Emirates to launch flights from Edinburgh Airport

Emirates has announced a new route between Edinburgh and Dubai.  This will replace the Etihad service to Abu Dhabi which is being withdrawn at the end of September.

From 1st October there will be a daily overnight departure at 8.15 pm which lands in Dubai at 6.40 am.  It returns from Dubai at 9.55 am landing at 2.50 pm.

Timings appear to move about, however.  In November, it is showing a 6.30 pm departure from Edinburgh, landing at 5.55 am.  The return leaves at 10 am, landing at 2.15 pm.

The Boeing 777-300ER will have eight First Class suites, 42 Business seats and 304 Economy seats.

Hubert Frach, Emirates’ Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations, West, said about the new route:

“We’re increasing our capacity to Scotland to meet growing demand, and by introducing a daily flight to Edinburgh, it will complement our current double daily flights between Dubai and Glasgow.”

Your best option to maximise your miles when paying is American Express Preferred Rewards Gold.  This offers double points – 2 per £1 – when you when you book flight tickets directly with an airline.  Our review of Amex Gold is here.

How to earn Emirates Skywards miles from UK credit cards (December 2021)

Emirates Skywards does not have a UK credit card.  However, you can earn Emirates Skywards miles by converting Membership Rewards points earned from selected UK American Express cards.  These are:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 20,000 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for your first year and also comes with two free airport lounge passes.

• The Platinum Card from American Express (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 30,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 30,000 Emirates Skywards miles

• American Express Rewards credit card (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 5,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 5,000 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for life.

Membership Rewards points convert at 1:1 into Emirates Skywards miles which is an attractive rate.  The cards above all earn 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent on your card, which converts to 1 Emirates Skywards mile. The Gold card earns double points (2 per £1) on all flights you charge to it.