Inside the new A380 Emirates First Class lounge (or is that First Class Terminal?)

If you like luxury airport lounges, I recommend this article from US site One Mile At A Time.

Ben got to visit the new A380 pier in Dubai Airport’s Terminal 3. This is truly a unique design, with economy, business and first class passengers each having THEIR OWN FLOOR in the terminal.

It looks, at first glance, like any other airport terminal:

…. except that the whole floor is for Emirates first class A380 passengers. Every bar is free. Every cafe is free. All the shops are luxury outlets. And with just 18 passengers maximum per flight leaving from the terminal, it is hardly going to get busy.

It is well worth a read.

It is also worth adding that I hope to be at Lufthansa’s First Class Terminal again – which Ben picks as his best lounge in the world – next month, so watch out for my report.

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How to earn Emirates Skywards miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)

Emirates Skywards does not have a UK credit card.  However, you can earn Emirates Skywards miles by converting Membership Rewards points earned from selected UK American Express cards.

Cards earning Membership Rewards points include:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 15,000 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for your first year and also comes with four free airport lounge passes.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

• The Platinum Card from American Express (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 37,500 Emirates Skywards miles

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

• American Express Rewards credit card (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 7,500 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for life.

Membership Rewards points convert at 4:3 into Emirates Skywards miles which is an attractive rate.  The cards above all earn 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent on your card, which converts to 0.75 Emirates Skywards miles

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card earns double points (2 per £1) on all flights you charge to it, not just with Emirates but with any airline.