Emirates announces plan to offer first-ever U.S. credit card
This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit this page.
Some of the nicest business- and first-class products are offered by the Big Three Middle East airlines — Emirates, Etihad and Qatar Airways. Booking these premium cabins with miles is possible thanks airline partnerships and the ability to earn points that transfer to foreign airlines. While there are a few options when it comes to opening a credit card from an international airline, there hasn’t been a cobranded airline credit card option available to anyone based in the U.S. for a Middle Eastern airline — until now.
Barclays today announced a new partnership with Emirates for a new credit card. “We’ve just partnered with Emirates, the world’s largest international airline, to provide a new cobranded credit card to U.S. consumers this spring,” said Barclays Group CEO Jes Staley on a conference call. “This is a great growth opportunity for Barclays and adds to the strong and profitable partnerships we have with top brands in the U.S. like American Airlines and Uber.”
Details are scarce, but many of the current cobranded airline cards that Barclays issues come with minimum spending requirements that are very reasonable. Plus, any news that can get you closer to flying in an Emirates premium cabin is good news.
To get more information about this offer when it’s released, sign up for our free daily newsletter.
Earning Emirates Skywards miles
When it comes to earning Emirates Skywards miles, this new card has a tall task in front of it because currently, you can transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points (1:1), Amex Membership Rewards points (1:1), Capital One miles (2:1) and Marriott points (3:1) to Emirates.
The Chase Sapphire Reserve® earns 3x points on travel and dining and the The Platinum Card® from American Express earns 5x points on flight booked directly with the airline or through Amex Travel (up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year). You can also earn 4x points by swiping your American Express® Gold Card at restaurants, and you’ll enjoy the same 4x rate at U.S. supermarkets (up to $25,000 in yearly spending per calendar year, then 1x).
It’s hard for a single cobranded airline credit card to beat those earning rates. There are a few cards that earn 3x points/miles for flights booked with their specific airline (via some of the Delta credit cards, for example), but you’re often better off earning transferrable points if you can. So I don’t expect the main attraction for this card to be the miles you can earn from your spending, though we could always be surprised.
Related reading: The top credit cards from international airlines
The welcome bonuses for other Barclays cobranded airline cards usually vary from between 40,000 and 75,000 miles. If this card has a similar offer, the bonus would be worth $480-$900 based on TPG’s valuation of Emirates miles. That’s a solid offer, but not necessarily in the realm of those that are worth $1,000 or more. What I’d like to see with the card are stand-out benefits that make it worth having and holding long term.
For example, the United Airlines credit cards all come with expanded award availability on United-operated flights, and the Delta SkyMiles® Reserve American Express Card and Delta SkyMiles® Reserve Business American Express Card both offer cardholders access to complimentary upgrades if you don’t have Delta Medallion status.
What would be great is for this card to something similar to the award fee credits that come with British Airways Visa Signature® Card. Each year, cardholders can earn up $600 in statement credits for the taxes and fees on British Airways award flights departing from the U.S. A perk like this would greatly increase the value of Emirates award flights because the taxes and fees can be high, especially if you’re booking a premium cabin. A companion certificate could also be a great built-in perk.
Redeeming Emirates Skywards miles
Unfortunately, redeeming Skywards miles for Emirates flights isn’t always the cheapest option — and that’s before you factor in what you’ll pay in taxes and fees. Economy awards have much more reasonable fees than business or first class. While you’re obviously spend more miles (and fees) for a first class flight than one in economy, the value you’ll get can easily make it worth the cost.
Emirates isn’t part of any of the three big airline alliances; instead it partners with 15 airlines, including JetBlue, Qantas, Alaska Airlines, TAP Portugal, Japan Airlines and Korean Air. Emirates has different award chart for each partner, and there are some sweet spots.
For example, booking Japan Airlines awards departing from the U.S. can be a good deal with Emirates miles. For only 125,000 miles you can book a round-trip business-class award from the U.S. to places like Japan, Guam and South Korea. And you can book domestic flights with Alaska Airlines (from 12,500 miles one-way) and JetBlue (from 7,500 miles one-way).
You can read our guide to Emirates Skywards for more details on how to make the most of the program. And watch this space for any further details about the upcoming Emirates credit card.
Featured photo by Fabrizio Gandolfo/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images
Sign-up Successful!
Welcome to The Points Guy!
WELCOME OFFER: 100,000 Points Terms Apply.
TPG'S BONUS VALUATION*: $2,000
CARD HIGHLIGHTS: Delta Sky Club and Centurion lounge access, up to $200 annual airline fee credit and up to $200 in Uber Cash annually (only for use in the U.S.) (Enrollment required for select benefits)
*Bonus value is an estimated value calculated by TPG and not the card issuer. View our latest valuations here.
- Earn 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Plus, earn 10x points on eligible purchases on the Card at restaurants worldwide and when you Shop Small in the U.S., on up to $25,000 in combined purchases, during your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
- $200 Hotel Credit: Get $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts® or The Hotel Collection bookings with American Express Travel when you pay with your Platinum Card®.
- $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 in statement credits each month when you pay for eligible purchases with the Platinum Card® at your choice of one or more of the following providers: Peacock, Audible, SiriusXM, and The New York Times. Enrollment required.
- New! American Express has expanded The Centurion® Network to include 40+ Centurion Lounge and Studio locations worldwide. Now there are even more places your Platinum Card® can get you complimentary entry and exclusive perks.
- $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one qualifying airline.
- $200 Uber Cash: Enjoy Uber VIP status and up to $200 in Uber savings on rides or eats orders in the US annually. Uber Cash and Uber VIP status available to Basic Card Member only.
- $300 Equinox Credit: Get up to $25 back each month on select Equinox memberships. Enrollment required.
- $179 CLEAR® Credit: Use your Card and get up to $179 back per year on your CLEAR® membership.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- See Rates & Fees
Disclaimer: The responses below are not provided or commissioned by the bank advertiser. Responses have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by the bank advertiser. It is not the bank advertiser’s responsibility to ensure all posts and/or questions are answered.
Editorial Disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airlines or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.