Welcome to The Expat Flyer’s FAQ series on Etihad Guest. This is the ultimate guide to answering the most common questions expat flyers ask about Etihad Guest.
What is Etihad Guest?
Etihad Guest is the loyalty programme of Etihad Airways. Members can earn miles which can be redeemed for award flights on Etihad and their airline partners.
Members can also accumulate Tier Miles and Tier Segments, which count towards status and other perks when flying with Etihad and several other airlines.
Is Etihad Guest free to join?
Yes, there is no fee to join Etihad Guest. In fact, Etihad will give you a welcome bonus of 500 Guest Miles after you take your first flight with them.
How do I join Etihad Guest?
You can sign up online to join Etihad Guest.
Where can I find my Etihad Guest number?
You can find your Etihad Guest number in several places. If you have never flown with the airline before, the easiest way is to check the Welcome email sent to new members.
In your email provider, search ‘Welcome Etihad Guest’ plus your last name and scroll down to the first email you received from Etihad Guest. Your Etihad Guest number will be in that email.
Alternatively, if you have flown with Etihad, your Etihad Guest number will be on your e-ticket receipt or in Manage my booking.
How do I add an Etihad Guest number to an existing booking?
You can add your Etihad Guest number to an existing booking online. Log in to Manage my booking on Etihad and click on ‘Edit Guest Details’. You can add or change the Etihad Guest number for all passengers in the reservation.
Alternatively, contact Etihad Guest by phone or email.
What is Etihad Guest Miles?
Etihad Guest Miles is the currency of the Etihad Guest programme. Etihad Guest Miles can be earned and spent in many different ways.
How can I earn Etihad Guest Miles?
Etihad Guest Miles can be earned in four ways.
- Flying on Etihad Airways.
- Flying one of Etihad’s 36 airline partners, including Oman Air, Virgin Australia and Alitalia.
- Spending on Etihad Guest co-branded credit cards issued by banks in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and India.
- Spending with Etihad Guest’s hotel, car rental and shopping partners.
How can I use Etihad Guest Miles?
Etihad Guest Miles can be used or spent in a number of different ways:
- Award flights on Etihad Airways
- Award flights on 22 airline partners, including ANA, Oman Air and Air New Zealand.
- Upgrades on Etihad Airways flights.
- Holidays booked with Etihad Holidays.
- Hotel stays and car rentals
- Donated to one of five good causes Etihad supports
- Shopping at the Etihad Reward Shop.
- Convert to cash with a reward card.
While there are many ways to use Etihad Guest Miles, the best value is usually to use them for flights or upgrades on Etihad or one of their airline partners.
Can Etihad Guest Miles be transferred?
Yes, you can now transfer your miles to any other member of Etihad Guest. A 10% service fee will be added to the transfer.
It is also possible to pool miles through a Family Membership. Etihad Guest allows you to include up to 9 people in a Family account, ranging from in-laws to step-siblings and even grandparents or your domestic help.
Do Etihad Guest Miles expire?
It depends. Different rules apply based on your Tier Status.
Etihad Guest Platinum member’s miles never expire.
For everyone else, Etihad Guest miles expire after 18 months of inactivity on your account. However, any eligible transaction such as earning, spending or buying miles will extend their validity for a further 18 months.
One simple and low-cost way to stop miles from expiring is to donate miles to charity through the Etihad Guest Rewards online shop.
Can I buy Etihad Guest miles?
Yes, you can buy Etihad Guest miles. There is an annual limit of 100,000 per year. Platinum tier members of Etihad Guest can buy up to 150,000 miles per year. Etihad also runs frequent promotions with bonuses on offer ranging from 20% all the way up to 60%. The annual cap is also often lifted during promotions.
You can also buy miles by boosting the miles earned on flights taken in the past year. MilesBooster lets youpurchase up to three times the Etihad Guest milesyou earned on flights you have actually flown in the last 12 months.
Check here to see if there are any current bonus offers available.
Can I transfer other points to Etihad Guest?
Yes, points can be transferred from 24 partners to Etihad Guest. The current partners are:
- ADCB Touchpoints
- AMEX Membership Rewards
- Boubyan Bank, Citibank
- Commercial Bank of Dubai
- Emirates NBD
- Emirates Islamic Bank
- Etisalat Smiles
- Global Miles
- Hilton Honors
- HSBC
- Al Hilal Bank – Joud Rewards
- Joyalukkas, World of Hyatt
- IHG Rewards Club
- Le Club AccorHotels
- Marriott Bonvoy
- FAB Stars
- Radisson Blu
- Shangri-La
- National Commercial Bank
- Hana Members
- Ping An WanLiTong
- Cathay United Bank.
