How to Earn Emirates Skywards Miles in 2026

Emirates Skywards Miles can be earned through Emirates and flydubai flights, partner airlines, credit cards, hotels, car rentals, shopping, and other travel and lifestyle partners. The program offers multiple ways to build a mileage balance even if you don’t fly with Emirates regularly.

Flight earnings depend on the route, fare type, and cabin, while partner earning rates follow their own conditions. Emirates Skywards members with Silver, Gold, or Platinum status can also earn bonus miles on eligible flights.

With airline, financial, hotel, rental-car, and retail partnerships available worldwide, you can combine travel and everyday spending to build a Skywards balance for future rewards.

Related: Emirates A350 U.S. Debut: Orlando Route & Cabins

Ways to Earn Emirates Skywards Miles

Method	Earning Opportunity
Emirates flights	Based on route, fare and travel class
flydubai flights	Based on route, fare and travel class
Partner airlines	Rates vary by airline and booking class
Elite status	30% to 100% bonus miles
Co-branded cards	Earn Skywards Miles from eligible spending
Bank rewards	Convert eligible rewards to Skywards Miles
Marriott Bonvoy	Convert 3 Bonvoy points to 1 Skywards Mile
Hotels	Earn or convert eligible hotel rewards
Car rentals	Earn with Avis, Budget, Hertz, SIXT and others
Booking.com	1 mile per €1 through eligible Emirates bookings
Skywards Miles Mall	Earn through 1,500+ participating brands
Skywards Everyday	Earn on eligible UAE everyday purchases
Emirates Holidays	Earn on eligible holiday bookings

Emirates currently divides its partners into airline, bank, ground transportation, hotel, and retail/lifestyle categories.

1. Join Emirates Skywards

The first step is enrollment in Emirates Skywards, the airline’s loyalty program.

Membership provides a Skywards account number that can be attached to eligible flight bookings and qualifying partner transactions.

Members earn two important types of miles:

Skywards Miles are the reward currency used for flights, upgrades, and other eligible redemptions.

Tier Miles contribute toward qualifying for or retaining Emirates Skywards elite status.

The two currencies therefore serve different purposes.

2. Earn Skywards Miles on Emirates Flights

Eligible Emirates flights are one of the primary ways to earn Skywards Miles.

The amount credited depends on:

• Route
• Fare type
• Cabin class
• Skywards membership tier

Emirates confirms that all fare types across its cabins can earn Skywards Miles and Tier Miles, although the actual amount differs according to the fare.

Emirates provides a Miles Calculator that can estimate earnings for a particular itinerary.

Higher Fares Can Generate More Miles

Two passengers traveling between the same cities may receive different mileage amounts because fare type affects earning.

Cabin choice can also have a substantial impact.

For example, eligible premium-cabin fares can generally generate more Skywards Miles than lower-priced Economy fares on the same route.

The exact amount should therefore be calculated using the itinerary and fare being considered rather than estimated solely from flight distance.

3. Earn More Miles With Emirates Elite Status

Emirates rewards higher-tier members with additional Skywards Miles.

Current bonuses are:

Skywards Tier	Bonus Skywards Miles
Blue	No tier bonus
Silver	30%
Gold	75%
Platinum	100%

These bonuses allow frequent Emirates travelers to build balances more quickly after qualifying for higher membership tiers.

Tier Miles themselves are separate and are primarily used to determine elite membership status.

4. Earn Skywards Miles With flydubai

The partnership between Emirates and flydubai expands Skywards earning beyond Emirates-operated flights.

Eligible flydubai flights earn Skywards Miles according to:

• Route
• Fare type
• Cabin
• Membership tier

Emirates currently identifies flydubai as one of the principal airline options for both earning and spending Skywards Miles.

Members can also use Skywards Miles toward eligible flydubai flights and extras.

5. Earn Miles With Emirates Partner Airlines

Skywards Miles can also be earned on eligible flights operated by participating airline partners.

Current partners include carriers such as:

• Air Canada
• Air Mauritius
• Aegean Airlines
• Bangkok Airways
• Copa Airlines
• Garuda Indonesia
• Japan Airlines
• Jetstar
• Korean Air
• Malaysia Airlines
• Qantas
• South African Airways
• TAP Air Portugal

Partner earning rates differ considerably. For example, Emirates currently lists earning rates of up to 2 Skywards Miles per mile flown with some partners and lower maximum rates with others.

