American Express Halts Emirates Skywards Transfers

American Express has issued an important announcement that will impact card members who leverage their Membership Rewards points for travel with Emirates Airlines. Starting 28 May 2025, there will be a temporary halt on all point transfers from the American Express Membership Rewards program to Emirates Skywards, the airline's popular loyalty program. With this date rapidly approaching, it's crucial to understand the implications and take necessary action.

Why is This Happening? The Reason Behind the Pause

The temporary suspension is not due to any weakening of the partnership between American Express and Emirates. Instead, it's a necessary operational step as Emirates undertakes a significant transition to a new loyalty management system.

Such large-scale system migrations are complex and require periods where data transfer and integrations are paused to ensure a seamless and error-free switch. During this transition, all transfer partners, including American Express, must temporarily suspend point transfers to allow for the necessary system recalibrations and integrations on Emirates' end. American Express has commendably provided advance notification to its customers, allowing a window of opportunity to plan accordingly.

It’s important to reiterate that this is a temporary operational measure and not indicative of any long-term changes to the Amex-Emirates partnership or a devaluation of your American Express Membership Rewards points.

Expected Duration: When Will Transfers Resume?

While American Express and Emirates have not provided a definitive date for the resumption of point transfers, the current expectation is that the suspension might last until late June or possibly early July 2025. American Express has mentioned that the option to transfer points will not be available from 29 May to 18 June.
Cardmembers should prepare for at least a month, potentially longer, during which they will be unable to move Membership Rewards points into their Skywards accounts. This means if you have travel plans with Emirates in July or August and were banking on a last-minute points transfer, you might need to reconsider your strategy.
Impact on American Express Cardholders

This temporary suspension will affect any American Express cardholder in a market where Emirates Skywards is a direct Membership Rewards transfer partner. This typically includes holders of cards such as the American Express Platinum Card, Gold Card, and other Membership Rewards-earning cards.

Key Impacts:

• Inability to Top-Up Skywards Accounts: If you're a few Skywards Miles short for a dream redemption, you won't be able to transfer Amex points to bridge that gap after 27 May 2025, until the system is back online.
• Potential Missed Redemptions: Award availability, especially for popular routes or premium cabins on Emirates, can be dynamic. If a desired award seat opens up during the suspension period, you won't be able to transfer points to book it immediately.
• Planning Adjustments: Travellers who rely on just-in-time point transfers for Emirates bookings will need to be more proactive.

Alternative Point Usage (During the Pause): While your Emirates transfer option is paused, remember that American Express Membership Rewards points can still be transferred to a wide array of other airline and hotel partners. If your travel plans are flexible, you might explore these alternatives. However, if Emirates is your specific goal, waiting is the only option post-deadline.

What You Need to Do NOW?

Given that the suspension begins on 28 May 2025, time is of the essence.

1. Review Your Travel Plans: Do you have any upcoming Emirates flights you intend to book or upgrade using Skywards Miles sourced from Amex points?
2. Check Your Skywards Balance: Log in to your Emirates Skywards account to see your current miles balance.
3. Assess Your Membership Rewards Points: See how many Amex points you have available for transfer.
4. Make Necessary Transfers Immediately: If you anticipate needing Skywards Miles in the near future (especially for travel in June, July, or even August, given the uncertainty), it is strongly recommended to transfer your American Express Membership Rewards points to your Emirates Skywards account well before 28 May 2025. Aim to complete any transfers by 27 May at the latest to avoid any last-minute system issues. Transfers are typically initiated through your online American Express account.
5. Factor in Transfer Times: While often quick, allow for potential transfer processing times. Don't wait until the very last minute.

Post-Suspension

Once Emirates completes its system upgrade and the transfer functionality is reinstated, it should be business as usual. Cardholders can expect the ability to transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards to Emirates Skywards to resume, hopefully by early July 2025. Both American Express and Emirates will likely announce when the system is back online.

Stay Informed

Keep an eye on official communications from American Express via email, their website, or your online account portal for the most accurate and up-to-date information regarding the resumption of Emirates Skywards transfers.

This temporary pause, while potentially inconvenient, is a standard part of system enhancements. Proactive planning by transferring your points before the deadline will ensure you're not caught out.