What happened
Emirates Skywards is implementing changes to its award redemption costs, specifically impacting classic rewards and upgrade rewards. The mileage calculator has been updated to reflect these changes, which take effect for bookings made as of May 20, 2026. While the exact magnitude of the increase is not yet detailed, this continues a trend of devaluation in the program, including restricted First Class availability for elites and worsened transfer ratios from partner currencies. The article notes that Skywards operates more as a commercial entity than a loss leader, focusing on revenue generation through surcharges and transfer fees rather than deep discounting