Emirates restricts first class awards to elite members only

[VPS]

Do you think this means you won't get Qantas awards in F either

https://loyaltylobby.com/2025/05/10/emirates-restricts-first-class-awards-only-to-skywards-elite-members-from-may-12-2025/

 

[AFF Editor]

Do you think this means you won't get Qantas awards in F either

https://loyaltylobby.com/2025/05/10/emirates-restricts-first-class-awards-only-to-skywards-elite-members-from-may-12-2025/

I have been in touch with both Emirates and Qantas to try to get an answer to this question. Will provide an update if/when I have more info.

Based on the very limited information currently available (literally the only notice Emirates has given of this upcoming change is one line on a few pages of its website), it does seem like QFF members might be about to lose access to Classic Reward seats in Emirates First Class from Monday. Hopefully not, but the notice from Emirates seems to indicate that.

If this is true, it means that tomorrow (Sunday 11 May) would be the last day you can redeem Qantas Points to book Emirates First seats. So, get in quick!

I've also published an article about this:

Qantas Members Losing Access to Emirates First Class Rewards?

Emirates is now restricting access to its First Class reward seats to Skywards members who have status. It's given barely two days of notice about this change which also blocks Qantas redemptions in Emirates First Class.

www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au

 

[Human]

@AFF Editor Could you also try to find out whether same-day upgrades to First using points will still be available to non-Skywards elite members?

 

[SCM]

Damn

 

[moa999]

At this point the note doesn't seem to mean much for QFF (albeit I wouldn't be surprised to see it extended to QF Bronze), but time will tell

I assume they've found a number of credit card churners/ earners signing up and dumping points for First class. That pattern is different to your typical QF elite

 

[sudoer]

This was the push I needed to book a long weekend in CHC ...

 

[anat0l]

Damn

Ah well, party is over. Don't have enough points to book a seat anywhere in the system.

I'm glad I got to try both A380 and new B777 F variants. It was also a fairly decent way to get into the EK F lounges at DXB.

Of course, it was always going to be something else when they upped the co-charges. I guess that wasn't enough of a "deterrent" against churners, if that was what indeed was happening (wouldn't be too much a surprise). Ironically, EK would have one of the largest collective pools of First Class award seats in the world, but at least now it's truly their members who can enjoy them, which I suppose is a good thing - heavens knows how many of them must be frustrated by all the non-EK partners hoovering up the good seats.

 

[andye]

This was the push I needed to book a long weekend in CHC ...

I had the same thought but didn't seem to be able to even search for EK First to NZ tonight

 

[sudoer]

I had the same thought but didn't seem to be able to even search for EK First to NZ tonight

I ran into a few 500 errors but with a bit of persistence was able to book two oneways.

 

[AFF Editor]

@AFF Editor Could you also try to find out whether same-day upgrades to First using points will still be available to non-Skywards elite members?

I haven't seen anything indicating changes to Skywards upgrades.

 

[andye]

I ran into a few 500 errors but with a bit of persistence was able to book two oneways.

Thanks for encouraging me to try again. Quite a few singles but no pairs

 

[kpc]

Thanks for encouraging me to try again. Quite a few singles but no pairs

Yeah, I booked 1 Chc-Syd in F, and 1 in J

Last hurrah in EK F A380 if above reports are correct....if not, cancellation costs are very modest

 

[masco131]

First class VIE-DXB-MEL in F booked.

Will get to try both a380 and new B777 seats, I really hope this is not true and does not give other airlines some idea

 

[trippin_the_rift]

Good move by Emirates.

 

[am0985]

Really devalues Qantas points. This was one of the best uses of them and EK J isn't remotely worth it given the carrier charges are the same.

Also is a little odd as availability on EK F with QF points had been pretty good so it's not like there was a shortage. Wonder if we'll see exceptions eg on SYD - CHC, the F is often so empty on this route!