I always used to say that miles are like are a depreciating asset like used cars. With the price of used cars still surging, that’s not the case any longer. But points are still a depreciating asset and a string of recent actions by Emirates in raising surcharges demonstrates why it is always better to burn your miles sooner rather than later.
Emirates Raises “Fuel” Surcharges For Third Time This Year…Causing Great Regret For Those Who Waited To Book
One Mile At A Time notes that Emirates has raised surcharges on award redemptions for a third time this year. To help you understand how bad this is, in February taxes and fees totaled $181.20 for a one-way business class ticket from Los Angeles to Dubai. In March, that rose to $431.20. Two weeks later, prices rose again and the same ticket suddenly cost $611.20. Now, as of early June, the same ticket carries taxes and fees of $816.50.
Yes, fuel has certainly risen in price over the last year, but $181.20 to $816.50 is quite the greedy move from Emirates, if I may so opine.
As always, fees are quick to rise when fuel prices goes up and very slow to fall when fuel drops in price. It’s hardly a surprise, but it is a great wake-up call that points are to use, not to hoard.
I’m not saying to blow your miles and points foolishly, but I know several people who are hitting themselves on the head for not booking their Emirates awards earlier. You can book almost a year in advance and space, especially if you are just looking for economy or business class, is often widely available. Surcharges are still low on Emirates’ Fifth Freedom transatlantic routes (New York – Milan, Newark – Athens).
And don’t think Emirates is alone. We saw unannounced devaluations during the pandemic from Delta and United and it can happen anytime. Singapore Airlines is about to raise pricing on KrisFlyer redemptions and we are still long overdue for an Alaska Airlines devaluation.
So start thinking about winter and spring 2023 travel now. If you can plan this far in advance, book now…you’ll really be glad you did if prices (whether miles required or surcharges) rise without notice.
CONCLUSION
Consider this a gentle nudge to start thinking about future award bookings. We never know what airlines will do, but the long-term trend is clear: devaluation, devaluation, and more devaluation. During this period of inflation, it should come as no surprise when airlines take advantage of the opportunity to raise price. You’ve been warned.
image: Emirates
Ironic given that Emirates has some of the lowest actual fuel costs of any airline. They are doing this because they can get away with it!
They increased the miles needed to redeem on one way tickets on one of the previous two increases as as well as the cash, iirc. JetBlue mint partner redemptions are really the only worthwhile value from EK miles at this point.. If you live in LAX, SFO, SEA, BOS or NYC…
My last 3 Skywards redemption to wipe out the last dregs of my once proud balance have been for Marhaba arrivals service at Dubai, a hotel using Skywards Hotels and a shopping voucher for my mother.
That pretty much tells you the best value of Skywards miles today.
@ Sam — Why do you need to live in those cities? Fortunately for those of us who don’t hesitate to book positioning flights, most people seem to only search for award space from where they live to their final destination…
@ Gene Convenience. Plus, I typically use Mint as the positioning flight to the East coast. Positioning for a 5 hour flight starts wearing P2 down 🙂
There is another approach in dissecting this, that is the glass half full? Like with BA, these surcharges actually become a saving grace for award availability and weeding out those completely looking for free. It opens more seats for the rest of us. And right now there are plenty to be had on EK over the next few months. I just booked a one way mixed F and C to Mauritius in August today from DC. It would have cost me $6K one way in C if I payed. The miles and $1200 in fees for a mix of F and C seems a pretty good deal in comparison. Further, they actually HAD award space, unlike Qatar or TK. I found nothing else even remotely close that was under 300K miles. As well, it was the most convenient and easy itinerary.
So, as much as some will complain, and they will, the fees are also a good deterrent to speculative bookings that clog it up for everyone else who wants a nice balance in being able to find some premium seats that offer a savings. It’s why it’s much easier to find award space on BA when others have nothing, or want 300K miles one way to LHR from the U.S.
Bloggers hate this, I get it. But they are also the ones encouraging everyone to make speculative bookings and clogging up the availability for everyone else to make legitimate ones. This is the outcome. Welcome to the show.
You’re lucky to have found this availability! I’ve been searching for the same route and no luck in F.
Rob, As I mentioned, it’s combined C/F. Business IAD/DXB and First DXB/MRU. I actually saw a number of days that F was available from MIA though in August. If you don’t mind a positioning flight that could be the spot to get F now. I chose not to as I am carrying kiteboarding gear and prefer not lugging on a positioning leg. This was yesterday that I booked, fyi, so I imagine it’s still there.
Also, I imagine if y0u waitlist for F after booking C it will most likely open up for the additional miles. It’s very rare to see an EK cabin go out completely full.
Rob, also, not sure when you are going but just checked Expert Flyer this morning and in August (as an example) though EK is not releasing F now,
the cabins are wide open out of IAD. On the date I am traveling I put in for an auto upgrade using points. It’s very straight forward and I will wager it will clear sometime in July. Ben has a post at OMAAT that explains the steps. Also, request it on the App, not the website, as it doesn’t seem to work there.
Basic rule of life, never trust people who throw gays off of buildings.
And anyone who visits these countries or supports their airlines is part of the problem.
Hell of a way to support Pride month, but with many of the people here, their personal travel and business greed overcomes the equality discussion.
And I must say, Stuart has been 100% correct lately.
Not 100% correct – he wrote “payed” instead of “paid” just like someone else did the other day.
“It would have cost me $6K one way in C if I payed.”
Where is that coming from?
So, 99.8% correct?
Thank You for the comment. Though others should know.
As noted, jetBlue remains a bright spot. I just liquidated my Skywards balance on a couple of LON-NYC one-ways in Mint. Taxes/fees were about $275/ticket, inclusive of UK APD.
It is unfair and ironic that Emirates is doing so. For many routes, Emirates is the only option, so they are taking unfair advantage.
How so? You can buy a ticket and avoid.