The booking class and operating carrier should therefore be checked before crediting a partner flight to Skywards.

6. Use Credit Cards to Earn Skywards Miles

Credit cards can provide one of the most convenient non-flight methods for building a Skywards balance.

Two broad options are available:

1. Emirates Skywards co-branded credit cards
2. Bank reward programs that allow points to be converted into Skywards Miles

Emirates currently lists co-branded relationships with financial institutions including HSBC, Emirates Islamic Bank, Emirates NBD, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank, Dubai Islamic Bank, ICICI Bank, and Barclays.

Available cards vary according to country.

7. Earn Through Transferable Credit Card Rewards

The Upgraded Points reference highlights transferable credit card programs as one of the major ways to build an Emirates Skywards balance.

Examples include eligible rewards from:

• American Express Membership Rewards
• Capital One
• Citi ThankYou

Transfer ratios are not necessarily permanent and can vary by market or change over time.

For example, the reference updated in August 2026 notes that U.S. American Express Membership Rewards transfers to Emirates currently operate at 5:4, rather than assuming the traditional 1:1 ratio.

This illustrates why current transfer terms should always be checked before moving points.

Transfers Should Generally Be Made With a Redemption in Mind

Transfers from bank reward programs to airline loyalty accounts are typically irreversible.

Before transferring points, relevant factors include:

• Award availability
• Number of miles required
• Transfer ratio
• Transfer processing time
• Taxes and fees
• Mileage expiration

Keeping flexible points in their original program until a specific redemption is available can preserve more options.

8. Earn With Emirates Skywards Credit Cards in India

Emirates currently offers India-specific earning opportunities through financial partners.

The Emirates partner directory lists Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Credit Cards with earning rates of up to 2 Skywards Miles for every INR 100 spent.

Emirates also lists SBI Card as a partner, with 2 SBI Travel Credits converting to 1 Skywards Mile under current terms.

Card fees, eligibility requirements, spending categories, exclusions, and earning limits should be checked with the applicable issuer.

9. Convert Marriott Bonvoy Points to Skywards Miles

Marriott Bonvoy has a particularly extensive relationship with Emirates Skywards.

Current conversion rates are:

3 Marriott Bonvoy points = 1 Skywards Mile

Additionally, Emirates currently provides 5,000 bonus Skywards Miles for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points converted.

This means 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points can ordinarily produce 20,000 miles through the 3:1 conversion plus the applicable 5,000-mile bonus, resulting in 25,000 Skywards Miles under the current terms.

10. Earn Both Marriott Points and Skywards Miles

The Marriott relationship extends beyond simple point transfers.

Eligible members can link their Marriott Bonvoy and Emirates Skywards accounts for dual earning.

Emirates Skywards Silver, Gold, and Platinum members can currently earn 1 Skywards Mile per USD 1 spent on eligible Marriott stays, in addition to their regular Marriott Bonvoy points.

Eligible Marriott Bonvoy Gold Elite, Platinum Elite, Titanium Elite, and Ambassador Elite members can earn 3 Marriott Bonvoy points per USD 1 spent on eligible Emirates flights, in addition to their normal Skywards Miles.

Accounts must meet the applicable linking and eligibility requirements.

11. Earn Skywards Miles Through Hotel Stays

Hotel partnerships provide several other mileage opportunities.

Current examples include:

Hotel Partner	Current Earning/Conversion Option
Emirates Skywards Hotels	Up to 10,000 miles per night
Hyatt	500 miles per eligible stay
Atlantis The Palm	1 mile per USD 1
IHG participating brands	2 miles per USD 1 at selected brands
Rotana	500 miles per eligible stay
Jumeirah	1 mile per USD 1
Hilton	Convert 10,000 points to 1,000 miles
ALL Accor	Convert 4,000 points to 2,000 miles

Rates and participating properties vary.

12. Convert Hilton Honors Points

Hilton Honors members can convert eligible points into Emirates Skywards Miles.

