Emirates has just implemented a new policy that’s sure to be controversial. Some people will celebrate it, while others will be miffed.
In this post:
Emirates adds restrictions on children in first class
Emirates Skywards has quietly updated its terms & conditions, to add a new restriction:
Please note that passengers aged 8 years old and below are ineligible for First Class Emirates Classic Rewards and Upgrade Rewards.
It’s indeed true, and this policy was implemented as of August 15, 2025. With this, Emirates no longer allows children ages eight and under to fly first class, assuming they’re redeeming miles either for an outright award ticket, or for an upgrade. To be clear, there are no restrictions on booking first class tickets for children with cash, but instead, this is just a limitation on accessing the cabin through miles.
Interestingly, as of now, Emirates’ website still lets you redeem miles for first class even when entering passenger information for a child with a date of birth that would technically make them ineligible. So don’t ask me what would happen if you booked one of those tickets. It’s possible this hasn’t fully been implemented yet, and that the terms were updated ahead of systems being fully updated. Presumably Emirates wouldn’t implement this policy for people who have already booked.
My take on Emirates’ first class policy change
The topic of traveling in first class with children is of course controversial. There are virtually no airlines that ban kids from traveling in first class, so Emirates is charting its own course here. What I find interesting is that it’s not an outright ban on kids, but instead, it’s just for those who are redeeming miles or upgrading. What’s my take on this?
Broadly speaking, I have no issues with airlines setting their own policies in terms of the type of experience they want to offer, and then customers can choose whether or not that’s the right product for them. There’s no denying that little kids can cause a lot of noise on planes (no matter how hard parents try), and that can take away from the experience. In fairness, adults can also cause a lot of noise, but banning them might be a step too far. 😉
What I find interesting here is that the ban is basically specific to whether or not you redeemed miles. That’s an interesting way to create a policy. It’s basically “everyone is welcome in first class, except if redeeming miles, and then only some people are welcome.”
The reason I find this a bit strange is because in many cases, you’re actually not getting much of a discount when redeeming miles, especially with the high surcharges and all the devaluations we’ve seen over the years:
- You could be a family traveling on full fare business class ticket that are more expensive than discounted first class tickets, but then you can’t upgrade with miles
- Given that Emirates charges close to 200K Skywards miles for a long haul first class award, plus around $1,000 in carrier imposed surcharges, that’s really potentially not less lucrative for the airline than some discounted first class fares
If Emirates wants to argue that kids are disruptive in first class and can make the experience worse for others, then it shouldn’t matter how someone booked their ticket. I don’t believe whether cash was paid or miles were redeemed impacts how disruptive a particular child is. So I find that aspect of this to be strange, and I’d rather seen an all-or-nothing policy, personally.
But let’s be honest, we also know why the policy is structured that way — local families would flip if they couldn’t fly first class with their entourage.
Bottom line
Emirates Skywards has implemented a new policy when it comes to flying with kids in first class. The airline still allows kids of all ages in first class if paying cash. However, if redeeming miles for an outright award ticket or an upgrade, children need to be at least nine years old.
Emirates is one of the first airlines I know of to implement a policy like this, and of course people will have varying takes…
What do you make of Emirates’ new first class mileage ban for young kids?
As a world traveler who’s been traveling with our kids since they were infants, I’m actually okay with this.
We always book our international flights in J, even with if we have enough miles for F and there’s availability.
The kids aren’t going to be eating caviar and drinking Dom, so the whole F experience largely goes to waste on them.
However, I still value a flat bed when traveling overseas, so business class...
As a world traveler who’s been traveling with our kids since they were infants, I’m actually okay with this.
We always book our international flights in J, even with if we have enough miles for F and there’s availability.
The kids aren’t going to be eating caviar and drinking Dom, so the whole F experience largely goes to waste on them.
However, I still value a flat bed when traveling overseas, so business class suits us just fine. Not to mention, there’s typically better availability.
It may be that Emirates doesn’t want kids in First at all, but are concerned that an outright ban would be unlawful age discrimination in some countries where they fly. They have a lot more control over the terms of mileage redemptions and upgrades. This doesn’t necessarily reflect a value judgment on the behavior of kids using mileage redemptions.
just a thought - do the husbands now upgrade to 1st, while the wife + kids remain back in Business? Somewhat goes along the lines of the middle eastern culture...
