| Last updated on September 25th, 2023
Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard®
Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard®
Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard®
- 20.24%, 25.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Regular Purchase APR
- 20.24%, 25.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate Balance Transfer APR
- 30.49% variable based on the Prime Rate Cash Advance APR
At a Glance
The Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard is an ultra-premium airline rewards credit card issued by Barclays. The card offers impressive introductory (and annual) miles offers, decent earning potential, and complimentary lounge access worldwide – all for a hefty $499 annual fee.
- Best Benefits
- Rates & Fees
- Why Should You Apply?
- Earn up to 3 Skywards Miles per dollar spent
- Earn unlimited Skywards Miles that do't expire
- Enjoy Emirates Skywards Gold tier membership during your first year
- No foreign transaction fees
- Complimentary lounge access to Emirates Business Class lounges worldwide for a cardmember and a guest
- Earn 50% bonus Skywards Miles on Emirates flights
- Regular Purchase APR: 20.24%, 25.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer APR: 20.24%, 25.24% or 30.24% variable based on creditworthiness and the Prime Rate
- Balance Transfer Transaction Fee: Either $5 or 5% of the amount of each balance transfer, whichever is greater
- Cash Advance APR: 30.49% variable based on the Prime Rate
- Cash Advance Transaction Fee: Either $10 or 5% of the amount of each cash advance, whichever is greater
- Annual Fee: $499
- Late Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- Return Payment Penalty Fee: Up to $40
- You fly frequently with Emirates and can justify all the perks and benefits that are included with a $499 annual fee
- You want a card with no foreign transaction fees
- You prefer the versatility of the Emirates codeshares to an airline alliance
- You plan to use the card to spend heavily on flights with codeshare partners or directly with Emirates
Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard Review
The Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard is the larger sibling of the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite Mastercard. The Premium version is an “ultra-premium” airline card, offering a substantial introductory bonus, elite status, complimentary lounge access, and an imposing annual fee of $499.
Bonus Miles Introductory Offer
New accounts earn a sizeable welcome bonus after meeting spending requirements. You’ll earn40,000 Bonus Miles after using your new Barclays credit card to make at least $3,000 in purchases in the first 90 days. This welcome offer is generous –especially when considering the value of airline miles, the decent Emirates codeshare agreements, and the fact that miles never expire.
How to Earn Emirates Skywards Miles
Both Emirates credit cards from Barclays earn miles in the Emirates Skywards frequent flyer program. Interestingly, despite the significant difference in the annual fee, both cards also feature the same reward-earning rate. This means you’ll earn the following on purchases with the Skywards Premium Card:
| Miles | Category | |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Skywards Miles per $1 spent on eligible Emirates purchases, including purchases on emirates.com or at the Emirates sales office. | |
| 2 | Skywards Miles per $1 spent on airfare, hotels and rental cars. | |
| 1 | Skywards Mile per $1 spent on all other purchases. anywhere Mastercard is accepted worldwide. | |
The fact that the Premium card earns the same rewards as its more affordable version leaves something to be desired. A card with an annual price tag of $400 more than the Emirates Skywards Rewards World Elite should earn considerably more miles per dollar.
Fortunately, cardholders can also earn points through codeshare partners. Emirates is not part of the three big airline alliances. Yet, despite that, the carrier has codeshare agreements with a big selection of leading airlines. These carriers include:
| Alaska Airlines | JetBlue | JAL | Thai Airways |
| Korean Air | Malaysia Airlines | Qantas |
One nice addition to the card is that miles never expire as long as the account is open and active. Previously, Skywards Miles expired after three years, regardless of the account activity. Removing miles expiration for cardholders is a great perk.
