Emirates restricts first class awards to elite members only

[anat0l]

Given they've specifically mentioned that Skywards members in various countries can get Silver by opening Emirates credit cards, I'm guessing the aim is to drive sign ups.

That's a fair point. I don't know if the EK credit cards give signup bonuses, but I'm going to factor a guess that even a single churn won't yield a useful award (or even one in F, except maybe something like DXB-MCT). Of course, one could shove their spend into the card (which also helps retain the status), but at that point EK has achieved a goal.

As I referenced before, if you're lucky/savvy/rich/bold enough to hold multiple credit cards (e.g. in the US), you could signup for an EK card to at least unlock the status barrier then use any other card that sweeps to EK to earn the points.

If you're a low frequency flyer but you still spend a lot, you can maintain EK status based on annual spend on certain credit cards (or so I'm lead to believe), so they are not affected by this.....

 

[lovestotravel]

Was planning to use my 650k plus QF points on EK. Let's see if there's anything left in March/April 2026.

March is drying up fast, of course way way more availability booking with EK directly

To me is seems EK has limited the number of seats available to QF, which seemed to start about a month ago

 

[aikman]

I didn't think EK F was that popular because of the high taxes. Is the sudden interest only because of the scarcity factor or has there been a large but quiet group of QFFers booking EK F all this time?

 

[am0985]

I didn't think EK F was that popular because of the high taxes. Is the sudden interest only because of the scarcity factor or has there been a large but quiet group of QFFers booking EK F all this time?

EK F is still worth it even with the high carrier charges. You can literally eat and drink the lions share of those back on a typical trip.

It's EK J which is no longer worth it. The charges are the same as F.

 

[levelnine]

QFF has hardly ever set the world on fire with redemptions, so why would US churners start now? Not sure what kind of redemptions are good to/from the US with QFF points, let alone those that a credit card churn (single one) can access.

Also, as I surmised before, you only need EK status to access EK F redemptions, and it's quite easy to get EK Silver straight away via a seemingly cheap credit card (even Emirates seems to suggest this so). So this is kind of a non-event in a way, especially for churners that EK would seemingly want to stop.

People in the US avoid getting useless personal credit cards because they add to their 5/24 status (which locks them out of Chase cards).

Far easier to transfer the millions of points they will have from Amex/Citi/CapitalOne to Qantas and redeem that way.

I've already seen an uptick in the number of brokers wanting to buy Qantas points in the last day or two.

 

[elanshin]

I didn't think EK F was that popular because of the high taxes. Is the sudden interest only because of the scarcity factor or has there been a large but quiet group of QFFers booking EK F all this time?

Given the taxes are generally the same for J and F, its "more value" to go for F. Also as a whole EK F is one of those bucket list items for a lot of people with the decor on board, the shower etc.

 

[lovestotravel]

Good luck finding F and even J through QF now, seems to be lots less availability (noting quite a few F seats would have been booked in the past few days)

 

[iamsuperandrew]

Good luck finding F and even J through QF now, seems to be lots less availability (noting quite a few F seats would have been booked in the past few days)

I am noticing that

 

[lovestotravel]

I am noticing that

Yes EK have reduced the number of J and F seats available to QF that's for sure

 

[thrillho]

A decade ago you'd be right.

Now it will spread like wildfire on TikTok and the blogs.

I mean the blogs are one thing, if we're on AFF we use the blogs too. We usually go searching specifically for this stuff, it stays a little more niche.

But the TikTok generation are insufferable. They won't have any pre existing interest but the video will pop up on their feed and they'll suddenly decide they want it.

Weird attitude to have towards the “TT generation”. I’m 32 and use it for information such as this, as well as trip reports, deals, etc.

Just because it’s different to a forum doesn’t make it “insufferable” or wrong.

 

[TAK]

SHHHH! Dont let Emirates find out

 

[VC10]

Agree with others. Let's not draw attention to this (oops - you already have!)

 

[doctau]

That's a fair point. I don't know if the EK credit cards give signup bonuses, but I'm going to factor a guess that even a single churn won't yield a useful award (or even one in F, except maybe something like DXB-MCT). Of course, one could shove their spend into the card (which also helps retain the status), but at that point EK has achieved a goal.

As I referenced before, if you're lucky/savvy/rich/bold enough to hold multiple credit cards (e.g. in the US), you could signup for an EK card to at least unlock the status barrier then use any other card that sweeps to EK to earn the points.

If you're a low frequency flyer but you still spend a lot, you can maintain EK status based on annual spend on certain credit cards (or so I'm lead to believe), so they are not affected by this.....

In the UAE, the Visa Signature (above platinum below Infinite) level co-branded cards give you free EK silver. That level debit cards may do too. The minimum salary is the equivalent of AUD 5k per month, which wouldn’t be hard for anyone who is concerned if they fly F or not.

Infinite level cards give 100k skywards miles as standard sign up bonus (subject to spend requirement). DXB to east coast Aus is 152k one way in J, so sign up bonuses alone won’t be enough for those of us who live here. Those in countries like the US are a different matter.

Post automatically merged: Today at 3:43 PM

That's a fair point. I don't know if the EK credit cards give signup bonuses, but I'm going to factor a guess that even a single churn won't yield a useful award (or even one in F, except maybe something like DXB-MCT). Of course, one could shove their spend into the card (which also helps retain the status), but at that point EK has achieved a goal.

As I referenced before, if you're lucky/savvy/rich/bold enough to hold multiple credit cards (e.g. in the US), you could signup for an EK card to at least unlock the status barrier then use any other card that sweeps to EK to earn the points.

If you're a low frequency flyer but you still spend a lot, you can maintain EK status based on annual spend on certain credit cards (or so I'm lead to believe), so they are not affected by this.....

In the UAE, the Visa Signature (above platinum below Infinite) level co-branded cards give you free EK silver. That level debit cards may do too. The minimum salary is the equivalent of AUD 5k per month, which wouldn’t be hard for anyone who is concerned if they fly F or not.

Infinite level cards give 100k skywards miles as standard. DXB to east coast Aus is 152k one way in J

 

[iamsuperandrew]

In the UAE, the Visa Signature (above platinum below Infinite) level co-branded cards give you free EK silver. That level debit cards may do too. The minimum salary is the equivalent of AUD 5k per month, which wouldn’t be hard for anyone who is concerned if they fly F or not.

Infinite level cards give 100k skywards miles as standard sign up bonus (subject to spend requirement). DXB to east coast Aus is 152k one way in J, so sign up bonuses alone won’t be enough for those of us who live here. Those in countries like the US are a different matter.

Post automatically merged: Today at 3:43 PM

In the UAE, the Visa Signature (above platinum below Infinite) level co-branded cards give you free EK silver. That level debit cards may do too. The minimum salary is the equivalent of AUD 5k per month, which wouldn’t be hard for anyone who is concerned if they fly F or not.

Infinite level cards give 100k skywards miles as standard. DXB to east coast Aus is 152k one way in J

Im assuming AU residents cant get that card?

 

[doctau]

Im assuming AU residents cant get that card?

As far as I know you need a residence permit from an employment/freelance/golden visa (or an application for one, but the card would be cancelled if the visa isn’t approved).

If you have a spare million dollars in cash you can get a golden visa by investing in real estate here (AED 2mil without a loan), but that might be a bit much to just get the opportunity for EK F awards!