Flydubai is one of two state-owned airlines in Dubai, alongside its larger counterpart, Emirates. Despite their shared ownership and close proximity, the two airlines have historically had a surprisingly limited partnership. While it has technically been possible to redeem Emirates Skywards miles for Flydubai flights, the only option was Miles & Cash redemptions at poor value.
But now, there’s a positive development for Emirates Skywards members: you can finally book Flydubai flights using Skywards miles at Classic Reward rates — and in many cases, at significantly better value than similar Emirates redemptions.
🚨 Emirates Skywards Adds Restrictions to First Class — But Adds Value on Flydubai
Before diving into the Flydubai updates, it’s worth noting a negative change: Emirates Skywards has introduced a new restriction on First Class redemptions. Going forward, only members with Skywards elite status can book Emirates First Class awards.
However, upgrades from Business to First using miles (even on award tickets) are still allowed, which provides a bit of flexibility for elite travelers.
✈️ New: Flydubai Classic Rewards Available with Skywards Miles
In a welcome move, Flydubai flights are now bookable using Emirates Skywards miles at fixed Classic Reward pricing, which delivers much better value than before.
Here’s a comparison of Flydubai vs. Emirates Business Class redemptions on popular routes, showing the significant savings Flydubai offers in terms of miles required:
| Route | Airline | Class | Miles Required | Taxes/Fees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vienna – Dubai | Emirates | Business | 87,000 miles | €400+ |
| Vienna – Dubai | Flydubai | Business | 54,000 miles | €415 |
| London – Dubai | Emirates | Business | 87,000 miles | €430+ |
| London – Dubai | Flydubai | Business | 54,000 miles | €400 |
| Belgrade – Dubai | Emirates | Business | 87,000 miles | €420+ |
| Belgrade – Dubai | Flydubai | Business | 45,000 miles | €395 |
| Bangkok – Dubai | Emirates | Business | 85,000 miles | €450+ |
| Bangkok – Dubai | Flydubai | Business | 38,000 miles | €250 |
| New York – Dubai | Emirates | Business | 120,000 miles | €600+ |
| New York – Dubai | Flydubai | Business | 78,000 miles | €550 |
| Doha – Dubai | Emirates | Business | 60,000 miles | €300+ |
| Doha – Dubai | Flydubai | Business | 18,000 miles | €240 |
| Mumbai – Dubai | Emirates | Business | 60,000 miles | €350+ |
| Mumbai – Dubai | Flydubai | Business | 24,000 miles | €300 |
🧾 No Award Chart — Manual Booking Required
Unfortunately, there’s still no published Flydubai award chart, and bookings can't be made online through the Emirates Skywards portal. If you want to redeem Skywards miles for Flydubai Classic Rewards, you’ll need to contact Emirates Skywards via Live Chat to start the booking process.
💡 Why These Redemptions Are a Great Deal
Flydubai has significantly raised its cash fares in recent years, especially for Business Class. Being able to redeem miles at fixed rates offers excellent value and helps travelers offset increasingly expensive ticket prices. These Classic Reward redemptions represent a strong new use case for Skywards miles, particularly for travelers based in or transiting through Europe, Asia, and North America.
🔚 Final Thoughts
While the restriction on Emirates First Class awards is disappointing, the addition of Flydubai Classic Rewards provides a much-needed win for Skywards members. With competitive award pricing and growing Flydubai routes in Europe, Asia, and North America, this could be a great opportunity to redeem your Emirates Skywards miles more efficiently.
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