Etihad Guest Rewards is the loyalty program of Etihad Airways, the national airline of the United Arab Emirates. Although Etihad is not part of a major alliance, the program maintains a broad network of partner airlines across every continent. Etihad is one of the few five star airlines and has excellent planes, food, and service. While it no longer offers a chauffeur service if you fly business class, you are still pampered and treated royally once onboard.
If you want to see what Etihad Business class looks like, see our post here.
Etihad Guest Rewards has shifted over the past few years toward a distance-based award system and streamlined partner redemptions. In 2024, it reduced many GuestSeat fares, particularly in economy and business class, making certain long-haul redemptions more competitive.
Despite these improvements, short-haul partner flights became more expensive under the unified partner chart. Even so, Etihad Guest remains a flexible, practical program—especially when used strategically alongside transferable points currencies.
Understanding the Etihad Guest Program
Etihad Guest Rewards pricing is distance-based. The number of miles required for an award depends on the distance flown and class of service, whether on Etihad-operated or partner flights.
In early 2024, Etihad reduced the cost of GuestSeat fares by up to 30%. These are the lowest-priced saver-level awards available on Etihad flights. The change particularly benefits long-haul travelers on routes such as New York to Abu Dhabi.
However, the same period also brought devaluations for partner redemptions. Under the unified partner chart introduced in 2023, some short-haul business and first-class awards increased by more than 100%, while long-haul and economy rates stayed relatively stable.
How to Earn Etihad Guest Miles
Etihad does not offer a co-branded U.S. credit card, but it partners with all major transferable rewards currencies. You can move points instantly from American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Capital One Miles. Marriott Bonvoy transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Marriott points.
| Transfer Partner | Transfer Ratio | Estimated Transfer Time |
|---|---|---|
| American Express Membership Rewards | 1:1 | Instant |
| Citi ThankYou Rewards | 1:1 | Instant |
| Capital One Miles | 1:1 | Instant |
| Marriott Bonvoy | 3:1 (+5,000 bonus per 60K) | 1–2 days |
Transfers are one-way and irreversible, so always confirm award space before transferring points to Etihad Guest.
Earning by Flying
Etihad Guest Rewards miles can be earned when flying with Etihad Airways or more than 20 partner airlines, including American Airlines, Air Canada, KLM, Air France, Royal Air Maroc, Virgin Australia, and SriLankan Airlines. Earnings vary by fare class and distance. Some discounted fares earn fewer miles, so checking Etihad’s published earning tables before booking is essential.
Hotels and Car Rentals
Members can earn Etihad Guest rewards miles through Etihad’s hotel and car rental portals. Hotel bookings typically earn at least 1,000 miles per night, and car rentals earn at least 250 miles per day. However, bookings through Etihad’s platform generally do not qualify for hotel elite benefits or points with the brand itself. These portals are most useful when earning miles outweighs loyalty program perks.
Buying Etihad Guest Rewards Miles
Etihad allows members to purchase up to 100,000 miles per calendar year (or 150,000 miles for Platinum members). The cost is approximately 2 U.S. cents per mile. Buying miles can make sense when topping off your account for a specific redemption, particularly during promotional periods offering 20%–40% bonuses.
Redeeming Etihad Guest Rewards Miles
Etihad Flights
Etihad uses a transparent distance-based chart. This is price for one way flights. Etihad fuel surcharge is also very low.
| Distance (miles) | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0–500 | 5,000 | 15,000 | 30,000 |
| 501–1,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 40,000 |
| 1,001–1,500 | 13,000 | 30,000 | 55,000 |
| 1,501–2,000 | 15,000 | 35,000 | 80,000 |
| 2,001–2,500 | 20,000 | 45,000 | 90,000 |
| 2,501–3,000 | 25,000 | 60,000 | 110,000 |
| 3,001–4,000 | 30,000 | 70,000 | 120,000 |
| 4,001–5,000 | 37,000 | 75,000 | 135,000 |
| 5,001–6,000 | 45,000 | 95,000 | 140,000 |
| 6,001+ | 60,000 | 120,000 | 160,000 |
A one-way business-class ticket between New York (JFK) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) generally costs around 95,000 miles. First-class Apartments on the A380 begin around 200,000 miles one-way, though availability is limited.
