12 Best Ways To Redeem Etihad Guest Miles for Maximum Value [2025]

Key Takeaways

• Etihad Guest miles can be redeemed for flights on Etihad Airways and its partners, such as American Airlines and ANA, with better value typically found in premium cabins.
• Some redemptions include American Airlines first class, Brussels Airlines business class, and ANA business class.
• You can boost your Etihad Guest Miles by transferring points from programs such as American Express Membership Rewards and Capital One Miles.

Abu Dhabi-based Etihad Airways is famous for its lavish planes and luxurious cabins, such as the Etihad First Class Apartments.

Etihad serves more than 80 destinations worldwide, including U.S. cities such as Chicago, New York, and Washington, D.C.

Even if you don’t fly Etihad often, you can earn Etihad Guest miles using credit cards and other strategies.

Best Ways To Boost Your Etihad Guest Miles

The Etihad Guest loyalty program is a transfer partner of several currencies, including American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou Rewards. All these transferable rewards transfer at a 1:1 ratio.

Etihad Guest is also a transfer partner of Marriott Bonvoy. Marriott Bonvoy points transfer at a rate of 3:1. Plus, for every 60,000 Marriott Bonvoy points that you transfer, you receive a bonus of 5,000 Etihad miles.

However, as you’ll see below, the Etihad Guest program doesn’t offer a wide range of excellent redemption opportunities, especially when compared to other programs. We generally do not recommend transferring flexible rewards points to Etihad Guest.

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The Amex Platinum reigns supreme for luxury travel, offering the best airport lounge access plus generous statement credits, and complimentary elite status.

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Credit Recommended

Upgraded Points credit ranges are a variation of FICO^® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.

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Cons

• $895 annual fee (rates and fees)
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Pros

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card

The Capital One Venture X card is an excellent option for travelers looking for an all-in-one premium credit card.

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The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the ins and outs of credit card products. Bonuses, rewards as well as rates and fees are all taken into account. Compensation from the issuer does not affect our rating. We only recommend products we either use ourselves or endorse.

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Etihad Guest Award Chart for Etihad Flights

The Etihad Guest program has undergone significant changes over the years. When you redeem Etihad Guest miles for Etihad Airways flights, you follow a distance-based award chart according to this table (with introductory prices):

However, this award chart displays introductory pricing and your actual redemption cost may be higher. Etihad has an award calculator that shows how many miles you need for a redemption.

For example, if you want to redeem Etihad Guest miles for an economy flight from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to New Delhi (DEL), which measures 1,418 miles in distance, you’d expect to redeem at least 13,000 miles each way at introductory pricing. The actual redemption cost can often cost significantly more miles.

Hot Tip:

Using a tool like Great Circle Mapper is an excellent way to calculate the distance between airports.

Etihad Guest Award Chart for Partner Flights

Although Etihad is not a member of any major airline alliance, it has individual partnerships with over 50 airlines.

Etihad has a unified partner award chart for all partner flight redemptions. If you want to redeem Etihad Guest miles for any partner-operated flights, follow this award chart:

For example, to book an economy class ticket on Royal Air Maroc from Washington, D.C., (IAD), to Casablanca (CMN), which spans 3,830 miles in each direction, you’d redeem 45,000 Etihad Guest miles one-way.

12 Best Ways To Use Your Etihad Guest Miles

Etihad revamped its Etihad Guest loyalty program in 2024, reducing the number of miles required for many awards. However, Etihad Guest redemptions are still not on par with the costs of other loyalty programs.

For example, business class between most U.S. and European cities costs 80,000 Etihad Guest miles one-way, while you can often find business class to Europe much cheaper with programs like Air Canada Aeroplan or Air France-KLM Flying Blue.

Still, we’ve compiled this list of the best ways to use your Etihad Guest miles in case you have a stash of miles that you need to use. However, it’s best to focus on earning points and transferring them to other loyalty programs.

1. Fly American Airlines in Business and First Class

Let’s begin with Etihad partner American Airlines.

Etihad’s award chart for travel on American Airlines can often be better than American Airlines’ own award chart. For its flights, American uses dynamic pricing, making it difficult to determine the number of miles required for a redemption.

You have good options by flying American with Etihad miles, according to the distance-based award chart above.

Here are example redemptions we have in mind:

• Charlotte (CLT) to London Heathrow (LHR) one-way in business class for 80,000 miles
• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Madrid (MAD) one-way in business class for 100,000 miles
• Los Angeles (LAX) to Sydney (SYD) one-way in first class for 200,000 miles
• New York (JFK) to Athens (ATH) one-way in business class for 100,000 miles

The main challenge here is finding award availability, particularly on routes operated by the 777-300ER, which features Flagship First and business class. If you are flexible with your travel dates, finding award availability will be significantly easier, especially closer to your departure date.

2. Off-Peak Economy to Europe, South America, and Asia on American Airlines

You can utilize Etihad Guest miles for outstanding value by flying in economy class on American Airlines.

Here are a few options:

• Charlotte (CLT) to Dublin (DUB) one-way in American Airlines economy class for 45,000 miles
• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Santiago (SCL) one-way in American Airlines economy class for 60,000 miles
• Dallas Fort Worth (DFW) to Shanghai (PVG) one-way in American Airlines economy class for 75,000 miles
• Miami (MIA) to Buenos Aires (EZE) one-way in American Airlines economy class for 60,000 miles

3. Book Business Class to Europe on Brussels Airlines

Brussels Airlines offers an excellent business class product on flights between the U.S. East Coast and Brussels (BRU).

