Skywards Blue
Entry tier (free)
- Earn Skywards Miles and Tier Miles on flydubai and Emirates
- Cash+Miles flexibility
airline
flydubai
IndependentHUBSDXBLast reviewed May 2026
flydubai is the Government of Dubai-owned (Investment Corporation of Dubai) low-cost arm complementing Emirates. The fleet runs roughly 80-85 Boeing 737-800 / MAX 8 / MAX 9 aircraft, primarily out of DXB Terminal 2 for budget routes and Terminal 3 for codeshares with Emirates (co-located since 2018).
The critical reader fact: there is no separate flydubai loyalty currency. flydubai uses Emirates Skywards as its frequent-flyer program. The legacy "OPEN" program was retired August 1, 2018 when the Skywards integration completed. All earning, status, and redemption flow through Emirates Skywards. The April 29, 2025 enhancement introduced full Classic Reward redemption on flydubai across all cabins from 5,000 Miles, with Cash+Miles flexibility. May-June 2025 ran a Double Tier Miles promo across flydubai and Emirates.
For US travelers, flydubai sweet spots ride the Emirates Skywards transfer landscape: Amex MR 5:4 (effective Sep 16 2025), Capital One 4:3 (effective Jan 13 2026), Citi 1,000:800 (effective Jul 27 2025), Bilt 1:1 on Rent Day only (the lone remaining 1:1 partner), Marriott 3:1 standard. Chase UR ENDED October 16 2025 and should not be listed as active. Wells Fargo is not a partner. The flydubai-specific value: short-haul routes (Caucasus, East Africa, Balkans, Central Asia) at 5,000-12,500 Miles + cash co-pay - you can pair with an Emirates DXB-US business award at roughly 136,000 Miles for a Dubai stopover that unlocks destinations Emirates can not reach (Mogadishu, Bishkek, Skopje).
Award chart
The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.
The cheat sheet.
See the rates →
Award chart
The actual numbers. Get your nerd on, memorize the cheap ones.
The cheat sheet.
flydubai redemptions price in Emirates Skywards Classic Rewards using a published distance/region chart. As of April 29, 2025, flydubai redemption is available across all cabins from 5,000 Skywards Miles, with Cash+Miles flexibility.
Sample one-way saver pricing on flydubai metal as of May 2026:
| Route | Cabin | Skywards Miles + Cash |
|---|---|---|
| DXB short-haul (Caucasus / East Africa / Balkans / Central Asia) | Economy | 5,000-12,500 + cash |
| DXB to Tbilisi / Baku / Kathmandu | Business | ~25,000-40,000 + cash |
| Emirates DXB-US (paired stopover) | Business | ~136,000 |
Verify current pricing on emirates.com and flydubai.com.
Sweet spots
Where your points punch above their weight.
Where this currency genuinely shines.
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Sweet spots
Where your points punch above their weight.
Where this currency genuinely shines.
- DXB to flydubai-only destinations (Mogadishu, Bishkek, Skopje, Sarajevo, etc.) - the network reach Emirates does not have.
- DXB short-haul economy from 5,000 Skywards Miles - sharp value on otherwise expensive paid routes.
- DXB to Caucasus / Central Asia business 25,000-40,000 Skywards Miles one-way (verify).
- Bilt 1:1 Rent Day is the only remaining 1:1 transfer to Emirates Skywards.
- My Family pooling up to 8 members for redeeming bigger awards.
- Cash+Miles flexibility (April 2025) lets you redeem when you do not have full mile balance.
Tier benefits
The status ladder. 4 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.
4 status levels.
Climb the ladder →
Tier benefits
The status ladder. 4 rungs, each unlocking better lounges, bags, and bragging rights.
4 status levels.
Silver
25,000 Tier Miles
- 30% Skywards Miles bonus on flydubai and Emirates
- Priority check-in
- Extra baggage
Gold
50,000 Tier Miles
- 75% Skywards Miles bonus
- Lounge access on flydubai and Emirates
- Priority boarding
Platinum
150,000 Tier Miles plus at least 1 First or Business segment
- 100% Skywards Miles bonus
- Premium lounge access
- Confirmed-seat priority on sold-out flights
- Top priority
Lounge access
Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.
Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.
See the rules →
Lounge access
Where to vanish before takeoff. Your status (or ticket) opens which doors.
Who gets in, who doesn't, and the carve-outs.
flydubai operates the flydubai Business Class Lounge at DXB Terminal 3. Skywards Gold and Platinum members get Emirates lounges across the network. Day-pass access is not standard - business-class entry is fare-based.
How to spend
The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.
The smart-money plays.
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How to spend
The high-leverage moves. Read this before you transfer a single mile.
The smart-money plays.
- DXB to short-haul flydubai routes (Caucasus, East Africa, Balkans, Central Asia) economy 5,000-12,500 Skywards Miles + cash co-pay.
- DXB to Tbilisi / Baku / Kathmandu business roughly 25,000-40,000 Skywards Miles one-way (verify).
- Pair flydubai with Emirates DXB-US business at roughly 136,000 Skywards Miles for a stopover via Dubai.
- Bilt 1:1 on Rent Day - the only remaining 1:1 partner to Skywards.
- My Family pooling - up to 8 family members can pool Skywards Miles, which is genuinely powerful.
- Cash+Miles flexibility expanded April 2025 - mix points and cash on flydubai redemptions.
Tips & quirks
Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.
The fine print, decoded.
Spill the gotchas →
Tips & quirks
Stopover rules, surcharges, the stuff nobody tells you until you've been burned once.
The fine print, decoded.
- No separate flydubai loyalty currency - flydubai uses Emirates Skywards. The legacy OPEN program was retired August 1, 2018.
- April 29 2025 enhancement: full Classic Reward redemption on flydubai across all cabins from 5,000 Skywards Miles, with Cash+Miles flexibility.
- May-June 2025 Double Tier Miles promo ran across flydubai and Emirates.
- Chase UR -> Emirates Skywards ENDED October 16, 2025 - do not list as active.
- Wells Fargo Rewards is NOT a Skywards transfer partner.
- Bilt 1:1 is the only remaining 1:1 partner to Emirates Skywards (Rent Day only).
- No US federal excise tax on Amex MR transfers (foreign carrier).
- My Family pooling lets up to 8 family members pool Skywards Miles - genuinely powerful.
- Skywards Miles expire 3 years from earning (rolling).
- Fuel surcharges (fuel surcharges) on Emirates and flydubai pass material co-pay especially in premium cabins.
- flydubai unlocks unique award destinations Emirates cannot reach - Mogadishu, Bishkek, Skopje, Sarajevo, etc.
- No US-issued flydubai co-brand card - Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard via Barclays US is the Emirates-side product.
- Co-located with Emirates at DXB Terminal 3 since 2018 for codeshare connectivity.
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Last reviewed: May 2026
Loyalty programs change rules, fees, transfer ratios, and award pricing all the time — sometimes without warning. We do our best to keep these pages current, but the program's own site is always the final word. Always confirm specifics directly with flydubai before transferring miles or booking an award. Treat anything on this page as a starting point, not a guarantee. Crazy4Points is not responsible for actions taken based on information here — see our Terms of Service for full details.