Flying first class with Emirates can put you back more than $15,000 on many routes. Depending on the destination and timing, that price can easily double or more. However, if you’re willing to do a little homework and apply strategy using credit card perks and airline miles, that number can drop well into a much more affordable range. Promotions and miles don’t go very far with all airlines, but that isn’t the case with Emirates.

First things first, if you plan to upgrade to first class from a lower cabin airfare, you will need to purchase business class tickets for your best chances at scoring a deal. Sources recommend regularly monitoring your account status to take advantage of offers when they pop up. Specifically, the Luxury Traveller recommends using Expertflyer alerts as the Emirates system won’t automatically upgrade or alert you to upgrade possibilities fast enough in many cases.

The Hunt Begins

The cost in miles for an upgrade can range between 30,000 and 40,000 Emirates Skywards Miles. There is one catch, according to AwardWallet, you must book directly through Emirates in order to upgrade using one of the miles-based offers. Award wallet gives the example that if you book through the Air Canada Aeroplan partner program, you will be ineligible for an upgrade to first class using Skywards Miles.

Another caveat is that an upgrade space must be available in the first class cabin. If there are no open seats, then there will be no possibility for an upgrade at all. On top of that, if you initially book a less flexible business fare like “Saver” or “Special,” then the price to upgrade in miles goes up. Notably, you can book a business class airfare in miles or cash from the outset, and either is still available for an upgrade using miles. Here are some example prices for an upgrade from business class to first class, as AwardWallet published earlier this year:

There was a significant change to the Skyward miles program in May 2025. Only Silver, Gold, and Platinum elite members can book or upgrade to First Class using Skywards miles or a combination of cash and miles. Blue tier members are excluded. Children under eight years old are also ineligible for First Class Classic Rewards or Upgrade Rewards.

The Day Of Departure

You can join an online wait list or the auto upgrade queue to bump up your business class itinerary to first class with Emirates. However, this system is not recommended by some travel sources. Upgrading on the day of departure is considered one of the best methods, due to the lift on capacity control for seat upgrades at the last moment.

In advance, the airline regulates upgrades in order to keep a certain number of seats available for award availability. On the flight day, there is an open seat, and then it will be eligible to claim. Confirming open seat availability with the staff on the ground service side when you arrive at the airport will be the first step to using the strategy.

All you have to do is ask at check-in, the departure gate, or even with the flight crew after you board the aircraft. You can then use your Skywards miles to process an upgrade. The staff will need to verify that you have enough miles to complete the transaction. Thankfully, this is very easy as the Emirates loyalty account makes instant transfers easily accessible.

The Best Fare For Your Buck

Flying Emirates first class has become a bucket list item for many travelers around the world. The incredibly decadent luxury of the cabin product, paired with the world-renowned service, has kept the airline at the top of the charts for years as the gold standard of luxury flying. The cash price for a first class ticket remains out of reach for many travelers, which is why booking business class and upgrading can make it more attainable, although still far from cheap.

To put the price difference in perspective, consider the cash cost of each class. Prices vary by destination and timing. However, a business class ticket can start somewhere around $3,000 and go up to $7,000. In contrast, a first class fare with Emirates starts just over $10,000 and goes up to $25,000 or more. If you purchase a “Business Saver” airfare in cash and upgrade with Skywards Miles, that’s how you make the most of the opportunities in the system.

A combination of ground service and in-flight services makes the Emirates first class experience a Halo product of the aviation industry. considered to be a super-premium cabin with service that is second to none, the chance to snag a ride at the front of a superjumbo Airbus A380 with its upper deck bar and shower spas in exchange for loyalty miles is very rewarding to customers.

Customers Come First At Emirates

The Thrifty Traveler has used the strategy described above on multiple occasions. That sets Emirates apart in an industry that has only become increasingly stingy in recent years. The changes to loyalty, rewards, upgrades, and miles have not had any impact on the business class upgrade methods we have outlined. It is important to know that Emirates only allows you to upgrade your ticket by one class of service after booking.

It’s true that in the airline industry, upgrades using miles are rarely a good deal anymore. Emirates is an exception to that rule, offering one of the few truly valuable enhancements that you can actually receive simply based on your loyalty to the airline. Even so, you can’t upgrade from economy or premium economy to First Class. That rule applies whether you book your initial airfare with miles or cash.

Another noteworthy difference between the way Emirates allows its customers to book and virtually every other airline in the world is the fact that it’s incredibly rare for an airline to allow a booking that used miles in the first place to then upgrade using miles again. Emirates also has an easy-to-use miles calculator that makes it transparent and simple to determine exactly what you can use your Loyalty Rewards for. Sources say that the all-miles method uses more miles overall than if you book cash and upgrade with miles. Yet, the fact that it is possible at all is an industry standout and a truly customer-first policy.

Technology To Empower Customers

Emirates is an airline that believes in investing in technology and quality products to not only enhance its operational performance but also ensure the highest standards of customer care. While many airlines focused on price competition following the rise of online sales, Emirates invested heavily in quality and innovation. Not only does that mean instantaneous point transfers, with the ease of completing upgrades from the lounge or even the cabin, but also many other features.

At its Dubai hub, Emirates has deployed an integrated « biometric path » using facial and iris recognition at check-in, lounge entry, and boarding gates. This technology drastically reduces queues and document checks, enabling a smooth, touchless airport journey. The use of data to tailor onboard dining menus, entertainment options, and even provide proactive weather updates elevates the journey from a mere commute to a personalized luxury experience.

Emirates uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to predict customer needs, optimize route planning, and manage operations efficiently. This technology powers features like AI-driven chatbots for instant 24/7 customer query responses. Although it’s not recommended as the best option to upgrade, it is easy to simply subscribe to « auto-upgrade » alerts, which automatically process an upgrade if a seat becomes available within a specific timeframe before departure.

The Emirates website and mobile app provide a « single source of truth » for customer data, integrating booking patterns, preferences, like meal choices or allergies, as well as Skywards account information. By designing its own app and kiosk software rather than relying on off-the-shelf solutions, Emirates ensures that the technology truly serves the customer journey, from booking to baggage tracking.

Onward And Skyward For Emirates

Emirates plans to maintain its position as a gold standard for quality and luxury through a multi-billion-dollar investment strategy focused on extensive fleet modernization with next-generation aircraft, a massive cabin retrofit program, and enhanced digital customer service via AI and advanced connectivity.

It’s a massive fleet overhaul with enhanced premium economy and business class, as well as upgraded first class, which is underway and will continue until the entire fleet is fully refreshed.

The airline has placed substantial orders for new-generation, more fuel-efficient aircraft, including the Airbus A350, with some of the first examples being delivered this year, as well as the revolutionary Boeing 777X. The A380 and Boeing 777 will remain the backbone of the fleet for years to come. It is the world’s leading super jumbo operator. The airline owns roughly half the total number of A380s ever made.