Save up to 50% using miles, up to 41% using money, or buy miles to save 82% to/from Dubai (or beyond) or non-stop New York-Milan.
The Emirates First Class suite (only on its A380 and B777 fleet) is one of the best First Class suites in the air. The shoulder-high enclosed compartment has privacy sliding doors. Depending on the aircraft/route, the suite 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. On the A380 suite passengers also get the use of the Shower Spas. Experience the suite in detail.
Emirates’ A380s and B777s Fly to 13 Cities in North America
Routes to/from the Middle East with the First Class Suite on A380 aircraft—to/from Dubai: Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Toronto, and Washington, DC, as well as New York-Milan. (See all Emirates A380 routes here.)
Routes to/from the Middle East with the First Class Suite on B777 aircraft: Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Ft. Lauderdale (starts Dec. 15), Houston, Orlando, and Seattle.
Baseline First Class Fares: New York-Dubai starts at $26,157 round-trip, Los Angeles-Dubai at $31,028, and New York-Milan (non-stop) starts at $9,456.
Here are eight ways you can book the suite at much less than retail:
Strategy #1:
Save 36% with Two-for-Ones
The American Express International Airline Program (IAP), available to most Platinum and Centurion cardholders, offers a free First Class companion ticket (plus taxes) with the purchase of a full-fare non-restricted ticket (F class).
The applicable fares are typically high, but you can still save money. New York-Milan comes to $12,117 for two IAP tickets, $10,981 for the paid ticket and $1,136 in taxes for the free ticket, yielding a per-person cost of $6,058. That’s $3,398 (36%) less than the lowest published fare—per ticket. See chart below for three other routes from the U.S. to Dubai.
Emirates A380 First Class Suite to Dubai Using Amex IAP Companion Fares
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Strategy #2: Save 46% by Using the IAP Companion Program + Tacking on a Side Trip
Travel beyond Dubai using IAP and save even more: Washington, DC-Dubai is about $29,082 for two passengers, but flying to a lower-fare destination beyond Dubai—Delhi, for example, can cut your cost by as much as $9,903 (34%). You fly the A380 First Class Suite on the Washington, DC-Dubai segment, so in a way you get a second destination for free, as the First Class fare to Delhi allows a free stop in Dubai. See chart below for three other opportunities.
Emirates A380 First Class Suite on Low-Fare Routes with IAP Companion Ticket
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Strategy #3: Experience the A380 First Class Suite & Shower for $934—on a Low-Fare Route
That’s Auckland-Melbourne at $1,916 round-trip (or $934 one-way). See chart below for runner-ups and lowest one-way fares.
Lowest Emirates A380 First Class Suite Routes Found
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Strategy #4: Get a $30,000+ Suite for 217,000 Emirates Miles
To/from Dubai, Emirates Skywards charges 217,500 miles round-trip to/from Boston, Chicago, New York, Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, Toronto, and Washington, DC. to/from Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Seattle it costs 247,500 miles; and 135,000 miles New York-Milan round-trip. No Emirates miles? No problem.
Strategy #5: Transfer Amex Points to Emirates
Transfer Amex Points (takes less than a day) to Skywards Miles. 217,000 Amex points for a $30,000+ ticket? Not bad. And a return of nearly 14 cents per point. No Amex points? (See Strategy #7.)
Sweet Redeem Survey: Emirates First Class
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Strategy #6: Transfer Starwood Points to Japan Airlines
to Redeem for Emirates Flights
Japan Airlines (JAL) charges just 135,000 to 155,000 miles round-trip U.S. to/from Dubai, depending on departure city, and ONLY 100,000 miles New York-Milan.
It takes only 80,000 to 125,000 Starwood Points to JAL, given the 20% transfer bonus to net a savings of up to 123,000 miles—and requires 50% fewer points than transferring Amex Reward points to Emirates. JAL’s Emirates inventory is often similar to Emirates’ own.
Strategy #7: Save 82% with the “Buy Miles to Fly in Style” Strategy
Simply purchase Amex Rewards points—which most any Amex cardholder who has a Membership Rewards account can do.
This premium ticketing strategy can net you up to 82% 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 between $5,450 and $6,200 round-trip (plus award taxes at around $1,500) to Dubai for a seat that otherwise goes for as much as $31,028.
More on the “Buy Miles to Fly in Style” Strategy here.
Strategy #8: Use Japan Airlines Miles on Low-Cost Routes
Using JAL miles, Auckland-Brisbane is only 65,000 miles round-trip (only 55,000 Starwood points) compared to 108,000 Emirates miles, a savings of 43,000 (40%) miles. See chart below for more sample routes.
Emirates A380 First Class Suite Low-Mileage Routes Using JAL Miles
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Wondering About Upgrades? Don’t.
Emirates has two different upgrade options: Buy a Business Class ticket and use miles to upgrade, or use Cash+Miles.
In a nutshell: Not worth it. FCF found that the lowest Business Class fares do not allow upgrades, and the Cash+Miles upgrades at $40 for 5,000 Skywards Miles gives a return of less than 1¢. That means it costs 100,000 Skyward miles to reduce the ticket cost by only $800.