Amex removing Etihad Guest as transfer partner from 23 June 2026

[Mattg]

According to this page:

Etihad Airways: Effective from 5pm (AEST) on 23 June 2026, if you are enrolled in a Membership Rewards program with Etihad Airways, the ability to transfer Membership Rewards points to the Etihad Guest loyalty program will no longer be available.

 

[hossein_au]

Does Etihad have any sweet spots left in the Etihad Guest program these days? I honestly haven’t bothered looking since the old Velocity partnership, mostly because the redemption rates have always felt pretty bad.

When they’re asking 500k–1M points for a single flight like it’s totally normal, it makes me wonder if I’m missing something.

Is there actually some hidden value in there?

 

[Happy Dude]

Etihad effectively removed themselves as a transfer partner from any program a few years ago when they jacked up their USD copayments (especially) for F and J redemptions per person per sector. Others have since caught up and even exceeded them now of course.

 

[Mattg]

Does Etihad have any sweet spots left in the Etihad Guest program these days? I honestly haven’t bothered looking since the old Velocity partnership, mostly because the redemption rates have always felt pretty bad.

When they’re asking 500k–1M points for a single flight like it’s totally normal, it makes me wonder if I’m missing something.

Is there actually some hidden value in there?

Award availability (as in, actual award seats) is actually quite good on Etihad at the moment! The pricing isn't insanely cheap, but I can see (for example) SYD-AUH-ATH for 165,000 miles in J (one-way). There's also decent F availability. That may change when demand returns to the Middle East, of course.

The sweet spots on partner airlines were pretty much gutted in 2023/4.

 

[WilsonM]

Etihad effectively removed themselves as a transfer partner from any program a few years ago when they jacked up their USD copayments (especially) for F and J redemptions per person per sector. Others have since caught up and even exceeded them now of course.

Don't forget the insanely high change/cancellation fees for award tickets!

 

[Ansett Nostalgic]

Their ridiculous cancellation fee policy has deterred me from using them.

 

[DaleS]

More proof that the Golden Days of points travel are long gone. I flew Etihad exclusively for my Euro trips in the early 20 teens and achieved Gold. Some were paid which I generally allocated to Velocity but we enjoyed 2 F journeys on the A340 and the A380 respectively and many J trips. I always found it pretty easy to snag a reward flight in that era. Sadly that's never going to happen again and while I understand they need to prioitise revenue Etihad Guest is pretty useless if you are an Aussie traveller.
Would still like to try The Residence tho....