Etihad Guest, the loyalty program of Etihad Airways, resembles that of Virgin Atlantic. Neither of these programs are currently in an airline alliance. Instead, each airline has partnerships with individual airlines. The Etihad Guest miles that you earn can be used to award book flights with airlines like American Airlines and Asiana Airlines.
One of the things Etihad Airways continuously receives rave reviews about is its business and first-class experience. Not only do the seats look incredible, but one could argue the experience is second to none. Check out Etihad A380 First Class Apartment and Etihad Business Class 787 Washington To Abu Dhabi.
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Credit Cards to Earn Etihad Airways Miles
Etihad Airways partners with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy. The points earned in these programs can be transferred directly to your Etihad Guest account to book an award flight. It’s important to note that Marriott points transfer at a 3:1 ratio. Amex, Capital One, and Citi points transfer at a 1:1 ratio.
The Amex Gold Card, Capital One Venture, Citi Premier Card, and Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant are cards to check out. You earn 4x points on dining and grocery stores with the Amex Gold Card. Capital One Venture cardmembers earn 2x miles (points) on every purchase. The Citi Premier Card earns 3x points at restaurants, grocery stores, gas stations, airfare, and hotels. Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant cardmembers earn 6x points at Marriott.
Additional Ways to Earn Etihad Airways Miles
One way to earn additioanl Etihad Ariways miles is to credit partner airline flights to your Etihad account. Head to wheretocredit.com to determine if crediting your partner airline flight to your Etihad account makes sense.
Another way to earn Etihad Airways miles is to book partner hotel stays and/or rental car bookings. By booking with these car rental and hotel partners, you earn miles with each booking.
Shopping through the Etihad Guest Reward Shop is the last way to earn additional Etihad miles. These partners include shopping, leisure & lifestyle, financial partners, and telecommunications.
Basic Etihad Guest Redemption Rules
Etihad uses award charts for each of its airline partners. So, spending time reviewing these charts will likely help with your next award booking. With that said, here are a few of the most important rules to know:
- When flying Etihad:
- One-way flights are allowed on Etihad
- Etihad award space can be searched on etihadguest.com
- When flying partners:
- One-way award flights are allowed on some partners
- Open jaws are allowed if the partner allows you to book one-way
- Taxes and fees will vary by operating airline partner
Using the Etihad Search Engine
Etihad Airways flights can be booked directly on etihadguest.com. Click “book” at the top right, enter your flight details, and click “search flights” at the bottom right. From there, you’re looking for “guest” award seats in the award calendar.
For Etihad partner airline flights, find Oneworld Alliance award space on American Airlines/British Airways, Star Alliance award space on United Airlines, and SkyTeam Alliance award space on Air France/KLM/Delta. Then call Etihad Guest at 877-690-0767 to book the award flight.
Best Ways to Use Etihad Airways Miles
1. West Coast US to Japan
Virgin Atlantic offers two of the most well-known award flights on ANA between the US and Japan. Etihad is also a program to consider as 54,000-63,000 Etihad miles books you a one-way ANA business class flight to Japan from the West Coast. For comparison, you can book the same round-trip ANA business class flight with Virgin Atlantic using 90,000 miles. Search for ANA flights on united.com and then call the Etihad Guest contact number at 877-690-0767.
Examples of ANA flights to Japan that you can book at these award prices include:
- Seattle (SEA) > Haneda (HND)
- San Francisco (SFO) > Haneda, Narita (NRT)
- San Jose (SJC) > Haneda
- Los Angeles (LAX) > Haneda, Narita
2. US to Europe
Booking an American Airlines business-class award flight can be hard to come by. However, if you can find the award space, Etihad Guest is a program to consider using. With 50,000 Etihad miles, you can book a one-way American business class flight to Europe. If flying in economy makes more sense for you, don’t overlook using 20,000 Etihad miles to fly the same flights during off-peak dates. Search for American flights on britishairways.com and then call the Etihad Guest contact number at 877-690-0767.
Examples of American flights you can book to Europe include:
- Charlotte (CLT) > Frankfurt (FRA)
- Chicago (ORD) > London–Heathrow (LHR)
- Dallas (DFW) >Madrid (MAD)
3. US to southern South America
Another American flight to consider booking using Etihad miles are ones to South America. In particular, American flights to southern South America. Etihad requires 50,000 miles to fly between the US and South America. For comparison, American requires 57,500 miles to book the same flights. Not to be overlooked is using 20,000 miles to fly the same American flights in economy during off-peak dates.
Examples of American flights to South America you can book include:
- Dallas/Fort Worth (DFW) > Buenos Aires (EZE)
- Miami (MIA) > Santiago (SCL)
4. West Coast US to Korea
For those of you looking to fly Asiana Airlines to Korea, Etihad has attractive award pricing on select routes. From the West Coast to South Korea, you can book a one-way Asiana business class flight with 59,000 Etihad miles. You can also book the same flight in economy with 35,000 miles. However, check out Avianca LifeMiles and United Airlines as both programs charge the same number of miles as Etihad. Search for Asiana flights on united.com and then call the Etihad Guest contact number at 877-690-0767.
Asiana flies from Seoul (ICN) to the following West Coast cities:
- Seattle (SEA)
- San Francisco (SFO)
- Los Angeles (LAX)
5. US to Morocco
Royal Air Maroc is an African-based airline offering flights between the US and Morocco. With 44,000 Etihad miles, you can book a one-way Royal Air Maroc business class flight from the US to Morocco. Booking the same flights in economy with 22,000 Etihad miles can also offer value. Before booking these economy flights, check out the pricing offered by British Airways as it might require fewer miles. Search for Royal Air Maroc flights on aa.com and then call the Etihad Guest contact number at 877-690-0767.
Royal Air Maroc flights from Morocco (CMN) to the US include:
- New York (JFK) > Morocco
- Washington (IAD) > Morocco
Common Etihad Airways Questions
What is Etihad Guest Miles?
Etihad Guest is the loyalty program of Etihad Airways. Etihad Guest miles are the airline miles program members earn and redeem.
How do I become a Etihad Guest?
You can sign up for a free membership here. After that, you can start earning and redeem Etihad Guest miles.
Can I transfer Etihad miles to a friend?
An Etihad Guest family membership enables your family to pool miles and make redemptions using the accumulated family balance via the head of the family membership. Your family members are your brothers, sisters, father, mother, spouse(s), children, grandchildren, grandparents, parents-in-law, stepparents, stepchildren, step-siblings, step-grandchildren, nieces, and nephews per the terms and conditions. In short, you can’t transfer Etihad miles to a non-family member.
What is the difference between Guest Miles and Tier Miles?
Guest Miles are earned and used to redeem for things like award flights on Etihad and/or its airline partners. Tier Miles are used for elite status qualification. So, the difference between the two is that Guest Miles book award flights while Tier Miles are used for your elite status.
Conclusion on Etihad Airways
Eithad Airways’ Etihad Guest loyalty program has value if you know where to look. Its miles are relatively easy to earn because of its partnerships with Amex, Capital One, Citi, and Marriott. You can earn additional miles by flying both Etihad and its partner airline flights. Some of the best ways to use Etihad miles are to fly long-haul flights from the US to Asia and Europe.
What do you think about the Etihad Airways program? Do you have a favorite Etihad redemption? Please let me know in the comments below or by sending me an email on my contact page.
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