Emirates Skywards expands into European rail travel with new redemption platform

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Emirates Skywards members can now use their loyalty Miles for train travel across Europe, giving travelers from the UAE a new way to continue their journeys after landing.

The airline’s loyalty program has introduced Skywards Rail, a booking platform that allows members to redeem Miles for rail tickets on more than 40 rail operators serving over 12,000 destinations across 12 European countries. The move broadens the program beyond air travel and supports seamless multi-city itineraries.

The new service is available to both Emirates and flydubai passengers and can be accessed through a dedicated online platform on desktop and mobile devices.

More ways to explore Europe

Instead of limiting Miles to flights, members can now use them to book rail journeys linking major cities and regional destinations throughout Europe.

Travelers have the option to pay entirely with Skywards Miles or combine Miles with cash. Tickets can also be booked for family members and friends, while electronic tickets are issued immediately after booking.

The platform enables users to compare routes, review schedules and choose between available ticket classes before confirming a reservation.

Major European rail networks included

Skywards Rail covers several of Europe’s best-known railway operators, including:

  • Eurostar
  • Deutsche Bahn (Germany)
  • SNCF and TGV (France)
  • Trenitalia (Italy)
  • Renfe (Spain)
  • ÖBB (Austria)
  • Heathrow Express
  • Gatwick Express
  • Great Western Railway
  • ScotRail
  • Thameslink

The expanded network gives travelers convenient access to popular city pairs such as London and Paris, Berlin and Frankfurt, Barcelona and Madrid, and Rome and Milan.

Sample redemption options

According to Emirates, indicative redemption rates include:

  • Heathrow Express from 4,700 Skywards Miles
  • Berlin–Frankfurt from 4,100 Miles
  • Barcelona–Madrid from 5,400 Miles
  • Rome–Milan from 8,100 Miles
  • London–Paris from 9,400 Miles

Actual redemption values may vary depending on travel dates, availability and fare conditions.

A growing travel ecosystem

The latest addition reflects Emirates’ continued expansion of Skywards into a broader travel and lifestyle rewards program, offering members more flexibility in how they redeem accumulated Miles.

The loyalty program recently celebrated its 25th anniversary and today serves more than 39 million members across 190 countries, with thousands of new members joining every week.

For UAE travelers planning European holidays, the new rail option makes it easier to combine flights with high-speed train travel, opening access to destinations beyond Emirates’ direct route network while reducing the need for additional domestic flights.

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