Emirates fare types, booking classes, and seat types explained

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Emirates is regularly touted as one of the world’s best airlines, and it’s easy to see why. Even regular economy class flights feature outstanding comfort, service, food, and amenities. In business and first class, the bar is often raised to simply spectacular. Like most airlines, Emirates offers many different levels of service and seat choices, which can sometimes be difficult to navigate.

If you’re thinking about booking an Emirates flight but need some more information, we’ve prepared this guide to the different Emirates booking classes, fare types, and seat types available. We’ve included details on approximately how many Skywards miles (Emirates’ frequent flyer program) each fare type earns.

Emirates fare types

Within each class of service (economy, business, first), Emirates offers four types of fares, each with its own change and upgrade options. Special fares cost the least and are the least flexible. Saver fares cost a bit more than Saver fares but have fewer restrictions. Flex fares earn more frequent flyer miles, cost fewer miles to upgrade, and include free seat selection. Flex Plus are the most flexible fares Emirates offers, with free changes and cancellations. Let’s take a closer look at each fare type:



Learn about Emirates booking classes, fare types, and seat types

Special fares

Special fares are Emirates’ cheapest and most restrictive fares. These fares offer an affordable way to travel on one of the world’s best airlines, but they’re non-refundable, can’t be upgraded using either miles or cash, and can’t be purchased by redeeming frequent flyer miles.

Emirates offers Special fares in economy and business classes. While these discounted fares do earn frequent flyer miles, they earn fewer miles than other fares, both with Emirates’ Skywards and frequent flyer programs operated by partner airlines.

Economy Special fares on Emirates usually earn Skywards frequent flyer miles at a rate of about 20-25% of the actual miles flown. Flight changes are $200. Refunds aren’t allowed.

Emirates Business Special fares usually earn Skywards frequent flyer miles at a rate of about 85-90% of the actual miles flown. Flight changes are $400. Refunds aren’t allowed.

Saver fares

Saver fares offer more flexibility than Emirates’ Special fares, and earn more frequent flyer miles. These fares are eligible for upgrades and you can get a refund after paying a fee.



Emirates Saver fares are available in Economy and Business classes. You can upgrade a Saver fare using miles as long as there are seats available. In Economy Class, you can upgrade at check‑in or on board. In Business Class, you can upgrade at any time up to six hours before departure.

Economy Saver fares on Emirates generally earn Skywards miles at a rate of about 30-35% of actual miles flown. Flight changes are $200. Refunds cost $300.

Emirates Business Saver fares earn about 105-115% of actual miles flown. Emirates charges a fee of $400 to change Business Saver flights. The refund fee is also $400.

Flex fares

Flex fares from Emirates earn more frequent flyer miles than Special or Saver fares, allow free ticket changes and include refunds for a fee. You can upgrade a Flex fare using miles in Economy Class and Business Class, as long as there are seats available. Emirates Flex fares are available in Economy, Business, and First classes.

Emirates Economy Flex fares earn Skywards miles at a rate of about 60-65% of actual miles flown. There is no charge for flight changes. Refunds are available with a $200 fee.

Business Flex fares on Emirates earn Skywards miles at a rate of about 140-160% of actual miles flown. Emirates does not charge a fee for changes to Business Flex tickets, but does charge a $400 fee for refunds.



Emirates First Flex fares usually earn over 200% of actual miles flown. Flight changes are free. First Flex refunds are $400.

Flex Plus fares

Flex Plus fares are Emirates’ most flexible and least restrictive fare, and earn the maximum number of Skywards miles. You can use miles to upgrade a Flex Plus fare from Economy Class or Business Class, as long as there are seats available. You can also refund or change the date of a Flex Plus flight reward with no charge. Flex Plus fares are available in Economy, Premium Economy, Business, and First classes.

Emirates Economy Flex Plus flights earn 100% of actual miles flown, while Business Flex Plus flights earn in the range of 165-175%.  First Flex Plus fares generally earn over 200% of actual miles flown.

