There are 24 FAQs for Emirates Skywards: Membership Benefits.

What are the benefits of each of the different membership tiers?

There are lots of things to look forward to in every tier, from instant upgrades to access to airport lounges and more bonus Miles when you fly. Please visit the Membership Benefits page for more information.

Can my family or travelling companion benefit from my tier membership when they travel?

There are several ways in which your travelling companions might benefit from your membership when they travel with you.

An Emirates Skywards member of any tier can buy instant upgrade rewards with Skywards Miles at the check-in desk for companions who are travelling with them on the same flight. Silver, Gold and Platinum members can also take advantage of this service on board the aircraft.

Gold and Platinum members travelling in any class, may also invite guests into the airport lounge with them. Please see the FAQ on lounge access for more details.

Travelling companions of Platinum members may benefit from priority baggage delivery, subject to availability. Platinum members may nominate another Emirates Skywards member for a complimentary Gold Partner card.

What are guaranteed seat reservations and how do I get one?

If you are a Gold member with a a Skywards Flex Fare commercial ticket, in any class, with no minimum/maximum stay restrictions*, we will guarantee an Economy Class seat for you if no tickets are available in any other class on your flight. This service is only available if you have given us your Emirates e-ticket number and made your reservation at least 48 hours before the flight. You will also need to send a copy of your ticket to the nearest Emirates Contact Centre. On the day of your flight, please make sure you check in at least 90 minutes before the flight departs to guarantee your seat.

If you are a Platinum member with a a Skywards Flex Fare commercial ticket, in any class, with no minimum/maximum stay restrictions*, we will guarantee a Business or Economy Class seat for you if no tickets are available in any other class on your flight. This service is only available if you have given us your Emirates e-ticket number and made your reservation at least 48 hours before the flight. You will also need to send a copy of your ticket to the nearest Emirates Contact Centre. On the day of your flight, please make sure you check in at least 90 minutes before the flight departs to guarantee your seat.

*Please review Fare Conditions and applicable restrictions on emirates.com at the time of booking.

What is a Last Seat Skywards Flex reward?

Our Platinum members can redeem Skywards Miles for a Business Class or Economy Class Skywards Flex reward ticket, even on high-demand flights with restricted availability. The Last Seat benefit only applies to online bookings.

What is a Gold Partner card?

Platinum members may nominate another Emirates Skywards member for a Gold Partner card. This could be a spouse, family member, friend or business colleague. The Gold Partner nomination must be made within ten months of the Platinum member achieving Platinum status. Members wishing to nominate a Gold Partner should call their local Emirates office and provide the membership number, name and email address of their chosen nominee.

How long is the Gold Partner card valid?

The Gold Partner will be linked to the Platinum member for as long as the Platinum member retains his or her tier status. However, if the Platinum member is downgraded, the nominated Gold Partner will keep their Gold status until their next tier review date, at which point they will retain Gold status only if they have achieved 50,000 Tier Miles, or flown 50 qualifying flights.

Can I change my Gold Partner nominee?

A Gold Partner can only be changed after the 12-month tier cycle is completed and this can only be done by calling an Emirates Contact Centre. If a Gold Partner cardholder achieves Platinum status in their own right, then the Platinum member may nominate another Gold Partner.

Am I automatically entitled to free upgrades when I travel if I am an Emirates Skywards member?

If you are a Blue, Silver, Gold or Platinum member, upgrades on Emirates flights can only be obtained in exchange for Skywards Miles or for cash, where applicable.

How do I book an instant upgrade reward?

Any Emirates Skywards member can spend Skywards Miles on instant upgrades at the check-in desk. If you are a Silver, Gold or Platinum member, you can also take advantage of this service on board the aircraft. You can also spend your Miles on instant upgrades for travelling companions. Simply ask one of our check-in staff or crew members to assist you.

Please note that instant upgrades are subject to seat availability and Skysurfer Miles cannot be used for instant upgrades.

Can I upgrade one part of a multi-flight journey?

Depending on the zones you are flying through and where you stopover or transit, it may be possible to upgrade just one section of your journey.

If you are travelling on a multi-flight journey where partial upgrading is allowed and you would like to use your Skywards Miles for an instant upgrade at the check-in desk, you will also need to make additional requests at any transfer desks or stopover destinations. Please ask for more details when you first check in.

Please note that on some multi-flight journeys, you will be upgraded only if seats are available on the entire journey. Please call your nearest Emirates Contact Centre regarding a specific booking.

Will I receive a higher baggage allowance if I upgrade? Will it apply to all sectors of the flight?

If you upgrade online or at check-in you will receive the excess baggage allowance applicable to the class of your upgrade. Please read the FAQ to see where exceptions to excess baggage allowances may apply due to airport regulations.

If you are travelling on multiple flights during one journey, an upgraded baggage allowance only applies to the part of the journey that has been upgraded. On the other flights during the journey, you will need to either upgrade again or pay the extra fee for the heavier baggage.

If I upgrade, will I be served meals as per the purchased class or the upgraded class?

If you have confirmed an upgrade at least 48 hours before you travel then you will be able to choose a meal from the menu in your upgraded cabin class. If you have upgraded less than 48 hours prior to your flight, or if you take advantage of our instant upgrade service at the check-in desk or on board, then we will do our best to accommodate you with a meal from the upgraded cabin class menu. If meals are not available, we will serve you your meal from the original booking class menu. Please note that this does not apply to special meals; for example, if you have ordered a vegetarian or gluten-free meal in advance, this will be served from the original booking class menu.

