Etihad Airways is a well-known airline based in the United Arab Emirates that has gained a reputation for its luxury offerings and top-notch service. While Etihad is not part of the major airline alliances like SkyTeam, Oneworld, or Star Alliance, the carrier has individual partnerships that make its loyalty program, Etihad Guest, valuable for award redemptions. Additionally, Etihad is famous for its luxurious three-room suite known as The Residence on its A380 aircraft, which is a dream-worthy splurge for any traveler.
In March 2023, Etihad Guest introduced a consolidated award chart for partner flights, which caused the disappearance of some sweet spots that travelers previously loved. Then, in February 2024, Etihad announced major changes to its award redemptions and silently devalued its partner award chart. These changes have left many travelers wondering if Etihad Guest is still a program worthy of their hard-earned transferable points.
There are several ways to earn Etihad Guest miles, including transferring rewards from programs like American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou Rewards at a 1:1 ratio. Transfers from these programs to Etihad Guest are generally instantaneous, making it easy to top up your account when needed. Additionally, you can earn miles by flying with Etihad or any of its 24 partner airlines, staying in hotels, renting cars, or buying miles directly from the airline.
When it comes to redeeming Etihad Guest miles, there are several options available. You can book award flights on Etihad Airways or its partner airlines using your miles. Etihad recently reduced GuestSeat fares by up to 30% on economy, business, and first-class award tickets, making it more affordable for travelers to book flights with their miles. The airline also offers a one-way award chart for its own flights, with prices varying based on the distance traveled.
For partner airlines, Etihad has a single partner award chart that covers all partner flight redemptions. However, the airline recently released a new partner award chart that shows an increase in one-way business and first-class award ticket prices. Despite these changes, travelers can still find value in redeeming their Etihad Guest miles for flights on partner airlines, especially on long-haul routes.
In addition to flights, Etihad Guest miles can also be redeemed for hotels, car rentals, online shopping, lounge access, and more. While the redemption rate may vary for these options, travelers can expect to get around 0.7 cents per mile when using their miles for non-flight redemptions.
Overall, Etihad Guest remains a valuable loyalty program for travelers who are looking to maximize their points and miles for award redemptions. With recent changes to the program, including reduced award fares and updated partner award charts, travelers can still find opportunities to use their Etihad Guest miles for luxury flights and experiences. Whether you’re looking to book a first-class ticket on Etihad Airways or upgrade to The Residence on the A380 aircraft, Etihad Guest offers a range of options for travelers to make the most of their loyalty program.