[Expired] Buy Etihad Guest Miles With up to a 25% Bonus [Ends September 30]

Etihad Airways is a Middle Eastern airline based in Abu Dhabi that has become popular for its opulent first class.

While it’s regarded as a member of the “Middle East 3” (along with Emirates and Qatar Airways), Etihad is not in any of the world’s 3 major airline alliances. Instead, it operates a variety of individual partnerships with specific airlines, including American Airlines.

And a new promotion lets you buy Etihad miles with up to a 25% bonus, dropping the price as low as 1.6 cents per mile, but is buying miles at that price worth it?

Let’s take a look at the details to find out.

Buy Etihad Miles — Promotion Details

With this new promotion, you’ll be able to buy Etihad miles for as little as 1.6 cents each. This is more expensive than our valuation of 1.4 cents per Etihad Guest mile, meaning this sale could make sense if you’re able to redeem miles for more than their average value — or if you just need a few miles to top off your account for a redemption. However, it won’t make sense for many people.

However, the price you’ll pay for each mile depends on how many you buy, and it’s worth pointing out that we’ve seen better prices in the past — though many of those occurred before the 2023 devaluation (discussed below).

Typically, Etihad requires purchasing at least 10,000 miles to get a bonus, but the current sale requires buying at least 25,000 to get a bonus. This is a tiered offer:

• Buy 1,000 to 24,000 miles without a bonus
• Buy 25,000 to 49,000 miles with a 20% bonus
• Buy 50,000+ miles with a 25% bonus (1.6 cents per mile)

If you purchase at least 50,000 miles, you’ll pay 1.6 cents per mile.

Here are some more details you should be aware of:

• This promotion is valid from now through September 30, 2025.
• You must buy miles in increments of 1,000 miles.
• Purchases will be credited to your account within 72 hours
• Purchases are non-refundable
• Members can buy a maximum of 200,000 miles per year (not including any bonus miles), though Platinum members can buy up to 300,000 miles.

Is It Worth It?

The Etihad Guest rewards program is less popular than other airline programs for award travel, possibly because its system is difficult to use. Although travelers can now book American Airlines and Virgin Australia award flights online, you’ll need to call the airline to book other award flights. That’s because Etihad’s website doesn’t show or provide options for booking these other partners online.

There’s also the fact Etihad launched a zone-based award chart in early 2023, eliminating nearly of its previous award sweet spots with partner airlines. Therefore, this current deal is likely less compelling than offers to buy Etihad miles pre-2023 — unless you’ve got a specific redemption in mind.

However, you may not need to buy Etihad Guest miles at all. Etihad receives transfers from American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles, Citi ThankYou Rewards, and Rove Miles at a 1:1 ratio, as well as 3:1 transfers from Marriott Bonvoy.

Final Thoughts

Etihad Guest is selling miles for as little as 1.6 cents apiece. While this price is above our valuation of these miles, it could make sense to buy Etihad miles if you have a specific use for them — or if you can redeem miles at above-average value.

Even though Etihad requires that you call to book for many airlines, you can find award availability using other programs’ websites, including British Airways and Qantas, to ensure your desired seats are available before purchasing miles for a redemption. That helps you know that your desired seats are available before you pull out your wallet.