I’m unsure what to make of this precisely, nevertheless it doesn’t sound very promising.
Emirates Skywards factors switch modifications coming
Emirates Skywards is a helpful frequent flyer program, particularly for premium cabin redemptions on Emirates. If you wish to redeem for Emirates first or enterprise class, Skywards is mostly the most suitable choice, regardless of the comparatively excessive award prices and service imposed surcharges.
Traditionally, Emirates has partnered with all main transferable factors currencies, so a minimum of the factors have been straightforward to return by. Nonetheless, one thing unusual is happening.
Lately, I lined how Citi ThankYou is devaluing its Emirates Skywards factors switch ratio. Traditionally, factors have transfered at a 1:1 ratio, whereas as of July 27, 2025, transfers will probably be at a 5:4 ratio. We assumed that was an remoted transfer, however there is likely to be extra happening right here, as flagged by Physician Of Credit score.
Each Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Final Rewards will quickly be briefly suspending transfers to Emirates.
Amex states that Emirates transfers will probably be suspended on Could 28, with no date for these transfers being reinstated:
Starting Could twenty eighth, the power to switch Membership Rewards factors to Emirates Skywards Miles will probably be briefly unavailable. Please go to Emirates.com for extra info. We apologize for any inconvenience this will trigger.
Chase states that Emirates transfers will probably be suspended between Could 29 and “tentatively” June 30:
Transferring Chase Final Rewards factors on-line or over the cellphone to Emirates Skywards will probably be unavailable between 12:00 AM ET 5/29/25 and tentatively 6/30/25. We apologize for the inconvenience.
What ought to we make of this Emirates growth?
One thing is clearly happening with Emirates in relation to its factors switch technique, however we simply don’t know what, and all we will do is speculate.
As I defined once I lined the devaluation of the Citi ThankYou to Emirates Skywards switch ratio, I’ve to think about that comes all the way down to Emirates demanding more cash for factors transfers, and Citi passing on that value (a minimum of partly) to card members.
Nonetheless, Amex and Chase are taking a unique strategy right here, and are offering discover of transfers being made unavailable. What’s attention-grabbing is that Amex provides no date for transfers being reinstated, whereas Chase suggests the outage will probably be for a month.
I’ve to think about that it’s not a coincidence that this outage comes simply shortly after Citi introduced it will devalue these transfers. Is Emirates renegotiating its contracts with companions, and demanding more cash, and Amex and Chase are introducing a brief outage till they determine what to do? Or is there a extra “harmless” clarification, and Emirates is making updates to some back-end techniques?
Emirates takes a unique strategy than many different airways in relation to loyalty, and we all know that Emirates generally is a robust associate in relation to factors redemptions. For instance, whereas Emirates permits redemptions by way of Air Canada Aeroplan, the charges are method increased than with different applications.
So we’ll mark this as “growing” for now, however should you undoubtedly wish to earn some Emirates Skywards miles at a 1:1 ratio, I’d advocate making a switch earlier than these outages…
Backside line
In late Could 2025, Amex Membership Rewards and Chase Final Rewards are suspending factors transfers to Emirates Skywards. Amex provides no timeline for transfers being reinstated, whereas Chase suggests it’ll be round a month. Provided that this information comes shortly after Citi ThankYou introduced it will devalue its Emirates switch ratio, one can’t assist however surprise what’s happening…
What do you make of this unusual Emirates Skywards scenario?
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