As a valued Emirates Skywards member, understanding our airline partnerships expands your opportunities to earn and spend Miles across the globe. One of our key collaborations is with United Airlines, a major player in the aviation industry. This partnership allows you to leverage your Skywards membership when flying with United Airlines, unlocking a wider network and more rewards. This guide will detail how you can benefit from the Emirates and United Airlines partnership, focusing on earning and spending Skywards Miles.
Earning Skywards Miles on United Airlines Flights
Flying with United Airlines or United Express can be rewarding for Emirates Skywards members. It’s important to note that to earn Skywards Miles, your flight must be operated by United Airlines or United Express. Codeshare flights, where you book a United flight number but the flight is operated by another airline, are not eligible for Skywards Miles accrual.
Here’s a breakdown of how many Skywards Miles you can earn based on your fare type and booking class when flying on flights marketed and operated by United Airlines:
| Fare type | Booking Class | Skywards Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Full Fare Business | J, C | 150% |
| Business | D, Z | 125% |
| Deep Discount Business | P | 110% |
| Premium Economy | O, A | 110% |
| Discount Premium Economy | R | 100% |
| Full Fare Economy | Y, B | 100% |
| Economy | M, E, U | 75% |
| Discount Economy | Q, V, W | 50% |
| Deep Discount Economy | S, T, L, K, G | 25% |
| Basic Economy | N | 10% |
Please note that booking classes F, I, and X are not eligible for earning Skywards Miles on flights marketed and operated by United Airlines.
If your journey involves flights marketed by Emirates but operated by United Airlines, the accrual levels are slightly different:
| Fare type | Booking Class | Skywards Miles |
|---|---|---|
| Business Flex Plus | J | 150% |
| Business Flex Plus | C | 125% |
| Business Flex | I | 125% |
| Business Saver | O | 110% |
| Business Special | H | 110% |
| Premium Economy | W, E | 100% |
| Economy Flex Plus | Y | 75% |
| Economy Flex Plus | R | 50% |
| Economy Flex Plus | X | 50% |
| Economy Flex | B, M | 50% |
| Economy Flex | U, K | 25% |
| Economy Saver | T, L, Q | 25% |
| Economy Special | V | 25% |
Booking classes S, D, N, Z, P, G, F, and A are not eligible for earning Skywards Miles on flights marketed by Emirates and operated by United Airlines.
In the event that you find any Skywards Miles missing from your account for flights completed within the last six months, you can easily claim them by providing your flight details through the Live Chat feature on the Emirates website.
Spending Skywards Miles on United Airlines Flights
Your earned Skywards Miles can also be used to explore United Airlines’ extensive network. Starting from just 8,000 Miles, you can spend your Skywards Miles on United Airlines flights for one-way reward tickets. For a round-trip reward flight, you will need double the Miles.
Here is the table outlining the Skywards Miles required for one-way reward flights on United Airlines, categorized by zone and class:
| Zone | One-way distance (miles) | Economy Class | Business Class |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-250 | 8,000 | 17,500 |
| 2 | 251-500 | 8,000 | 25,000 |
| 3 | 501-1,000 | 12,000 | 35,000 |
| 4 | 1,001-2,000 | 18,000 | 50,000 |
| 5 | 2,001-3,000 | 22,000 | 65,000 |
| 6 | 3,001-4,000 | 26,000 | 77,500 |
| 7 | 4,001-5,000 | 32,000 | 92,500 |
| 8 | 5,001-6,000 | 38,000 | 105,000 |
| 9 | 6,001-7,000 | 44,000 | 125,000 |
| 10 | 7,001-15,000 | 54,000 | 145,000 |
When planning to spend your Miles on United Airlines, keep these important points in mind:
- Reward tickets are subject to availability.
- Rewards are valid only on United Airlines or United Express operated flights with the flight code UA.
- The stated Skywards Miles are for direct flights. If a direct flight isn’t available, more than one reward might be needed.
- Reward flights can be booked for both one-way and round-trip travel.
- Reward ticket coupons must be used in sequence.
- All flights need confirmation upon Skywards Miles redemption; waitlists are not allowed.
- Reward tickets are valid for 12 months from the issue date, with a maximum stay of three months.
- Reward values exclude taxes, fuel surcharges, and other charges, which must be paid separately.
- Children and infants occupying a seat on reward tickets require the same number of Skywards Miles as adults. Infant rewards are not permitted.
- Other restrictions may apply.
For detailed information on earning and spending Miles, and to understand all applicable terms and conditions, please refer to the Emirates Skywards Program Rules.
Conclusion
The partnership between Emirates and United Airlines provides a seamless way for Skywards members to enhance their travel experiences. Whether you are earning Miles on United flights to boost your Skywards balance or spending Miles to explore new destinations within United’s network, this collaboration offers significant value. Understanding the accrual and redemption rules ensures you can maximize the benefits of this valuable airline partnership.
