Image: Emirates
Emirates has enhanced its Premium Economy service as part of a significant global investment aimed at refurbishing 219 aircraft. Currently, 67 aircraft have been fully upgraded, which includes 32 A380s and 35 Boeing 777s. Additionally, nine Airbus A350 planes featuring Premium Economy have been introduced, with another 56 expected to join the fleet soon.
By March 2026, Emirates plans to operate in 68 cities with its Premium Economy-equipped aircraft, providing nearly 2 million Premium Economy seats each year, with projections to increase this number to 4 million annually by the end of 2026.
The configuration of the Premium Economy seating varies across the aircraft: on the A380, there are 56 Premium Economy seats located at the front of the main deck arranged in a 2-4-2 setup; the Boeing 777 offers as many as 24 seats in a 2-4-2 layout; and the A350 has 28 seats arranged in a 2-3-2 format.
Emirates Skywards has officially initiated a rewards program for its Premium Economy travelers, allowing its over 35 million global members to use Skywards Miles for Classic Rewards and Upgrade Rewards in all Premium Economy sections.
Skywards Flight Rewards for Premium Economy
Dr. Nejib Ben Khedher, DSVP of Emirates Skywards, expressed excitement about the introduction of flight rewards for their popular Premium Economy class. This initiative has been in the works for an extended period and follows substantial success and positive feedback from members who wish to use their Miles for this class, particularly to widely traveled destinations like London, Sydney, Melbourne, and New York.
Skywards members can redeem Miles for a one-way flight ticket starting from 15,000 Miles and can also request an upgrade from Economy to Premium Economy beginning at 7,020 Miles. These upgrades can be made either in advance or at the time of check-in, depending on availability.
The Premium Economy service is presently offered on flights to over 66 destinations worldwide.