Emirates has quietly introduced a ban on children in first class, but only when redeeming miles.
Emirates Bans Children 8 And Under From First Class When Redeeming Miles
One Mile At A Time notes that Emirates Skywards recently (and without notice) updated its terms & conditions, adding a new restriction against children in first class:
Please note that passengers aged 8 years old and below are ineligible for First Class Emirates Classic Rewards and Upgrade Rewards.
This new rule went into effect on August 15, 2025 and bans children under eight from first class cabins when redeeming miles to either book the flight or to upgrade from business class. This ban does not apply to children on revenue (“paid”) tickets.
That’s quite a curious distinction considering the high fees on Emirates awards…which can run over $2,000 on an intercontinental round trip.
At least for now, it appears that Emirates may not be enforcing this ban, as the website still allows first class award redemptions and upgrades, when available, for children eight and under.
I’d imagine that Emirates would not retroactively cancel any tickets booked before the policy goes into effect (or is enforced), but if you are considering an infant first class redemption on Emirates, it is best to book now.
My Issue With This Policy
I do understand that some will rejoice over this policy. Of course, it is aggravating when a child cries when you are in first class…and of course, there’s a certain degree of understandable entitlement that part of your consideration for booking a first class ticket is to be able to sleep well and enjoy the amenities in peace.
As the father of two young children, one of whom is five years old and the other who is eight (so both are currently banned from Emirates First Class when using miles), I may not be in favor of this policy, but I acknowledge that not every five-year-old is as well-traveled and well-behaved as my daughter. Just because she didn’t make a peep during our 11-hour journey to San Francisco a couple of weeks ago does not mean that other young children can keep quiet on a longhaul flight.
Just as pilots are forced to retire at 65 regardless of their individual circumstances, I can understand that a generally applicable rule is far easier to administer than handling every issue on a case-by-case basis.
So I guess I’m saying, fundamentally, I get the rationale of the ban.
But what I don’t understand is why Emirates is discriminating against those who use their miles…as if they are freeloaders. Have you seen the price of an Emirates First Class award? And the surcharges on top of it? I’d argue in many cases, it makes a lot more sense simply to pay cash for the tickets and save the miles, since you’ll be paying a tremendous amount out of pocket anyway.
I’m not going to use apartheid language…but I’m also not certain (though this is certainly not my area of legal expertise) whether this policy runs afoul of European age discrimination laws, but I think the answer is no because the age discrimination rules in the EU apply mostly to employment. In fact, Emirates might even be able to argue that polices requiring young children to be within reach of adults might prohibit children between the ages of two and eight from occupying their own seats.
Will Other Airlines Follow?
I have to imagine carriers like Air France, Lufthansa, and SWISS will watch how this develops closely. It isn’t clear to me how prevalent a “problem” children in first class are. I’ve flown first class many, many times over the years and the only flight I can recall with a bad child in first class was that Lufthansa First Class flight where I was sitting between Jane Fonda and Amanda Seyfried.
> Read More:Flying Lufthansa First Class with Hollywood Stars, Oligarchs, and Executives
It would not surprise me to see other airlines follow if Emirates gets away with this, but I’m also not expecting any one to match anytime soon.
CONCLUSION
As of August 15, 2025, Emirates has banned children eight years of age and under from traveling in first class, but only when using miles. I don’t think the discrimination based upon payment type makes sense, but even as the father of two well-traveled children who would be impacted by the ban, I cannot honestly say I am outraged by it.
How about you?
image: Emirates
Why would you use the words ” apartheid language” in an article?
It’s an inside joke.
Please explain it to me.
I don’t think any Emirati leading family / royalty / nobility travelling with their kids in Frist would be paying with points.
And that’s why it’s only points.
Nailed it!
Seems like another devaluation for people using miles disguised as an anti-child/protect-first-class-from-kids policy…
YES!!! LOVE this, and hope this is the start of a reversal of this dreadful trend. Heck, I’d even pay extra for kid-free spaces (as some Asian airlines have done over the years).
