Japan Airlines today sent out a communication to Mileage Bank members that Emirates First Class awards are not available for tickets issued from September 1, 2021.
Emirates appears to be discontinuing the availability of its first-class cabin for partner awards, as Alaska already took a similar action on April 1st this year (read more here).
You can access JAL here.
Here’s a copy of the email that JAL sent out:
JAL’s Emirates Award Chart:
Discontinuance of Emirates First using Alaska’s miles:
Emirates Withdraws First Class Award Partner Availability On April 1, 2021
Conclusion
It is unclear whether Emirates is making first-class awards so expensive for partners that they discontinue them or if Emirates doesn’t want partner award redemptions for its premium cabin.
Another loss in the frequent flyer universe.
