How To Upgrade Your Etihad Flight With Miles and Cash [2024]

It’s very common for people to want to buy a cheap economy ticket and then upgrade their ticket using miles. After all, who wouldn’t want to move up from an uncomfortable middle seat in economy to a lie-flat seat in business class or even the Etihad First Class Apartment?

Unfortunately, upgrading your flight with miles is not always possible, since many types of tickets are not upgradeable, and even if they are, they may cost more than you’re willing to pay. In this article, we’ll look at how you can upgrade your Etihad flight with miles and when it might make sense.

Flying in a Premium Cabin on Etihad

Etihad has some of the best premium cabins of any airline in the world, so it can make a lot of sense to fly Etihad business class or Etihad first class. Read some of our Etihad premium cabin flight reviews to get an idea of what it is like to fly in style on Etihad:

• Etihad Airways Airbus A380 First Class Apartment Review [SYD to AUH]
• Etihad Airways Airbus A380 First Class Apartment Review [LHR to AUH]
• Etihad Airways Airbus A380 Business Class Review [AUH to SYD]
• Etihad Airways Boeing 787-9 Business Class Review [MUC to AUH]

Types of Etihad Upgrades

Etihad offers 3 different kinds of upgrades on its Flight Upgrade page:

• Upgrade with Etihad Guest Miles — Pay a flat fee in miles to upgrade your flight. The exact amount of Etihad Guest Miles that it takes to upgrade will depend on the fare class of your original ticket.
• Place a Bid To Upgrade — Before your flight, you can place a bid on an upgrade to a premium cabin in either Miles or cash. If your bid is accepted, you’ll be charged immediately and receive your updated boarding pass when you check in online or at the airport.
• Instant Airport Upgrade — If you choose not to bid before you check in, you may have 1 last chance to upgrade at the airport when you check in. You can pay for the instant upgrade of your Etihad flight with either cash (at select airports), credit card, or Etihad Guest Miles. 

Paying To Upgrade Your Etihad Flight With Miles

The first way that you can upgrade your Etihad flights is by paying Etihad Guest miles beforehand. Etihad publishes a Miles Calculator that shows the cost to both book and upgrade your flight with Miles. Simply enter your origin and destination to see the cost to upgrade your Etihad flight with Miles.

Etihad allows you to upgrade 1 class of service from your original ticket; for example, you can upgrade from economy to business or business to first class. You can even upgrade a first class ticket to the Etihad Residence.

Note that the cost to upgrade your flight will depend on the fare class of your original ticket, and GuestSeat tickets (the lowest and cheapest fare class) are generally not able to be upgraded.

Bidding To Upgrade Your Etihad Flight

Another option for upgrading your Etihad flight is to bid for an upgrade. You can bid for an upgrade by entering your record locator and last name.

You can choose to bid using either cash or Miles, and Etihad will indicate how likely your upgrade is to be accepted. As you might imagine, the more you bid, the more likely your bid is to be accepted.

If your bid is accepted, you will receive an additional confirmation email from Etihad, and you will immediately be charged your bid amount. You can access your updated boarding pass when you check in either online or at the airport. You can’t change or cancel your bid once it has been accepted or if there are fewer than 4 hours before your flight.

It’s also important to note that you will only earn Miles based on your original ticket and fare class, though if you are an Etihad Guest member, you will receive 10% additional bonus Miles if you successfully bid for an upgrade.

How To Earn Etihad Guest Miles

There are a few ways that you can earn Etihad Guest miles. One way is by flying on Etihad and crediting your flights to Etihad Guest. You can also credit flights from any of Etihad’s more than 20 partner airlines to Etihad and earn more Miles.

There is currently no Etihad-branded credit card in the U.S., however, there are several flexible rewards programs that can transfer to Etihad Guest, including American Express Membership Rewards^® points*.

American Express Membership Rewards^® Cards

American Express Membership Rewards points can be transferred to Etihad Guest miles at a rate of 1,000 points to 1,000 Etihad Guest Miles. Here are some of our top picks for American Express cards that earn Membership Rewards points:

BEST LOUNGE ACCESS

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

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

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

The Platinum Card^® from American Express

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

Welcome Offer

Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on the Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

80,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,760

Annual Fee

$695

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

When it comes to cards that offer top-notch benefits, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better card out there than The Platinum Card^® from American Express.

Make no mistake — the Amex Platinum card is a premium card with a premium price tag. With amazing benefits like best-in-class airport lounge access, hotel elite status, and tremendous value in annual statement credits, it can easily prove to be one of the most lucrative cards in your wallet year after year.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• The best airport lounge access out of any card (by far) — enjoy access to over 1,400 worldwide lounges, including the luxurious Amex Centurion Lounges, Priority Pass lounges, Plaza Premium Lounges, and many more!
• 5x points per dollar spent on flights purchased directly with the airline or with AmexTravel.com (up to $500,000 per year)
• 5x points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels booked with AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $695 annual fee (rates and fees)
• Airline credit does not cover airfare (only incidentals like checked bags)

