Emirates Bans Kids From First Class, But Only For Award Bookings

Well, this is... something. Emirates has decided that eight year olds are apparently too disruptive for their First Class cabin. But only if you're using miles.

No more children here, sort of...

Emirates quietly slipped this little gem into their terms and conditions on August 15th:

Please note that passengers aged 8 years old and below are ineligible for First Class Emirates Classic Rewards and Upgrade Rewards.

The T's&C's can be found here, specifically, find 3.5.

Meaning, families can no longer book kids eight and under into first-class seats when you're redeeming Emirates Skywards point, even if the rest of the family is hoping to be in that cabin. Cash customers? Totally fine, bring your screaming toddler right up front. But if you're trying to use those hard-earned Skywards miles to treat little Timmy to the good life of Dom Perignon and caviar? Nope.

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It also seems like the front half of the camel is communicating with the back half. Despite it making into the T's&C's, the policy seemingly though hasn't been implemented on Emirates' website - you can still try to make bookings for ineligible children online. Which raises the obvious question: what happens when you show up at the gate with a ticket the system says you can't have? Your guess is as good as mine.

What's my take?

I'm not sure about this one. I'm assuming that Emirates has had some issues with disruptive children in First Class, thus spoiling the experience of fellow passengers. Which is fine, I guess. But they haven't banned children completely, just on miles redemptions, so they're okay if you want to pay cash for little Timmy.

Have Emirates worked out that badly behaved children solely book with miles?

And that money = well mannered?

What I like is the fact that a nine year old, completely fine, eight year old, feral.

What's your take on this, have Emirates over-stepped here, or are they in the right?

Sam

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