[Expired] [Award Alert] Book Etihad’s First Class From Washington, D.C. for 80K Miles

Update:The offer mentioned below has expired and is no longer available.

Several airlines based in the Middle East are known for their extravagance — Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is certainly one of them. It’s been awfully difficult to find first class space on this airline for a long time, though a few recent dumps have allowed some folks to get in on the action.

We came across these first class seats to and from Washington, D.C. on Etihad’s 787 — which means we had to run to tell you.

Here’s everything you need to know.

Fare Details

While you won’t be experiencing the Airbus A380’s massive Apartment, first class on the 787 is pretty special. These suites include closing doors and incredible food. These flights are fairly last-minute, but there is availability on both directions of travel, which can make for an awesome vacation.

• Class: First
• Routes: Washington, D.C. (IAD) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) and vice versa
• Dates: September 2022 to October 2023
• Rates: As few as 80,000 miles one-way

The best way to look for availability is via Seats.aero, which will show you all availability at once. This search is using American Airlines, since Etihad’s first class is now bookable online via aa.com.

As you can see, there’s a decent selection of dates for first class seats. Here’s how it looks in the other direction.

To double-check availability, you’ll want to head over to American Airline’s website:

Best Ways To Book

There are 2 good ways to book these flights. The cheapest is via Asiana Airlines, which will charge you just 80,000 miles one-way for a first class flight. However, these awards can’t be booked online; instead, you’ll need to call Asiana to do so. Asiana miles are also difficult to earn. The program’s only transfer partner is Marriott Bonvoy, which transfers at a 3:1 ratio with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 points you transfer.

Your other option is via American Airlines AAdvantage, which is significantly easier to book. Although they’re much more expensive at 115,000 miles one-way, this may be worth it if you already have a stash of miles to burn.

As you can see above, these awards are bookable online, which means it’ll take just a few minutes to confirm your reservation. American Airlines miles are also easier to earn than Asiana miles. They partner with Bilt Rewards to transfer at a 1:1 ratio. You can also transfer from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio.

Note that Air Canada also partners with Etihad, but availability is not showing on its site.

Final Thoughts

Flying first class on Etihad is a bucket-list item for many. Although these seats are for flights that are coming up quickly, this is your chance to experience 13 hours of the best Etihad has to offer. What are you waiting for?