Most people assume Emirates flights need Emirates Skywards miles. They don't. Qantas and Emirates have run one of aviation's deepest partnerships for over a decade, and Emirates award seats are bookable directly on qantas.com — often at a total cost that beats buying Skywards, because Qantas Points trade at the cheap end of the market.
Two rule changes in 2026 reshaped how this works, and one of them is a hard gate. Here is the current picture, verified on the booking engine rather than copied from a chart.
The live numbers: Dubai–London
Checked on the Qantas engine this week, one way per person:
| Cabin | Qantas Points | Taxes & charges |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | 25,700 | ~US$163 |
| Premium Economy | 66,100 | ~US$163 |
| Business | 73,400 | ~US$654 |
| First | 123,200 | ~US$658 — status required, see below |
The business number is the story. A cash fare on Dubai–London in Emirates business runs US$4,000 and up; the award is 73,400 points plus US$654. Even paying for the points at our published rates, the all-in cost lands under half the cash fare — and a return needs roughly 147,000 points.
The two 2026 rule changes
1. A dedicated chart since 31 March 2026. Emirates redemptions no longer price on the standard Qantas partner table — bookings from that date use a specific Qantas–Emirates award chart. Prices rose on some routes with the change, which is why we quote from the live engine rather than old tables.
2. First class is status-gated since 18 February 2026. Emirates First awards now require Qantas Silver status or above. The engine will show you the First price — 123,200 points on Dubai–London — but without Silver the booking will not complete. For anyone buying points without status, business class is the practical ceiling, and honestly, on the A380 it is most of the experience for 40% fewer points.
Booking it, step by step
- Search your route on qantas.com with "Use points" selected.
- Filter results to Emirates-operated flights and look for Classic Reward pricing — that is the fixed-chart price, not the inflated Points+Pay rate.
- Award space opens and closes constantly, including same-week. If the seat is there at the Classic price, book it.
- Watch the taxes line: Emirates awards carry real carrier charges (~US$654 in business on Dubai–London). The points price alone is not the full picture.
Beyond Dubai–London, the same mechanics cover the Emirates network — the US routes, Asia, Australia. Send us any route on WhatsApp and we quote the all-in figure from the live engine before you commit to anything.
Getting the points
Qantas Points sit at the cheap end of our price index, from 2.00¢ at the 10,000-point minimum down to 1.40¢ at volume — and this month's allocation, 500,000 points for US$7,250, covers six one-way business seats on Dubai–London. Points land in your own Qantas Frequent Flyer account and stay alive with any activity every 18 months.
The standing honesty note: buying points breaches programme terms — a contractual matter rather than a criminal one in most jurisdictions, spelled out in our award ticket terms with a 100% refund if an airline cancels a ticket before travel. And buy for a redemption you can see on the calendar, not for a balance.
Frequently asked questions
Can I book Emirates flights with Qantas Points?
Yes. Qantas and Emirates are long-standing partners, and Emirates award seats are bookable directly on qantas.com using Qantas Points. Since 31 March 2026, Emirates redemptions price on a dedicated Qantas-Emirates award chart, separate from the standard partner table.
How many Qantas Points for Emirates business class?
Checked live on the Qantas engine: Dubai to London in Emirates business class is 73,400 points plus about US$654 in taxes and carrier charges, one way. Economy on the same flight is 25,700 points plus about US$163, and premium economy around 66,100 points where offered.
Can I book Emirates First class with Qantas Points?
Only with status. From 18 February 2026, Emirates First class awards require Qantas Silver status or above. The engine shows First at 123,200 points Dubai-London where available, but without at least Silver the booking will not complete — so for bought points, business class is the practical ceiling.
Are there fuel surcharges on Emirates awards booked with Qantas Points?
Yes — the carrier charges are real. Around US$654 on Dubai-London in business is typical of long-haul Emirates awards. We always quote the all-in figure, points plus taxes, before you buy anything.
How many points do I need for a return in business?
Roughly 147,000 points covers Dubai-London return in business class. Our current 500,000-point allocation covers six one-way business seats on the route — enough for a family return with points to spare.
How do I actually book it?
Search the route on qantas.com with 'Use points' selected, filter to Emirates flights, and look for Classic Reward pricing. Award space opens and closes constantly, so if you see the seat, book it — and if you would rather hand the whole job over, our award booking service sources the points and issues the ticket as one price.