How Anyone Can Save Up to 73% on Emirates’ First Class Suite

July 2016
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The Suite: Shoulder-high enclosed compartment with privacy sliding doors. Depending on the aircraft/route, the seat count ranges from 8 to 14, configured 1x2x1. Each suite has a 79-inch-long, lie-flat seat, personal mini-bar, vanity table, mirror, wardrobe, and 27-inch-wide monitor.

Experience the suite in detail.

U.S. Routes to/from the Middle East with the First Class Suite

To/From Dubai: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Orlando, San Francisco, Seattle, and Washington, DC, as well as New York-Milan.

Flying From/To Beyond Dubai: Emirates’ destinations in Africa and Asia cost more miles; amount depends on the destination. Explore Emirates’ destinations.

Sky-High Fare Equals Great Mileage Opportunity

First Class: Starts at $30,845 round-trip to Dubai from LAX, $18,834 from Chicago, and $25,974 from New York.

Mileage Cost: Emirates Skywards charges 217,500 miles to/from Boston, Chicago, New York, Orlando, and Washington, DC; 247,500 miles to/from Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle to Dubai; and 135,000 miles New York-Milan.

No Emirates Miles? No Problem.

You can transfer Amex Rewards points to Skywards miles. Transfers take less than a day.

How the “Buy Miles to Fly in Style” Strategy Saves 73%: Simply by purchasing Amex Rewards points. The strategy can net you up to 73% off, given that Amex Membership Rewards points cost 2.5¢ each (purchase limit 500,000 per year). That brings a First Class ticket down to $5,450 to $6,200 round-trip (plus award taxes at around $1,537) to Dubai for a seat that otherwise goes for as much as $30,845.

Other Partner Award Opportunities

JAL Mileage Bank: 135,000 to 155,000 miles from the U.S. to Dubai, depending on departure city, and 100,000 miles New York-Milan.

Book the Suite through Japan Airlines’ loyalty program, which is accessible to Starwood players, and you can save up to 37%. Availability through JAL is often similar to Emirates’ inventory.

Transfer Starwood Points to JAL: 80,000 to 125,000, given the 20% transfer bonus, up to 123,000 / 50% fewer points than transferring Amex Reward points to Emirates.

Sweet Redeem Survey: Emirates First Class

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[["Route","U.S. <span style=\"color: #800000;\">Departure<\/span>","#colspan#","#colspan#","<span style=\"color: #800000;\">Return to<\/span> U.S.","#colspan#","#colspan#"],["#rowspan#","Handful","Hopeful","Hooray","Handful","Hopeful","Hooray"],["Boston - Dubai","","","Sept. to Nov., Jan. to April","Jan., May","Dec.","Sept. to Nov., Feb. to April"],["Chicago - Dubai","","","Sept. to Nov., Jan. to April","May","Jan.","Sept. to Nov., Feb. to April"],["Houston - Dubai","Jan., March","","Sept., Oct., Feb., April","March, April","Feb.","Sept., Oct."],["Los Angeles - Dubai","Dec.","Sept., Oct., Nov., Jan.","Nov., Feb., March, April","Dec.","Sept., Oct., Jan.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Nov., Feb.,March, April<\/span>"],["New York - Dubai","Dec.","Sept.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct., Nov., Jan. to April<\/span>","Sept., May","Dec.","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Oct., Nov., Jan. to April<\/span>"],["New York - Milan","Nov.","March","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan., Feb.<\/span>","Nov.","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Jan., Feb.,March<\/span>"],["Orlando - Dubai","Nov., Jan.","Sept.","July, Feb. to April","May","Aug., Jan.","Sept. to Nov., Feb. to April"],["Seattle - Dubai","Dec.","","Sept. to Nov., Jan. to April","Dec.","","Sept. to Nov., Jan. to April"],["Washington, DC - Dubai","Dec.","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept. to Nov., Jan. to April<\/span>","Dec., May","","<span style=\"color: #6699cc;\">Sept. to Nov., Jan. to April<\/span>"]]
<small>Months in black at least one seat available; <span style="color: #6699cc;">in blue at least two seats.</span> <b>Handful:</b> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 4 to 8 days during the months indicated in the chart. Worth pursuing if you’re flexible. <b>Hopeful:</b> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated. <b>Hooray:</b> Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated.</small>