Etihad Visitor publicizes main adjustments to award redemptions, elite standing and extra

Etihad Airways introduced a wide selection of adjustments coming to its Etihad Visitor loyalty program beginning in June 2024. There are some winners and losers beneath the brand new system.

Etihad Visitor is an under-the-radar frequent flyer program, and clients can often discover worthwhile companion candy spots on its revealed award charts. For instance, some TPG staffers want to e book American Airways flights by means of Etihad as they’ve discovered award redemptions for a fraction of the miles American was charging.

Nevertheless, with adjustments coming to Etihad Visitor in June 2024, will this system bear a devaluation?

Preserve studying to search out out concerning the adjustments coming to this airline loyalty program.

In optimistic information, Etihad introduced that the price of economic system and business-class award redemptions on “some well-liked routes” will truly lower. Economic system redemptions will begin from 5,000 miles, and enterprise class redemptions from 15,000 miles, per Etihad’s web site.

Pricing from the U.S. to Abu Dhabi presently stays the identical on the time of publication, ranging from 60,000 miles in economic system or 120,000 miles in enterprise class every approach. However, as a result of some airways function utilizing dynamic pricing, you may generally get monetary savings by reserving business-class tickets by means of Etihad; different worldwide tickets will be a lot increased than this.

One other thrilling improvement coming to Etihad? Clients will be capable to redeem miles to improve to Etihad’s well-known A380 Residence between Abu Dhabi and London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) or New York Metropolis’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK). Improve costs and guidelines haven’t but been introduced.

As for the not-so-good information, Etihad Visitor miles will expire after 18 months and can solely prolong in case you take a flight operated by Etihad or a companion airline inside that timeframe. That is much more restrictive than different applications that enable any incomes exercise (akin to a small procuring portal buy or buying 1,000 miles) to increase the mileage expiration.

New redemption cancellation costs are more likely to even be unpopular, with a 25% mileage penalty when canceling an Etihad Visitor redemption greater than 21 days earlier than departure, as much as a steep 75% penalty for cancellations inside seven days of departure. Once more, that is far more restrictive than competing applications; as an example, Qatar Airways Privilege Membership costs simply $25 to alter or cancel a redemption as much as 24 hours earlier than departure.

Associated: The best way to keep away from airline change and cancellation charges

Etihad Visitor elite standing adjustments

Elite standing members will proceed to obtain core advantages like precedence check-in and boarding, complimentary Wi-Fi and extra mileage earnings. Nevertheless, Etihad introduced that Visitor members will not have to earn Tier Segments to earn elite standing; as a substitute, Tier Miles would be the sole incomes metric for the airline.

From June 2024, elite members will be capable to select various kinds of perks: Core, Customized and Past. Along with the Core perks out there at every elite standing Tier, the variety of Customized advantages will enhance as your standing stage will increase. Silver Tier members will be capable to select two personalized perks, Gold Tier can select 4 and Platinum members can select 5.

Silver Tier members who earn 20,000 Tier Miles in a membership yr (10,000 from flying) can select two of the next:

• Lounge entry in Abu Dhabi
• Free seat choice
• 25% low cost on baggage charges
• Two carbon offset vouchers

Etihad Visitor Gold Tier members (incomes 40,000 Tier Miles with 20,000 from flying) can select 4 of the next customized advantages:

• Lounge entry (with one visitor) in Abu Dhabi
• One further checked bag
• Two free chauffeur companies throughout the UAE
• Free chauffeur service within the UAE for GuestsSeats in Enterprise or First Class
• One free refund on a GuestSeat reserving
• Two free Residence check-ins throughout the UAE
• 4 carbon offset vouchers.

Gold Tier members who earn 75,000 miles may also present the next advantages to household and mates (referred to as “past advantages”):

• Two business-class lounge passes
• One Silver Tier standing
• 10,000 Etihad Visitor miles

Platinum Tier members who earn 100,000 Tier Miles (with a minimal of 40,000 Tier Miles from flying) can select 5 of the next advantages:

• First-class lounge entry (with one visitor) in Abu Dhabi
• One further checked bag
• Two upgrades on eligible routes
• Additional legroom seats for as much as 4 visitors
• Transfer to an earlier flight the identical day without cost
• Two free chauffeur companies throughout the UAE
• Two free refunds on a GuestSeat reserving
• 4 free Residence check-ins throughout the UAE
• Six carbon offset vouchers

Moreover, a model new standing stage, Diamond Tier, is being launched for these members spending a minimum of $150,000 with Etihad Airways in 12 months. The advantages of this new tier are nonetheless to be introduced.

As for Past perks, these shall be advantages which might be completely out there to Gold and Platinum Tier members.

Gold Tier members who earn 75,000 Tier Miles can present the next advantages to household and mates:

• Two business-class lounge passes
• Silver Tier Standing nomination
• 10,000 Etihad Visitor Bonus Miles

Platinum Tier members who earn 175,000 miles may also present the next past advantages to household and mates:

• Three business-class lounge passes
• Three passes for precedence check-in, boarding and baggage
• 20,000 Etihad Visitor miles

Associated: Etihad brings flagship Airbus A380 — with personal onboard Residence — again to the US

Backside line

Total, there are numerous adjustments coming to the Etihad Visitor loyalty program, each optimistic and adverse. Hopefully, there shall be extra reductions to award redemptions, although we’ve not seen something vital on the time of publication.

Though the charges have but to be revealed and could also be steep, with the ability to redeem miles to improve to Etihad’s well-known A380 Residence is an thrilling improvement.

For elite-status members, the choice of selecting elite advantages shall be welcomed by some, although different applications provide top-tier elite members all advantages relatively than forcing them to decide on.

In case you are seeking to redeem transferable miles for flights operated by Etihad, it is price contemplating Air Canada Aeroplan. The plan has fastened charges for companion redemptions and far more affordable redemption cancellation charges than Etihad Visitor will implement beginning in June.