The ultimate guide to booking travel with Etihad Airways partners – The Points Guy
Etihad is well known for its posh business- and first-class products, but did you know that the airline has a powerful loyalty program? The airline has partnerships with nearly two dozen airlines, giving you many options for earning and redeeming Etihad Guest miles during your travels.
Despite not being a member of a major airline alliance, Etihad has a broad range of airline partners worldwide. The airline has several non-airline partnerships that can help you earn Etihad Guest miles quickly.
These partnerships let you earn miles when staying at hotels, renting cars and making everyday purchases with select American Express, Capital One and Citi credit cards.
Here’s a look at Etihad Guest’s powerful partnerships.
Earning Etihad Guest miles with partner airlines
Etihad’s partners have unique earning charts with varying rates.
Air Canada
Etihad awards up to a 125% bonus on miles flown on Air Canada flights. The earning chart is extensive and has different earning rates for flights within Canada, as well as a chart for all other flights, including flights between Canada and the U.S., so make sure you’re using the right chart to calculate your earnings.
Another thing to remember is that some Air Canada domestic fares earn no miles when credited to Etihad. Therefore, it’s in your best interest to double-check the award chart to make sure your fare class will earn you miles.
Air New Zealand
You can earn Etihad Guest miles on all Air New Zealand flights at 100% of the distance flown for economy and premium economy or 150% for business class. You can find an up-to-date earning chart on the Etihad website. Multiply the distance of your flight by the percentage listed next to your booking class to see how many miles you’ll earn on your partner flight.
Air Serbia
Etihad Guest has two Air Serbia earning charts: one for short and mid-haul flights and another for its long-haul route to New York. Miles earned are based on class of service and distance flown, so you’ll earn more miles for longer flights. You can view these earnings charts on Etihad’s website.
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Unfortunately, Economy Light fares — commonly referred to as “White” fares — aren’t eligible to earn Etihad Guest miles. Thankfully, these fares are only sold on intra-Europe flights, so you will earn at least 25% of the miles flown in all other fare classes.
Air Europa
You’ll earn Etihad Guest miles on SkyTeam member Air Europa based on the distance of your flight and fare class for up to 150% of the miles flown for full-fare business class. Note that several discounted economy fares are not eligible to earn Etihad Guest miles. You can see the latest Air Europa earning chart on Etihad’s website.
Air France-KLM
Etihad announced on Monday, Nov. 27, that the airlines have launched frequent flyer reciprocity, enabling travelers to earn and redeem miles across the airline groups.
When you travel on an eligible Air France- or KLM-marketed and -operated ticket with your Etihad Guest membership, you’ll earn Etihad Guest miles based on your fare class and the flight distance from 20% for “every discounted economy class” up to 275% for first class.
You can refer to this page (Air France) and this page (KLM) and select “Miles you’ll earn” to see how many Etihad miles you’ll earn on Air France and KLM.
All Nippon Airways
All Nippon Airways — commonly called “ANA” — is based in Tokyo and flies to most major cities in the U.S., Asia and the South Pacific. It also has extensive service in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
Per the airline’s earning chart, you’ll earn Etihad miles on all ANA flights. Earning rates are pretty standard with ANA: You’ll earn 50% to 150% of miles flown, with the 150% being reserved for paid first-class tickets. You can also credit your ANA flights to Star Alliance carriers and Virgin Atlantic. We recommend you use a tool like Where To Credit to find the best partner to credit your miles.
American Airlines
American miles have long been among the best ways to book Etihad awards; likewise, you can score excellent value when booking certain American Airlines award flights with Etihad Guest miles.
You can earn Etihad Guest miles based on your fare class and the distance of your flight. Based on the current earning chart, you can earn between 25% and 250% of miles flown, depending on your fare class.
Asiana Airlines
Asiana is based in South Korea, with flights to major cities in Asia, Europe and North America.
You can earn up to 135% of miles flown when crediting Asiana miles to Etihad Guest, but note that many of the airline’s international economy fares are only eligible for 50% of miles earned. Additionally, domestic flights on Asiana offer different economy mileage rates than international flights. You can view the latest Asiana earning chart on Etihad’s website.
Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines is a Lufthansa Group airline based in Belgium. While most of the airlines’ routes are intra-Europe, it also offers extensive service to West Africa and nonstop flights to New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK) and Washington, D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD).
