How Anyone Can Save Up to 87% on Emirates’ First Class Suite

The Suite Spot | October 01, 2015

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.

How to Get the Emirates Suite for 87% Off

Take advantage of Alaska Airlines’ current 40% mileage-purchase bonus, as Alaska is an Emirates partner. This brings the cost of LAX-Dubai in First Class down to $3,913, the cost to buy 180,000 miles versus the normal fare of $30,845. First Class mileage availability using Alaska miles is occasionally the same as Emirates’ inventory.

If Alaska doesn’t have the availability you are looking for, and Emirates does, purchase Amex points instead and you still can save 73% (see bottom left for more).

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.

Flying From/To Beyond Dubai: Emirates’ destinations in Africa and Asia can be added for more miles; cost depends on the region. Find 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.

No Emirates Miles? No Problem.

Transfer Amex Rewards Points: To join Skywards takes just one day or less.

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 (up to 500,000 per year). So, First Class tickets cost $5,450 to $6,200 round-trip (plus award taxes at around $1,537)—for a seat that otherwise goes for as much as $30,845.

Transfer Starwood Points to Emirates: 180,000 to 200,000 depending on routing.

Other Partner Award Opportunities

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.

JAL Mileage Bank charges 135,000 to 155,000 miles, depending on routing.

Transfer Starwood Points to JAL: 110,000 to 125,000 (up to 123,000 / 50% fewer points than if you transferred Amex Reward points to Emirates).

Sweet Redeem Survey: Emirates First Class to/from Dubai

U.S. Departure	U.S. to Dubai			Dubai to U.S.
U.S. Departure	Handful	Hopeful	Hooray	Handful	Hopeful	Hooray
Boston		May	Oct., Nov., Jan. to April			Oct., Nov., Jan. to May
Chicago	May	March, April	Oct., Nov., Jan., Feb.	May		Oct., Nov., Jan. to April
Dallas	Nov.	Jan., Oct., Feb.	Oct., Nov., Feb., March, April	Oct., May	Nov., Feb.	Oct., Nov., Feb., March, April
Houston		Jan., May	Oct., Nov., Feb. to April	Jan.	May	Oct., Nov., Feb. to April
Los Angeles	Oct.			Oct.
New York		Nov., May	Oct., Jan. to April			Oct., Nov., Jan. to April, May
Orlando	April		Oct., Nov., Feb., March			Oct., Nov., Feb., March
San Francisco	Oct., Nov., Jan., April	Feb.	Oct.	Nov., Jan., Feb.	Oct.
Seattle		Nov.	Oct., Jan. to June			Oct., Nov., Jan. to June
Washington, DC			Oct., Nov., Jan. to March		March	Oct., Nov., Jan., Feb.

Handful: 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.
Hopeful: Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 9 to 12 days during the months indicated.
Hooray: Our most recent research shows that award space is available for at least one person about 13 days or more during the months indicated.

Months in black at least one seat available; in blue at least two seats. Emirates A380 routes to Dubai from the U.S. are: New York, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, and San Francisco.

Four Steps to Booking Award Space

Step One: Log in to your Emirates’ account.

Step Two: Emirates will not hold mileage award space unless you have the miles needed in your account. If you have the miles, book award space—click on the “My dates are flexible by three days” to see the Emirates’ one week calendar. Otherwise. Transfer points from Amex Rewards or Starwood. The transfer time from Amex Rewards is about one day and from Starwood about three days. Mileage availability changes all the time, so the seat might disappear before the points arrive in your account. To lessen that risk, have more than one set of dates ready when you transfer. More information on getting Emirates miles.

Step Three: As soon as points have been transferred, go back to the site and book the award.

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