Let’s be honest: collecting Emirates Skywards miles when you live in the UK isn’t exactly easy. You’re not exactly racking them up at Tesco. But I had built up a decent little stash after a few years of flying with the Big E (mainly in the back, sadly).
Not enough for first class.
Not even enough for an upgrade.
But just enough to make me feel slightly guilty about letting them expire.
In This Post
The Race Against the Expiry Clock
My Skywards balance was slowly inching toward oblivion. A couple thousand miles were not useless, but not headline-making either. We were just hanging around, waiting for a purpose in life. Booking a flight? Out of the question. Transferring to a partner? It’s not worth the rate.
But then I remembered the Heathrow Rewards trick.
The Transfer Hack
Yep, you can transfer Emirates Skywards miles into Heathrow Rewards points. And while that sounds a bit like exchanging gold for copper, it’s surprisingly decent if you’re based in the UK and frequent the airport often enough to know where every Pret is located.
So I made the move. Miles → Heathrow Rewards.
Points landed.
Then I did what any responsible traveller would do: I completely forgot about them… until they almost expired, too.
Cue last-minute redemption scramble.
The Redemption Moment: A Case of Serendipity
Fast-forward to my recent trip to Mexico. I was at Heathrow Terminal 3, having arrived a suspiciously early four hours before departure (don’t judge, I like the lounges) when I wandered into one of those dangerously tempting airport shops.
There it was:
A Samsonite bag I’d been eyeing for ages.
Sleek. Sturdy. Slightly overpriced.
Perfect.
Armed with my Heathrow Rewards vouchers, I scored it for a steal. Not even Ryanair would charge me that little for a carry-on.
Final Boarding Call: Why It Was Worth It
Was it the most “valuable” redemption? Nah.
Did I fly first class to Sydney? Not even close.
But did I get something valuable that I actually wanted with miles that were otherwise collecting dust?
Absolutely.
And that’s the beauty of points. It’s not always about the “cents-per-mile” spreadsheet. Sometimes, it’s about saving £200 on a bag you’ll carry through ten airports, three train stations, and one questionable ferry ride.
So next time you’ve got a lonely little bundle of miles nearing the end of their shelf life, don’t let them expire. Get creative. The Emirates–Heathrow Rewards partnership might just save the day and your hand luggage game.
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