Although Etihad will not be a part of the three main airline alliances — SkyTeam, Oneworld and Star Alliance — the provider 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 associate flights. With all companions following a single award chart, the candy spots we previously cherished immediately disappeared. Then, in February 2024, Etihad introduced main adjustments to its award redemptions along with silently devaluing its associate award chart.
Let’s take a look at what it’s essential to learn about Etihad Visitor to determine if it is a program worthy of your hard-earned transferable factors.
Learn how to earn Etihad Visitor miles
There are various methods to earn Etihad Visitor miles. Listed here are some widespread 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 may switch rewards from the next applications at a 1:1 ratio:
In our assessments, transfers from these applications to Etihad Visitor are typically instantaneous.
Keep in mind, for totally transferable Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards factors, you will have to have choose bank cards, just like the Capital One Enterprise Rewards Credit score Card, the Capital One Enterprise X Rewards Credit score Card, the Citi Premier® Card (see charges and charges) and the Citi Status® Card.
Take a look at our information to the finest journey bank cards for extra choices.
Each day Publication
Reward your inbox with the TPG Each day publication
Be part of over 700,000 readers for breaking information, in-depth guides and unique offers from TPG’s specialists
The knowledge for the Citi Status has been collected independently by The Factors Man. The cardboard particulars on this web page haven’t been reviewed or supplied by the cardboard issuer.
Earn by flying
You’ll be able to earn Etihad Visitor miles by flying Etihad or any of its 24 associate airways. Its North American companions embrace Air Canada and American Airways.
Earn by staying in motels or renting automobiles
Etihad Visitor has its personal resort and automotive rental portals.
You may earn a minimum of 1,000 miles per night time stayed at over 300,000 motels. A 3-night weekend keep in July on the Kimpton George Resort in Washington, D.C., earns 8,900 miles.
If you happen to e book this manner, be ready to not obtain IHG One Rewards elite standing advantages. You additionally will not earn factors and elite nights when reserving by means of Etihad Visitor. Due to this, we typically do not advocate reserving this manner.
On the automotive rental facet, you will earn a minimum of 250 miles per rental day, however do not count on to earn rental automotive rewards or elite advantages should you e book by means of Etihad Visitor. Examine rental automotive costs to make sure you’re getting a aggressive price.
You too can convert Marriott Bonvoy factors to Etihad Visitor miles at a 3:1 ratio. Marriott offers you 5,000 bonus miles for each 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy factors transferred.
Earn by shopping for miles
You’ll be able to purchase as much as 100,000 Etihad Visitor miles per calendar yr at 2 cents apiece. Platinum members should purchase as much as 150,000 miles per yr.
Associated: Purchase bonus factors and miles with these promotions
Learn 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 truly have to spend for an award flight.
Redeeming on Etihad
In February 2024, Etihad lowered GuestSeat fares by as much as 30% on economic system, business- and first-class award tickets. Most notably, now you can e book 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. Nonetheless, should you’re seeking to fly on Etihad’s A380 aircraft, which options ultra-luxurious first-class House seats, a one-way ticket will value you a minimum of 200,000 miles.
This is a take a look at Etihad’s printed one-way award chart, together with the latest adjustments 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 exhibits 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 first-class for 160,000 miles.
If you happen to’re seeking to fly in Etihad’s House first-class seats, be certain that to test the main points of your flight to substantiate you are flying on the A380. We have discovered one-way award flights beginning at 200,000 miles, however remember that on some days, the quantity of miles wanted to fly in these seats can value as much as 1 million miles.
Redeeming on associate airways
Based on Etihad’s web site, members can straight e book 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 associate airways, bookings will be made by means of the airline’s name heart.
In 2023, Etihad started utilizing the next single associate chart for all associate flight redemptions.
| Distance (in miles) | Miles wanted in economic system | Miles wanted in premium economic system | Miles wanted in enterprise class | Miles wanted in first-class |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Nonetheless, Etihad silently launched a brand new associate award chart that exhibits a rise in one-way business- and first-class award tickets. Keep in mind, this chart exhibits introductory one-way charges, so the miles wanted may very well be considerably extra. Take a look at the 2024 associate 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 first-class 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 economic system and premium economic system associate flights, didn’t enhance in value.
For these seeking to e book The Residence, which contains 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 e book this three-bedroom suite with both money or miles.
Earlier than transferring your miles to Etihad Visitor, you will wish to verify award house availability and pricing.
Different redemption actions
You’ll be able to redeem Etihad miles for motels and automotive leases. Whereas your redemption price could fluctuate, count on round 0.7 cents per mile should you 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 on-line raffles and Pointspay purchases. Pointspay helps you to redeem miles for on-line procuring. Observe, although, that most of the taking part retailers are situated in Abu Dhabi.
Relying on the day of journey, you may 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 might be able to pool as much as 50,000 miles annually for free of charge. This may be useful when you’ve a number of members of the family with Etihad Visitor miles and wish to consolidate miles into one account for an award ticket.
Associated: Your final information on find out how to search award availability for the most important airways
Backside line
With the adjustments Etihad made to its program by decreasing GuestSeat fares by as much as 30% on economic system, business- and first-class award tickets, members can attempt to maximize their Etihad Visitor miles on widespread long-haul flight routes, akin to New York to Abu Dhabi.
If you wish to fly in Etihad’s luxurious first-class House or e book an upgraded ticket in The Residence, be prepared to spend so much of miles for its world-famous product and hospitality.