Etihad occasionally offers bonuses on points transfers to Etihad Guest. Check this page for any current transfer bonuses.
What are Etihad Guest Miles worth?
This is a complex question to answer. Generally, miles and points sites give Eithad Guest Miles a valuation of between 1.2 to 1.5 cents (USD).
However, expats in the UAE who hold a co-branded credit card may be able to get significantly more value for their miles by taking advantage of perks such as companion vouchers, upgrade vouchers and upgrade discounts.
How can I claim missing Etihad Guest Miles?
You can claim missing miles online. You will need to be logged in to your account in order to complete the form.
However, this form does not always work, particularly if you have paid for an upgrade with either cash or miles. In that case, contact Etihad Guest by email at retroclaims@etihadguest.com including all of the details requested on the online form. Make sure also to include the details of your cash or miles upgrade.
To claim miles for flights taken before you joined Etihad Guest, you must emailretroclaims@etihadguest.comand include a copy of your boarding pass and Etihad Guest number.
How do I redeem Etihad Guest Miles?
You can redeem Etihad Guest Miles online or via the call centre. Awards bookings on partner flights can only be redeemed by calling Etihad.
How many Etihad Guest Miles do I need to fly?
Use the Etihad Guest Miles calculator to determine how many miles you need to fly to a particular destination in each cabin.
How many Etihad Guest Miles do I need to upgrade?
Use the Etihad Guest Miles calculator to find out how many miles you need to upgrade on a particular flight.
What is an Etihad Guest seat?
An Etihad Guest seat is a standard award booking. These are fixed-price awards with set benefits and luggage allowance. This type of ticket will usually require the fewest miles to book.
Etihad has now made it possible to book any fare using Etihad Guest Miles. The underlying cash price of the ticket determines the number of miles required. Occasionally, this means that tickets requiring fewer miles than a standard Etihad Guest Seat award will be available. These tickets will also have different refund and change rules and baggage allowances. Check the fare rules carefully to see which option best suits your needs.
What are Etihad Guest Tier Miles?
In addition to Guest Miles, you also collect Tier Miles when you fly with Etihad Airways. Tier Miles count towards earning Silver, Gold and Platinum status in Etihad Guest. You will need 25,000 Tier Miles to reach Silver, 50,000 to Gold, and 125,000 Tier Miles to attain Platinum status.
Tier Miles are calculated on the Guest base miles for a flight. There is a cabin bonus when travelling in Business or First Class.
What are Etihad Guest Tier segments?
In addition to Tier Miles, you will also earn Tier Segments when flying with Etihad Airways. Tier Segments are an alternative way to earn Silver, Gold or Platinum status in Etihad Guest.
You will need 15 segments to reach Silver, 30 to Gold and 48 to Platinum. Tier Segments are beneficial for people who travel frequently but mainly on short or medium-haul flights.
You will earn one Tier Segment for every flight in Economy, two segments for every flight in Business Class and three Tier Segments for every flight in First Class.
What is Etihad Guest Silver?
Etihad Guest has three elite levels, Silver, Gold and Platinum. Etihad Guest is the first of the elite levels. Each tier receives a different collection of benefits and perks.
What is the Etihad Guest SBI card?
The Etihad Guest SBI Card is a payment card issued by SBI Bank to residents of India. Cardholers can earn Etihad Guest Miles on their spending. SBI is currently offering a Welcome Bonus of 2,500 Etihad Guest Miles and complimentary Silver status in Etihad Guest.
Holders of the Etihad Guest Premier SBI Card can also earn Etihad Guest Miles on their spending. SBI is currently offering a Welcome Bonus of 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles and complimentary Gold status in Etihad Guest.
How do I delete an Etihad Guest account?
To delete your account, contact Etihad Guest by phone or email.
Any other questions?
Please let us know in the comments below if any other questions should be included in this Etihad Guest FAQ.
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As an expert and enthusiast, I have access to a wide range of information and can provide insights on various topics. While I don't have personal experiences or opinions, I can provide factual information and answer questions based on available sources.
Now, let's dive into the concepts mentioned in the article about Etihad Guest:
Etihad Guest:
Etihad Guest is the loyalty program of Etihad Airways, a major airline based in the United Arab Emirates. It allows members to earn miles that can be redeemed for award flights on Etihad Airways and its airline partners. Members can also accumulate Tier Miles and Tier Segments, which count towards status and other perks when flying with Etihad and several other airlines.