The current conversion rate is:

10,000 Hilton Honors points = 1,000 Skywards Miles

Conversions must be made in increments of 10,000 Hilton Honors points, and Emirates states that completed conversions cannot be reversed.

The relative value of keeping Hilton points versus converting them should therefore be considered before completing a transfer.

13. Earn Through Booking.com

Emirates has a partnership with Booking.com that allows members to earn Skywards Miles on eligible hotel reservations.

The current rate is:

1 Skywards Mile per €1 spent

However, the reservation must be made through the designated Booking.com booking path on Emirates’ website to qualify. The Skywards membership number must also be entered correctly.

Booking directly through Booking.com without following the eligible Emirates channel may not qualify for the mileage earning described by this partnership.

14. Earn Skywards Miles With Car Rentals

Several major car rental companies participate in Emirates Skywards.

Current examples include:

Rental Partner	Current Maximum/Rate
Avis & Budget	Up to 6 miles per USD 1
Hertz	5 miles per USD 1
Europcar	Up to 1,200 miles per rental
SIXT	Up to 1,200 miles per rental
CarTrawler	Up to 1 mile per USD 1

Actual earnings can depend on rental type, booking channel, location, membership tier, and promotional conditions.

Avis and Budget

Emirates currently provides a standard earning rate of 2 Skywards Miles per USD 1 spent on eligible Avis and Budget rentals.

An additional 4 miles per USD 1 can be earned when reservations are made through the specified Emirates booking links, resulting in up to 6 miles per USD 1.

The Skywards membership number must be attached to the booking, and other conditions apply.

15. Earn Miles With Skywards Miles Mall

Skywards Miles Mall provides an online and in-store shopping route for earning Emirates miles.

Emirates currently states that the platform includes more than 1,500 participating brands.

Members can earn through:

• Online purchases made through the Miles Mall
• Eligible in-store purchases
• Linked payment cards at participating brands

Earning rates vary by retailer.

In India, Emirates currently advertises earning of up to 38 Skywards Miles per INR 1,000 spent through Skywards Miles Mall.

16. Earn Through Skywards Everyday

Skywards Everyday provides another way to collect miles on daily purchases, particularly in the UAE.

Participating categories include:

• Dining
• Shopping
• Beauty and wellness
• Leisure
• Entertainment
• Grocery
• Pharmacy

Current earning is 1 Skywards Mile per AED 3 spent with most participating partners and 1 mile per AED 5 at grocery and pharmacy partners.

Members link eligible payment cards to the Skywards Everyday app, allowing qualifying transactions to generate miles automatically.

17. Earn Miles With Emirates Holidays

Holiday packages can also generate Skywards Miles.

Emirates currently lists Emirates Holidays as offering up to 1 Skywards Mile per USD 4 spent on eligible bookings.

The earning conditions can vary according to the package and market.

This provides another way to accumulate miles from travel expenses beyond airline tickets.

18. Earn With Retail and Lifestyle Partners

Emirates maintains a broad collection of retail and lifestyle partners.

Examples currently listed include:

• Emirates Official Store
• Dubai Mall
• The Bicester Collection
• Arabian Adventures
• GetYourGuide
• ASMALLWORLD

For example, eligible GetYourGuide transactions currently earn 1 Skywards Mile per €1 spent, while qualifying Emirates Official Store purchases earn 1 mile per USD 1.

Individual rates and booking requirements differ.

19. Look for Skywards Bonus Offers

Special promotions can increase mileage earnings beyond normal rates.

Potential offers can involve:

• Flights
• Hotels
• Rental cars
• Credit card transfers
• Shopping
• Partner bookings
• Limited-time campaigns

Emirates specifically identifies special offers and promotions as another opportunity for members to collect bonus miles.

Registration may be required for certain promotions.

20. Buy, Multiply, or Pool Skywards Miles

Not every Skywards Mile has to come directly from travel or spending.

Emirates currently provides options to:

• Buy miles
• Gift miles
• Transfer miles
• Multiply eligible miles
• Extend expiring miles
• Reinstate recently expired miles
• Pool miles through My Family

These options can be useful when an account is short of the mileage required for a particular reward, although the purchase cost should be compared with the value of the intended redemption.

How Does My Family Work?