You’ll earn between 25% and 150% of miles flown when you credit Brussels Airlines flights to Etihad Guest. See the airline’s earning chart for more details.
El Al
The flag carrier of Israel offers flights to nearly 50 destinations, including Europe, the Middle East and North America.
You can earn a minimum of 25% Etihad Guest miles for discounted economy-class tickets and up to 175% miles for full-fare business-class flights.
Garuda Indonesia
Garuda Indonesia is the largest airline in Indonesia, with hubs in Jakarta at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) and four other major cities in Indonesia.
You can earn up to 200% of miles flown when you credit Garuda Indonesia flights to Etihad Guest. Unfortunately, the airline’s cheapest economy tickets only earn 25% of miles flown with Etihad Guest, so make sure to assess all of your crediting options.
Gulf Air
Gulf Air is an international airline based in Bahrain, with connections available to major cities in the Middle East, Asia, Europe and Africa.
You can earn up to 175% of miles flown when crediting Gulf Air flights to Etihad. The carrier often has solid deals from Europe to the Middle East, so this can be an interesting way to see another region, experience a new airline and rack up Etihad miles simultaneously.
Hainan Airlines
Hainan Airlines is a Chinese carrier offering flights to major cities in Asia, Europe, North America and the South Pacific. The carrier has a relatively new fleet with many of its long-haul routes being operated by a mixture of Boeing 787 and Airbus A350 aircraft.
Hainan Airlines’ Etihad earning chart awards miles for nearly all booking classes (except some discount economy), with both domestic and international business-class tickets earning up to a generous 250% of miles flown.
Korean Airlines
Korean Airlines is the flag carrier of South Korea and is well known for its great service and excellent first-class flights.
You can earn up to 180% of miles flown when crediting Korean Airlines international flights to Etihad Guest, with most fare classes eligible.
Malaysia Airlines
Malaysia Airlines is a Oneworld member and the flag carrier of Malaysia, connecting the country to major destinations worldwide. The airline currently serves major destinations in Asia, Europe and the South Pacific.
You can earn up to 150% of miles flown when crediting Malaysia Airlines flights to Etihad Guest.
Oman Air
Oman Air connects its home airport, Muscat International Airport (MCT), to over 40 destinations in the Middle East, Europe and Asia. It’s known for its hospitality, and its economy, business- and first-class cabins all receive high marks in TPG’s flight reviews.
Etihad revamped the Oman Air earning chart, raising the earning rates for several fare classes with an incredible 300% of miles flown. However, in 2019, the airline’s cheapest economy “E” fare was downgraded to earning just 10% of miles flown.
Royal Air Maroc
Royal Air Maroc is Oneworld’s newest member, but its non-alliance partnership with Etihad is here to stay.
Etihad’s Royal Air Maroc earning chart was revamped in late 2019, but it kept earning rates the same for most of the popular business and economy booking classes. You can earn between 50% and 150% of miles flown, with the 150% rate being reserved for business-class tickets.
Saudia
A fairly new partnership in place since 2021, Saudia’s ties to Etihad make it possible for Etihad Guest members to earn 25% of miles flown for discounted economy fares when flying Saudia and 250% of miles flown for first class.
Scandinavian Airlines
Scandinavian Airlines — “SAS” for short — is the largest airline in Northern Europe. It maintains hubs in major Scandinavian cities and flies to major destinations in Asia, Europe and North America.
You can earn miles on all SAS routes, and, thankfully, the earning rates on these routes are high compared to many Star Alliance programs, with at least 50% for economy class and up to 200% for business class.
SriLankan Airlines
This Oneworld carrier flies from Colombo, Sri Lanka’s Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) hub to major destinations in Asia, the Middle East and Europe.
SriLankan Airlines doesn’t serve the U.S., so its earning chart won’t be too helpful unless you’re taking a trip to West Asia. Regardless, Etihad offers solid earning rates in most booking classes and better earning rates than AAdvantage on business-class tickets.
Virgin Australia
Etihad Guest partners with Virgin Australia, with mileage earning from 25% for Lite economy class and up to 200% for all business-class fares.
Redeeming Etihad Guest miles with partner airlines
Etihad Guest previously used a different redemption chart for every airline partner. While this did have a few great sweet spots, such as transatlantic business-class flights on Brussels Airlines for just 44,000 miles each way, it was an enormously complex system for members to navigate many different charts.
