Although Etihad isn’t a part of the three main airline alliances — SkyTeam, Oneworld and Star Alliance — the service has particular person partnerships, making its loyalty program invaluable for award redemptions. Plus, its luxurious three-room suite generally known as The Residence on its A380 plane is a dream-worthy splurge for any traveler.
In March 2023, Etihad’s loyalty program, Etihad Visitor, launched a consolidated award chart for partner flights. With all companions following a single award chart, the candy spots we previously liked immediately disappeared. Then, in February 2024, Etihad announced major changes to its award redemptions along with silently devaluing its companion award chart.
Let’s take a look at what you’ll want to learn about Etihad Visitor to determine if it is a program worthy of your hard-earned transferable points.
Find out how to earn Etihad Visitor miles
There are lots of methods to earn Etihad Visitor miles. Listed here are some standard choices.
Earn with a bank card
Etihad would not have a U.S.-based cobranded bank card. For a fast inflow of Etihad Visitor miles, you possibly can switch rewards from the next applications at a 1:1 ratio:
In our exams, transfers from these applications to Etihad Visitor are typically instantaneous.
Keep in mind, for absolutely transferable Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards factors, you will must have choose bank cards, just like the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card, the Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, the Citi Premier® Card (see rates and fees) and the Citi Prestige® Card.
Take a look at our information to the best travel credit cards for extra choices.
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Earn by flying
You’ll be able to earn Etihad Visitor miles by flying Etihad or any of its 24 companion airways. Its North American companions embrace Air Canada and American Airways.
Earn by staying in accommodations or renting vehicles
Etihad Visitor has its personal hotel and car rental portals.
You will earn at the very least 1,000 miles per night time stayed at over 300,000 accommodations. A 3-night weekend keep in July on the Kimpton George Resort in Washington, D.C., earns 8,900 miles.
In the event you guide this fashion, be ready to not obtain IHG One Rewards elite status benefits. You additionally will not earn factors and elite nights when reserving by means of Etihad Visitor. Due to this, we typically do not suggest reserving this fashion.
On the automobile rental facet, you will earn at the very least 250 miles per rental day, however do not anticipate to earn rental automobile rewards or elite advantages for those who guide by means of Etihad Visitor. Compare rental car prices to make sure you’re getting a aggressive fee.
You can even convert Marriott Bonvoy points to Etihad Guest miles at a 3:1 ratio. Marriott provides you 5,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors transferred.
Earn by shopping for miles
You’ll be able to buy up to 100,000 Etihad Guest miles per calendar yr at 2 cents apiece. Platinum members should purchase as much as 150,000 miles per yr.
Associated: Buy bonus points and miles with these promotions
Find out how to redeem Etihad Visitor miles
The loyalty program has an award calculator for Eithad, American Airways and Virgin Australia flights. Usually, the award charges proven on the calculator are far lower than what you will really must spend for an award flight.
Redeeming on Etihad
In February 2024, Etihad reduced GuestSeat fares by as much as 30% on financial system, business- and first-class award tickets. Most notably, now you can guide a first-class ticket from New York to Abu Dhabi within the United Arab Emirates on Etihad’s 787-9 aircraft beginning at 160,000 Etihad Visitor miles. Nevertheless, for those who’re seeking to fly on Etihad’s A380 aircraft, which options ultra-luxurious first-class House seats, a one-way ticket will price you at the very least 200,000 miles.
Here is a have a look at Etihad’s printed one-way award chart, together with the current modifications the introductory mileage charges underwent in February 2024.
| Zone | Distance | Economic system (earlier than Feb. 22/now) | Enterprise (earlier than Feb. 29/now) | First (earlier than Feb. 29/now) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0-500 | 7,000/5,000 | 20,000/15,000 | 40,000/30,000 |
| 2 | 501-1,000 | 11,000/10,000 | 25,000/20,000 | 50,000/40,000 |
| 3 | 1,001-1,500 | 13,000/13,000 | 30,000/30,000 | 60,000/55,000 |
| 4 | 1,501-2,000 | 17,000/15,000 | 45,000/35,000 | 90,000/80,000 |
| 5 | 2,001-2,500 | 22,000/20,000 | 50,000/45,000 | 100,000/90,000 |
| 6 | 2,501-3,000 | 27,000/25,000 | 60,000/60,000 | 120,000/110,000 |
| 7 | 3,001-4,000 | 32,000/30,000 | 70,000/70,000 | 140,000/120,000 |
| 8 | 4,001-5,000 | 37,000/37,000 | 75,000/75,000 | 150,000/135,000 |
| 9 | 5,001-6,000 | 45,000/45,000 | 100,000/95,000 | 200,000/140,000 |
| 10 | 6,001-plus | 60,000/60,000 | 120,000/120,000 | 220,000/160,000 |
Keep in mind, the above chart reveals introductory mileage charges. For instance, we have discovered wide-open availability flying from New York’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK) to Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Worldwide Airport (AUH) in Etihad’s 787-9 firstclass for 160,000 miles.
