premium economy on the A380 from Dubai to London
- Emirates' first revamped 777 takes off with 'A380-inspired' cabin — including premium economy
TPG featured card
at American Express's secure site
Terms & restrictions apply. See rates & fees.
| 3X | Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases. |
Pros
- Delta SkyClub access when flying Delta
- Annual companion ticket for travel on Delta (upon renewal)
- Ability to earn MQDs through spending
- Various statement credits for eligible purchases
Cons
- Steep annual fee of $650
- Other Delta cobranded cards offer superior earning categories
- Earn 100,000 Bonus Miles after you spend $6,000 or more in purchases with your new Card within the first 6 months of Card Membership and an additional 25,000 bonus miles after you make an additional $3,000 in purchases on the Card within your first 6 months, starting from the date that your account is opened. Offer Ends 04/01/2026.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members receive 15 Visits per Medallion® Year to the Delta Sky Club® when flying Delta and can unlock an unlimited number of Visits after spending $75,000 in purchases on your Card in a calendar year. Plus, you’ll receive four One-Time Guest Passes each Medallion Year so you can share the experience with family and friends when traveling Delta together.
- Enjoy complimentary access to The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. and select international locations (as set forth on the Centurion Lounge Website), Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge in the U.S. (see the Centurion Lounge Website for more information on Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge availability), and Escape Lounges when flying on a Delta flight booked with the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card. § To access Sidecar by The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 90 minutes of their departing flight (including layovers). To access The Centurion® Lounge, Card Members must arrive within 3 hours of their departing flight. Effective July 8, 2026, during a layover, Card Members must arrive within 5 hours of the connecting flight.
- Receive $2,500 Medallion® Qualification Dollars with MQD Headstart each Medallion Qualification Year and earn $1 MQD for each $10 in purchases on your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card with MQD Boost to get closer to Status next Medallion Year.
- Enjoy a Companion Certificate on a Delta First, Delta Comfort, or Delta Main round-trip flight to select destinations each year after renewal of your Card. The Companion Certificate requires payment of government-imposed taxes and fees of between $22 and $250 (for itineraries with up to four flight segments). Baggage charges and other restrictions apply. Delta Basic experiences are not eligible for this benefit.
- $240 Resy Credit: When you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card for eligible purchases with U.S. Resy restaurants, you can earn up to $20 each month in statement credits. Enrollment required.
- $120 Rideshare Credit: Earn up to $10 back in statement credits each month after you use your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card to pay for U.S. rideshare purchases with select providers. Enrollment required.
- Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card Members get 15% off when using miles to book Award Travel on Delta flights through delta.com and the Fly Delta app. Discount not applicable to partner-operated flights or to taxes and fees.
- With your Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card, receive upgrade priority over others with the same Medallion tier, product and fare experience purchased, and Million Miler milestone when you fly with Delta.
- Earn 3X Miles on Delta purchases and earn 1X Miles on all other eligible purchases.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees. Enjoy international travel without additional fees on purchases made abroad.
- $650 Annual Fee.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees