Best Credit Cards to Earn Emirates Skywards Miles in India
Emirates Airlines is a UAE-based airline and one of the world’s most luxurious and elite airlines. The airline operates over 3,500 flights per week and connects the Middle East to multiple destinations worldwide. Skywards, Emirates’ frequent flyer program, is among the largest in the world, with more than 30 million members.
You can become a member of the Skywards loyalty program and get exclusive rewards and benefits on Emirates flights. There are co-branded credit cards in India that offer Skywards Miles for your spending with the card, and other cards that allow you to transfer your earned reward points to Skywards Miles.
In the following article, we will learn everything related to Emirates Skywards membership, the best cards to earn Skywards Miles, how to earn and redeem miles, and much more.
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Emirates Skywards Co-Branded Credit Cards in India
The best way to earn Emirates Skywards Miles is through credit cards. ICICI Bank recently launched co-branded travel credit cards with Emirates and they are the perfect choice for travellers who frequently fly via Emirates Airlines.
With these cards, you earn Skywards Miles as well as other benefits and privileges on Emirates flights. The following are the Emirates co-branded travel credit cards in India –
- Joining Fee
- ₹1,000 + GST
- Annual Fee
- ₹1,000 + GST
- Best Suited For
- Travel
- Rewards Type
- Air Miles
Rewards rate and welcome benefits
Rewards Rate1 Skyward Miles/₹100 on All International and Domestic Spends
Welcome BenefitsN/A
Card Details +
Out of the three Emirates co-branded cards with ICICI Bank, the Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Rubyx credit card is the most basic version, and it charges a joining and annual fee of ₹1000. Those who frequently travel with Emirates and are looking for an affordable card can opt for this variant. The reward rate on the card is decent and offers 1 Skyward Mile per ₹100 spent. Moreover, the card offers complimentary lounge access per quarter and more. For entertainment and lifestyle, you get discounts on movie ticket bookings via BookMyShow and on dining.
- Complimentary domestic lounge access
- 25% discount on BookMyShow tickets
- Exclusive dining discounts
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
- Joining Fee
- ₹10,000 + GST
- Annual Fee
- ₹10,000 + GST
- Best Suited For
- Travel
- Rewards Type
- Air Miles
Rewards rate and welcome benefits
Rewards Rate2 Skyward Miles/₹100 Spent on All Transactions
Welcome Benefits10,000 Skyward Miles and Emirates Skywards Silver Tier Membership
Card Details +
The card charges an annual and joining fee of ₹10,000 and offers a welcome benefit of 10,000 Skyward Miles and a complimentary Skywards Silver Tier membership in the first year. You can earn 2 Miles per ₹100 spent with the card, and you can also upgrade your membership to the Gold tier upon achieving the target spend milestone. Other features include lounge access, movie and dining benefits, etc. Not just travel, the card is packed with benefits across several categories.
- Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver tier membership
- Bonus 10,000 Skyward Miles as a welcome benefit
- 2 Skyward Miles per Rs. 100 spent with the card
- Complimentary unlimited access to international as well as domestic lounges
- Exclusive dining benefits with the ICICI Bank Culinary Treats program
- Joining Fee
- ₹5,000 + GST
- Annual Fee
- ₹5,000 + GST
- Best Suited For
- Travel
- Rewards Type
- Air Miles
Rewards rate and welcome benefits
Rewards Rate1.5 Skyward Miles/₹100 Spent
Welcome Benefits5,000 bonus Skyward Miles and complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership.
Card Details +
The Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Sapphiro credit card is the middle variant out of the three co-branded cards issued by Emirates. This variant comes at a joining fee of Rs. 5000 and provides a welcome benefit of 5000 Skyward Miles and a complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver Tier membership. The card offers 1.5 Skyward Miles for every Rs. 100 spent with the card, which can be redeemed for various options on the Emirates website. Upon reaching the target spend milestone, the Skywards membership is upgraded to the Gold tier. Other features include complimentary lounge access, movie benefits, and more.
- Bonus 5000 Skyward Miles as a welcome benefit
- Complimentary Emirates Skywards Silver tier membership
- 1.5 Skyward Miles for every Rs. 100 spent with the card
- Complimentary international and domestic lounge access
- Exclusive dining discounts with the Culinary Treats Program
- 1% fuel surcharge waiver
Other Credit Cards to Earn Skyward Miles in India
The following are the credit cards that allow you to transfer your reward points to Skywards Miles at a fixed transfer ratio –
- Joining Fee
- Rs. 2,999 + GST
- Annual Fee
- Rs. 2,999 + GST
- Best Suited For
- Travel
- Rewards Type
- Reward Points
Rewards rate and welcome benefits
Rewards RateGet 4 Travel Credits for every ₹200 spent on travel and 2 Travel Credits for every ₹200 on other expenses.
