Emirates Skywards to offer First Class Redemptions only to Skywards Elite members as of May 12, 2025

Emirates First Class lovers, there is a significant change coming. The airline has just announced a restriction on the availability of First Class Awards on Emirates, albeit not in a big way.

Emirates takes away first-class awards for non-elite members.

Emirates Skywards has announced that as of Monday, May 12, 2025, the airline will limit first-class redemptions only for members with status in the Emirates Skywards programme. This implies that only Platinum, Gold, and Silver members of Emirates Skywards will be able to access First Class Classic award seats on the airline. This announcement only came out of the blue only this morning, so there is hardly any notice.

Here is what we see once we arrive on the Emirates page.

This closes one more way of accessing Emirates First Class awards, a change that has come through the years. Emirates does not offer many partners the ability to redeem for Emirates First Class. Aeroplan recently returned, but with a special award chart that costs more. Now, even Emirates’ non-elite members can’t access these awards.

The image shows a luxurious first-class airplane seat. The seat is spacious and upholstered in light gray leather, with a large pillow and a blanket placed on it. There is a wooden panel with a built-in touchscreen and a small compartment containing various amenities, such as bottled water and snacks. The area is well-lit, and there are two windows with wooden trim next to the seat.

Emirates First Class on the Boeing 777

There is an easy way to get Emirates status, though. Sign up for the Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card, which will give you Silver Status, and Gold if you spend a certain amount of money during the year. This seems to be the most straightforward workaround to earn elite status.

Bottomline

As of May 12, 2025, Emirates Skywards will limit access to first-class award redemptions to its Platinum, Gold, or Silver status holding members. This is a change, just within 36 hours of notice. The easiest method to get this status is with the Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde Credit Card, which will give you Silver Status.

What do you think of Emirates’ new first-class award policy?

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