Now you can turn Tax Free into points to fly for free
There are many ways to earn Skywards miles. Starting with the most classic one: flying. You earn miles every time you [...]
Emirates
There are many ways to accumulate Skywards miles. Starting with the most classic: flying. You earn miles every time you fly with Emirates or a partner airline (the number depends on the route, fare, and class of flight). Now, however, there is an even smarter way to "cash in." Which one? Let's find out together.
Why shop tax free
In this article:
To earn Skywards miles, you don't necessarily have to fly with Emirates. You just have to shop, a lot of shopping, to see your points wallet grow. We're not talking about a credit card, but a new feature introduced by the Arab airline, which has decided to give away an additional 5,001 miles as a bonus upon reaching each milestone. And that allows you to convert your tax-free purchases into miles.
The operation is the result of a collaboration between Emirates and Utu (tech company), and is the world's first solution for Get easy tax refunds on travel purchases: travelers no longer have to stand in long lines to ask for those refunds at the airport, but get them easily in Skywards miles.
Don't know what we are talking about? Let's take a step back. At many airports you can do "tax free" purchases obtaining the refund of local VAT (an option possible in non-European territories, but also in those European countries that do not adhere to Union agreements). The goods must be for personal use and must be able to fit in luggage. Once you have made your purchases, with the invoice you go to a tax refund office (found at all major airports) or-if the country requires it-send the signed and stamped tax-free form to the merchant at customs, complete with the invoice.
Did you get your flight cancelled, miss your connection, land late?
You could get up to 600€ compensation per person
Instead of claiming a VAT refund, it is possible to convert that money into Skywards miles now.
How to turn VAT refund into Skywards miles
Generally, when you store at tax-free stores, you can get back 10-20% of what you spent. However, most people either don't know that they can do this or are bored by the long lines that often occur at the airport to get their refund (sometimes it takes hours!). That's why, the idea of using that money to earn Skywards miles is definitely smart.
Utu allows you to bypass the red tape by doing everything through the app. How to do it. Download the Utu app, register for free, select your preferred redemption method (Frequent Flyer Miles - Emirates Skywards) and store at tax-free stores in 50 countries. When paying, you will need to fill out a form by entering the 16 digits of your Tax Free Card (you get them during registration) in the field intended for the credit card. Then follow the customs formalities required by the operator for the VAT refund (the equivalent of the Italian Internal Revenue Service). Once the refund is processed, Utu will notify Emirates of the number of Skywards miles to be credited. Miles that will appear on your Frequent Flyer status within 10 business days of processing the refund.
Until March 31, 2022, Utu and Emirates Skyward are offering. 5,001 bonus miles for every $100 of VAT "earned" via the app.
The mileage crediting service through Utu is now also active for frequent flyers in Thai's Royal Orchid Plus program.
