Emirates Skywards Devaluation
Dec 23, 2022 | 9:22 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,859
Emirates Skywards Devaluation
As has been reported by many sites, Emirates has devalued Skywards miles by 20% across many markets in business and first class. It seems like all itineraries that end or originate in Dubai have been affected.
The amount of fees, taxes and carrier charges has already made Skywards completely out of reach for many (apart from 5th freedom flights). With this change - is this program even worth it anymore?
The amount of fees, taxes and carrier charges has already made Skywards completely out of reach for many (apart from 5th freedom flights). With this change - is this program even worth it anymore?
Dec 23, 2022 | 10:02 am
#2
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,412
As has been reported by many sites, Emirates has devalued Skywards miles by 20% across many markets in business and first class. It seems like all itineraries that end or originate in Dubai have been affected.
The amount of fees, taxes and carrier charges has already made Skywards completely out of reach for many (apart from 5th freedom flights). With this change - is this program even worth it anymore?
The amount of fees, taxes and carrier charges has already made Skywards completely out of reach for many (apart from 5th freedom flights). With this change - is this program even worth it anymore?
Dec 23, 2022 | 11:20 am
#3
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,859
Probably not. To be honest, the only reason I have stuck with EK after the ridiculous recent fare increases (whether it was through base fares or surcharges) was that it was relatively affordable to use miles to upgrade. Now that this has also been increased by this much, I am going to spend my miles and change carrier. I’ll miss EK as I enjoy it from many aspects but I cannot carry on like this. Other carriers on the routes I fly have less convenient schedules but I can no longer justify my loyalty to the brand. Two of my friends (both Gold members like myself) have done the same recently. Sad but true!
Dec 23, 2022 | 3:44 pm
#4
Join Date: Apr 2019
Posts: 47
Agree 100%. Really sad to see these changes given how much I enjoy flying with EK and have previously gone out of the way to flying with it.
I really don’t see the benefits of Skywards these days. Miles upgrade way too unattractive. I’ve never really benefited from any of the Gold advantages anyway (other than the awkward greeting on board when the purser is reading your name straight from their tablet).
I really don’t see the benefits of Skywards these days. Miles upgrade way too unattractive. I’ve never really benefited from any of the Gold advantages anyway (other than the awkward greeting on board when the purser is reading your name straight from their tablet).
Dec 24, 2022 | 12:17 pm
#6
Join Date: Oct 2021
Programs: Virgin Points
Posts: 22
It’s so funny because I was looking at transferring my Amex points to Skywards for a reward flight from LHR-DXB (business class) in May next year but when I saw that they were asking for 174,000 miles and over £900, I pulled back straight away.
Dec 24, 2022 | 12:53 pm
#7
Ambassador: Emirates Airlines
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Manchester, UK
Posts: 18,894
Dec 24, 2022 | 1:03 pm
#8
Join Date: Jan 2011
Location: Europe
Posts: 1,615
Those taxes and fees are crazy
Dec 24, 2022 | 2:45 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2018
Posts: 121
By the way...I'd take a look at the aeroplan program if there's any EK award seat available for your dates and route. Condiering that Aeroplan don't pass to you the huge fuel surcharge of taxes and considering they will devaluate the EK chart redeption at early 2023. If there's any award seat that fits to you I wouldn't hesitate much
Dec 25, 2022 | 1:00 am
#10
Join Date: Apr 2015
Programs: Some
Posts: 5,624
This is utterly bonkers at the same time as they are opening up redemptions to Aeroplan, basically asking everyone to dump Skywards. Will be particularly annoyed in Aeroplan ends up with cheaper F pricing.
It's funny to watch EK go down the same route QR already did with Privilege Club five or so years ago when they totally trashed the value of the programme and then realised too late they'd made a massive mistake. I last credited a flight to QRPC in 2018 and I am still Gold through next year (I dropped one level in five years) because they have to keep extending everyone's status as they don't have enough members...
It's funny to watch EK go down the same route QR already did with Privilege Club five or so years ago when they totally trashed the value of the programme and then realised too late they'd made a massive mistake. I last credited a flight to QRPC in 2018 and I am still Gold through next year (I dropped one level in five years) because they have to keep extending everyone's status as they don't have enough members...
Dec 26, 2022 | 5:12 am
#11
Join Date: Feb 2019
Posts: 6,332
As has been reported by many sites, Emirates has devalued Skywards miles by 20% across many markets in business and first class. It seems like all itineraries that end or originate in Dubai have been affected.
The amount of fees, taxes and carrier charges has already made Skywards completely out of reach for many (apart from 5th freedom flights). With this change - is this program even worth it anymore?
The amount of fees, taxes and carrier charges has already made Skywards completely out of reach for many (apart from 5th freedom flights). With this change - is this program even worth it anymore?
Dec 26, 2022 | 5:31 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Feb 2010
Location: London, UK
Programs: BA Exec Club, SIA KrisFlyer, Qantas FF, Emirates Skywards
Posts: 1,859
Dec 26, 2022 | 6:04 am
#14
Join Date: Jun 2021
Programs: Skywards Plat, Qatar Gold
Posts: 41
Sorry to hear this, time to start burning the miles.
On an every cloud note; we had been waitlisted for Y-J upgrade since Nov on MAN-DXB on 30th Dec, got the email and called and was only charged the old no of miles to upgrade, was expecting to have to shell out the increase - maybe because it was 'reserved' beforehand
Happy holidays
On an every cloud note; we had been waitlisted for Y-J upgrade since Nov on MAN-DXB on 30th Dec, got the email and called and was only charged the old no of miles to upgrade, was expecting to have to shell out the increase - maybe because it was 'reserved' beforehand
Happy holidays
Dec 26, 2022 | 7:29 am
#15
Ambassador, Emirates
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: LGW / AMS / CPT
Programs: SA KL BA EK
Posts: 4,412
However upset I also am about the devaluation (see my earlier post), this ‘100%’ is factually incorrect as this would make Skywards worth nothing at all, which is obviously not the case.
I think we should try to keep emotion out of the discussion (however difficult that may be…)
I think we should try to keep emotion out of the discussion (however difficult that may be…)