Etihad will be disappearing as an American Express transfer partner for all Australian-issued cards on 23 June 2026. The clock is now ticking to transfer into the Etihad Guest frequent flyer program before the partnership ends.
While many travellers only think of using points for Etihad-operated flights, there can be great value of using Etihad Guest points with it’s extensive network of 20+ airline partners. Several of these partner redemptions are simply aren’t accessible through other frequent flyer programs that you can transfer your American Express Membership Rewards Points to.
Etihad Airline Partners
Etihad has created its own bespoke network of airline partnerships around the world, rather than joining a traditional global alliance. This approach gives Etihad Guest access to a wide range of unique redemption opportunities.
Each partner has its own distanced-based award chart, we’ve done the hard work and picked five top ways to get great value from your Etihad Guest miles.
| Asia & Australia | Europe | Middle East & Africa | Americas |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Air New Zealand All Nippon Airways Asiana Airlines China Eastern Airlines Garuda Indonesia Hainan Airlines Hong Kong Airlines Malaysia Airlines SriLankan Airlines Vietnam Airlines |
Air Europa Air France Air Serbia Brussels Airlines Condor KLM Scandinavian Airlines TAP Air Portugal |
EL AL Ethiopian Airlines Gulf Air Oman Air Royal Air Maroc Saudia |
Air Canada American Airlines Azul Brazilian Airlines JetBlue |
1) USA Domestic & Caribbean Flight – JetBlue & American Airlines
Etihad Guest offers access to a wide range redemptions across the USA and the Caribbean, starting from just 6,000 Etihad Guest miles in Economy for flights up to 500 miles and 12,000 miles for journeys up to 1,000 miles all with low taxes.
These can represent great value especially on routes where cash fares spike on last-minute bookings or inter-island flights in the Caribbean, which are notoriously expensive all year round.
Some great routes include San Juan to St. Thomas, Fort Lauderdale to Nassau, Boston to New York, Boston to Nantucket, and San Juan to Punta Cana, all of which can deliver great value when redeemed through Etihad Guest.
2) Fly Business Class between Europe to South America – Air Europa
Air Europa is Spain’s third-largest airline and a key player connecting Europe with South and Central America. Through the Etihad Guest frequent flyer program, you can unlock excellent value on long-haul Business Class redemptions often with relatively low taxes and fees.
Business Class redemptions typically range from 100,000 to 140,000 Etihad Guest miles for flights of around 10–12 hours between Europe and Latin America including Colombia, Paraguay, Brazil, Peru and beyond. Travelling across the Atlantic in comfort without paying sky-high cash fares, this is a redemption worth considering for your next trip.
3) Lie-Flat First & Business Class Flights Within Asia – China Eastern Airlines & Ethiopian Airlines
The Etihad Guest program unlocks some unique redemption opportunities flying within Asia.
A fantastic opportunity to splash out on First Class and travel in luxury with China Eastern Airlines, where you can fly between Shanghai and Tokyo in a First Clas in a private suite with a lie-flat bed for 45,000 Etihad Guest miles + $60 USD in taxes.
Another excellent redemption is with Ethiopian Airlines on its fifth freedom route between Bangkok and Hong Kong, offering a fully lie-flat Business Class bed. At just 30,000 Etihad Guest miles + $25 USD in taxes, it’s strong value for a premium short-haul experience.
4) Business Class between Paris and North Africa – Air France
Air France offers an extensive network between Paris and North Africa, using Etihad Guest miles can unlock some great value Business Class redemptions.
Take a route like Paris to Cairo, you can book this for 40,000 Etihad Guest miles plus €162 in taxes. Where this gets more interesting is the comparison. Booking the exact same flight using Qantas Points requires a slightly more points, however the taxes required from the Qantas Frequent Flyer Program is whopping 2.9x higher at €475 making this a poor value redemption using Qantas Points compared using Etihad miles.
Beyond Cairo, Air France also serves destinations such as Morocco and Algeria, and beyound with Business Class redemptions starting from 30,000 Etihad Guest miles.
5) Fly Business Class between North America & Europe – Brussels Airlines
Brussels Airlines is Belgium’s flag carrier and a partner of Etihad Guest, offering solid Business Class redemption options across the Atlantic. Routes from Brussels to New York, Washington, D.C., and Toronto are all priced at 80,000 Etihad Guest miles one-way in Business Class.
Booking requires a call to Etihad, which can take some time to locate available redemption seats particularly during summer and and holiday travel periods. With a bit of persistence, this remains a strong redemption for comfortable Business Class flight across the Atlantic.
Transfer to Etihad Guest Before It’s Too Late
There are a number of excellent redemption opportunities within the Etihad Guest program thanks to its wide network of airline partners.
There are a few key things to keep in mind: Etihad Guest miles expire after 18 months of inactivity, and the program has a relatively strict cancellation policy on redemption flights; so it’s important to plan carefully.
With Etihad set to disappear on 23 June 2026 as an American Express transfer partner, now is the time to consider whether transferring your points makes sense for an upcoming trip.
Even after the partnership ends between Etihad and American Express significant value remains within American Express Membership Rewards program. Our Points Mastery Course tailored for Australian travellers is designed to elevate your earning and redemption strategies helping you unlock the full potential of every point you earn, Join today.