Emirates allows eligible members to pool Skywards Miles through a My Family account.

This can make it easier for households to combine mileage earned by multiple members toward rewards.

It is particularly useful when individual balances would otherwise be too small for a desired redemption.

Family pooling should not be confused with transferring miles between two individual accounts, which follows separate program rules.

How Long Do Emirates Skywards Miles Last?

Skywards Miles are generally valid for 3 years from the date they are earned.

Emirates then applies expiration at the end of the member’s birthday month following the applicable validity period.

Members can set account reminders for miles approaching expiration.

Emirates also allows eligible miles that are due to expire within the next 3 months to be extended for an additional 12 months for a fee. Miles that expired within the previous 6 months may also be eligible for paid reinstatement.

Platinum members have separate expiration treatment under the program rules.

Can Everyday Account Activity Prevent Miles From Expiring?

Not generally.

Emirates uses a fixed validity structure for Skywards Miles rather than simply extending an entire balance whenever new activity occurs.

This makes it important to monitor the expiration date of older miles even when an account continues earning new ones.

Can Skywards Miles Be Earned Without Flying?

Yes. Non-flight earning opportunities include:

• Credit cards
• Bank reward transfers
• Hotel stays
• Hotel-point conversions
• Car rentals
• Skywards Miles Mall
• Skywards Everyday
• Emirates Holidays
• Retail partners
• Lifestyle partners

The range of partners makes it possible for members to accumulate Skywards Miles even when Emirates flights are infrequent.

What Is the Fastest Way to Earn Emirates Skywards Miles?

The most effective method depends on existing travel and spending patterns.

Situation	Potential Earning Strategy
Frequent Emirates traveler	Credit-eligible Emirates flights
Elite member	Use applicable tier bonus
Frequent flydubai traveler	Credit-eligible flydubai flights
Partner-airline traveler	Check Skywards partner earning charts
Credit card spender	Use eligible co-branded or transferable cards
Marriott member	Link accounts or transfer Bonvoy points
Frequent hotel guest	Use participating hotel partners
Regular car renter	Use eligible rental partners
Online shopper	Use Skywards Miles Mall
UAE resident	Consider Skywards Everyday
Family with multiple accounts	Consider My Family pooling

A combination of several methods can generally produce a balance faster than relying on a single source.

Tips for Earning Skywards Miles Efficiently

Several practices can help maximize eligible mileage:

• Add the Skywards membership number before eligible flights.
• Compare fare types before purchasing an Emirates ticket.
• Check partner-airline booking classes before travel.
• Consider transfer ratios before converting bank rewards.
• Avoid transferring flexible points without a planned use.
• Link Marriott and Emirates accounts when eligible for dual earning.
• Use the designated Emirates booking channel when a partner requires it.
• Register for limited-time promotions where necessary.
• Check Skywards Miles Mall rates before online purchases.
• Monitor mileage expiration dates.
• Claim eligible missing miles promptly.
• Compare the cost of buying miles with the value of the planned redemption.

Mileage earning is most effective when attached to spending and travel that would occur regardless of the rewards.

What Can Emirates Skywards Miles Be Used For?

Skywards Miles can be used for several types of rewards, including:

• Emirates reward flights
• flydubai flights
• Partner-airline awards
• Emirates cabin upgrades
• Cash+Miles bookings
• Hotel rewards
• Retail and lifestyle rewards
• Skywards Exclusives experiences

The value received per mile can vary substantially among these options.

Final Thoughts

Emirates Skywards offers numerous ways to earn miles beyond simply purchasing Emirates flights. Eligible flydubai and partner-airline travel, bank rewards, co-branded credit cards, hotels, rental cars, Skywards Miles Mall, Skywards Everyday, and lifestyle partnerships can all contribute to a mileage balance.

Elite status can accelerate flight earning further, with current bonuses of 30% for Silver, 75% for Gold, and 100% for Platinum members.

Hotel partnerships can also be particularly useful. Marriott Bonvoy currently supports both dual earning for eligible members and a 3:1 point-to-mile conversion, while numerous other hotel programs provide direct earning or point conversion options.

Skywards Miles generally remain valid for 3 years, making expiration management an important part of any long-term earning strategy.

Frequently Asked Questions