We’ve seen fairly just a few modifications to the Etihad Visitor program lately, each for higher and worse. On this publish I wished to take a more in-depth have a look at find out how to maximize worth redeeming Etihad Visitor miles, as this system’s worth proposition has advanced.
Why it is best to care concerning the Etihad Visitor program
Etihad is a pleasure to fly with, and the airline has improved very properly lately, with new plane and an incredible premium expertise, in each top quality and enterprise class. On prime of that, Etihad’s hub at Abu Dhabi Airport is a recreation changer for the airline.
Previously after I’d fly with Etihad utilizing miles, I’d sometimes e book by means of associate packages like American AAdvantage and Air Canada Aeroplan. Nonetheless, Etihad has essentially modified the way it releases award area — at this level, the airline makes first and enterprise class award seats out there to associate packages at most 30 days out.
So the explanation it is best to care about redeeming Etihad Visitor miles isn’t as a result of this system has some wonderful worth redemptions, however moderately as a result of this system is the one technique to snag Etihad premium cabin award seats nicely upfront.
Find out how to earn Etihad Visitor miles
If you happen to don’t at the moment have any Etihad Visitor miles, don’t fear. For these of us in the USA with entry to transferable factors currencies, Etihad Visitor miles are fairly straightforward to rack up.
Etihad Visitor companions with Amex Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou, so any of these factors offer you entry to Etihad Visitor miles.
Fundamentals of redeeming Etihad Visitor miles
Earlier than we speak about the very best methods to redeem Etihad Visitor miles, let me talk about a number of the logistics and phrases that include redeeming, together with mileage expiration insurance policies, award sorts, and extra.
Etihad Visitor mileage expiration
Relating to the mileage expiration coverage, Etihad Visitor miles expire after 18 months, except you’ve qualifying exercise. At present, any kind of exercise that includes incomes or redeeming miles would prolong the validity of your miles.
Nonetheless, as of June 2024, it’ll solely be doable to increase the expiration of your miles by taking a flight on Etihad or a associate airline, and crediting it to this system. In order that’s a reasonably strict coverage, and is price maintaining in thoughts in case you gather Etihad Visitor miles.
Etihad Visitor award charts & airline companions
Etihad Visitor has two separate award charts — there’s one award chart for journey on Etihad, and one award chart for journey on associate airways.
Beneath you could find the award chart for journey solely on Etihad. As a part of the Etihad Visitor overhaul for 2024, we’ve truly seen redemption charges on Etihad diminished in lots of markets, which is fairly cool. In actuality, this system’s pricing was simply too unattractive earlier than, so this simply makes it a bit extra aggressive.
The pricing is predicated on the one-way distance of journey. Observe that these redemption charges are particularly for conditions the place there’s GuestSeat availability, which is Etihad’s capability managed, saver award area. If you happen to see greater award pricing than what’s listed under, which means there’s not saver award area, and redemptions gained’t be an excellent deal.
Etihad Visitor has a separate award chart for journey on associate airways, which can also be distance primarily based, and you could find that under. That is primarily based on the one-way distance, and you may’t combine airline companions on a single award.
Etihad has a formidable array of airline companions spanning the alliances, in addition to non-aligned airways. These embody the next:
- Air Canada
- Air New Zealand
- Air Serbia
- Air Europa
- Air France
- All Nippon Airways
- American Airways
- Asiana Airways
- Brussels Airways
- EL AL
- Garuda Indonesia
- Gulf Air
- Hainan Airways
- Korean Air
- KLM
- Malaysia Airways
- Oman Air
- Royal Air Maroc
- Saudia
- Scandinavian Airways
- SriLankan Airways
- Virgin Australia
Bear in mind that you would be able to’t redeem for all cabins on all companions. For instance, redemptions aren’t allowed in top quality on Air France, Oman Air, or Saudia.
Etihad Visitor mileage ticket surcharges
Sadly Etihad Visitor does cross on service imposed surcharges when redeeming miles, whether or not touring on Etihad or a associate airline. This could make your redemptions fairly pricey.
