American Airlines Makes It Easier to Redeem Miles on Etihad Flights
Update: Some offers mentioned below are no longer available. View the current offers here.
With American Airlines appearing to inch towards a dynamic award pricing model just days after United made a similar switch, we're reminded of a longstanding criticism of the AAdvantage program: It's often pretty hard to redeem AA miles for flights that are actually operated by American Airlines. Some of the best values in the award chart come from Oneworld partners, like Japan Airlines first class for only 80,000 miles each way or Qatar QSuite to the Maldives for 70,000 miles each way.
Each frequent flyer program has its own routing rules, and American has one important one that you should know: You're generally not allowed to transit a third region on award flights. What does this mean? In practice, it means that if you were flying from the US to Australia, you couldn't route through Hong Kong, since American classifies Hong Kong into a separate region ("Asia 2"). As a result, the AAdvantage program would treat your ticket as two separate awards.
However, there are a few exceptions to this rule, and even though AA doesn't formally publish them, travelers have been able to piece them together via trial-and-error. You can check out this guide to American's routing rules, but most of the exceptions fall into one of two categories: necessities (there are no Oneworld nonstop flights from the US to Africa, so you're allowed to connect in Doha) or preferential treatment for American's closest partners (you can fly from the US to Male via Hong Kong on Cathay Pacific, but not via Tokyo or Malaysia).
One Mile at a Time recently reported that American Airlines has expanded its set of routing exceptions to include many routes through Abu Dhabi (AUH) on Etihad. Previously many routes that transited the Middle East required you to connect through Doha (DOH) on Qatar Airways, so if you're sitting on a stash of American Airlines miles you now have even more options for redeeming them.
Earning American Airlines Miles
This change could not have come at a better time, as American Airlines is currently offering very strong welcome bonuses on three of its cobranded credit cards:
- Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World Elite Mastercard®: Earn 50,000 bonus miles after spending $2,500 on purchases in the first three months of account opening.
- CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® Mastercard®: Earn 65,000 American Airlines AAdvantage® bonus miles after spending $4,000 in purchases within the first 4 months of account opening.
- Barclaycard AAdvantage Aviator Red World Elite Mastercard: Earn 50,000 miles after making your first purchase in the first 90 days and paying the $95 annual fee
The information for the Citi AAdvantage Platinum card and CitiBusiness AAdvantage Platinum card has been collected independently by The Points Guy. The card details on this page have not been reviewed or provided by the card issuer.
Award Routing Changes
Per One Mile at a Time, the following 'exceptions' have been added to American's award routing rules, meaning you can book these awards as a single ticket.
- North America to Africa via Abu Dhabi
- Europe to Africa via Abu Dhabi
- Europe to Asia via Abu Dhabi
- Europe to Australia via Abu Dhabi
- Africa to Asia via Abu Dhabi
- Africa to Australia via Abu Dhabi
Previously if you'd wanted to fly these routes, you would have had to book two separate awards. My girlfriend actually had this exact problem, as she was looking to fly from Rabat (RBA) in Morocco to Shanghai (PVG) via Abu Dhabi, and American Airlines wanted her to pay for two awards — one from RBA to AUH and one from AUH to PVG. Now she'd be able to book that as a single award at just 40,000 miles each way in economy or 70,000 in business.
One of the most appealing options on this list for most readers will be flying from the US to Africa on Etihad. Etihad currently flies to a number of cities in the US, including New York-JFK, Washington-Dulles (IAD), Chicago-O'Hare (ORD) and Los Angeles (LAX). The products vary by route, from slightly older 777-300ERs flying to Chicago and LAX to a newer 787 serving Washington-Dulles. Of course the crown jewel of Etihad's fleet is its A380s, featuring nine spacious first class apartments (and one ultra-exclusive "Residence") which you can currently find flying daily to JFK.
Etihad flies to a number of destinations in Africa from its Abu Dhabi hub, including Johannesburg (JNB), Lagos (LOS) and a number of cities in Morocco. Note that many of the carrier's flights around this region only operate on certain days of the week, so you might have to play around with the Google Flights calendar to make sure you're getting the full picture.
European-based travelers also have plenty to get excited about, as there's now another option for flying between Europe and Asia that lets you avoid British Airways' subpar product and high award taxes and surcharges. Or you could make the long journey to Australia and catch another one of Etihad's A380s on the lovely 14-hour flight to Sydney (SYD).
Booking Etihad Awards
Just because you're now allowed to book more awards routing through Abu Dhabi doesn't mean the process is easy. First of all, you won't find this award space on the American Airlines website or the AA app. You'll need to search elsewhere — while you can search directly through Etihad, I prefer using ExpertFlyer, as it offers a more consistent readout.
Etihad award space can be incredibly hit-or-miss, especially in premium cabins and for flights to the US. Your best bet is to search very close to departure (less than one week out) or very far in advance, though economy award space is much easier to find.
It's often much easier to find award space on international routes; for example, I had no problem booking two business class award tickets from the Maldives to Shanghai during Chinese New Year. Etihad has definitely gotten stingier with premium cabin award space as its financial situation continues to deteriorate, but I've even seen all nine first class apartments available for award bookings on the Abu Dhabi to Paris (CDG) route.
Once you find award availability and you're ready to call American to ticket it, be aware that the carrier's US-based call center often has a tough time finding Etihad award availability. Even when both ExpertFlyer and Etihad show that there are seats available, the phone agents often can't find it in their system. The workaround that's developed is to call the Australian AA call center, which can be reached at this number: +61-2-91011948. While it's no guarantee, they've historically had a much better time finding Etihad award space than their US-based counterparts.
Bottom Line
Etihad isn't a member of the Oneworld alliance, and its partnership with American (as well as its financial health) has been in question for a while. Still, it's great to see American removing barriers to award redemptions and making it easier to use your miles on a top-notch partner airline. Let's just hope that this improvement isn't immediately followed by a formal announcement of dynamic award pricing.
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| 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
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- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
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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.