Fancy a trip to Greece in a private first-class suite? Emirates operates a unique fifth-freedom flight from Newark to Athens, letting you experience its legendary first class without flying via Dubai. You can book this ticket for 102,000 Emirates Skywards miles (transferable from Chase) plus about $100 in fees, instead of paying roughly $11,952 in cash. That’s about 11.7 cents per point in value, a great use of Chase Ultimate Rewards for a lavish journey.
Flight Details at a Glance:
- Route: Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH) on Emirates First Class (Boeing 777)
- Points Required: 102,000 Emirates Skywards miles (1:1 transfer from Chase Ultimate Rewards)
- Approx. Cash Price: $11,952 (one-way)
- Redemption Value: ~11.7 cents per point
- Onboard Perks: Private suite with closing doors, gourmet dining (caviar and champagne), luxury amenity kits, and top-notch service
How to Book via Emirates Skywards
Chase points transfer to Emirates Skywards at a 1:1 ratio, unlocking this extravagant first-class award. Follow these steps to book your flight:
Join Emirates Skywards
Emirates Skywards has grown to more than 30 million members around the globe, making it one of the largest frequent flyer programs today. Signing up is free and gives you access to Classic Rewards, tier benefits, and partner offers.
The program has four tiers:
- Blue (entry level)
- Silver (25,000 Tier Miles or 25 qualifying flights)
- Gold (50,000 Tier Miles or 50 qualifying flights)
- Platinum (150,000 Tier Miles plus at least one First or Business Class flight).
Tier Miles are earned based on the distance you fly, your cabin class, fare type, and any Skywards status. As you accrue Tier Miles, Emirates automatically upgrades your tier—no application required. Higher tiers unlock benefits like increased award availability, bonus miles, lounge access, and priority services.
Transfer Points to Skywards
Chase Ultimate Rewards points transfer to Emirates Skywards at a 1:1 ratio, meaning 1,000 Chase points become 1,000 Skywards miles. Transfers require a minimum of 1,000 points and are initiated through the Chase portal. Although most transfers post instantly, Emirates notes that mileage can take up to 48 hours to appear in your account.
Chase has 11 airline and three hotel transfer partners; Emirates is often one of the most valuable, especially for premium cabins. If you need extra miles, you can buy Skywards miles at $30 per 1,000 miles (up to 100,000 or 200,000 miles per year depending on tier). Keeps you flexible if you’re a few thousand miles short.
Search on Emirates’ site
Emirates doesn’t publish a fixed award chart; instead, use the online Miles Calculator or search directly for your dates. For Newark (EWR) to Athens (ATH), a one-way First Class Flex Plus award is priced at 102,000 miles. Note that Flex Plus is the only first-class award class available on this transatlantic route.
As of today, Emirates restricts Classic Rewards in First Class to Silver tier members and above. That means Blue members cannot access 102,000-mile awards after that date. Award seats are limited—most A380s offer just 14 First Class suites arranged in a 1-2-1 layout—so search as far in advance as possible and be flexible with mid-week dates.
Expect to pay around $100–$110 in carrier charges, taxes, and fees for a one-way transatlantic route. These fees are much lower than some other routes, where surcharges can exceed $2,000
Book the ticket
Once you find award availability, proceed to book directly on emirates.com. You’ll enter your Skywards membership number, select the Classic Reward “First” fare, and confirm the 102,000-mile redemption plus taxes and fees. The booking process is streamlined and typically finishes in a few minutes.
As a First Class passenger, you’re entitled to complimentary chauffeur-driven transfers to and from most major airports, access to Emirates’ luxurious First Class lounges (including the onboard A380 Lounge and Shower Spa), and priority baggage handling. Changes and cancellations incur a 25,000-mile redeposit fee plus any difference in mileage if award rates change.
If you don’t have Silver tier yet, consider expediting your status or booking as soon as possible. And remember, if you fall short on miles, you can combine transfer and purchase options to hit exactly 102,000 miles for that dream First Class seat.
Tip:
Emirates is known for occasional transfer promotions. If you ever see a transfer bonus from Chase to Emirates, you could use even fewer points for this flight.
Indulge in Emirates First-Class Luxury
Emirates’ newest Boeing 777-300ERs have just six First Class suites in a 1-1-1 layout, down from eight on earlier 777s and 14 on the A380s. Each suite spans up to 40 square feet of personal space, complete with floor-to-ceiling sliding doors for total privacy. Your seat converts into a zero-gravity, lie-flat bed and features ambient LED mood lighting and individual temperature controls.
First Class on Emirates means dine-on-demand service: you can order from a fine multi-course menu whenever you wish, not on a fixed schedule. Emirates now offers unlimited Persian caviar service, allowing you to savor extra portions on request. They pair it with vintage Dom Pérignon—Emirates is the only airline to offer that level of champagne service in First Class. A recent $2 billion customer-experience investment also upgraded wine lists, added more gourmet hors d’oeuvres, and refreshed menus across long-haul cabin.
Amenities & Service Extras
Beyond your suite and dining, you’ll receive a premium amenity kit—often stocked with high-end toiletries from Bulgari or Byredo—plus soft, designer pajamas for the flight. First Class travelers enjoy complimentary chauffeur-driven transfers at both ends of the journey, priority check-in and boarding, and access to Emirates’ luxurious First Class lounges (including the onboard A380 Shower Spa on other aircraft). Cabin crew-to-passenger ratios in First Class are among the highest in the industry, ensuring attentive, personalized service throughout your 9- to 10-hour flight.
Turn Your Points Into a $12,000 First Class Experience
A one-way cash fare between Newark (EWR) and Athens (ATH) can exceed $11,000–$12,000. By redeeming 102,000 Emirates Skywards miles—transferred 1:1 from Chase Ultimate Rewards—and paying roughly $100–$110 in taxes and fees, you’re effectively accessing a $12,000 experience for under two cents per mile.
That “cents-per-mile” value (often above 10 ¢/mile) is many times higher than average award redemptions, making this one of the most worthwhile uses of credit-card points for premium cabin travel. If you’re eyeing one of the world’s best First Class products, this is how to book it and save thousands.