Etihad uses a dynamic chart, so your mileage may vary (literally). Some days you will see 200K for a flight between ORD and AUH and the next day, it’s close to a million miles.
Partner Airlines
Etihad’s unified partner chart introduced in 2023 applies across all partner carriers. While it simplifies redemptions, it also increased the mileage cost of short-haul premium flights.
| Distance (miles) | Economy | Premium Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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+ | 75,000 | 90,000 | 140,000 | 200,000 |
Partner awards on carriers such as American Airlines, Air France, KLM, Air Canada, Virgin Australia, and SriLankan Airlines can be booked online. Other partners require phone reservations. Here are all the partners:
Air New Zealand
Air Canada
Air Serbia
Air Europa
Air France
All Nippon Airways
American Airlines
Asiana Airlines
Azul Brazilian Airlines
Brussels Airlines
China Eastern Airlines
EL AL
Ethiopian Airlines (ET)
Garuda Indonesia
Gulf Air
Hainan Airlines
JetBlue
KLM – Royal Dutch Airline
Malaysia Airlines
Oman Air
Royal Air Maroc
Saudia
Scandinavian Airlines
SriLankan Airlines
TAP Air Portugal
Vietnam Airlines
When American Airlines Offers Better Value
In many cases, it can be cheaper to redeem American Airlines AAdvantage miles for flights operated by Etihad than to use Etihad Guest miles directly.
For instance, a one-way business-class award between the U.S. and the Middle East typically costs 70,000 AAdvantage miles, compared with 95,000 Etihad Guest miles for the same seat. American’s region-based chart favors long-haul redemptions that would otherwise cross several distance bands under Etihad’s system.
You can book Etihad flights on aa.com or over the phone. For travelers with AAdvantage balances or access to transferable partners that feed into American, this can be the more efficient option.
Note that AA miles can be more difficult to earn than Etihad’s own program, so think about that too.
The Residence
Etihad’s flagship product, The Residence, is available on select Airbus A380 aircraft. The suite includes a private living room, bedroom, and en-suite shower. Redemption prices often exceed 500,000 miles one-way, making it one of the most exclusive awards in commercial aviation.
Non-Flight Redemptions
Etihad Guest miles can also be used for hotels, car rentals, online shopping, and lounge access. These typically yield less than one cent per mile in value—considerably below the 1.2 cents per mile benchmark for flights. Non-flight redemptions are best reserved for small balances or extending account activity.
Sweet Spots and Value Considerations
Etihad Guest still holds value, particularly on longer routes. A 95,000-mile business-class GuestSeat between North America and Abu Dhabi compares favorably with many competitors. Regional flights in Asia or Australia can also be efficient at around 6,000–10,000 miles each way.
The partnership with Virgin Australia is particularly strong for domestic and regional travel, offering good availability and minimal surcharges. However, travelers holding AAdvantage miles should compare both programs—Etihad’s distance-based pricing is less favorable than American’s region-based awards on the same flights.
Free stopover in AUH
Etihad provides a free stopover in Abu Dhabi. You will see conflicting reports on how well it works. Some had a fantastic time, some regretted it. If you are trying to do this, it might be better to call them and book, rather than doing it through the website.
Final Thoughts
Etihad Guest remains a practical loyalty program backed by broad credit card transfer options and access to premium Etihad cabins. When booking Etihad-operated flights, always compare prices between Etihad Guest and AAdvantage miles – the latter can frequently offer better value. For travelers seeking flexibility, global reach, and aspirational redemptions, Etihad Guest continues to be a program worth understanding.