In the event you’re seeking to fly in Etihad’s House first-class seats, be certain that to verify the small print of your flight to verify you are flying on the A380. We have discovered one-way award flights beginning at 200,000 miles, however remember the fact that on some days, the quantity of miles wanted to fly in these seats can price as much as 1 million miles.
Redeeming on companion airways
In keeping with Etihad’s web site, members can immediately guide an award flight on American Airways, SriLankan Airways, Air Canada, Air France, KLM, Royal Air Maroc and Virgin Australia by means of Etihad’s website utilizing miles. For different companion airways, bookings will be made by means of the airline’s name middle.
In 2023, Etihad started utilizing the next single companion chart for all companion flight redemptions.
| Distance (in miles) | Miles wanted in financial system | Miles wanted in premium financial system | Miles wanted in enterprise class | Miles wanted in firstclass |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0-500 | 6,000 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 14,000 |
| 501-1,000 | 12,000 | 13,000 | 20,000 | 27,000 |
| 1,001-1,500 | 15,000 | 19,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 |
| 1,501-2,000 | 23,000 | 25,000 | 40,000 | 54,000 |
| 2,001-2,500 | 28,000 | 31,000 | 50,000 | 67,000 |
| 2,501-3,000 | 34,000 | 37,000 | 60,000 | 80,000 |
| 3,001-4,000 | 45,000 | 49,000 | 80,000 | 107,000 |
| 4,001-5,000 | 60,000 | 62,000 | 100,000 | 134,000 |
| 5,001-6,000 | 67,000 | 74,000 | 120,000 | 160,000 |
| 6,001-plus | 75,000 | 90,000 | 140,000 | 200,000 |
Nevertheless, Etihad silently launched a brand new companion award chart that reveals a rise in one-way business- and first-class award tickets. Keep in mind, this chart reveals introductory one-way charges, so the miles wanted may very well be considerably extra. Take a look at the 2024 companion award chart beneath.
Etihad elevated its enterprise and first-class award costs for many of its short-haul flights. For instance, in 2023, flights in firstclass that had been underneath 500 miles would begin at 14,000 Etihad Visitor miles. Now, with the newest devaluation, first-class flights underneath 500 miles begin at 35,000 miles; this can be a 150% enhance. Fortunately, long-haul flights, in addition to financial system and premium financial system companion flights, didn’t enhance in worth.
For these seeking to guide The Residence, which incorporates a personal bed room, a separate dwelling space and an ensuite bathe room, Etihad members can now improve their first-class ticket on the A380 and guide this three-bedroom suite with both money or miles.
Earlier than transferring your miles to Etihad Visitor, you will need to verify award house availability and pricing.
Different redemption actions
You’ll be able to redeem Etihad miles for hotels and car rentals. Whereas your redemption fee might range, anticipate round 0.7 cents per mile for those who use this feature. That is considerably beneath TPG’s valuation of Etihad miles at 1.2 cents apiece.
Different makes use of of Etihad Visitor miles embrace online raffles and Pointspay purchases. Pointspay allows you to redeem miles for on-line procuring. Notice, although, that most of the taking part retailers are situated in Abu Dhabi.
Relying on the day of journey, you possibly can redeem your miles for entry to Etihad’s business-class or first-class lounge at AUH, although you will have to talk with the lounge workers for pricing and availability.
Lastly, you could possibly pool up to 50,000 miles each year for free of charge. This may be useful when you could have a number of relations with Etihad Visitor miles and need to consolidate miles into one account for an award ticket.
Associated: Your ultimate guide on how to search award availability for the major airlines
Backside line
With the modifications Etihad made to its program by decreasing GuestSeat fares by as much as 30% on financial system, business- and first-class award tickets, members can attempt to maximize their Etihad Visitor miles on standard long-haul flight routes, reminiscent of New York to Abu Dhabi.
If you wish to fly in Etihad’s luxurious first-class House or guide an upgraded ticket in The Residence, be prepared to spend so much of miles for its world-famous product and hospitality.
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