The Subscription Airline Loyalty Program

Emirates’ Skywards loyalty program already offers members several benefits, with opportunities to earn Skyward miles and tier miles on Emirates and flydubai flights, as well as services operated by the airline’s partners. The Dubai-based carrier offers frequent flyers additional benefits through Skywards+, which requires an annual subscription.

What is Emirates Skywards+?

Skywards+ is an online subscription that can be purchased from Emirates for an annual fee. It is open to Skywards members over the age of 18. To become a Skywards member, one can register for free on the airline’s website. Skywards+ offers three packages: Classic, Advanced, and Premium. They each have unique benefits and different annual fees.

Photo: Emirates

If you decide to join Skywards+, you must pay your subscription fee, after which you will receive a confirmation email with a receipt. The next time you sign in to your loyalty account, you will see Skywards+ written alongside your other membership details. A Skywards+ subscription is valid for 12 months from the subscription date and is non-refundable or transferable. The subscription expires on the last day of the 12th month.

Skywards+ packages and subscription fees

With the various benefits that come with being a Skywards member, you do not have to worry about the Skywards+ subscription affecting your regular tier benefits. You can enjoy Skywards+ benefits in addition to your regular benefits and rewards. However, if you qualify for more than one benefit, only the higher one will be granted.

Photo: Emirates

You can choose one of three packages with increasing benefits and advantages, including bonus miles, flight rewards, airport lounge access, and other rewards when booked on the Emirates website. The packages have the following subscription fees:

• Classic: $399 per year
• Advanced: $699 per year
• Premium: $999 per year

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Despite its lack of alliance membership, there are some good parts to the program.

The different packages and their benefits

Skywards+ Classic

As expected, all Skywards+ Classic benefits are also available in other packages. Classic benefits include:

• 20% bonus Skywards miles
• 20% discount on classic rewards
• Preferential cash+miles rates
• Earning 10,000 bonus miles with Emirates Vacations.
• 2x airport lounge access
• Additional 5kg checked-in baggage allowance

Photo: Emirates

All Skywards+ members qualify for bonus Skywards miles at a rate of 20% of base miles plus tier bonus miles. However, this does not apply to any other miles like promotional Skywards miles. You can earn bonus miles on Emirates flights with tickets (including cash+miles) issued online through the website, flydubai flights with tickets eligible for earning Skyward miles, and flight tickets issued offline through Emirates Vacation and Emirates Experience.

Skywards+ Advanced

Skywards+ Advanced has a few more benefits in addition to the benefits granted in the Classic package. These include:

• 20% discount on upgrade rewards
• 5x airport lounge access
• Additional 10kg checked-in baggage allowance
• An additional piece of checked-in baggage allowance

Skywards+ Advanced and Premium members qualify for upgrade reward discount benefits, which are not available for Classic subscribers. However, only commercial tickets booked through the Emirates website are eligible for upgrade reward discount benefits.

Furthermore, the discount benefits are only available for upgrade rewards used online through the website or at check-in. Tickets issued in Flex and Flex Plus fare brands qualify for upgrade discounts, while Special Fare tickets and Saver Fare tickets do not qualify for discount benefits.

Skyward+ Premium

As you would guess, the Skywards+ Premium package has the most benefits. In addition to the Classic and Advanced benefits, it also offers:

• 20% bonus tier miles
• 10x airport lounge access
• Extra 10kg checked-in baggage allowance
• An additional piece of checked-in baggage allowance

At $999 per year, Skywards+ Premium is the only package that offers bonus tier miles. Premium subscribers qualify for up to 20% of the total tier miles earned (excluding promotional tier miles) on Emirates flights with tickets issued through the website, flydubai flights that are eligible for earning Skywards miles, and flight tickets issued offline through Emirates Vacations and Emirates Dubai Experience.

Photo: Dubai International Airport

Flights must be taken during the relevant 12-month subscription period. The rate at which Premium subscribers can earn tier miles shall be set by the airline. If you qualify to receive bonus tier miles through your subscription and a separate promotion, you will not receive both benefits. However, you will receive the benefit that grants you the highest bonus tier miles.

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Skywards members can spend their miles earned on travel with the airline and its partners.

Benefits for all members

As seen above, there are certain benefits that all members get, regardless of their Skywards+ package. These include bonus Skywards miles, discounts on classic rewards, preferential miles+cash rates, and lounge access. Additional baggage allowances, on the other hand, depend on your package.

One-time discounted Classic rewards

According to Emirates, each member, regardless of their package, qualifies for a one-time-only discount on a Classic reward flight on eligible Emirates services. The relevant Classic reward has to be redeemed within the active subscription period.

If you are making a group booking, the Classic rewards discount will apply to all Classic reward tickets within the booking once used by the relevant Skyward+ member. The discount is only available on one-way and return flights.

Preferential cash+miles rates

All Skywards+ members receive preferential cash+miles rates for eligible bookings made during the subscription period. You can see the special rates when making your payment after selecting cash+miles as your payment option. Preferential cash+miles rates are limited to eligible bookings made and issued on the website.

Emirates business class lounge access

All members will have access to Emirates’ world-class business lounges when flying on eligible Emirates flights. Classic members will be granted two single-entry permits, while Advanced members will be granted five single-entry permits during their subscription period. Premium members get up to ten single-entry permits.

Photo: Emirates

Emirates runs its own lounges at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and various other locations worldwide, including Johannesburg, Sydney, Beijing, Tokyo, Frankfurt, London, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and New York JFK. While access is for one person, an entry permit can be used by the Skywards+ member or an accompanying guest traveling onward on the same flight. Skywards+ lounge access remains subject to availability and cannot be guaranteed at any time.

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