I'm not suggesting but I can see it happening a lot.
And I'd divorce the guy who tries it.
I fly Emirates fairly consistently. I book business or first depending on the trip
I find it interesting that Emirates would implement this policy
I upgraded from business to first for points. We took off and this very tall blonde hair Russian girl, wearing sunglasses on the flight, made numerous phone calls. Problem was she literally was shouting. Then her boyfriend sat in her pod post dinner. They proceeded to get very touchy and...
I fly Emirates fairly consistently. I book business or first depending on the trip
I find it interesting that Emirates would implement this policy
I upgraded from business to first for points. We took off and this very tall blonde hair Russian girl, wearing sunglasses on the flight, made numerous phone calls. Problem was she literally was shouting. Then her boyfriend sat in her pod post dinner. They proceeded to get very touchy and despite sitting close, they shouted in Russian. I asked the FA to have her quiet down. The response was “I know you upgraded to experience tfirst class”. I interrupted her and said “how do you think I got Emirate points to fly 1sr class? I got it by paying first class. I’m not the issue. She needs to quiet down”. Nothing happened. We landed at JFK and as we taxied on an active runway the blonde Russian got up to walk to her bf pod. I looked at the FA and she had this shocked worried look but did nothing. So. I stood up. Looked at her and said I put up with 13 hours of yelling and you did nothing. Now the pax is clearly breaking the law. So, I will too and I will get off first as there are no rules on this flight. The Russian was no where near me when I said this, but saw I stood up and went to the door. She yelled “you have problem with me?” And the FA did nothing. I said “lady if we get into a fight I promise you the authorities will board and you and I won’t go go our destinations. So sit down”. Which she did. Door opened. I was first off. Went through Global Entry walked to get my luggage which strangely was literally first off, took it and was gone
I complained. I got no answer
And Emirates wants to implement rules regarding who can book in first?
If you want First I strongly recommend Singapore and Air France. Business is good in Emirates. The FA know and enforce the normal rules
But first? The FA acts like a scared person unsure of what to do and instead insults the person who made the complaint versus correcting the behavior of a clearly entitled oligarch daughter in first while bombs dropped in Ukraine.
Emirates first. Do not bother. The product is the same as business. You get a closed door that people can see over and on demand dining. I’ve flown Emirates first about 7 times paying cash and only once did I get a personalized service catered to me and asking what I’d like. Normally they ignore you. And now apparently no kids can get award seats in First
Wow.
“Then her boyfriend sat in her pod post dinner.”
Where in her “pod” did he sit, exactly?
A step in the right direction although in the interest of consistency they should just ban kids up to a certain age regardless of what currency was used to pay for the ticket.
GOOD!!!
F stands for Family. You should only be allowed in F with children (well, I will be generous and allow children up to the age of 30)
It's the 20-30 yr olds that are the problem :)
They should have some exclusions for real reasons a child must be in First Class, but otherwise, yay Emirates. Well done.
You mean reasons the adult should be flying in economy?
You mean reasons the adult should be flying in economy?
Utterly brilliant! Thank you for respecting business people’s needs. You lead the way Emirates at every level! Thank you!
Amazing.
Should be a rule everywhere.
I think that on the ME3, even more than on most airlines, the super-rich are not there because they are flying private; the extremely rich pay cash all the time, and use their miles for "freebies" for their relatives.
Said relatives may not be accustomed to what is expected in such circumstances,
Many people that book Emirates F on miles, likely could not otherwise afford to buy it (at least - purchase without a thought). If you are very wealthy - then you likely are not worrying about mileage redemption.
Makes since - they will accommodate children if they come from very weathly families - but this keeps out the mileage hogs out.
It seems fairly obvious to me; they don't want wealthy local families who pay cash for tickets not to fly their airline, so they don't want to tick them off.
I understand that small children can be fussy, noisy, rambunctious... I get that. I also understand that even the most involved parent can't always control this.