The program now uses a simplified award chart for all partners. While some sweet spots have gone, it is much easier to understand the pricing.
The loyalty program has an award calculator for Eithad, American Airlines and Virgin Australia flights. Often, the award rates shown on the calculator are far less than what you’ll need to spend for an award flight.
Here’s a look at Etihad’s published partner award chart with introductory rates:
With the new Air France-KLM redemption option, you will need the following number of miles each way when Saver award space is available:
- Paris-Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) to JFK: 45,000 miles in economy, 49,000 miles in premium economy or 80,000 miles in business class
- Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) to Los Angeles International Airport (LAX): 67,000 miles in economy, 74,000 miles in premium economy or 120,000 miles in business class
You can book American Airlines and Virgin Australia redemptions on Etihad’s website. You must call Etihad at 877-690-0767 for all other partner award bookings.
Again, the rates above are just starting rates. With dynamic pricing, you may see prices many times higher than these rates, but where you can find Saver rates, there are good deals to be had.
You’ll also have to pay the taxes and fees on your award ticket, though Etihad Guest generally allows you to use additional miles to cover this cost.
Earning Etihad Guest miles with hotel and rental car partners
Etihad has partnerships with most major hotel chains. Some earn a set number of Etihad miles per stay, while others earn miles based on how much you spend on a hotel stay.
Many hotel loyalty programs let you transfer your hotel points to Etihad Guest, though you’ll usually lose value in the process.
Hotel program
| Partner | Etihad Guest mileage earning |
|---|---|
| Dusit Hotels & Resorts | Earn 500 Etihad miles per stay. |
| Hyatt | Earn 500 miles per stay at Hyatt Hotels & Resorts, Hyatt Place and Hyatt Summerfield Suites properties.
Transfer World of Hyatt points to Etihad miles at a 2.5:1 ratio. |
| InterContinental Hotels & Resorts | Earn 500 Etihad miles per stay.
Transfer IHG One Rewards points to Etihad miles at a 10:2 ratio. |
| Accor | Transfer ALL — Accor Live Limitless points to Etihad miles at a 2:1 ratio. |
| Marriott | Earn 2 Etihad miles per dollar spent on qualifying stays at the following brands:
Earn 1 Etihad mile per dollar spent on qualifying stays at the following brands:
Transfer Marriott points to Etihad Guest at a 3:1 ratio. Earn a 5,000-mile bonus when transferring 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points to an airline. |
| Minor Hotels Group | Earn 500 Etihad miles per stay at participating Anantara, Avani and Tivoli properties. |
| Rotana | 500 Etihad miles per eligible stay. |
| Shangri-La | 500 Etihad miles per stay at Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, Traders Hotels and Kerry Hotels.
Transfer Gold Circle points to Etihad miles at a 1:1 ratio. |
Third-party accommodation platform
| Partner | Etihad Guest mileage earning |
|---|---|
| Agoda | Earn up to 10,000 Etihad miles per hotel booking. |
| Booking.com | Earn 3 to 6 Etihad miles per dollar spent. |
| Etihad Travel Rewards | Earn at least 1,000 Etihad miles per night. |
| Rocketmiles | Earn 500 to 10,000 Etihad miles per night. |
Rental car partners
You can also earn Etihad miles when renting a car from select companies.
| Partner | Mileage earning |
|---|---|
| Avis | Earn up to 5 Etihad miles per dollar spent depending on your Etihad elite status tier, plus up to 5,000 bonus Etihad miles on your first rental. |
| Budget | Earn up to 5 Etihad miles per dollar spent depending on your Etihad elite status tier, plus up to 5,000 bonus Etihad miles on your first rental. |
Earning Etihad Guest miles with credit card transfer partners
Etihad doesn’t have a U.S.-based cobranded credit card. For a quick influx of Etihad Guest miles, you can transfer rewards from the following programs at a 1:1 ratio:
The following cards all currently offer strong welcome bonuses with points and miles that you can transfer to your Etihad Guest account:
In our tests, transfers from these programs to Etihad Guest are generally instantaneous.
Bottom line
TPG has long seen Etihad Guest as one of the most undervalued loyalty programs.
The airline has many unique airline partners and great earning and redemption rates, so it’s worth a look if you’re hoping to redeem miles for a premium award to the Middle East, Europe, Asia or beyond.
