Qantas Points Still Work for Emirates First Class Despite Elite-Only Restriction

Fantastic news for points collectors! Despite Emirates implementing its controversial First Class restriction for Skywards members today, both Qantas and Emirates have officially confirmed that Qantas Frequent Flyer members can still book Emirates First Class using points, regardless of status level.

Flight Hacks has just published confirmation from Qantas and Emirates that the restriction limiting First Class awards to elite members applies exclusively to Emirates' own loyalty program, not to partner programs like Qantas Frequent Flyer.

The Official Confirmation

According to Flight Hacks, a Qantas spokesperson has confirmed that "Qantas Frequent Flyers will not be affected by these changes" and that "the adjustments apply solely to Emirates' own Skywards members." They further clarified that "Qantas Frequent Flyer members will still be able to redeem First Class award seats on Emirates."

Emirates has also issued an official statement confirming this exception, stating: "Members of airlines which partner with Emirates Skywards are not impacted by this change." This creates a fascinating situation where non-elite Skywards members can't book their own airline's First Class with their own miles, but Qantas members can book the exact same seats regardless of status level!

The Emirates spokesperson further elaborated that this change "has been implemented to provide our premium and loyal members with more rewards, exclusive benefits, and greater access to Emirates' renowned First Class travel experience," suggesting that the airline is trying to enhance the exclusivity of its top-tier status levels while still maintaining valuable partnerships with key airlines like Qantas.

What This Means for UK Points Collectors

This development is particularly significant for UK-based points collectors for several reasons:

1. Continued Access to Premium Luxury: The Qantas pathway remains fully open as one of the most accessible ways for UK travellers to experience Emirates' renowned First Class product, including the onboard shower on A380 flights and the fully enclosed suites on select 777 routes.

2. Transfer Opportunities Preserved: With American Express UK maintaining a 1:1 transfer ratio to Qantas, UK points collectors still have a straightforward path to booking these awards without needing to earn or maintain Skywards status.

3. Competitive Pricing Advantage: The value proposition of using Qantas points for Emirates First Class is now even stronger, as it provides access that even some Skywards members don't have. For example, London to Dubai can be booked for just 89,000 Qantas points plus taxes.

4. No Status Requirements: While Skywards members now need at least Silver status, Qantas members can book Emirates First Class regardless of their status level, making it one of the most accessible premium cabin redemptions available to the average points collector.

Strategic Booking Tips

With this pathway still open but potentially more competitive as Skywards members without status look for alternatives, here are some tips for making the most of this opportunity:

1. Use Multi-City Search: As Flight Hacks notes in their guide to using Qantas Points on Emirates, the multi-city search tool on the Qantas website allows you to see a whole month of availability at once, giving you a much better overview than searching day by day.

2. Consider Alternative Departures: Look beyond your home airport. For example, UK travellers might check Emirates flights departing from other European cities if availability from London is limited.

3. Book Well in Advance: Emirates First Class awards through Qantas tend to be most available around 10-12 months in advance, so planning ahead can significantly improve your chances.

4. Check for Fifth-Freedom Routes: Besides the main routes to Dubai, consider Emirates' fifth-freedom routes like Milan-New York, which can sometimes have better award availability.

Why Emirates Made This Exception

The exception for Qantas Frequent Flyer likely stems from the deep, longstanding partnership between the two airlines that began in 2013. This relationship includes extensive codeshare agreements, reciprocal status benefits, and integrated loyalty programs that go beyond typical airline partnerships.

As noted by the Qantas spokesperson, Emirates is just one of more than 45 partner airlines in the Qantas Frequent Flyer program, and the number of Classic Reward seats offered by partner airlines "grew by almost a third over the past year" – suggesting that maintaining access to Emirates First Class is part of a broader strategy to enhance the value of Qantas Points.

Will This Last?

While this is excellent news, airlines do occasionally change their policies with little notice, as we saw with the original announcement giving just two days' warning. For that reason, if Emirates First Class is high on your travel bucket list, it's still advisable to book sooner rather than later.

Emirates has been gradually increasing the exclusivity of its First Class product through various measures – higher surcharges, limited award availability, and now restricting access for its own members – so there's no guarantee this partner exception will remain forever.

Final Thoughts

This unexpected but welcome clarification preserves one of the most valuable sweet spots in the points and miles world for UK collectors. While Emirates continues to enhance the exclusivity of its First Class experience for its own members, the Qantas pathway remains open, offering exceptional luxury at reasonable rates without status requirements.

For those who've been building Qantas points specifically for this purpose, you can breathe a sigh of relief – your Emirates First Class aspirations remain achievable! And for those who haven't yet explored this option, now might be the perfect time to consider diversifying your points portfolio to include Qantas points.

Have you booked or flown Emirates First Class using Qantas points? Share your experiences in the comments below!

Happy point collecting,

Jack

P.S. For a detailed guide on how to book Emirates flights using Qantas points, check out Flight Hacks' in-depth guide that walks through the entire process step by step.