Emirates baggage allowances

All Emirates economy fare types (Special, Saver, Flex, and Flex Plus) include one 15 lb. carryon bag and two checked bags with a weight limit of 50 lb. each.

All Emirates business and first class fare types (Special, Saver, Flex, and Flex Plus) include two 15 lb. carryon bags and two 70 lb. checked bags.

Emirates seat types

Emirates offers a variety of seat types in its economy class cabins. Regular seats make up the bulk of the seating in economy class. Preferred seats are located in areas that allow you to get off the plane quickly after landing. Twin seats are rows of two seats (window and aisle). Extra legroom seats are exit row seats that allow you to stretch your legs more than in other seats. Premium seats have cushioned leg rests, greater recline, adjustable headrests and larger dining tables.



Emirates seat selection options

When can I select my seat on Emirates? For economy fares on Emirates flights, you can select a Regular, Preferred or Twin seat for free when online check‑in opens 48 hours before your flight. If you want to select one of these seat types during the booking process or before check-in opens, you can do so for free or by paying a fee, depending on the route and fare type selected. Premium seats incur an additional fee of $110 to $495 depending on the route, no matter which fare type you’ve chosen. Here’s the breakdown of Emirates seat selection details and charges:

Economy Special and Saver: Free Regular, Twin, or Preferred seat selection is available at check-in for Emirates Special and Saver fares. There is an extra charge for advance seat selection in most cases, except free Regular advance seat selection for Emirates Skywards members in tier Silver and above, families traveling with infants, and passengers with special medical needs. Preferred, Twin, and Extra Legroom seats are available before check-in opens at a charge ($15-$135).

Economy Flex: Free Regular, Twin, or Preferred seat selection is available at check-in with Emirates Special and Saver fares. Free advance seat selection for Regular seats. Preferred, twin, and Extra Legroom seats are available before check-in opens at a charge ($15-$250).

Economy Flex Plus: For Emirates Special and Saver fares Economy Flex Plus tickets, free Regular, Twin, or Preferred seat selection is available at check-in. Free advance seat selection for Regular or Preferred seats. Twin and Extra Legroom seats are available before check-in opens at a charge ($35-$250).

Premium Economy: Free advance seat selection is included with all Emirates Premium Economy fares.

Business Special: Free advance seat selection for all passengers choosing a seat after check-in opens. Emirates Skywards Platinum members can select a seat at any time.



Business Saver, Flex, and Flex Plus: Advance seat selection is free for Emirates Business Saver, Flex, and Flex Plus fare types.

First Flex, Flex Plus: Advance seat selection is free for Emirates First Flex and First Flex Plus tickets.

Emirates booking classes

Within each of the Emirates fare types shown above is one or more booking classes, sometimes known as fare classes. Booking classes determine upgrade, standby, check-in, and boarding priorities, as well as the number of frequent flyer miles earned for Emirates flights. Each booking class is designated by a letter of the alphabet (Y, C, F, etc.).

You can find your Emirates booking class on the printed or e-ticket (not the boarding pass) for your flight. It’s the first letter of the alphabetical or alpha-numeric fare basis code.

Here’s how Emirates booking classes correspond to the different fare types they offer:

Emirates booking classEmirates fare type
FFirst Class Flex Plus
AFirst Class Flex
JBusiness Flex Plus
CBusiness Flex
I, OBusiness Saver / Premium Economy
H, PBusiness Special / Premium Economy
Y, E, REconomy Flex Plus
M, B, U, K, WEconomy Flex
Q, L, TEconomy Saver
V, XEconomy Special
ZFirst class award (purchased with miles)
DBusiness award
NEconomy award
GDiscounted economy group fare
SNon-rev travel (employees, family, & friends)

How many miles do Emirates flights earn?

The number of Skywards miles earned for Emirates flights depends on the route traveled as well as the fare type. Use Emirates’ mileage calculator to see mileage earnings for all Emirates routes and fare types.





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