I do not want to have my first class experience ruined by the noise of a small child. I paid money for a quiet, lovely experience.
I wonder whether this is permitted by age discrimination laws in the EU and elsewhere. It would be lots of fun if someone took them to court and generated lots of publicity around it.
@ThrowAwayBrain
You must be such a magnet for engaging and interesting conversation at dinner parties, no?
No.
What a silly comment, John. I'm pretty sure all the intricacies of flight tickets and roles throughout this blog, while interesting to us, isn't really interesting party conversation.
How many Emirates flights go out with a full F class? The A380 has 14 seats, so a family of 4 will still leave lots of room for travelers paying cash. But the 777s have only 8 seats (sometimes, only 6). If half the F seats are booked to a family paying with points, that doesn't leave much space for latecomers with cash.
One comment notes that Emirates allows confirmed upgrades for senior staff....
How many Emirates flights go out with a full F class? The A380 has 14 seats, so a family of 4 will still leave lots of room for travelers paying cash. But the 777s have only 8 seats (sometimes, only 6). If half the F seats are booked to a family paying with points, that doesn't leave much space for latecomers with cash.
One comment notes that Emirates allows confirmed upgrades for senior staff. Maybe this is really directed at them, but they had to apply it to everyone to avoid dissent.
I am a parent, so I'm not just talking without any knowledge of what it's like to travel with kids. But I totally get this move. A screaming toddler ruined a flight for us in business class, only our second business class flight ever. I truly thought the toddler was going to die, the way he screamed.
I am a parent, so I'm not just talking without any knowledge of what it's like to travel with kids. But I totally get this move. A screaming toddler ruined a flight for us in business class, only our second business class flight ever. I truly thought the toddler was going to die, the way he screamed.
I suppose this is just the filtering mechanism they could come up with that roughly identifies who is not behaving well in F currently.
People who didn't really pay for it with money, who don't feel access comes with some obligation to behave a certain way, or feel like the atmosphere of F is supposed to without screaming kids.
Obviously, not saying that everyone redeeming miles doesn't know how to behave well. But...
I suppose this is just the filtering mechanism they could come up with that roughly identifies who is not behaving well in F currently.
People who didn't really pay for it with money, who don't feel access comes with some obligation to behave a certain way, or feel like the atmosphere of F is supposed to without screaming kids.
Obviously, not saying that everyone redeeming miles doesn't know how to behave well. But those who don't behave well overwhelmingly come from people who didn't pay full ride for it.
So what is an airline supposed to do when confronted with this available filtering function?
Could be interpreted that EK thinks that parents who pay for their children's tickets with cash have well-behaved kids and parents who pay for their children's tickets with points have poorly behaved kids.
Bravo! Can a few more airlines do this and lead up to a full stop?
Ah yes, because parents who can afford to buy First Class for the fam sent their children off to the Academy of GrammarManner School where they were taught to Be Seen And Not Heard, while a family who had some points built up from a home renovation probably send their kids to public school, where they were taught to wear Broccoli Hair and do Stunts on their E-Bikes
I mean there is a kernel of truth to your comment even if you don't believe it. The upper class does emphasize refinement, deportment, and carrying yourself in ways that the middle class is completely unaware of.
That must be American English.
In British English:
The middle class does emphasize refinement, deportment, and carrying yourself in ways of which the working class is completely unaware, and about which the upper class does not care.
Pretentious has always been what Emirates is going for, so I suppose it fits.
It is true that babies and toddlers have been elevating their points game in recent years, some even downright abusing the system. So hence this necessary action by Emirates.
This may be just the start and maybe this extends over to revenue based travel. I think all in all, this is a liability issue. As seats get more complex with controls, recline and technology, having a child under 8 may pose a liability that the airline no longer sees as making logical sense.
During all of my F flights (too many to count) I have never experienced any unruly ‘ankle biters’. My two, regular F flyers, were never flight monsters. They always (like most children of their vintage) behaved appropriately or suffered the consequences. It was called discipline in those days.
I have encountered rude, crude and even revolting adults acting appallingly in F, however, a few home truths in their shell-like and peace was restored.
