Emirates launches Stansted flights with its amazing new First Class suite
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Emirates announced yesterday that it will begin services from London Stansted to Dubai on 8th July. This will be the 10th daily Emirates flight from London to Dubai, with the airline already operating from Heathrow and Gatwick.
The real stunner is that Emirates is allocating one of its new Boeing 777-300ER aircraft to the route. This is a little illogical since the ‘ER’ bit in 300ER stands for ‘Extended Range’ and London to Dubai is hardly a stretch!
However, this means that the service will feature the brand new Emirates First Class private cabins. You can check this out on the Emirates website here (warning: website features Jeremy Clarkson) and in this Head for Points article here.
It will also have the updated Business Class product, although this is a bit of a stinker given that it is a 2-3-2 layout with the unwelcome middle seat – see the picture below.
The service is aimed at the tech and pharma companies around Cambridge and Peterborough, such as Glaxo and Astra Zeneca. Stansted is also a major cargo hub.
The flight times are not ideal if you are flying to Dubai, unless you are happy with a very short sleep before bounding into a meeting. The outbound leaves Stansted at 21.10, arriving into Dubai at 07.05. The return is more civilised, leaving Dubai at 09.30 and arriving at Stansted at 14.10.
I might give this a go next year on the return leg of a family trip. I am guessing that reward availability will be decent, except in the First Class Suites which are currently blocked for redemptions.
Two pairs of Business Class seats, one behind the other, are not a bad option if you have two children. This is also worth a look if you have one child, since the 3-across middle block would suit you nicely.
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How to earn Emirates Skywards miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)
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.
Cards earning Membership Rewards points include:
- American Express Preferred Rewards Gold (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 15,000 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for your first year and also comes with four free airport lounge passes.
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
- The Platinum Card from American Express (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 37,500 Emirates Skywards miles
SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.
- American Express Rewards credit card (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 7,500 Emirates Skywards miles. This card is FREE for life.
Membership Rewards points convert at 4:3 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 0.75 Emirates Skywards miles
The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card earns double points (2 per £1) on all flights you charge to it, not just with Emirates but with any airline.
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