AMEX Membership Rewards Partner! Save Miles on Flights in the US, to Europe, and Asia!

Signing up for credit cards through partner links earns us a commission. Terms apply to the offers listed on this page. Here’s our full advertising policy: How we make money.

Update: One or more card offers in this post are no longer available. Check our Hot Deals for the latest offers.

Great news for folks with AMEX Membership Rewards points!  Via View From the Wing, you can transfer your points to Etihad.  And there are some award flights that are great deals!

For example, you can use Etihad miles to pay fewer points on airline partner American Airlines for a Business Class or First Class ticket to Asia or Europe.  And, you’ll save miles on First Class flights within the mainland US and Canada!

I’ll explain how it works!

How to Use Etihad Miles for Award Flights

Link:   The Ultimate Guide to Etihad Miles

Etihad is an AMEX Membership Rewards airline transfer partner.  Effective right away, you can transfer your AMEX Membership Rewards points to Etihad instantly at a 1:1 ratio.

You can use Etihad miles for an award seat on their flights.  Emily and I flew First Class with Etihad to India and liked the service and comfort.  And, it’s usually easy to find an open seat.  Although we used American Airlines miles.

Etihad flies from North America to the Middle East, India, and the Maldives.  Using Etihad miles can be a good option for flying coach to the Indian subcontinent.  Because they have more award seats available than many other airlines.

You can even fly to the US in First Class with enclosed suites, Business Class with lie-flat beds, and coach (with flying nannies!)

If you fly in First Class or Business Class, you also get a chauffeur to and from 39 airports, which is a great way to begin or end a trip!

Be sure to read my series on how to redeem Etihad miles!

Don’t Use Etihad Miles for Etihad Flights!

Link:   Etihad Mileage Calculator

Folks who like to fly Business Class or First might benefit from this new partnership.  Because Etihad offers great service and usually has good number of award seats available.

But keep in mind, you’ll pay a LOT of miles for an award seat.  For example, it costs:

• 88,391 Etihad miles for a one-way Business Class seat from New York (JFK) to Abu Dhabi
• 117,560 Etihad miles for a one-way First Class seat from New York (JFK) to Abu Dhabi

So a round-trip First Class ticket between New York and Abu Dhabi would cost ~235,000 Etihad miles.  And the price you’ll pay varies by route, because Etihad charges based on how far you fly.

Instead, I recommend using American Airlines miles for an award ticket on Etihad flights.  Because you’ll pay fewer miles for the same seat!

Etihad has a mileage calculator to check the amount of miles you’ll need for an award seat.

Here’s how to find an Etihad award seat.

Using Etihad Miles on American Airlines Is Sometimes a Better Deal!

Link:   Etihad American Airlines Award Chart

Link:   Etihad Airline Partners

It’s better to use American Airlines miles for an award ticket on Etihad flights.

And, it’s better to use Etihad miles for certain American Airlines award flights!

For example, you’ll pay:

• 50,000 Etihad miles on an American Airlines flight to Asia 1 in Business Class (including Japan and Korea)
• 55,000 Etihad miles on an American Airlines flight to Asia 2 in Business Class (including China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand, and Singapore)
• 62,500 Etihad miles on an American Airlines flight to Asia 1 in First Class
• 67,500 Etihad miles on an American Airlines flight to Asia 2 in First Class

Compare that to what American Airlines charges for their own award seats:

• 60,000 American Airlines miles to Asia 1 in Business Class (including Japan and Korea)
• 70,000 American Airlines miles to Asia 2 in Business Class (including China and Hong Kong)
• 80,000 American Airlines miles on an American Airlines flight to Asia 1 in First Class
• 110,00 American Airlines miles on an American Airlines flight to Asia 2 in First Class

In each of these examples, you’ll pay fewer Etihad miles than American Airlines miles.

User Fewer Miles When Flying Business and First Class to Europe

You’ll also save on American Airlines Business Class and First Class award flights to Europe.  And First Class award flights within the continental US and Canada!

So depending on where you want to visit, it’s worth checking Etihad’s American Airlines award chart to see if you can do better with Etihad miles.

Etihad also partners with airlines like Air New Zealand, Air Berlin, ANA, and Virgin Australia.  But keep in mind, each airline partner has their own award chart.

This could be an excellent option if you have lots of AMEX Membership Rewards points.  Or if you want to save your airline miles for other award seats!

Note:   You must call Etihad at 888-838-8443 to book an award seat on ANY partner airline.

Which Cards Earn AMEX Membership Rewards Points?

The following cards earn American Express Membership Rewards points that can be transferred to travel partners:

Remember, you can also transfer Citi ThankYou points and Starwood points to Etihad.

Bottom Line

Etihad is the newest AMEX Membership Rewards transfer partner!

This is great news because you can save lots of miles on flights within the US, and to Europe and Asia on Etihad’s airline partner American Airlines!

Of course, you can also plan a trip to a destination where Etihad flies (like India or the Middle East).  But you’ll do better by redeeming American Airlines miles for most Etihad award flights.  You can use Etihad’s mileage calculator to check the price of your award flight to make sure you’re getting the best deal.

Note you’ll have to call Etihad to book an award seat on any of their airline partners, which also include ANA, Air Berlin, and Virgin Australia.

Will you transfer your AMEX Membership Rewards points to Etihad Airways?