How To Travel To The Middle East With Points From Australia

If you’re a regular reader of the blog, you should know by now that I travel to the Middle East ALOT. Why? because I love to fly the ME3 as they have some of the best premium products in the air and I love the country, it’s a very interesting and relaxing place as strange as that sounds.

I often get asked how you can I use points to travel to the Middle East and in this post, I’ll explain all the airlines/products that fly there and which points to use.

This post will be one of many ‘how to get there with points’.

• How To Travel In Business Or First To The USA From Australia With Points
• How To Travel To The Middle East In First Class With Points From Australia
• How To Travel To Asia With Points From Australia
• How To Travel To Canada With Points From Australia

Emirates

Emirates is without a doubt the biggest ME carrier operating to Australia. They service Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth. All cities but Adelaide receive the A380, Adelaide should receive the massive aircraft soon enough.

Departure Ports:

• Adelaide EK441/EK442
• Brisbane EK434/434 & EK431/EK432
• Perth EK421/EK422
• Melbourne EK407/EK408 & EK409/EK410
• Sydney EK413/414, EK415/EK416 & EK417/EK418

What are the best points to use?

Emirates Skywards

• First Class – 108,750 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class – 72,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Economy Class – 36,250 points one-way in Economy Class

Qantas Frequent Flyer

• First Class – 144,000 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class –  96,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Economy Class- 41,900 points one-way in Economy Class

Japan Airlines Mileage Bank

• First Class – 60,000 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class – 40,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Economy Class – 21,500 points one-way in Economy Class

Emirates First Class Onboard Showers

Or have beautiful Iranian caviar with Dom Perignon…

Emirates Caviar

Emirate are pretty generous when it comes to releasing First Class award space, it also helps that they have 14 suites in the A380 and they operate to major Australian cities. The best way to find Emirates First Class award space is through Qantas Frequent Flyer.

Etihad

You should know by now, Etihad is hands down my favourite carrier. The experience onboard, especially in the A380 Apartments is truly incredible and it’ll be something you’ll want to do again, trust me – I’ve now done it 8 times. Etihad operates to Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Brisbane. Perth and Brisbane don’t always have First. Sydney and Melbourne have 2 services daily, the afternoon service is with a 77W and the evening service is with the A380. So what are the best points to use?

Departure Ports:

• Brisbane EY485/EY486 (787-9)
• Sydney EY451/EY452 & EY455/EY454 (777-300ER & A380)
• Melbourne EY461/EY462 & EY463/EY464 (777-300ER & 787-9)

What are the best points to use?

American Airlines AAdvantage

• First Class – 100,000 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class – 80,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Economy Class – 42,500 points one-way in Economy Class

Virgin Australia Velocity

• First Class – 152,500 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class – 104,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Economy Class – 56,000 points one-way in Economy Class

Etihad Guest

• First Class – 136,250 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class – 100,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Economy Class – 60,500 points one-way in Economy

Etihad A380 Apartments

You can enjoy an onboard chef prepared meal…

Onboard Chef Prepared Meal

You can also enjoy the luxury of closing suites, even on the older 777’s…

Etihad Older First Class

Here’s a review of the Etihad Apartments & And a review of the older First Class product on a different aircraft but the product is the exact same.

Etihad First Class seats are probably the second easiest to find out of all the airlines on this list. I’ve written a post about it here. Basically, Etihad release seats anywhere from 7 days out to 24 hours beforehand, to find seats the best program to use is Etihad Guest.

Qatar

Qatar Airways is based in Doha and often referred to as the little brother when it comes to the ‘ME3’ but they’re not that small at all. The airline use their A380 on the Perth and Sydney routes while Canberra and the second Sydney service has access to the 777-300ER which features their award winning Qsuites.

Departure Ports:

• Perth QR900/QR901
• Melbourne QR904/QR905
• Sydney QR907/QR908 & QR909/QR910
• Canberra QR

What are the best points to use?

American Airlines

• First Class – 100,000 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class 80,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Economy Class 42,500 points one-way in Economy Class

Qantas Frequent Flyer

• First Class – 152,000 points one-way in First Class
• Business Class – 104,000 points one-way in Business Class
• Economy Class 50,300 points one-way in Economy Class

Qatar Airways Privilege Club

• First Class
• Business Class
• Economy Class

Qatar A380 First Class

You can sit at the beautiful onboard bar and consume as much Krug as you desire…

Qatar A380 Bar

Or relax in your plush and comfortable suite…

Qatar Airways Qsuites

Finding Qatar First Class availability is quite all over the place. The airline doesn’t release them in a pattern but I’ve found them often about a month or two out from departure. To find Qatar First Class awards, the best program to use is British Airways Executive Club.