EMIRATES: Premium Economy now available for frequent flyer seat redemptions

Emirates was slow to the party on introducing a Premium Economy cabin, with its previous CEO, Tim Clarke even dismissing the possibility, before having to backflip. Now, Emirates Skywards members can unlock Premium Economy seats as Classic Rewards or upgrades.

Until now, you could burn your Skywards stash on economy, business or first – but premium economy, despite being one of Emirates’ fastest-growing cabins, remained firmly off-limits.

That changes this month. Members can now:

• Book one-way Classic Rewards in premium economy, starting at 15,000 Miles
• Upgrade from economy for as little as 7,020 Miles (pricing varies by route, season and availability)

However, availability will be the catch. On upgrades, you can request before departure or even at the check-in desk, provided there’s a spare seat going.

Why premium economy matters

Premium Economy has become the sweet spot for passengers and airlines alike. For an insignificant amount of additional floorspace, airlines can charge more than double an Economy airfare price. For passengers who can no longer abide the diminishing space and service of economy, they can be more comfortable, with small but significant upgrades in service for far less than a Business Class fare. Ok, you don’t get a flatbed, but you can get more space and better recline:

• More legroom: up to 40” pitch compared to 32–34” in economy
• Bigger screens for inflight entertainment
• ‘Business class-inspired’ meals served on china
• Wider seats with only a 2–4–2 configuration

It’s a halfway house between economy and business that actually feels premium – not just a few extra inches of space and a glass of cheap bubbles.

Who can redeem?

For now, the ability to swap Emirates Miles for premium economy seats is exclusive to Skywards members. Emirates says it will expand to its airline partners, and that includes Qantas Frequent Flyers, in the future. So Qantas frequent flyers will need to be patient before using points to snag those plush cream leather seats.

Rolling out across Australia

Since launching very late compared to other airlines, in 2022, Emirates’ premium economy has spread to 66 destinations, including Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth and Adelaide. More are on the way as the airline accelerates cabin retrofits and new aircraft deliveries.

2PAXfly Takeout

You can now redeem those Skywards Miles for Premium Economy seats on Emirates, starting at 15,000 miles one way as a Classic Reward. For upgrades, it will be 7,020. As always, seats will be limited, so it’s best to book early for your wider seat, more legroom, better meals and bigger screen.

For Qantas frequent flyers, there is still a wait until you can redeem Qantas points for these seats. When that happens, watch out for the avalanche!