Emirates redemptions from Milan / Athens to New York devalued but taxes stay low

Just before Christmas we published a piece about a secret (and it remains a secret, to the extent that members have not been told) devaluation by the Emirates Skywards programme.

Here is the new headline pricing from Europe to Dubai as an example of the changes:

• Business Saver – 54,000 Skywards miles each way, but needs to be booked as a round-trip at 108,000 miles and availability is very restricted – was 90,000 miles return (up 20%)
• Business Flex – 87,000 Skywards miles one way – was 72,500 miles (up 20%)
• First Flex – 102,000 Skywards miles one way – was 85,000 miles (up 20%)

Here is some example one-way pricing from London in Business Class:

The total price for a return in Business Class to Dubai is 174,000 miles and £950 of taxes and charges. This is ludicrous, given that it isn’t too unusual to see £999 cash tickets in Business Class to Dubai on (admittedly lesser) airlines.

It’s interesting to note that, even though I was looking at midweek flights for mid June which is both a long way ahead and very much not peak season, there was NO Business Saver availability showing.

The ‘Europe to New York’ fifth freedom routes are not so bad

Emirates runs a few interesting ‘Fifth Freedom’ routes.

These are flights which neither start or end in Dubai, because they are tagged on to the end of another flight – but for which you can buy tickets as a standalone flight.

There are two options to the United States from Europe:

• Milan to New York JFK
• Athens to Newark

HfP readers often found these flights useful, partly because taxes were modest and partly because it was a good way of using some Emirates miles if you didn’t want to head back to or through the Middle East. It was also a way to try out the Emirates premium cabins relatively cheaply if you wouldn’t otherwise get the chance.

Historically, these flights cost the same as a flight from the UK to Dubai, ie:

• 85,000 miles one way in First Class
• 72,500 miles one way in Business Class
• 90,000 miles return as a Business Saver redemption

Here are the new prices:

• 102,000 miles one way in First Class
• 87,000 miles one way in Business Class
• 108,000 miles return as a Business Class Saver redemption

The mileage requirement for these flights has gone up by 20% in line with flights between the UK and Dubai. Not great, but manageable.

The taxes are still really low, however

The taxes and charges on these routes are still very reasonable. In fact, they are a bargain compared with flying British Airways or Virgin Atlantic to New York.

Between Milan and New York, you pay €130 in taxes and charges for a one way First Class or Business Class ticket and €226 return.

Between Athens and Newark, you pay €136 for a one way First Class or Business Class ticket and €232 return.

If you have always wanted to give Emirates a try – especially in First Class – but were put off by the high taxes on Middle East flights, or simply prefer New York to Dubai, then these two routes:

• Milan to New York JFK
• Athens to Newark

…. offer a great opportunity.

The best way to get hold of Emirates Skywards miles from a UK credit card is via transfers from American Express Membership Rewards points. The transfer rate is 1:1. We published a complete guide to earning Emirates Skywards miles from UK credit cards which you can find here.

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How to earn Emirates Skywards miles from UK credit cards (March 2024)

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 20,000 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for your first year and also comes with four free airport lounge passes.

• The Platinum Card from American Express (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 40,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 40,000 Emirates Skywards miles

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

Membership Rewards points convert at 1:1 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 1 Emirates Skywards mile. The Gold card earns double points (2 per £1) on all flights you charge to it.