Emirates Skywards Credit Card Comparison
Since the two Emirates airline credit cards earn the same rewards, how do the cards differ? Here is a quick look at the different benefits with the Emirates credit cards from Barclays:
 Skywards Rewards |
 Skywards Premium |
|
| Network | World Elite Mastercard | World Elite Mastercard |
| Annual fee | $99 | $499 |
| Emirates elite status | Silver | Gold |
| Emirates benefits | Save up to $99 off on up to 4 Economy or Business Class ticket purchases, complimentary Emirates Business Class lounge access for you in Dubai, 25% savings when you Buy Skywards Miles for yourself or Gift Miles; 30% bonus Skywards Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights, no foreign transaction fees | Priority Pass Select membership, Global Entry or TSA PreCheck application fee reimbursement every five years, priority check-in, boarding and baggage delivery; Seat selection on economy fares, 25% savings when you Buy Skywards Miles for yourself or Gift Miles; 75% bonus Skywards Miles on Emirates and flydubai flights, no foreign transaction fees |
How to Redeem Emirates Skywards Miles
The Emirates Skywards program offers a fantastic opportunity for travelers to earn and redeem miles for various rewards, including flights, upgrades, hotel stays, and more. Like other frequent flyer programs, Emirates Skywards offers members a wide selection of award options. Cardholders can use their miles for:
- Award flights with Emirates or other global airline partners
- Free nights with Emirates’ hotel partners, including Hilton, Hyatt, Ibis, InterContinental, Marriott, and more
- Car rentals with select partners
Complimentary Skywards Gold Elite Tier Membership
New accounts also receive a complimentary first year of Gold elite status in the Emirates Skywards program. Gold is the middle tier of the elite levels, trailing only Platinum.
Emirates Skywards Gold tier entitles members to the following perks:
| Member-only rates and packages | Earn and redeem miles with global partners | Priority seat selection | Excess baggage allowance (16kg) |
| Priority waitlist | 75% bonus miles when flying with Emirates | Priority check-in | Priority boarding |
| Guaranteed Economy seats on full flights | Complimentary Emirates lounge access | Business class check-in with flydubai | Priority baggage delivery |
As with the $99 Rewards World Elite Mastercard, Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard holders only receive Gold tier membership for their first year. Cardholders must spend at least $40,000 on their card to retain Gold elite status, earn 50,000 Skywards Miles, or complete 50 flights with Emirates.
Complimentary Lounge Access Across Multiple Networks
Unlike the Emirates Rewards Mastercard, which only provides lounge access in Dubai, the Emirates Premium Card offers complimentary lounge access throughout the Emirates network. Beyond Emirates Business Class lounges, cardholders (and one guest) receive free access to 1,200 lounge locations worldwide within the Priority Pass Select membership network.
Annual Miles Bonus
The annual bonus of 10,000 miles earned after meeting minimum spend requirements is equally excellent as the generous sign-up bonus. The anniversary bonus of 10,000 miles requires spending at least $30,000 on the card every year.
While that may sound steep, the $499 yearly charge with the card essentially prices it out of the range of the average flyer. The $30,000 spend requirement is modest for those that want the most out of the Skywards Premium, including the very best in lounge experiences.
Other Travel Features
Cardholders also receive statement credits towards TSA PreCheck or Global Entry application fees. These credits occur every five years and have a value of up to $100.
Other features of note with the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard include 25% savings when buying or gifting miles and no foreign transaction fees.
Since the card is a World Elite Mastercard, holders can also anticipate exceptional Mastercard perks and protections, including savings with Lyft, Fandango, and more. They’ll also receive Mastercard Global Emergency Services, World Elite Concierge, and more:
| Zero Liability Protection | Airport Concierge | Cell Phone Protection |
| Mastercard Global Services | Priceless Experiences | Lyft Credits |
| ID Theft Protection | Priceless Golf | Mastercard Travel Services |
| Mastercard Hotel Stay Guarantee | ShopRunner Membership |
Barclays Ratings
How is it living with Barclays as a card issuer? Here is a selection of ratings for the bank from customers and experts alike:
| BestCards | Better Business Bureau | TrustPilot |
|
3.5/5 |
4.5/5 |
3/5 |
Should You Apply for the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard?
The Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard from Barclays is an ultra-premium airline card that falls short of other, more general travel and airline rewards cards in the same space.
Some of its contemporaries, like the UBS Visa® Infinite Card, provide the same Priority Pass and TSA PreCheck benefits. In addition, the UBS Card provides additional statement credits for purchasing lounge access, should the cardholder’s chosen lounge fall outside of the Priority Pass Network. The card also offers a $250 travel statement credit, which the Emirates Premium does not grant customers.
Any discussion of high-end travel cards must also include the Chase Sapphire Reserve®. The Ultimate Rewards Portal from Chase offers significantly more value for money when purchasing travel than what the Emirates card has on offer. And, while the annual fee with the Sapphire Reserve is higher than the Emirates Premium Mastercard, that charge doesn’t mean the Chase card offers lesser value.
Ultimately, the Emirates Skywards Premium World Elite Mastercard is an excellent airline card for a very select subset of travelers. If you love to fly with Emirates and prefer a lavish lifestyle, the card might be for you. If not, however, plenty of other options are on the market.
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