Award System
Etihad Guest
Max. Point Value 1.20 ¢
Do Points Expire? Yes
Point Transfer Options
Transfer To Spouse/Partner Yes
Transfer To Friends Yes - $$
You load your points. We’ll show you valuation and transfer options.
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Travel Partner Transfers
Outside Point System Etihad Guest
Transfers In From
2:1 0% value retained
1:1 75% value retained
1:1 80% value retained
1:1 92% value retained
1:1 75% value retained
10:1 24% value retained
5:1 40% value retained
3:1 57% value retained
5:2 28% value retained
The Highlights
Etihad Guest is mostly valuable for partner redemptions, but they’ve become harder to use.
- Etihad has a consolidated award chart for partners that was severely devalued, eliminating almost all of the former sweet spots
- Etihad flights themselves tend to have high surcharges and inconsistent availability.
- But it’s often the best way to book a premium cabin ticket on the airline with points as they release availability way ahead of partners
- Transfers from Amex, Citi, Capital One, and Marriott, but not all are instant.
- This program can be useful for niche redemptions but is not user-friendly for casual travelers.
What to Know About This Point System
Etihad has been named “World’s Leading Airline” at the World Travel Awards every year since 2009. It serves 68 countries, including U.S. cities such as New York, Chicago, Washington D.C. and San Francisco. Then, why, you may be asking yourself, am I not familiar with them? It may be because their system is more of a potential booking portal than a point accumulation partner.
What you will be familiar with, however, is 20+ of their airline partners, including American Airlines. While Etihad isn't part of any major airline alliance, accumulating points is easier than you may think because you can transfer American Express Rewards, Citi Thank You rewards and Marriott points directly to Etihad Guest. This is a great option because Etihad Guest Miles are often worth more for flights on American Airlines than American’s own points. International Business class tickets are usually the best value found here -- or you can use miles for on-board upgrades and extras.
There’s also an option to transfer miles to cash through PointsPay. This program has 3 tiers of membership: Silver, Gold and Gold Elite. Reaching Gold Elite status grants perks such as 75% bonus miles and first-class lounge access. Note that miles expire 2 years after crediting for Silver members, 2.5 years after crediting for Gold members and 3 years after crediting for Gold Elite members.
But the annual fees on Etihad's cards generally outweigh the bonuses unless you’re all in on Etihad, which would likely be UAE residents.
How to Redeem
The best way to redeem your Etihad Guest miles is to book airfare on Etihad or one of its 20+ partner airlines. Here are a few notes on booking award flights with Etihad Guest miles:
- Etihad uses two award charts - one for its own flights and one for partner flights.
- Both are distance based but not fixed.
- Prices shown are the minimum costs for GuestSeats, which are Etihad’s saver awards.
- If a price is higher than what's on the chart, it means GuestSeats are sold out.
- Note that even when GuestSeats are available, awards can still higher than stated on the chart because they are priced dynamically.
- Etihad passes on carrier-imposed surcharges. These can make award tickets expensive, especially in premium cabins.
- You can book some partner awards online, but others require calling Etihad.
After Etihad moved to a consolidated partner award chart in 2023 and then devalued most partner awards in 2024, there are very few true sweet spots left. You’ll often find better award prices by booking directly through that partner’s own loyalty program or through its other partners.
Status Levels Explained
Etihad has five tiers of status. Bronze is the entry-level tier for all Etihad Guest members, and you receive it automatically when you sign up for a free account. As a Bronze member, you’ll receive free Wi-Fi for messaging apps on board and access to GuestSeats, which are reduced-fare award seats.
To reach higher tiers, you must earn Tier Miles. Tier Miles are earned based on the number of miles flown and the cabin class you book. Once you qualify for a higher tier, your status is valid for 12 months.
Breaking Points