If I spend Miles on an instant upgrade, can I take advantage of the complimentary Chauffeur-drive service?

Due to the limited notice period of an instant upgrade, we are not able to offer this additional service. However, if you upgrade at least 48 hours prior to travel using our online Manage a Booking facility or through an Emirates Contact Centre, then the Chauffeur-drive service will be available to you.

Can I use the Miles earned on my current flight towards an instant upgrade on the same flight?

You will need to have sufficient Skywards Miles in your account at the check-in desk or on board to get an instant upgrade. As Miles are only credited to your account after you complete a journey, we cannot factor in the Miles earned on the journey you are currently taking.

Can I top up my Miles to upgrade?

This is possible, but you cannot do this at the check-in desk. To top up your Miles for future travel please go to the Purchase Miles page.

Can an unaccompanied minor of an Emirates Skywards member be upgraded?

An unaccompanied minor can be upgraded before a flight by using the online Manage a Booking facility. It is also possible to upgrade an unaccompanied minor if a relative, parent or guardian uses Skywards Miles from their own account to buy an instant upgrade at the check-in desk.

When do I get e-gate access benefits?

Emirates Skywards members can use Dubai Immigration’s e-gate technology at Dubai International Airport and also at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Once your card is activated, you will be able to exit and enter these airports in as little as five seconds.

If you are eligible for e-gate benefits you will need to activate your card prior to travelling, which can be done at various locations in Dubai or at Dubai or Abu Dhabi International Airports. Your e-gate privileges will remain valid as long as you are an active Emirates Skywards member.

Which Emirates Skywards members are eligible for e-gate benefits?

E-gate is available to all Emirates Skywards members over 18 years old, residing in the United Arab Emirates, or nationals of the Gulf Cooperation Council or of the UAE's visa waiver countries. Eligible visa waiver countries are: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brunei, Denmark, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Holland, Hong Kong, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Monaco, New Zealand, Norway, Portugal, Scotland, Singapore, Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the USA and the Vatican.

We endeavour to keep this information as up to date as possible; however for the definitive list, please contact Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department.

When do I receive my e-gate card?

You do not receive a separate e-gate card. If you are eligible for e-gate benefits, your Emirates Skywards membership card should have built-in e-gate functionality.

How do I activate my Emirates Skywards e-gate card?

To activate e-gate functionality on your card, you will require:

• original passport (with a validity of at least six months); residents of the UAE will need their original valid residency visa
• Emirates Skywards membership card with e-gate functionality
• passport photograph

These documents need to be taken to one of the following locations:

 

dnata Travel Centre
Mezzanine Level, Sheikh Zayed Road
Tel: + 971 4 316 6966

Dubai Municipality
Tel: + 971 4 206 4055

Jebel Ali Port
Passport Office
Tel: + 971 4 881 8777

You can also activate your card at Dubai or Abu Dhabi airport e-gate counters. Please make sure you leave enough time in your schedule to activate your card if you would like to do so at the airport.

Dubai International Airport
Arrivals Immigration Hall and Departure Lounge
Tel: + 971 4 206 1597

When and where can I get lounge access?

As a Silver, Gold or Platinum member, you can use any of the Business Class Lounges in Dubai International Airport, located at Concourses A, B or C, even when flying Emirates in Economy Class.

Gold members can use all Emirates Lounges and affiliated lounges across the network, even when flying Emirates in Economy Class. Additionally, as a Gold member, you can take a companion travelling on the same Emirates flight into the lounge with you.

Once you reach Platinum, you can invite one guest into the First Class Lounge in Dubai International Airport, regardless of class of travel, provided that the guest is travelling with you on the same Emirates flight. Anywhere else on our network, you may invite a guest to join you in eligible Business Class Lounges, with the same conditions.

Please note that all members travelling on Emirates codeshare flights operated by other carriers are not eligible to access the Emirates Lounges. Please visit the Qantas FAQs to find out more about access to Qantas Lounges.

Do I get any excess baggage allowances?

Silver members are entitled to a guaranteed excess baggage allowance of 12 kg above the ticketed limit for a particular cabin class, Gold members are guaranteed 16 kg above the ticketed limit and Platinum members are guaranteed 20 kg above the ticketed limit. However, please note the following:

• The maximum weight per checked-in item of luggage is 32 kg on all cross-Atlantic flights
• Economy Class baggage to the US cannot weigh more than 23 kg or 50 lb per item.
• Maximum weight limits per bag may vary in accordance with differing international airport regulations.
• Excess baggage privileges do not apply to cabin baggage or on flights in which the baggage allowance is given as 'number of luggage items’, instead of kilogrammes.

If your journey starts in the United States, please make sure you are aware of baggage allowances specific to this route.

We also have an online baggage allowance calculator to help you plan your trip.

How does my travel coordinator access my account online?

You will need to share your account number and password with your travel coordinator so they can access your account.

Can a travel coordinator benefit from my Emirates Skywards membership?

Travel coordinators are not entitled to any membership privileges from your account. However, they can always join the Emirates Skywards programme themselves to start enjoying the benefits.