After a quick suspension, you possibly can as soon as once more switch American Specific Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One miles, Chase Final Rewards and Citi ThankYou factors to the Emirates Skywards program.
This information was first reported by Frequent Miler.
In April, every main issuer suspended reward transfers with differing timeframes on when (or if) they might return. American Specific and Citi didn’t give finish dates, inflicting worry that the suspension may final a big time. Chase acknowledged transfers could be unavailable via June 30, so it is nice to see this problem resolved a lot earlier.
In our exams, transfers to Emirates Skywards have been immediate, although timeframes can fluctuate. Bear in mind, transfers from bank card packages to accomplice packages like Emirates can’t be reversed, so all the time ensure you discover award availability earlier than transferring your factors or miles.
Whereas bank card factors or miles often switch to the Skywards program at a 1:1 price, Citi factors shall be devalued by 20% starting July 27. Which means that for each 1,000 ThankYou Rewards factors you switch to Emirates, you may get a worth of 800 Skywards miles, so a 5:4 switch ratio.
Moreover, Emirates now restricts first-class award bookings to its loyalty program elite members. Nevertheless, even when you do not have standing, you possibly can nonetheless e book first-class award tickets together with your factors and miles in case you e book via accomplice packages. To e book an opulent first-class seat on Emirates, you possibly can switch Amex factors, Citi factors or Capital One miles to Qantas Frequent Flyer program at a 1:1 price. Once more, ensure you first discover Emirates seats obtainable via Qantas’ reserving platform earlier than you switch your rewards.
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Associated: How I booked an Emirates first-class award with out elite standing
Backside line
It is nice to see the return of all bank card switch choices to the Emirates Skywards program, assuaging the priority that this sudden switch suspension will not be short-term or short-lived.
It’s disappointing to see the brand new restrictions on first-class redemptions booked with Skywards miles, in addition to the upcoming 20% devaluation of Citi transfers; nonetheless, there’s a helpful work-around by transferring rewards to Qantas as a substitute of Emirates.
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