Emirates and flydubai Loyalty Members Gain Access to Premium Economy Rewards
The highly acclaimed Emirates Skywards loyalty programme, shared by both Emirates and flydubai, has rolled out enhanced benefits for its members by allowing Skywards Miles redemption on all Emirates Premium Economy cabins. This development marks a significant step in broadening the appeal of Premium Economy travel and offers substantial new value for frequent flyers across Africa, where premium air travel demand is steadily rising among both business and leisure segments.
From now, Skywards members have the flexibility to use their accumulated miles to purchase a full ticket in Emirates’ coveted Premium Economy class, starting at 15,000 Skywards Miles for a one-way journey. For those seeking a more spontaneous luxury upgrade, the option to move from Economy to Premium Economy is available from as little as 7,020 Miles. These upgrades can be pre-booked or requested at the check-in desk, subject to availability, introducing more convenience and choice for travelers seeking an elevated experience without the full premium fare.
The Skywards programme’s expansion of Classic Rewards now also includes all flydubai flights, with redemptions starting at 5,000 Miles. For African travel professionals, this means even more options for clients traveling regionally or connecting through Dubai to global destinations. The loyalty programme’s ongoing popularity is clear, with nearly 500,000 tickets redeemed for Classic Rewards, Cash+Miles, and Upgrade Rewards during just the summer months of June to August 2025. Destinations such as London, Paris, New York, and Bangkok have proven especially popular among loyal flyers, demonstrating the robust demand for award travel on both Emirates and flydubai networks.
For many in sub-Saharan Africa, Emirates remains a preferred long-haul carrier, and the Premium Economy option offers a compelling midpoint between traditional Economy and Business Class. Emirates is currently the only airline in the region to offer Premium Economy cabins. The product has attracted global recognition, including accolades like ‘Best Premium Economy’ from AirlineRatings.com and the Airline Excellence Awards 2024, raising the bar for comfort and service on routes connecting Africa with the world.
Travelers choosing Emirates Premium Economy benefit from a host of exclusive features. Dedicated check-in desks ensure a smooth start to the journey, while the seats themselves offer a generous pitch of up to 40 inches, complemented by calf and footrests for superior comfort. Dining in Premium Economy comes with generous meal portions and a premium wine selection, and passengers can enjoy Emirates’ signature inflight entertainment system, ice, now boasting a 13.3-inch screen—one of the largest available in its class—with over 6,500 channels of entertainment, including music, films, and news.
Emirates’ commitment to upgrading its fleet is further evidenced by its bold US\$5 billion retrofit initiative. To date, 67 aircraft have been fully refurbished—including 32 A380s and 35 Boeing 777s—each featuring the new Premium Economy cabin. The airline’s modernisation efforts extend to its latest deliveries, with 9 Airbus A350s already in service and 56 more A350s on order, all fitted with the Premium Economy product.
By March 2026, Emirates expects to operate 68 cities with Premium Economy-equipped aircraft, delivering close to 2 million Premium Economy seats annually across its network. This capacity is projected to double to 4 million seats per year by the end of 2026, cementing Emirates’ position at the forefront of premium travel options for African and global travellers alike.
The configuration of Premium Economy varies across Emirates’ fleet. On the Airbus A380, there are 56 seats at the front of the main deck in a 2-4-2 layout. The Boeing 777 features up to 24 seats in the same configuration, while the Airbus A350 includes up to 28 seats at the front, arranged in a 2-3-2 setup. These layouts are designed to maximise both comfort and accessibility, appealing to a growing customer base looking for value and luxury combined.
The enhancements to Emirates Skywards come at a time when African travellers are placing increasing value on flexibility, comfort, and rewarding loyalty schemes. For regional industry professionals, these upgrades offer new incentives to recommend Premium Economy as an accessible path to luxury, particularly for clients seeking better comfort on long-haul journeys, without the premium price tag of business class. The development also signals how loyalty programmes are evolving to meet the expectations of today’s discerning flyers, blending aspirational travel with tangible, everyday rewards.
As competition intensifies among global carriers and passenger preferences shift toward more personalised experiences, Emirates and flydubai’s expanded Skywards benefits represent a timely response to market demand. The ability to redeem miles across a wider range of products and classes ensures that loyal customers—especially those in Africa’s fast-growing aviation markets—are well placed to take advantage of the latest trends in premium travel. This shift is likely to spark further innovation in airline loyalty programmes, strengthening ties between airlines and their most valuable customers across the continent.