For journey on Etihad, at the moment a one-way premium cabin award from Abu Dhabi to the USA comes with $580 in service imposed surcharges, whereas a one-way premium cabin award from Abu Dhabi to Europe comes with $340 in service imposed surcharges. That doesn’t embody any taxes and authorities mandated charges. So whenever you get able to redeem Etihad Visitor miles, you gained’t simply need to contemplate the variety of miles required, but additionally the surcharges.
Etihad Visitor mileage award cancelation charges
If you happen to do e book a GuestSeat award with Etihad Visitor, bear in mind that this system has probably the most punitive award redeposit charges of any program on the earth. If you happen to cancel your ticket, you’re eligible for a refund of your miles and taxes as much as 24 hours earlier than your flight departs, although award tickets can’t be canceled inside 24 hours of departure. Cancelation charges are charged completely as a proportion of the miles redeemed, as follows:
- You’ll be charged 75% of the miles required in case you request to cancel inside seven days of departure
- You’ll be charged 50% of the miles required in case you request to cancel inside eight to 21 days of departure
- You’ll be charged 25% of the miles required in case you request to cancel 21 or extra days earlier than departure
This compares very unfavorably to nearly each different airline loyalty program.
The most effective makes use of of Etihad Visitor miles
I attempt to be sensible in relation to masking the place I see worth with a specific frequent flyer program. So let me share how I’d suggest redeeming Etihad Visitor miles, each for journey on Etihad, and for journey on associate airways.
Redeeming Etihad Visitor miles on Etihad
The primary purpose I’d suggest accruing Etihad Visitor miles is since you need to redeem for journey in Etihad first and enterprise class. Etihad Visitor isn’t useful in that sense as a result of the redemption charges are nice, however moderately as a result of this system is your solely choice for reserving these awards greater than 30 days upfront.
Etihad Visitor’s award pricing isn’t trade main, after which there are additionally surcharges. So that you’re in all probability by no means going to make use of Etihad Visitor miles as a result of the value is the bottom, however moderately since you take pleasure in flying with Etihad, or as a result of the airline has the very best schedule for the journey you need to take.
Simply to offer you a way of the pricing for probably the most helpful sorts of awards:
- An award of 6,001+ miles (which might cowl all flights to and from the USA) would price you 120,000 miles in enterprise class or 160,000 miles in top quality, plus service imposed surcharges
- An award of three,001-4,000 miles (which might cowl most awards from Abu Dhabi to Europe or Southeast Asia) would price you 70,000 miles in enterprise class or 120,000 miles in top quality, plus service imposed surcharges
Whereas it’s not probably the most value-conscious award on earth, I can completely see benefit to redeeming 160,000 Etihad Visitor miles plus taxes and costs for a New York to Abu Dhabi Etihad A380 top quality award.
Personally I’m joyful ready till 30 days earlier than departure (or much less) after which redeeming by means of American AAdvantage, the place award pricing is far more engaging, and there aren’t any surcharges. Nonetheless, understandably not everybody has that degree of flexibility.
Redeeming Etihad Visitor miles on associate airways
Again within the day, Etihad Visitor had totally different award redemption charges on every associate airline, and there have been some wonderful candy spot alternatives. The airline ultimately simplified that and created a unified award chart. Whereas I recognize the simplicity of that, the worth bought worse throughout the board.
Once you mix the upper redemption charges, the surcharges, and the difficult reserving course of (most awards must be booked by telephone), there are nearly no conditions the place I’d suggest reserving associate awards by means of Etihad Visitor.
In nearly all instances, there are different packages that provide decrease award pricing, fewer charges, and a better reserving course of.
Backside line
Etihad Visitor has grow to be more and more related in current instances. That’s not as a result of this system provides wonderful redemption values, however moderately as a result of Etihad has restricted associate redemption alternatives in premium cabins. Because of this if you wish to e book Etihad first and enterprise class awards greater than 30 days out, Etihad Visitor is your solely choice.
Strategically I believe there’s worth in utilizing this system, however provided that you particularly need to fly Etihad, both since you just like the service’s product, or as a result of the schedule is finest.
What’s your tackle the Etihad Visitor program, and one of the best ways to redeem miles?
