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Aeroplan Hints at Partnership Between Etihad and Air Canada

May 01, 2019
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3 min read
Etihad Airbus A380 airliner taking off from Sydney, Australia
Aeroplan Hints at Partnership Between Etihad and Air Canada
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Etihad's financial woes continue to mount, as the Abu Dhabi-based carrier remained unprofitable in 2018 for the third year in a row, posting a $1.28 billion loss for the year. Rumors have been circulating for years that Etihad is on the verge of joining Star Alliance, increasing its reach and giving it access to profitable codeshare agreements around the globe. While Etihad currently partners with American Airlines for reciprocal mileage earning and redemptions, it is not a member of one of the major three alliances.

The rumors about Etihad and Star Alliance gained some traction this week, with One Mile at a Time reporting that Aeroplan, Air Canada's independently run loyalty program, announced a new partnership with Etihad launching on May 1.

An Air Canada spokesperson quickly issued a clarification that the two were not, in fact, launching a partnership yet, but the specificity of the denial hints that something is under discussion.

"Clearly our content team is excited about new earning opportunities for Aeroplan! While Air Canada is in discussions with Etihad Airways, we will not be launching a frequent flyer partnership tomorrow. We look forward to sharing more details with you as they become available."

The rumored partnership, if true, would still be a few rungs below a full Star Alliance membership. Aeroplan members would be able to earn miles for travel on Etihad, though the earnings would be limited to redeemable miles and not elite qualifying miles for Air Canada elite status. Additionally, Star Alliance elite benefits would not apply for travel on Etihad Airways.

There's also no mention of reciprocal mileage redemptions, which would be perhaps the most interesting and valuable element of any eventual partnership. Aeroplan and Etihad are both transfers partners of American Express Membership Rewards (1:1) and Capital One Miles (2:1.5), meaning that reciprocal mileage redemptions would allow you to pit the two award charts against each other to book award flights at the lowest possible rates.

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Bottom Line

No, Etihad is not joining Star Alliance just yet. But if this rumored partnership with Air Canada comes to fruition, it will be an important first step for the struggling Gulf carrier. There are still plenty of unknowns at this point, including what the earning and redemption rates would look like, but Air Canada's lack of a complete denial likely means that some partnership is in the works.

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  • Intro Offer

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  • Annual Fee

    $325

  • Recommended Credit

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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.