Qantas Frequent Flyer members looking for a great-value luxe redemption with their points will have one fewer option to choose from, with Emirates nixing its Singapore-Melbourne ‘fifth freedom’ flight.
As reported in Singapore’s Straits Times and confirmed on the country’s Competition and Consumer Commission (CCCS) website, Emirates will be ‘terminating its operations on the SIN-MEL route’. However, the airline hasn’t yet set a date for when this will happen.
First Class bargain for under 108,000 points
Bleary-eyed travellers aren’t likely to miss the route’s 2:25 am departure out of Melbourne, but it’s the daytime 10:25 am service out of Singapore that’s popular. With seven hours of inflight pampering and only S$88 (A$102) in fees and taxes to pay, this is one of the best bang-for-buck redemptions in Emirates Business and First Class.
Qantas American Express Ultimate
Offer ends: 5 May 2026
- Bonus points
- Up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points¹
- Annual fee
- $450 p.a.
- Earn
- 1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia. 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.
Qantas American Express Ultimate
Offer ends: 5 May 2026
- Bonus Points
- Up to 100,000 bonus Qantas Points¹
- Annual Fee
- $450 p.a.
- Earn
- 1.25 Qantas Points earned per $1 on eligible everyday purchases. 2.25 Qantas Points per $1 spent on selected Qantas products and services in Australia. 0.5 Qantas Point per $1 at government bodies in Australia. After a total of 100,000 Qantas Points is earned in a calendar year, the everyday earn rate will change from 1.25 to 1 Qantas Point per $1 spent.
Earn 70,000 bonus Qantas Points in Year 1 with the Qantas American Express Ultimate Card when you apply online by 5 May 2026, are approved, and spend $5,000 in the first 3 months. Plus, 30,000 bonus Qantas Points in Year 2 after minimum of $1 spend on the Card within 90 days of paying the Year 2 Annual Card Fee.
First Class rewards are still relatively hard to find and are usually released as single seats. But if you’re lucky enough to snag one, it will set you back 107,700 Qantas Points + S$88 in fees and taxes.
Business Class rewards are easier to come across in pairs and cost 75,000 points + S$88 per person.
Emirates’ existing four-daily flights between Dubai and Singapore and twice-daily services to Melbourne remain unaffected by the impending changes.
The airline is seeking to terminate or vary its capacity commitment on the Singapore-Melbourne route and will set the date of its final flight once confirmation comes from Singapore’s CCCS.
I have business class flights booked with QF points from SIN to MEL in August next year. If they are cancelled do you think they will put passengers on alternative flights? Or is it better to cancel (although I lose a few points doing that) and try and book something else? I.w. Singapore airlines with velocity points of something else?
I’ve got a F seat booked for mid March I’ll be flying in it
What happens to our reward seat if we’re booked and Emirates pull the pin? Should I book another ticket with a cancellation option? I don’t want to get stuck paying for a top $ last minute ticket!
What about EK 405 MEL-SIN? The 2:25 am flight. Is that affected before this decision?
Hi Anthony, yes that will also be affected.
Disaster! I just secured 3 business class seats for this flight in August 2025 – fingers crossed they have to continue the route until after that…