You can fly from New York (JFK), Toronto (YYZ), or Washington, D.C. (IAD), to Brussels (BRU) in business class for 80,000 miles one-way. Economy seats cost 45,000 miles one way.

Award availability can be challenging to find, but this is an excellent way to redeem Etihad Guest miles and is worth the time it takes to find award space.

Bottom Line: You can book Brussels Airlines awards between the eastern U.S. and Brussels for 45,000 miles one-way in economy and 80,000 miles one-way in business.

4. U.S. West Coast to Tokyo on ANA in Business Class

One of the best value ways to redeem Etihad Guest miles is for U.S. West Coast flights to Japan. You can book a one-way business class ticket between Seattle (SEA) and Tokyo (HND or NRT) on All Nippon Airways (ANA) for 100,000 miles in business class. Economy is 60,000 miles one-way.

You can also fly between Tokyo and San Francisco (SFO) or Los Angeles (LAX). However, this one-way award is 120,000 miles in business class or 67,000 miles in economy. This is because these flights fall in the next distance band.

5. Fly Around Eastern Europe on Air Serbia

Flights within Europe on partner Air Serbia start at 6,000 miles in economy. From Belgrade (BEG), you can fly to destinations such as Budapest (BUD), Vienna (VIE), and Venice (VCE) for just 6,000 miles.

It is worth noting that many of these flights can be cheap when paying cash, so it’s important to compare the cash price to the award cost.

6. Fly to Casablanca With Royal Air Maroc

Another excellent Etihad Guest redemption is on Oneworld airline Royal Air Maroc.

You can fly nonstop between Casablanca (CMN) and New York (JFK) or Washington, D.C. (IAD), for 45,000 miles in economy or 80,000 miles in business one-way.

However, flights between Miami (MIA) and Casablanca (CMN) fall in the next distance band, costing 60,000 miles in economy and 100,000 miles in business class each way.

7. Fly on Oman Air in Business Class

Oman Air is among the best airlines in the world. It also has a specific route that is an excellent redemption using Etihad Guest miles:

• London (LHR) to Muscat (MCT) in business class for 80,000 miles one-way.

Oman Air’s business class may not be as internationally known as Etihad’s, but it’s worth looking into.

8. Bali to Australia on Virgin Australia in Business Class

Virgin Australia operates flights between Bali (DPS) and Sydney (SYD), Melbourne (MEL), and Brisbane (BNE). All these flights fall under the pricing of the 2,501-to-3,000-mile distance band and can be booked for 34,000 miles in economy or 60,000 miles in business one-way.

This is an excellent redemption, as the cash fares on these flights can be quite expensive.

9. Hop Around Australia and New Zealand on Virgin Australia

Etihad Guest’s award chart for Virgin Australia flights is perfect for short, expensive flights across Oceania.

For example, you can fly between Brisbane (BNE) and Hamilton Island (HTI) for just 12,000 miles in economy. You can also fly between Sydney (SYD) and Ayers Rock (AYQ) for just 15,000 miles.

Hot Tip: Certain Western Australia routes, including from Perth (PER) to several popular diving destinations, are served by Virgin Australia Regional. Etihad may not be able to book awards on these flights. Try alternate programs such as Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer or Virgin Atlantic Flying Club.

10. Australia and New Zealand to the Pacific on Virgin Australia

Getting to and from the Pacific islands can be pretty expensive when it comes to cash fares. Typically, it also requires a lot of miles. However, Etihad Guest does provide immense value on certain routes.

You can fly between Brisbane (BNE) and Vanuatu (VLI) on Virgin Australia for 15,000 miles in economy.

You can also get to other Pacific Islands, such as Fiji, the Cook Islands, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea. However, award pricing varies depending on where you are flying from.

11. Fly Air Serbia Business Class From New York to Belgrade

From Belgrade, Air Serbia offers 2 nonstop flights to the U.S., to Chicago (ORD) and New York (JFK).

A business class award can be booked from either city to Belgrade for 100,000 Etihad Guest miles. You could also book an award in economy for 60,000 miles.

12. Access Enhanced Etihad Premium Cabin Availability

Like many other award programs, Etihad has extra premium cabin availability for its Etihad Guest members. At times, this may be the only way to fly in aspirational Etihad cabins such as Etihad First Class Apartments.

For example, if you’d like to book a high-season vacation aboard Etihad first or business class in December, you’d have much better luck redeeming Etihad Guest miles, as you can expect to find more award space. However, this comes at the cost of more miles.

Additionally, Etihad currently only releases its own first class and business class seats to partners 30 days before the flight date. If you want to book a premium cabin redemption on Etihad sooner than 30 days, you need to use the Etihad Guest program.

Here are some great example redemptions you can make:

• New York (JFK) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Malé (MLE) for 220,000 miles in Etihad Airways first class or 110,000 miles in business class
• Chicago (ORD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) – Johannesburg (JNB) for 110,000 miles one-way in Etihad Airways business class
• Washington, D.C. (IAD) – Abu Dhabi (AUH) for 220,000 miles one-way in Etihad Airways first class or 110,000 miles in business class

Final Thoughts

Although the Etihad Guest program may be unfamiliar to many, it’s essential to be aware of its pros and cons. We’ve outlined what we feel are among the best ways to use Etihad Guest miles, but the best redemptions for you depend on your travel goals.

For example, Etihad Guest releases more award availability to its members. This may be an excellent way to redeem miles to fly in premium cabins on Etihad.

However, most redemptions using Etihad Guest miles are less favorable than comparable options using other loyalty programs. While these redemptions are worth keeping in mind if you happen to have a large stash of miles, in most cases, it’s best to focus your efforts on other programs.