Welcome BenefitsGet 3,000 Travel Credits on spending ₹60,000 within 60 days of issuance.
Card Details +
The SBI MILES PRIME Credit Card is a mid-tier travel card designed for frequent travellers who want lounge access, insurance cover, and flexible travel rewards without paying a very high annual fee. It offers Travel Credits on every spend, complimentary domestic and international lounge access, a Priority Pass membership, and helpful travel insurance benefits. With a reasonable joining fee, spend-based fee waiver, and the ability to convert credits into air miles or hotel points across multiple partners, it is a well-balanced option for travellers who want comfort and rewards, even though returns on non-travel spends are limited.
- Joining Fee
- Rs. 1,499 + GST
- Annual Fee
- Rs. 1,499 + GST
- Best Suited For
- Travel
- Rewards Type
- Reward Points
Rewards rate and welcome benefits
Rewards RateGet 2 Travel Credits for every ₹200 spent on travel and 1 Travel Credit for every ₹200 on other expenses.
Welcome Benefits Get 1,500 Travel Credits on spending ₹30,000 within 60 days of issuance.
Card Details +
The SBI Card MILES is a simple and affordable travel-focused credit card best suited for frequent travellers. It comes with a low joining and annual fee and rewards users with Travel Credits on every spend, especially on travel bookings. These credits can be converted into air miles, hotel points, or used for travel bookings. The card also offers complimentary domestic lounge access, a Priority Pass membership, a fuel surcharge waiver, and a relatively low 3% forex markup, making it a practical choice for frequent travelers who want straightforward rewards without premium pricing.
- Joining Fee
- Rs. 4,999 + GST
- Annual Fee
- Rs. 4,999 + GST
- Best Suited For
- Travel
- Rewards Type
- Reward Points
Rewards rate and welcome benefits
Rewards Rate6 Travel Credits for Every ₹200 Spent on Travel. 2 Travel Credits/₹200 Spent on All Other Purchases
Welcome Benefits5,000 Travel Credits
Card Details +
The SBI Miles Elite Credit Card is a premium travel-focused card made for frequent flyers who want lounge access, insurance, and flexible travel rewards. It offers higher Travel Credits on travel spends, a generous welcome bonus, domestic and international lounge access, Priority Pass membership, and useful travel insurance covers. With a low forex markup of 1.99% and the option to convert credits into air miles or hotel points across many partners, it suits travellers who value comfort and protection, even though its reward rate is not the most aggressive in its price segment.
Emirates Skywards Membership Tiers and Benefits
Whenever you fly with Emirates Airlines, you earn Skyward Miles and also Tier Miles for your travels. On flying via Emirates and flydubai, you can boost your Tier Miles balance, which further allows you to upgrade your Skywards membership tier. Also, there are several Emirates co-branded credit cards that offer complimentary membership to the cardholders.
Currently, Emirates Skywards offers four status tiers, each with its own set of benefits and privileges. The higher your membership tier, the more privileges and perks you get on Emirates flights. Also, you can earn Tier Miles only on flights operated by Emirates, or through codeshare flights marketed by Emirates. These are rolling tiers, and you get 12 to 13 months to meet the membership requirements or requalify.
The following section provides all the information you need about the Skywards membership tiers.
Skywards Blue
As soon as you sign up for the Emirates Skywards loyalty program, you automatically receive the Blue membership status. This general tier is free for everyone, and you do not need to fly a minimum number of flights or collect a target amount of Tier Miles for this Blue tier. As soon as you become a Blue member, you get access to exclusive member services and other benefits for seamless travel across flydubai and Emirates Airlines. The Blue tier offers the following benefits –
- Exclusive member-only offers and exciting travel packages
- Instant class upgrades with your Skyward Miles at check-in
- Waitlist priority
- Paid lounge access
Skywards Silver
To qualify for the Silver tier, you must earn at least 25,000 Tier Miles or take a minimum of 25 Emirates flights in the previous 12-month period. The Silver tier offers all the benefits of the Blue tier and –
- 25% bonus Skywards Miles on your Emirates flights
- Free seat selection is subject to availability
- Priority service through the contact center
- Additional baggage allowance
- Complimentary access to Emirates Business Class Lounges in Dubai
- Priority boarding
Skywards Gold
In order to qualify for the Gold tier, you must earn at least 50,000 Tier Miles or take a minimum of 50 Emirates flights in the previous 12-month period. The Gold tier offers all the benefits of the Silver tier and –
- Complimentary Emirates lounge access worldwide for you as well as one guest
- Priority baggage handling and extra baggage allowance
- Complimentary on-flight WiFi while flying in any cabin
- 50% bonus Skyward Miles on your Emirates flights
Skywards Platinum
To qualify for the Platinum tier, you must earn at least 1,50,000 Tier Miles in the previous 12-month period. You cannot attain this tier by flying a certain number of flights. The Platinum tier offers all the benefits of the Gold tier and –
- First class check-in and priority baggage and handling
- Complimentary Skywards Gold tier for your partner or spouse
- Complimentary Emirates first-class lounge access worldwide, plus 1 access for an adult guest, and 2 access for guests under the age of 17.
