Emirates Skywards will pause its My Family programme in January 2027. Any Miles left in a family pool will move to the Family Head's own Skywards account, and a redesigned My Family is due by the end of 2027.
If you share Miles with your family, you have until January to decide how to use the pool.
What changes in January 2027
While My Family is paused, these functions stop:
- creating or closing a My Family account;
- adding or removing family members;
- pooling Skywards Miles;
- spending Miles from a My Family account.
Your Skywards account keeps working normally. Miles you earn from flights, partners or a co-branded credit card go into your individual account, as they always have.
What happens to the Miles in the pool
Emirates will transfer every Mile remaining in a My Family account to the Family Head's individual Skywards account. The Miles appear there within 7 to 14 days.
After the transfer, the Miles follow the standard Emirates Skywards programme rules. The Family Head can still spend them on flights and lifestyle rewards for any family member.
The transfer goes one way. Members who contributed to the pool do not get their share back, so the balance sits with the Family Head.
What to do before January
Use the pool if you have a redemption in mind. Families planning a holiday can book a Classic Reward, upgrade or partner reward from the pool now, while every member can still be included the usual way.
Do not close the My Family account to get the Miles back. Closing a My Family account before the pause forfeits any Miles left in it. Leaving the account open and letting the January transfer happen keeps them.
Check who the Family Head is. That person receives the whole balance. If the family arrangement has changed, sort out membership before January, because adding and removing members is frozen during the pause.
Keep track of expiry. Once Miles land in the Family Head's account, they follow that account's expiry rules. Skywards is also changing how Miles expire for Miles earned from 1 June 2027, so check the dates in the Skywards app after the transfer.
What the new My Family will look like
The new My Family launches by the end of 2027. It gives each member more control over their individual Miles and adds a wider range of rewards families can enjoy together. Members keep their Miles in their own accounts and combine them when they make an eligible family redemption.
What it means for Skywards credit card holders
Nothing changes for how your card earns. Card Miles have always gone to the cardholder's individual Skywards account first, and they will keep going there during the pause.
The difference is that, from January to the relaunch, you cannot pool card Miles with your family's. A household that relied on combining two or three cards' earnings for one family booking should plan that booking for before January, or wait for the new programme.
If you are choosing a card that earns Skywards Miles, compare earn rates, fees and welcome offers on our travel credit cards page. Programme rules, earning and redemption are covered in the Emirates Skywards guide.
Kredit provides informational content only and does not offer financial advice. We do not guarantee accuracy and recommend consulting a licensed financial professional before making decisions.
