Etihad Airways introduced a wide range of changes coming to its Etihad Guest loyalty program beginning in June 2024. There are some winners and losers below the brand new system.
Etihad Visitor is an under-the-radar frequent flyer program, and prospects can often discover helpful associate candy spots on its revealed award charts. For instance, some TPG staffers choose to ebook American Airways flights by means of Etihad as they’ve discovered award redemptions for a fraction of the miles American was charging.
Nonetheless, with modifications coming to Etihad Visitor in June 2024, will this system endure a devaluation?
Preserve studying to seek out out concerning the modifications coming to this airline loyalty program.
Etihad Visitor declares 2024 loyalty program modifications
In constructive information, Etihad introduced that the price of economic system and business-class award redemptions on “some well-liked routes” will truly lower. Financial system redemptions will begin from 5,000 miles, and enterprise class redemptions from 15,000 miles, per Etihad’s website.
Pricing from the U.S. to Abu Dhabi at the moment stays the identical on the time of publication, ranging from 60,000 miles in economic system or 120,000 miles in enterprise class every means. However, as a result of some airways function utilizing dynamic pricing, you may generally get monetary savings by reserving business-class tickets by means of Etihad; different worldwide tickets might be a lot increased than this.
One other thrilling growth coming to Etihad? Prospects will be capable of redeem miles to improve to Etihad’s well-known A380 Residence between Abu Dhabi and London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) or New York Metropolis’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK). Improve costs and guidelines haven’t but been introduced.
As for the not-so-good information, Etihad Visitor miles will expire after 18 months and can solely prolong should you take a flight operated by Etihad or a associate airline inside that timeframe. That is way more restrictive than different applications that permit any incomes exercise (reminiscent of a small procuring portal buy or buying 1,000 miles) to extend the mileage expiration.
New redemption cancellation costs are more likely to even be unpopular, with a 25% mileage penalty when canceling an Etihad Visitor redemption greater than 21 days earlier than departure, as much as a steep 75% penalty for cancellations inside seven days of departure. Once more, that is far more restrictive than competing applications; as an example, Qatar Airways Privilege Club costs simply $25 to vary or cancel a redemption as much as 24 hours earlier than departure.
Day by day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Day by day e-newsletter
Be a part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
Associated: How to avoid airline change and cancellation fees
Etihad Visitor elite standing modifications
Elite standing members will proceed to obtain core advantages like precedence check-in and boarding, complimentary Wi-Fi and extra mileage earnings. Nonetheless, Etihad introduced that Visitor members will not have to earn Tier Segments to earn elite standing; as an alternative, Tier Miles would be the sole incomes metric for the airline.
From June 2024, elite members will be capable of select several types of perks: Core, Customized and Past. Along with the Core perks obtainable at every elite standing Tier, the variety of Customized advantages will enhance as your standing degree will increase. Silver Tier members will be capable of select two personalized perks, Gold Tier can select 4 and Platinum members can select 5.
Silver Tier members who earn 20,000 Tier Miles in a membership yr (10,000 from flying) can select two of the next:
- Lounge entry in Abu Dhabi
- Free seat choice
- 25% low cost on baggage charges
- Two carbon offset vouchers
Etihad Visitor Gold Tier members (incomes 40,000 Tier Miles with 20,000 from flying) can select 4 of the next customized advantages:
- Lounge entry (with one visitor) in Abu Dhabi
- One further checked bag
- Two free chauffeur companies throughout the UAE
- Free chauffeur service within the UAE for GuestsSeats in Enterprise or First Class
- One free refund on a GuestSeat reserving
- Two free Dwelling check-ins throughout the UAE
- 4 carbon offset vouchers.
Gold Tier members who earn 75,000 miles may also present the next advantages to household and buddies (referred to as “past advantages”):
- Two business-class lounge passes
- One Silver Tier standing
- 10,000 Etihad Visitor miles
Platinum Tier members who earn 100,000 Tier Miles (with a minimal of 40,000 Tier Miles from flying) can select 5 of the next advantages:
- First-class lounge entry (with one visitor) in Abu Dhabi
- One further checked bag
- Two upgrades on eligible routes
- Further legroom seats for as much as 4 friends
- Transfer to an earlier flight the identical day totally free
- Two free chauffeur companies throughout the UAE
- Two free refunds on a GuestSeat reserving
- 4 free Dwelling check-ins throughout the UAE
- Six carbon offset vouchers
Moreover, a model new standing degree, Diamond Tier, is being launched for these members spending not less than $150,000 with Etihad Airways in 12 months. The advantages of this new tier are nonetheless to be introduced.
As for Past perks, these will probably be advantages which can be solely obtainable to Gold and Platinum Tier members.
Gold Tier members who earn 75,000 Tier Miles can present the next advantages to household and buddies:
- Two business-class lounge passes
- Silver Tier Standing nomination
- 10,000 Etihad Visitor Bonus Miles
Platinum Tier members who earn 175,000 miles may also present the next past advantages to household and buddies:
- Three business-class lounge passes
- Three passes for precedence check-in, boarding and baggage
- 20,000 Etihad Visitor miles
Associated: Etihad brings flagship Airbus A380 — with private onboard Residence — back to the US
Backside line
General, there are a lot of modifications coming to the Etihad Visitor loyalty program, each constructive and unfavorable. Hopefully, there will probably be extra reductions to award redemptions, although we have not seen something important on the time of publication.
Though the charges have but to be revealed and could also be steep, having the ability to redeem miles to improve to Etihad’s well-known A380 Residence is an thrilling growth.
For elite-status members, the choice of selecting elite advantages will probably be welcomed by some, although different applications supply top-tier elite members all advantages relatively than forcing them to decide on.
If you’re trying to redeem transferable miles for flights operated by Etihad, it is value contemplating Air Canada Aeroplan. The plan has mounted charges for associate redemptions and far more affordable redemption cancellation charges than Etihad Visitor will implement beginning in June.
Trending Merchandise