What an obvious insulting slap in the face to EK's 'loyal' members ! Either ban all kids in F or not at all .... But we all know 'Dirhams' tawk..,,
How about banning Indians?
You're proud of this comment? Of your bigotry? Don't you see how everybody who has ever looked up to you must now renounce their associations with you because of what you just revealed about yourself?
Shame on you.
@Long and Thick
Interestingly, I read @Fleece Johnson's comment as meaning "Banning Indians would be unacceptable, and therefore banning children is unacceptable"
"How about banning Indians?"
Have you ever effed yourself? No? Now's the time.
Why would be kids be noisy in First Class? Because their parents didn't teach them how to behave.
If you think "Great, ban revenue kids too", maybe start banning adults as well, because they're the ones allowing the problem to occur.
What a place this world have became.
Good. I am not sexist but Single women who are clearly influencers next.
Can we require all so called influencers to get a real job, rather than what they currently do?
Great move. Hopefully, they extend it to revenue passengers as well, and other airlines follow suit. Created more room for my dog!
Great but should be applied on Cash paid tickets also, on every Airline. First Class is not a playground, besides, kids don't appreciate it! They don't know the difference.
When I flew JAL business class to Japan in '22, I had a mother and her two small kids seated ahead of me. The kids moved into one seat after takeoff and watched movies together on the IFE the whole flight. I think they definitely understood the difference between that and schlepping in coach :)
And even if the kids are too young to know the difference, the parents sure do!
"...besides, kids don't appreciate it! They don't know the difference."
To my admittedly untrained eye, this doesn't seem to have anything to do with children appreciating something or knowing any differences.
And wouldn't EK be better off financially by letting kids sit in first on an award ticket? They're not going to drink expensive champagne, or whiskies, or wines, they aren't going to stuff themselves as much as adults do (I've yet to encounter...
"...besides, kids don't appreciate it! They don't know the difference."
To my admittedly untrained eye, this doesn't seem to have anything to do with children appreciating something or knowing any differences.
And wouldn't EK be better off financially by letting kids sit in first on an award ticket? They're not going to drink expensive champagne, or whiskies, or wines, they aren't going to stuff themselves as much as adults do (I've yet to encounter Augustus Gloop on any flight in any first class cabin), etc. etc. etc.
From an airlines perspective, a miles ticket redemption is treated closer to employee/staff travel (with airlines such as Emirates even offering confirmed first tickets to a subsection of their senior employees), compared to revenue / cash travel. Whether it’s staff travel or miles redemptions, these are deeply discounted fares in their perspective. They often even have share the same fare class on their systems. The age discrimination for staff travel in first class has been...
From an airlines perspective, a miles ticket redemption is treated closer to employee/staff travel (with airlines such as Emirates even offering confirmed first tickets to a subsection of their senior employees), compared to revenue / cash travel. Whether it’s staff travel or miles redemptions, these are deeply discounted fares in their perspective. They often even have share the same fare class on their systems. The age discrimination for staff travel in first class has been implemented for years and is creeping over to redemption travel now.
as someone who is easily annoyed by kids, I understand the impulse toward banning them from F, though ultimately that's too blunt an instrument for addressing such annoyance imho.
what is absurd is doing it specifically to punish loyalty program members. as nice a product as emirates may offer, i'll always take a dim view of airlines that view their loyalty members as hostile combatants.
How about AF not allowing La Premiere lap infants. They do not want to ruin the experience for the pampered folks.
Or maybe toddlers eat too much caviar.
The only controversial part of this is only applying this to the miles redemptions. Not allowing kids in the first class is absolutely logical, and all airlines should have such policy, but when an airline only does it when it in instances where it doesn't hurt their bottom line, it becomes clear that customer experience is not the reason why they do it.
Why should kids be banned? My 5 year old daughter acts more mature on flights than most adults. We'll be on an Emirates business class flight in April and she'll be sleeping 8+ hours of the 11 hour flight. I was hoping to upgrade that flight but I guess I'm SOL.
Always the worst parents with the worst kids insisting that *their* child is an angel and behaves better than adults.
You're proving my point, Alan.
But the other passengers are not :)