Get 2020 free Emirates miles – and Emirates returns to Newcastle

Emirates has launched a new promotion, tied into Expo 2020 which opens in Dubai this Autumn, for anyone opening an Emirates Skywards account.

Open a new Skywards account and you will immediately receive 2,020 miles – for free.

These can be used for a $20 discount on an Emirates flight. More interestingly, you might find them useful if our recent article on using Emirates miles for Arsenal tickets appealed.

It looks like tickets for Arsenal matches against weak opposition will cost 5,000 Emirates Skywards miles, based on the Norwich City game. With 2,020 miles in the bag from this promotion, you would only need to transfer 3,000 points from American Express Membership Rewards to have enough for a ticket.

Details of how to receive your 2,020 Emirates Skywards miles can be found via this link. Don’t forget to use the EXPO2020 promo code.

Emirates returns to Newcastle Airport

Just days after announcing that it would be back to 73 weekly UK flights at the end of October, Emirates has announced that Newcastle Airport is also returning to its map.

There will be four weekly flights, starting from 15th October.

Services will operate on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday, leaving Newcastle at 21.10 for a 07.25 arrival into Dubai. The return leaves Dubai at a handy 14.30, arriving at 17.10.

Flights are currently scheduled on a two-class Boeing 777.

Heathrow goes ‘all A380’

In a separate announcement, Emirates has confirmed that its Heathrow service will be back to ‘all A380’ from 1st November.

At present, one daily service is operated with a Boeing 777.

Outside the UK, Emirates has brought forward its plans to introduce extra flights and capacity to Barcelona, Brussels, Dublin, Dusseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Lisbon, Madrid, Munich, Rome, and Zurich.

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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.