How Can I Upgrade to First Class on Emirates?

You can purchase an upgrade to Emirates First Class through Manage Your Booking using cash or miles. Available seats are confirmed instantly, and if no seats are open, you have the option to join the waitlist.

Flying in Emirates first class is an honor in itself as you sip champagne at 40,000 feet, shower in the sky, and stretch out in a private suite. But purchasing a full Emirates first class ticket upfront might not always be possible for you. Despite ignoring the first class fare during booking, you can still experience it sometimes for surprisingly good value by upgrading your ticket. Yes, you read that right, you can switch from Premium Economy or Economy to First Class on Emirates, for which all you need is the right strategy, timing, and a little luck, as seats are not always available.

Here you will find all the practical ways to upgrade your ticket to Emirates first class and some tips from our personal experience to boost your chances of grabbing a seat.

How Can You Upgrade To First Class On Emirates?

Although various methods are available, you can use for Emirates first class upgrade, your eligibility is the thing that decides your path, whether you will use cash or Skywards Miles to purchase an upgrade. However, the success of any Emirates first class upgrade method hinges completely on your original fare type and the availability of a seat. On a related note, you can’t upgrade with any method to Emirates first class after purchasing an Economy Special or Saver fare, or if no seat in the First Class cabin is open for upgrade. If you are away from this exception, then the following upgrade to Emirates first class methods are open for you.

1. Using Emirates Skywards Miles

If you have mounted enough Skywards Miles, then no other method can beat Emirates upgrade to first class with miles. In fact, this can be your most reliable way to secure a sweet spot in the first class cabin of Emirates. To purchase an Emirates first class upgrade with miles, you just need to do this:

1. Go to the official website of Emirates or use the app.
2. Head to the Manage Your Booking, where you will enter your last name and booking confirmation number to log in to your Skyward account.
3. If your initial booking is eligible for an Emirates first class upgrade, you will see an upgrade option.
4. Now choose your method “Upgrade with Miles”.
5. The system will show you the required miles for the upgrade based on your original fare, route, and other factors.
6. If a seat is open for upgrade at that time, you can proceed to pay with miles and confirm it instantly. If an upgrade seat is unavailable, you can join the waitlist.

Please note that Emirates also offers an automated upgrade option when seats are not available right away. In this process, you are placed on a waitlist, and Emirates will automatically upgrade your booking whenever a seat becomes available by deducting the required miles from your Skyward account.

2. Using Cash

When you don’t have miles accumulated in your Skyward account, or you are not a frequent flyer of Emirates, you can use the cash upgrade method to move from Economy or Premium Economy class to First Class where traveling has a broader meaning than just simply going from one place to another. Though the Emirates first class upgrade cost varies dynamically, you can swap your original seat with Emirates first class seat, by doing this:

1. Go to the website or app of Emirates.
2. Tap on the Manage Your Booking option.
3. Check if the first class seats are open and choose the Cash upgrade option if available.
4. You may see the Emirates first class upgrade cost changing dynamically due to demand and seat availability. Proceed to the payment step and pay the required upgrade charges.
5. Once your payment is confirmed, your Emirates first class upgrade seat is also confirmed instantly.

Aware Tip: The best time to check for Emirates upgrades is between 60 and 48 hours before departure.

3. Last-Minute Airport Upgrade

In case you can’t find an upgrade seat before your travel date or your plan changes at the last minute, you must know how you can secure an Emirates first-class upgrade seat at the airport before boarding the flight. The last-minute airport upgrades of Emirates heavily rely on seats that remain unsold closer to departure, leading Emirates to offer last-minute first-class upgrades at surprisingly low prices. Here is what you can do to grab discounted Emirates first class upgrades at the airport:

• At Check-in Counter: On the day of departure, when you arrive at the airport, go straight to the check-in counter and simply ask the Emirates agent if you can upgrade to first class. Luckily, if seats remain unsold at that time, you can buy an upgrade either by cash or miles.
• At Departure Gate: Just before boarding the flight, you can try your luck by requesting the gate agent to assign a first class seat to you. If the flight crew finds First Class seats still empty, you may be allowed to occupy them, but at a certain cost.
• Onboard: Although chances are almost zero, the Emirates crew may offer you a first-class upgrade in return for a few extra miles or cash if a passenger does not show up after booking a first-class seat.

4. Complimentary Upgrade

There is a complimentary upgrade option, but in reality, it is equivalent to nothing because Emirates does not reward its elite passengers with free upgrades or complimentary upgrades to first class until a particular cabin class is overbooked, requiring them to transfer passengers from that cabin to another, such as a first-class cabin. However, if you are a Gold or Platinum member, Emirates can prioritize your requests for both mileage and paid upgrades.

Aware Tip: You should never book an Emirates flight while hoping for a complimentary upgrade, as these kinds of upgrades are only offered whenever there is an operational necessity.

Tips to Maximize Your Chances For Emirates First Class Upgrade

As we said earlier, to secure your seat in Emirates First Class with an upgrade, you need to perform a few strategic actions; otherwise, you might end up flying in your originally booked cabin class. Here are some tips from our personal experience that can actually help you in getting an Emirates first class upgrade:

• Requesting an upgrade at the right time can be the most effective step to get an Emirates first class upgrade. If you are seeking an award upgrade seat, you must check at bookin,g or if you want an upgrade at a huge discount, you must check frequently between 48 and 6 hours before departure, when Emirates usually clears its waitlists and finalizes inventory.
• Arrive early at the airport because agents can announce upgrade offers early, allowing you to grab an upgrade to Emirates first class when you see them.
• Check which credit card is allowing you to transfer your points to your Emirates Skywards account so you can use miles to purchase an upgrade.
• Do not get lured by discounted or saver fares while booking your original fare, as these fares usually do not qualify for first-class upgrades on Emirates.

Aware Tip: Always choose the right aircraft because the experience of flying in Emirates’ first class varies drastically with the aircraft. For instance, Airbus A380 offers an onboard lounge and shower spa, while Boeing 777 has fully enclosed Game Changer suites to give ultimate privacy on the flight, but there is no onboard bar or shower.

Final Words

Upgrading to Emirates first class is not a click-and-confirm process, but it needs the right strategy to let you walk from Economy or Premium Economy to First Class. Whether you want to use your accumulated miles or cash, you can absolutely make the change without paying the full price of an Emirates First Class ticket upfront if you do the right things at the right time, you are ready to twist your travel plans accordingly, and most importantly, you know how the upgrade system of Emirates works.

You may also be interested in:
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3. How to Upgrade to Business Class on United​ Airlines?
4. How Do I Upgrade to Premium Class on Alaska Airlines?

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