An Evening with Etihad Airways at the UAE Embassy
It's not every day that an airline rewards its most loyal customers with an appreciation dinner, but recently Etihad Airways did just that. TPG Senior Points & Miles Contributor Richard Kerr shares his experience attending a carrier-hosted event at the UAE embassy in Washington, DC.
Etihad recently invited select elite Etihad Guest members in the Washington, DC area to join North American senior management at the United Arab Emirates embassy. The event included an appreciation dinner for loyal Etihad customers and an opportunity for the airline to share what it currently has in the works. I've held Etihad Guest elite status for the last few years thanks to flights between Tokyo and the Middle East for both business and pleasure and, having just moved to the DC area, was lucky enough to nab an invite from Etihad for both myself and my wife.
Like other attendees, I was very excited to receive the invite. We all had a hard time believing an airline would go through this much trouble just to thank loyal customers, and thought for sure the "time-share pitch" was coming at some point. It never did, making the night a noble move on behalf of Etihad. It turns out Etihad is hosting elites in all the North American cities it serves, having just hosted an event at Tiffany & Co. in Manhattan.
The evening was hosted by Rashed Saif Al Shabi, VP of Mid Atlantic for Etihad. He gave a warm thank you up front to all invited guests followed by a brief overview of Etihad's current operations, of course highlighting The Residence and First Class Apartments, as well as detailing plans for the future. What continually amazes me is the pace at which this airline, just now only 13 years old, continues to grow. Etihad's fleet is currently 119 aircraft. By 2025, the airline's fleet will increase to 307 aircraft, including 71 Dreamliners which will make Etihad the largest operators of 787s. That's an astounding rate of expansion.
Etihad is anxiously awaiting the completion of the new mid-field terminal at Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH), which will serve as its hub into the future. I've seen the skeleton of the structure while taxiing on my last few visits to AUH, and it looks like it will live up to this airline's high standards.
Highlights of the evening included a trivia game for two of the tables (one of which was my table) where we had to identify the roles of five different Etihad agents just by the uniform they were wearing. My table won, and the six of us were entered into a door prize with the winner receiving a wooden Etihad 787 model with a wing span of almost two feet. Etihad then gave away a round-trip business-class ticket from IAD to AUH and the gift of Etihad Guest Gold status to two family members of one lucky attendee.
The airline also recognized a few special attendees who achieved Platinum status the quickest (including a mid-20s attorney who flew back and forth between DC and AUH every two weeks for six months) and the person who had been an Etihad Guest member the longest. Food included a buffet with traditional Emirati dishes, and we had an opportunity to meet and mingle with other Etihad senior management in attendance, including Mr. Martin Drew, Senior VP of the Americas for Etihad.
Evening Takeaways
Etihad's inflight product is without a doubt one of the best in the sky, but the ground service has some quirks and hiccups. My experience during irregular operations or getting a straight answer to questions via ground staff or phone agents has often been tiring — something that other Etihad flyers echo as well. My fear with the pace of Etihad's expansion is the inflight product will continue to excel, while the ground support may fall further behind. Etihad also faces an uphill battle with Capitol Hill and legacy US carriers in the fight to halt the ME3's expansion.
Ground services aside, I've always thoroughly enjoyed my time on Etihad aircraft having now flown all three classes multiple times (maybe the Residence one day). Plus, in North America it's pretty much unheard of for an airline to dedicate the resources Etihad did just to give loyal customers appreciation for a night.
Given the value of Etihad Guest miles, the ability to transfer Citi ThankYou points and now American Express Membership Rewards to Etihad and the consistent double and triple bonus miles campaigns Etihad offers on paid flights, I'll continue to look to the airline whenever I head to the Middle East and beyond. Special events and gestures like this make me happy to continue flying Etihad, and I definitely appreciate the carrier's approach to thanking its customers.
Have you ever attended a similar customer appreciation event hosted by an airline?
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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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- 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.
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- 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.