How to Earn Emirates Skywards Miles
There are several ways to earn Emirates Skywards Miles. The easiest option is to fly on Emirates flights, and the higher your membership tier, the more bonus miles you earn. You can also earn Miles through an Emirates co-branded credit card or by transferring credit card reward points to Skywards Miles. The following are the different ways of earning Skywards Miles –
Via Flying on Emirates flights
If you frequently travel domestically as well as internationally, then the most convenient way to earn Skywards Miles is by flying on Emirates flights. You earn miles by flying on Emirates flights that are credited to your Skywards account. The miles earned depend on the fare class and the total flight distance. You can use the Emirates Miles Calculator to check the number of miles you will earn. Also, the higher your Skywards membership tier, the more Miles you earn for your flights.
Via Credit Cards
Another simple way to earn Skywards Miles is by getting an Emirates co-branded credit card. You can get one of the three Emirates co-branded cards with ICICI Bank that offer Skywards Miles for your spending made with the card.
Via Flying on Partner Airlines flights
You can earn Skyward Miles not just by flying on flights operated by Emirates, but also on flying with Emirates’ partner airlines. Emirates has a partnership with around 15 airlines that will allow you to earn Skywards Miles when you credit partner airline flights to your Skywards account. The miles earned by you will depend on the fare class and the distance of your flight. However, most of Emirates’ partner award charts are not very generous, and you will earn around 1 or 2 Miles per flown mile on the flight.
Via Hotel Partners
Generally, people directly book hotels to earn maximum points and reap membership benefits. However, if you don’t travel frequently, then you can book via a third party and earn Skyward Miles for it. Emirates partners with various hotel chains and booking platforms to allow you to earn Skywards Miles.
Via Rental Car Partners
Numerous rental car partners of Emirates allow you to earn Skywards Miles other than the traditional way of credit cards or flights. Emirates has partnered with rental car companies throughout the world, and you can earn either 1000 Miles per rental or 8 Miles per $1 spent on car rentals.
Via Business Rewards
Business travel is quite essential for the airline industry, and most airlines have loyalty programs exclusively for small businesses. Emirates offers the Business Rewards program through which eligible small businesses can earn 1 Mile per dollar spent on Emirates flights. These miles are earned in addition to the normal Miles you earn from your flight.
How to Redeem Emirates Miles
Now that we’ve read about how to earn Emirates Skywards Miles, the next part is to redeem the Miles for Emirates flights and a host of other options. The following are the options you have to redeem your earned Emirates Miles –
For Emirates Flights
You can redeem Skyward Miles for Emirates flights to reduce the price of your Emirates and flydubai tickets. You can make the payment in any combination of your Skywards Miles and cash. The relevant amount will be taken off your flight price based on the number of miles you redeem. Just log in to your Skywards account and get the Cash+Miles rates. You can even redeem the flight entirely with Miles if you have the required miles.
How to Book Emirates Flights with Skywards Miles
Follow these steps to book an Emirates flight using Skyward Miles –
- Visit the Emirates Airlines website and log in to your Skywards account.
- Click on Book Flights and check the Classic Rewards checkbox. Enter the departure, arrival location, travel date, etc., and search for flights.
- You will see the available flights on the results page, along with the miles required to book the flight and other charges to be paid in cash.
- Click on the flight you want to book, and you will see its details. Finalize and proceed to book the flight using Miles.
For Partner Airlines Award Flights
You can redeem your Skywards Miles for award flights with various Emirates partner airlines. These partner airlines include Air Mauritius, Bangkok Airways, Alaska Airlines, easyJet, Japan Airlines, Copa Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Jetstar, S7, Qantas, TAP Portugal, and South African Airways.