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards^® Points after you spend $8,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year and earn 5X Membership Rewards^® Points on prepaid hotels booked with American Express Travel.
• $200 Hotel Credit: Get up to $200 back in statement credits each year on prepaid Fine Hotels + Resorts^® or The Hotel Collection bookings through American Express Travel using your Platinum Card^®. The Hotel Collection requires a minimum two-night stay.
• $240 Digital Entertainment Credit: Get up to $20 back in statement credits each month on eligible purchases made with your Platinum Card^® on one or more of the following: Disney+, a Disney Bundle, ESPN+, Hulu, The New York Times, Peacock, and The Wall Street Journal. Enrollment required.
• The American Express Global Lounge Collection^® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market. As of 03/2023.
• $155 Walmart+ Credit: Save on eligible delivery fees, shipping, and more with a Walmart+ membership. Use your Platinum Card^® to pay for a monthly Walmart+ membership and get up to $12.95 plus applicable taxes back on one membership (excluding Plus Ups) each month.
• $200 Airline Fee Credit: Select one qualifying airline and then receive up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year when incidental fees are charged by the airline to your Platinum Card^®.
• $200 Uber Cash: Platinum Card^® Members can get out and about and explore their local area with $15 in Uber Cash for US rides each month, plus a bonus $20 in December. That can be up to $200 in annual Uber savings. Simply download the Uber app and add your Platinum Card^® to your Uber account to get started. Available to Basic Card Member only. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $199 CLEAR^® Plus Credit: CLEAR^® Plus helps to get you to your gate faster at 50+ airports nationwide and get up to $199 back per calendar year on your Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use your Card. CLEARLanes are available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues.
• Receive either a $120 statement credit every 4 years for a Global Entry application fee or a statement credit up to $85 every 4.5 years for a TSA PreCheck^® (through a TSA official enrollment provider) application fee, when charged to your Platinum Card^®. Card Members approved for Global Entry will also receive access to TSA PreCheck at no additional cost.
• Shop Saks with Platinum: Get up to $100 in statement credits annually for purchases in Saks Fifth Avenue stores or at saks.com on your Platinum Card^®. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• Unlock access to exclusive reservations and special dining experiences with Global Dining Access by Resy when you add your Platinum Card^® to your Resy profile.
• $695 annual fee.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

BEST FOR DINING

Terms Apply / Rates & Fees

American Express^® Gold Card

U.P. Rating 

The rating for this card has been determined by our own industry experts who know the in's and out's 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.

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Apply Now(at Amex's secure site)

Apply With Confidence

Know if you're approved with no credit score impact

If you're approved and accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.

American Express^® Gold Card

This is the best card for food lovers who dine out at restaurants (worldwide), order take-out and want big rewards at U.S. supermarkets!

Welcome Offer

Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.

60,000 points

UP's Bonus Valuation*:

$1,200

Annual Fee

$325

APR

See Pay Over Time APR

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 cardapplication.

Good to Excellent (670-850)

Why We Like This Card

The American Express^® Gold Card is a game-changer.

With this card, you can earn 4x Membership Rewards points at restaurants, up to $50,000 per calendar year, and you’ll also earn 4x Membership Rewards points at U.S. supermarkets on up to $25,000 per calendar year, then 1x.

There isn’t another card on the market that offers a 1-2 punch like this. Of course, there are several other benefits of the Gold Card as well, including extra monthly dining rewards and more.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• 4x points per dollar at restaurants worldwide, up to $50,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 4x points per dollar at U.S. supermarkets, up to $25,000 per calendar year; then 1x thereafter
• 3x points per dollar on flights purchased directly from airlines or at AmexTravel.com

Cons

• $325 annual fee (rates and fees)
• No lounge access

Read Full Review

Card Highlights

• Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards^® points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 4X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
• Earn 3X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 2X Membership Rewards^® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
• Earn 1X Membership Rewards^® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
• $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and each month automatically get $10 in Uber Cash for Uber Eats orders or Uber rides in the U.S., totaling up to $120 per year. Effective 11/8/2024, an Amex Card must be selected as the payment method for your Uber or Uber Eats transaction to redeem the Amex Uber Cash benefit.
• $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
• $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
• $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express^® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
• Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. Eligible charges vary by property.
• No Foreign Transaction Fees.
• Annual Fee is $325.
• Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
• Terms Apply.

Financial Snapshot

• APR: See Pay Over Time APR
• Foreign Transaction Fees: None

Rewards Center

American Express Membership Rewards

Final Thoughts

There is something glamorous about flying in a premium cabin, and Etihad’s business class and first class experiences are among the world’s best. If you are looking to upgrade an Etihad flight with Miles, know that you have a few different options.

You can pay for an upgrade before you fly with Etihad Guest Miles, bid for an upgrade with either cash or Miles, or take your chances at an instant upgrade at the airport. No matter which option you choose, make sure you crunch the numbers and see if it is worth it to you.

*Membership Rewards^® Program

Terms and Conditions for the Membership Rewards^® program apply. Visit membershiprewards.com/terms for more information. Participating partners and available rewards are subject to change without notice.

The value of Membership Rewards points varies according to how you choose to use them. To learn more, go to www.membershiprewards.com/pointsinfo.