I remember the good, old days when parents had common sense and knew that when they made the decision to uncross their legs, they would have to make some changes in their lifestyle. Today? legions of clueless, entitled, dipwad, “time-out chair” parents take their kids to bars, white-tablecloth restaurants, airline lounges, and other places that are just plain inappropriate and/or were never originally designed for kids.
Matt, love you, and I’m sure you believe your kids are angels… Most parents these days do – whether or not they actually are. But they’ll have plenty of time when they’re older to enjoy spaces that were meant for older teens/adults.
You can pay extra for child free flights. Fly private
And you can do the same with your “little angels.”
Nah. I’ll keep flying with my kids. Let me know the next flight you are on so I can book tickets. I’ll make sure to bring them on full of sugar.
When they start having caviar LEGOS the value to young children will be noticed. Otherwise they are happy to be with loving parents. Perhaps the redemption restrictions are in the end, useful to some.
Well with 3+1 Seats in F at LH, there will be anyhow no problem. Once you and your +1 have one child, you are alone in F….. so it anyhow will be hard to get any seat for a family of 3, just not imageing on miles – will not work unless you are HON.
I’ve looked at my ticket a few times, and maybe I’m wrong, but nowhere on the ticket does it say quite baby zone, those of you who think so should have a Coke and smile and kick rocks (you know it’s not kicking rocks). You’re on a plane, you cant always get what you want. Pay more and fly private
Good.
Great!
Now this is something American airlines could take a lesson from. Kids needing to fly for a funeral or to Disney can sit in economy and stop being spoiled at such a young age.
People with no kids shouldn’t be allowed to dictate where kids are allowed to be.
If you aren’t doing your part to keep society going, your opinions are worthless on the matter
Just so we are clear, thanks for letting us know Aaron and his ilk have worthless opinions too.
I’ve been saying this for years, they truly are the end of humanity, but they will go out happy with coc$s in their a$$ and mouth.
Q: What do car dealers ask Aaron when he looks at a new vehicle?
A: I see you like it in the Brown
Just so we are clear, thanks for reminding us all how I live rent free in your head, and how obsessed you are with gay sex, you deplorable excuse for a human being.
Nah, just calling a f&g a f&g when I see one. Never a bad time to laugh at inferior “human” beings.
As I said before, I’m sure you are EXACTLY what your father wanted of his son and died sickened his son swallows loads.
Aw. You repeating us without fail that you really are a terrible and vile humam being.
You’re also a good example for why siblings shouldn’t procreate.
OK. Are you in the military? If not, then you should have no say on our country’s military affairs. See how inane your argument is?
Im a voter. I can say whatever I want about the government.
By that logic, trump should have no say in the military since hes a draft dodger
I just can’t figure out why the people who support such policies think that there’s any real expectation of privacy on public transport. When you buy one of those tickets, you literally sign up to sharing sleeping quarters and toilets with a number of strangers (which in some configurations can be quite high). The only difference from Y is that the density is lower up front – other than that, it’s the exact same logic. Any expectations of privacy are entirely unrealistic in that context (assuming we’re not talking about full-blown enclosed suites with individual toilets). Then, on top of that, there’s the small matter of compliance with discrimination law and other associated requirements.
I have to say, Matthew, that your kids seem exceptionally behaved. However, not all kids are, as you mention. Some will make the argument, that those who fly cash are more well-behaved, and in general, I agree. The people who travel 4x per year on a family holiday on points, versus an ultra-wealthy family who bring nannies to entertain the young child. I’m not saying wealth buys class (it certainly doesn’t a lot of the time), but it does buy someone who can take care of a child during a flight if something is wrong…
Just recently, I paid a reasonable fare from YYZ-LHR-YYZ for 2400 USD in Air Canada Business. The whole redeye, a baby was screaming, and the passenger was a non-rev. I get it, I’m not entitled to a child-free zone, but it was a shame. Flight attendants kept coming over to profusely apologise and they were amazing.
I would go as a far as to say this (as someone who only flies F on points): I am good if airlines ban F for all mileage customers, unless you are top-tier life LX/AF. To me, it makes sense, that people that splurge 5-10K a ticket can go in knowing that they will get peace. Just my opinion, and that would mean I don’t fly F anymore.