For Reward Upgrades
You can redeem your Skywards Miles in order to upgrade from Economy Class to Premium Economy, Economy to Business, Premium Economy to Business, or from Business to First Class. You can make the class upgrade starting from 7020 Miles, and you can instantly make the upgrades during check-in or when you are on board.
For Skywards Exclusives
You can redeem Skywards Miles against Skywards Exclusive events. You can either spend Miles or join the auctions in order to unlock these exquisite experiences. You have a chance to attend your favorite artist’s concert or watch your favorite football team play.
Miles Expiry and How to Extend
Emirates Skyward Miles are valid for a period of three years from the date you earned them. The year in which your Miles are due to expire, they will expire and be removed from your membership account at the end of your birthday month. If you earned the Skywards Miles in October 2022 and your birthday is in November, then the Miles will expire in December 2025.
If your Skywards Miles are due to expire anytime within the next 3 months, it is possible to get them extended for an additional 12 months by making the required payment. You can extend the Miles three months before expiry at a special price. You can even reinstate the Miles that have expired by paying $20 per 1000 Miles. It is possible to reinstate 50,000 Miles per year.
Cancellation Charges of Award Tickets
The following are the cancellation and other charges associated with Emirates award flight tickets –
In case of date change on your award ticket, you don’t have to pay any charges on Classic Flex Plus and Classic Flex choice, but you have to pay $25 on the Classic Saver choice.
In case of destination change, you don’t have to pay anything on Flex Plus and Flex Reward tickets. For other reward tickets in the same destination area, you have to pay a fee of $25.
For cancellation, redeposit, and refund of miles, there are no charges on Classic Flex Plus ticket, $50 on Classic Flex ticket, and $75 on Classic Saver ticket.
Redeeming Skywards Miles for Others
Yes, it is possible to redeem Miles for award tickets for your friends or family members. The process is the same as that you would use to book an award flight using Miles for yourself. If you want to redeem miles for others for partner airline flight awards, then you need to use this reward form online.
It is also possible to transfer Skyward Miles to another account through the My Account section. The receiving account must have partner-earning activity or at least one Emirates flight to receive the Miles. The price to gift or transfer miles is $15 per 1000 miles, and you must transfer at least 2000 Miles per transaction.
Redeeming Miles for Infant/Child
Yes, it is possible to redeem miles for your infant or child for an award flight. You will have to spend 10% of the Miles required to book an adult award ticket for infants who are under the age of 2. However, you can use infant reward tickets only in the Economy Class. Class upgrades using Skywards Miles can also be done for infants.
Bottom Line
Emirates Airlines is one of the most luxurious airlines in the world and features some of the best business and first-class flights. The Emirates Skywards loyalty program has members throughout the world, and it offers exclusive privileges and benefits to members on Emirates flights.
In the above article, we read about how to earn Miles and redeem them on Emirates flights, partner flights, and other options. You can either get an Emirates co-branded credit card or an SBI Miles Credit Card that allows you to convert reward points to Skywards Miles. We even read information regarding the expiry, extension, cancellation of miles and award flights, etc.
If you are someone who regularly travels via Emirates Airlines, go through the above article thoroughly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which are the Emirates co-branded credit cards in India?
Currently, Emirates offers co-branded credit cards in India in partnership with ICICI Bank. There are three cards right now and they are – Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Emeralde credit card, Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Sapphiro credit card, and the Emirates Skywards ICICI Bank Rubyx credit card.
What are the different tiers offered under the Emirates Skywards membership program?
The Emirates Skywards membership offers the following tiers for members –
- Skywards Blue
- Skywards Silver
- Skywards Gold
- Skywards Platinum
What are the different ways to earn Emirates Skywards miles in India?
You can earn Emirates Skywards miles through the following ways –
- Via Credit Cards
- Flying on Emirates flights
- Flying on Partner Airlines’ flights
- Via Hotel Partners
- Via Car Rental Partners
- Via Business Rewards
How can I book an Emirates flights using Miles?
Follow these steps to book an Emirates flights using Miles –
- Visit the Emirates Airlines website and log into your Skywards account.
- Click on Book Flights and check the Classic Rewards checkbox. Enter the departure, arrival location, travel date, etc. and search for flights.
- You will see the available flights on the results page along with the miles required to book the flight and other charges to be paid in cash.
- Click on the flight you want to book and you will see its details. Finalize and proceed to book the flight using Miles.
Reader Comments
2 comments · Join the discussion below
can we transfer amex points earned from American Express Platinum Travel Credit Card to Emirates Skywards? It’s not mentioned in the above list.
Yes, you can. The cards along with the ratio are mentioned above.