Joining Etihad Guest:
Joining Etihad Guest is free, and new members are even rewarded with a welcome bonus of 500 Guest Miles after taking their first flight with Etihad Airways.
Finding Etihad Guest Number:
To find your Etihad Guest number, you can check the welcome email sent to new members. If you have flown with Etihad before, your Etihad Guest number can be found on your e-ticket receipt or in the "Manage my booking" section of the Etihad website.
Adding Etihad Guest Number to an Existing Booking:
To add your Etihad Guest number to an existing booking, you can log in to the "Manage my booking" section on the Etihad website and click on "Edit Guest Details." Alternatively, you can contact Etihad Guest by phone or email for assistance.
Earning Etihad Guest Miles:
Etihad Guest Miles can be earned in several ways:
- Flying on Etihad Airways.
- Flying with one of Etihad's 36 airline partners, including Oman Air, Virgin Australia, and Alitalia.
- Spending on Etihad Guest co-branded credit cards issued by banks in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and India.
- Spending with Etihad Guest's hotel, car rental, and shopping partners.
Using Etihad Guest Miles:
Etihad Guest Miles can be used in various ways, including:
- Award flights on Etihad Airways.
- Award flights on 22 airline partners, such as ANA, Oman Air, and Air New Zealand.
- Upgrades on Etihad Airways flights.
- Holidays booked with Etihad Holidays.
- Hotel stays and car rentals.
- Donating to one of the five causes supported by Etihad.
- Shopping at the Etihad Reward Shop.
- Converting to cash with a reward card.
Transferring Etihad Guest Miles:
Etihad Guest Miles can be transferred to another member of Etihad Guest, but a 10% service fee will be added to the transfer. It is also possible to pool miles through a Family Membership, which allows up to 9 people to be included in a family account.
Expiration of Etihad Guest Miles:
The expiration of Etihad Guest Miles depends on your Tier Status. For Etihad Guest Platinum members, miles never expire. For other members, miles expire after 18 months of inactivity on the account. However, any eligible transaction, such as earning, spending, or buying miles, will extend their validity for a further 18 months.
Buying Etihad Guest Miles:
Etihad Guest Miles can be purchased, with an annual limit of 100,000 miles per year. Platinum tier members can buy up to 150,000 miles per year. Etihad also runs frequent promotions with bonuses on offer, ranging from 20% to 60%. The annual cap is often lifted during promotions. Additionally, miles can be bought through the MilesBooster program, which allows you to purchase up to three times the Etihad Guest miles earned on flights taken in the last 12 months.
Transferring Points to Etihad Guest:
Points can be transferred from 24 partners to Etihad Guest. Some of the current partners include ADCB Touchpoints, AMEX Membership Rewards, Emirates NBD, Hilton Honors, IHG Rewards Club, and Marriott Bonvoy. Etihad occasionally offers bonuses on points transfers to Etihad Guest.
Etihad Guest Tier Miles and Tier Segments:
In addition to Guest Miles, members also collect Tier Miles and Tier Segments when flying with Etihad Airways. Tier Miles count towards earning Silver, Gold, and Platinum status in Etihad Guest. The required Tier Miles are 25,000 for Silver, 50,000 for Gold, and 125,000 for Platinum. Tier Segments are an alternative way to earn status, with 15 segments needed for Silver, 30 for Gold, and 48 for Platinum. Tier Segments are beneficial for frequent travelers on short or medium-haul flights.
Etihad Guest Silver:
Etihad Guest Silver is the first elite level in the Etihad Guest loyalty program. Each tier, including Silver, Gold, and Platinum, offers different benefits and perks to its members.
Etihad Guest SBI Card:
The Etihad Guest SBI Card is a payment card issued by SBI Bank to residents of India. Cardholders can earn Etihad Guest Miles on their spending. SBI currently offers a welcome bonus of 2,500 Etihad Guest Miles and complimentary Silver status in Etihad Guest for the Etihad Guest SBI Card. The Etihad Guest Premier SBI Card offers a welcome bonus of 5,000 Etihad Guest Miles and complimentary Gold status in Etihad Guest.
Deleting an Etihad Guest Account:
To delete an Etihad Guest account, you can contact Etihad Guest by phone or email for assistance.
I hope this information helps! Let me know if you have any other questions.
