EKEmirates SkywardsFirst
Emirates Skywards A380 First
The showcase EK product — but taxes are steep. Only worth it if you value the F experience over another 60k points elsewhere.
Miles
156,500
Taxes
$900
Source · One Mile at a Time
Route guideAll cabins · Economy included
SYD → DXB
Benchmark cash fares, indicative miles across every cabin, and the community-verified sweet spots that actually get booked. Live space varies — always confirm before transferring points.
Sweet spots on this route
Community-verifiedRedemptions the points community keeps returning to — the miles, the taxes, and why they beat the alternatives.
UAUnited MileagePlusBusiness
United on partners avoiding EK
Skip Emirates surcharges by using UA miles on other *A carriers routing SYD–SIN/BKK–DXB — business under 80k with taxes near $100.
Miles
80,000
Taxes
$110
Source · Frequent Miler
Benchmark cash fares
Economy
$1,200
one-way benchmark
Premium economy
$2,400
one-way benchmark
Business
$5,300
one-way benchmark
First
$10,000
one-way benchmark
Indicative miles — every cabin, every program
Modeled at each program's typical redemption value. Gold rows mark the smartest balance for that cabin. Economy is included — it's often the true value pick.
| Program | Economy | Premium economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| QFQantas Frequent Flyer | ~63,000 | ~126,000 | ~279,000 | ~526,000 |
| VAVirgin Velocity | ~57,000 | ~114,000 | ~252,000 | ~476,000 |
| SQSingapore KrisFlyer | best~52,000 | best~104,000 | best~230,000 | best~435,000 |
| EKEmirates Skywards | ~86,000 | ~171,000 | ~379,000 | ~714,000 |
| UAUnited MileagePlus | ~67,000 | ~133,000 | ~294,000 | ~556,000 |
| AVAvianca LifeMiles | ~60,000 | ~120,000 | ~265,000 | ~500,000 |
| ACAir Canada Aeroplan | ~60,000 | ~120,000 | ~265,000 | ~500,000 |
| AFAir France-KLM Flying Blue | ~67,000 | ~133,000 | ~294,000 | ~556,000 |
| AAAmerican AAdvantage | ~71,000 | ~141,000 | ~312,000 | ~588,000 |
| DLDelta SkyMiles | ~92,000 | ~185,000 | ~408,000 | ~769,000 |
| ASAlaska Mileage Plan | ~55,000 | ~109,000 | ~241,000 | ~455,000 |
| EYEtihad Guest | ~80,000 | ~160,000 | ~353,000 | ~667,000 |
| QRQatar Privilege Club | ~67,000 | ~133,000 | ~294,000 | ~556,000 |
| TKTurkish Miles&Smiles | ~63,000 | ~126,000 | ~279,000 | ~526,000 |
| VSVirgin Atlantic Flying Club | ~60,000 | ~120,000 | ~265,000 | ~500,000 |
| B6JetBlue TrueBlue | ~63,000 | ~126,000 | ~279,000 | ~526,000 |
| SKSAS EuroBonus | ~86,000 | ~171,000 | ~379,000 | ~714,000 |
| AMAeroméxico Rewards | ~86,000 | ~171,000 | ~379,000 | ~714,000 |
| G3GOL Smiles | ~100,000 | ~200,000 | ~442,000 | ~833,000 |
| CMCopa ConnectMiles | ~75,000 | ~150,000 | ~331,000 | ~625,000 |
| ADAzul TudoAzul | ~92,000 | ~185,000 | ~408,000 | ~769,000 |
| BABritish Airways Avios | ~71,000 | ~141,000 | ~312,000 | ~588,000 |
| CXCathay Asia Miles | ~67,000 | ~133,000 | ~294,000 | ~556,000 |
"Best" marks the program that delivers the highest cents-per-point value at our benchmark fare — not necessarily the lowest miles. Actual award pricing varies.
You'll pay cash on top. Plan for it.
Award tickets aren't free — expect airport taxes, government charges, and (on some programs) fuel surcharges. Long-haul economy typically runs $100–$300 in taxes, business $150–$500, and Qantas–Emirates business to Europe can exceed $1,200 in surcharges alone. Compare taxes as carefully as miles.
More route guides
Editorial intelligence synthesised from Point Hacks AU, God Save the Points, One Mile at a Time, Frequent Miler, The Points Guy and Australian Frequent Flyer. Confirm live in-program before transferring.