Transferring Amex Membership Rewards Points to Etihad Guest
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
As of today, the American Express Membership Rewards program has one additional transfer partner: Etihad Guest. The Middle Eastern carrier is the 17th airline partner available for MR transfers, and it represents a great opportunity to book award flights — particularly on American Airlines following the recent devaluation. Read on for the full details.
First thing's first: Membership Rewards points will move to Etihad Guest at a 1:1 ratio, unlike other carriers like British Airways that have less favorable transfer rates. In the TPG team's experience, transfer times for all Membership Rewards partners are very quick (Amex has confirmed that Etihad transfers should be instant), so you shouldn't need to plan too far in advance if you want to use MR points toward an award flight.
When to Transfer to Etihad Guest
Naturally, you could move Membership Rewards points over to Etihad Guest to book a flight on the carrier's own metal. However, it could be a better option to book Etihad flights using American AAdvantage miles instead. For example, it costs 87,736 Etihad Guest miles to book a seat in the First Apartment one-way from London to Abu Dhabi, while it's 62,500 AAdvantage miles for the same award. Unfortunately, American isn't a Membership Rewards partner, but you can earn miles with a variety of credit cards or transfer points from Starwood Preferred Guest with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 20,000 points.
Where Etihad Guest offers excellent value is with partner redemptions. Up until last year, you could book flights between the US and Asia in ANA first class for just 48,100 miles each way. Unfortunately, Etihad caught on to how amazing of a deal that was, and the airline has since significantly bumped up the number of miles you'll need for that award. There are still some gems in the airline's chart — Brussels to New York on Brussels Air is just 36,620 miles round-trip (if you can find an agent who can figure out how to book it) — but that ANA deal is long gone.
If you're looking for a more straightforward (and widely available) redemption, it often makes sense to book American Airlines flights using Etihad miles, so this could be a good reason to transfer MR points over to Etihad Guest. While the carrier isn't the only Oneworld partner that's also part of the Membership Rewards program, it's often cheaper than using British Airways Avios or Cathay Pacific Asia Miles.
For example, here's what you'll need to redeem for a one-way flight from New York to Los Angeles:
| Program | Economy (Miles) | Economy (MR Points) | 2-Cabin Business/First (Miles) | Business/First (MR Points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) | 20,000 | 20,000 | 30,000 | 30,000 |
British Airways Executive Club | 12,500 | 15,625 | 37,500 | 46,875 |
Etihad Guest | 12,500 | 12,500 | 25,000 | 25,000 |
Etihad doesn't necessarily come out ahead with short-haul redemptions. For example, here's New York to Boston:
| Program | Economy (Miles) | Economy (MR Points) | 2-Cabin Business/First (Miles) | Business/First (MR Points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) | 10,000 | 10,000 | 20,000 | 20,000 |
British Airways Executive Club | 7,500 | 9,375 | 30,000 | 37,500 |
Etihad Guest | 12,500 | 12,500 | 25,000 | 25,000 |
Though its fixed-rate redemptions make it less advantageous for very short flights, Etihad is a solid option for longer domestic flights — especially compared to British Airways Avios, since the carrier's transfer ratio with Membership Rewards is a less-favorable 5:4.
You can also come out far ahead with a redemption to Asia. Here's a comparison for one-way premium-cabin travel between New York and Hong Kong:
| Program | Business Class (Miles) | Business Class (MR Points) | First Class (Miles) | First Class (MR Points) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Asia Miles (Cathay Pacific) | 85,000 | 85,000 | 130,000 | 130,000 |
British Airways Executive Club | 105,000 | 131,250 | 140,000 | 175,000 |
Etihad Guest | 55,000 | 55,000 | 67,500 | 67,500 |
American AAdvantage | 70,000 | — | 110,000 | — |
As you can see, you'll get a great deal by transferring Membership Rewards points to Etihad Guest compared to Amex's other partners, especially for longer flights from the US.
Cards That Earn Membership Rewards Points
You can earn Membership Rewards points with several popular American Express cards, including The Platinum Card, Premier Rewards Gold, and the no-fee Amex EveryDay Credit Card . With Etihad now available as a Membership Rewards transfer partner, you'll earn enough points for a round-trip economy flight anywhere within the US after receiving the standard 25,000-point welcome bonus available after you spend $2,000 within the first three months with the Premier Rewards Gold card. (Note that you may be targeted for a higher welcome bonus via the CardMatch Tool.)
Bottom Line
While it's been possible to transfer points from Citi ThankYou Rewards and Starwood Preferred Guest to Etihad Guest for quite some time, it's fantastic to see American Express adding the program as a Membership Rewards partner. Membership Rewards points can be very easy to earn (especially if you own a small business), putting many premium-cabin redemptions within reach.
[card card-name='Premier Rewards Gold Card from American Express' card-id='22035076' type='javascript' bullet-id='1']
TPG featured card
Rewards
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro offer
Annual Fee
Recommended Credit
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.
Rewards Rate
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 3X | Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com. |
| 2X | Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com. |
| 1X | Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases. |
Intro Offer
You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after spending $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer.As High As 100,000 points. Find Out Your Offer.Annual Fee
$325Recommended Credit
Credit ranges are a variation of FICO® Score 8, one of many types of credit scores lenders may use when considering your credit card application.Excellent to Good
Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.