How to use Membership Rewards points to fly (free) with Easyjet
The upcoming summer looks set to be even more complicated than that of 2020. Restrictions on traveling [...]
Emirates
easyJet
The upcoming summer looks set to be even more complicated than that of 2020. Travel restrictions are the same, if not greater, the green pass is still an idea and the rules will continue to change with little or zero notice.
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This is why the vast majority of travelers are likely to decide not to travel too far from home, and low-cost carriers are the dominant carrier in this segment, although traditional airlines are opening "sea" routes to intercept at least some of the tourists' needs.
Today we want to talk about a possibility that not all serial accumulators of points and miles know about: use Membership Rewards points To book tickets with Easyjet.
Let us first make it clear that this is by no means one of the best ways to use the much-earned Amex points, but as always the result counts, and if so you are satisfied, we certainly will not be the ones to criticize it.
How to book an Easyjet ticket
The low-cost airline, Europe's number two, is not an Amex partner. Therefore, it will not be possible to transfer points directly, partly because Easyjet does not have a loyalty program where points are earned. To book a trip will have to go through Emirates.
It may seem a paradox, but one of the most luxurious airlines in the world has among its partners a low-cost airline, namely Easyjet. The reason is simple: Emirates does not participate in any alliances, which means that - except in rare cases such as with TAP Portugal - it is difficult for a passenger arriving at Malpensa or Nice on an EK flight to perhaps reach a secondary destination with a connection.
Thus was born in Europe the partnership with Easyjet that helps passengers to be able to continue using Skywards points.
How it works and how much Easyjet tickets cost
Booking is easy, the page dedicated to award tickets with Easyjet allows you to search and see the cost of each individual route and possibly add extras such as suitcases.
There is no fixed table; the cost in Skywards miles changes as the ticket price changes. As we see in the image above, a ticket to fly during the week of August bank holiday between Milan and Ibiza costs from 25,715 SW points to over 40k.
On the same dates, round-trip tickets cost between €90 and €140, so calculator in hand you will not get a very generous conversion.
Is it worth using points ?
The most obvious answer is NO, or rather if you have to use MR points to book an EasyJet flight it is not at all convenient compared to paying cash for the same ticket.
If, on the other hand, you have taken a trip with Emirates-even in economy-and have a few thousand points expiring, this is a great way not to lose them. In fact, Skywards points, except in special cases, have a shelf life of 3 years from when they were earned.
It is possible to find tickets even under 10k Skywards points and ,rather than lose them when they expire, you might as well use them for a scrounged flight. Alternatively, the same points can be used, if you are planning to travel with Emirates, to reduce the cost of the ticket by being able to pay with cash and miles.
