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El Al and Etihad announce codeshare flights and reciprocal benefits

July 01, 2021
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3 min read
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El Al and Etihad announce codeshare flights and reciprocal benefits
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Here's some news you might not have expected a few years back.

Israeli flag carrier El Al and Abu Dhabi-based Etihad launched a new strategic pact today. It includes a codeshare agreement and new reciprocal frequent flyer benefits for El Al Matmid and Etihad Guest members.

This news comes less than a year after Israel and the United Arab Emirates announced a landmark deal to establish diplomatic relations.

El Al and Etihad launch partnership

Starting July 18, 2021 El Al will add its "LY" code and start selling seats on Etihad's twice-weekly flights between Abu Dhabi (AUH) and Tel Aviv (TLV). Then, on Aug. 1, the partnership will expand to include destinations in Australia, Bahrain, India, Korea, the Philippines and Seychelles. In the next phase, the airlines hope to expand the partnership to 14 more destinations across the Middle East, Europe, Asia and U.S. by adding Etihad's "EY" code to El Al flights.

Like any codeshare agreement, this partnership will offer passengers greater choice and make connections more seamless.

Related: Etihad just made the first-ever known airline flight from the United Arab Emirates to Israel

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But that's not all.

El Al and Etihad plan to also establish a reciprocal loyalty agreement. Members will be able to earn and redeem miles across both airlines through the EL AL Matmid and Etihad Guest programs. While details haven't been revealed yet, there will likely also be reciprocal elite benefits.

This part of the news is especially exciting for points and miles enthusiasts. El Al's Matmid program doesn't partner with any of the major transferable points programs and isn't all that valuable to begin with. However, the Etihad Guest program partners with American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One miles and Citi ThankYou Rewards and offers attractive redemption rates, especially on partners. This means that it will be easier to redeem your flexible points on El Al flights.

Related: How to get to Israel using points and miles

El Al's CEO Avigal Soreq explained, “This is the first commercial partnership that EL AL has established following the Abrahamic Accords. This is an important milestone as this codeshare will bring growing benefits to our passengers and to our respective airlines and countries. EL AL and Etihad teams have a common goal in this partnership, and we look forward to see it grow in the future."

Bottom line

Overall, this announcement is great news for travelers heading to the Middle East. Both airlines significantly scaled back their route networks due to the pandemic, so travelers will benefit from the joint network. Israel-bound travelers might appreciate Etihad's more premium inflight products and will have more ways to redeem points and miles for El Al flights.

Featured image by Shutterstock
Editorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.

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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.
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  • 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.
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  • $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.
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