Children aged 8 and under barred from first class award tickets and upgrades

no minimum age → 9 years and older

Effective August 15, 2025, Emirates Skywards made passengers aged 8 and under ineligible for first class Classic Rewards and Upgrade Rewards, appearing only as a footnote added to the program's terms and conditions with no member communication. Children of any age can still fly Emirates first class on cash tickets; the restriction applies solely to award bookings and mileage upgrades. The change followed the May 2025 restriction of first class awards to Skywards elite members and preceded similar age rules adopted by partner programs Qantas and Aeroplan in 2026. Skywards receives transfers from US currencies including Capital One and Bilt.

What to do: Families wanting a child under 9 in Emirates first class must buy a cash ticket or seat the child in business.