Emirates Locks First Class for ALMOST everyone

A few days ago, Emirates announced that starting May 12, 2025, they will limit First Class award redemption to their own elite members (Silver and above) only.

This is a huge blow, especially considering Emirates First Class is one of the most luxurious flying experiences in the world.

But there is still one loophole, and I haven't seen anyone report on it yet.

As of May 12th, 2025, Emirates has officially restricted First Class award redemptions to its own elite Skywards members. Emirates First Class is one of the most sought-after experiences you can have in the skies, which made it one of the most sought-after redemptions. Unless you're a Skywards status member with Silver, Gold, or Platinum status, you can no longer redeem miles for First Class. This is regardless of whether you have transferable credit card points — and Emirates partners with every major credit card: Chase, Amex, Capital One, Bilt, Citi.

This continues a years-long trend of Emirates tightening access to its premium cabins, following the removal of First Class awards from Alaska, JAL, and other partner programs. The cash prices for these flights are upwards of $10,000.

When I first read of this news, I kept my eye on one partner, Qantas.

Dom Perignon, closed doors, zero gravity seats, Mercedez Benz design: all features that come with Emirates First

As of today, Qantas Frequent Flyer continues to show and ticket Emirates First Class awards, at least for now. As I said, I’ve been checking this aggressively, and the space is real. For instance, a Sydney–Dubai First Class one-way ticket is still available for just 170,800 Qantas points. Considering the product, its limited access, and nearly 14 hours in First Class, this is a good deal.

Even though it is very restrictive, you can transfer your Amex, Citi, and Capital One points to Qantas.

You still have to pay the taxes and fees (Emirates surcharges range from about $700–$1,200), but for this being the last major workaround for booking Emirates First without having Skywards status, I’d say it's worth it.

My bet is that this is going to be shut down in the coming weeks (months if we're lucky).

Another option I see, still available

Emirates has officially locked down First Class award redemptions, reserving them for their own elites. This mirrors what we’ve seen with other airlines that want to keep their top-tier cabins premier and exclusive, like Air France with its “La Première”.

But for now, Qantas remains the one exception. If you’ve got the points and flexibility, this might be your last shot to book Emirates First without elite statusm for now.