Smart With Points Podcast - Boost Your Miles & Points

Hey there points enthusiasts! Welcome back to Smart With Points. I hope you're ready for some fantastic news that's going to make your luxury travel dreams a whole lot more achievable.

You know how Emirates just dropped that bombshell about restricting First Class awards to elite members? Well, I've got some brilliant news that's going to put a smile on your face - especially if you're collecting Qantas points.

Despite Emirates implementing this controversial First Class restriction for Skywards members, both Qantas and Emirates have officially confirmed that Qantas Frequent Flyer members can still book Emirates First Class using points, regardless of their status level. Yes, you heard that right!

Flight Hacks has just received confirmation from both airlines that this restriction only applies to Emirates' own loyalty program, not to partner programs like Qantas Frequent Flyer. A Qantas spokesperson explicitly stated that Qantas Frequent Flyers won't be affected by these changes, and Emirates themselves have confirmed that partner airline members are exempt from this new rule.

This creates quite an interesting situation - non-elite Skywards members can't book their own airline's First Class with their own miles, but Qantas members can book these exact same seats regardless of status! Talk about a sweet spot in the points world.

Now, why is this particularly exciting for UK points collectors? Well, let me break it down for you. First, the Qantas pathway remains one of the most accessible ways to experience Emirates' legendary First Class product - yes, including that famous onboard shower on A380 flights and those incredible fully enclosed suites on select 777 routes.

Even better, American Express UK maintains a one-to-one transfer ratio to Qantas, making it straightforward to book these awards. And here's the kicker - you can book London to Dubai for just eighty-nine thousand Qantas points plus taxes.

Let me share some quick booking tips. Use the multi-city search tool on the Qantas website to see a whole month of availability at once. Consider departing from other European cities if London availability is tight, and try to book ten to twelve months in advance for the best chances.

While this is fantastic news, remember that airlines can change their policies with little notice. So if Emirates First Class is on your bucket list, I'd recommend booking sooner rather than later.

Thanks for tuning in to Smart With Points! Don't forget to subscribe to the podcast on all major platforms or visit us at smartwithpoints.co.uk for more travel hacking tips and tricks.

Looking for the best award flights? Use AwardTravelFinder.com to search availability across Qatar Airways, British Airways, Cathay Pacific and more. Try it for free with our link in the shownotes.