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| Airline transfer bonuses |
| by Brian Kelly |
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A great way to stretch your points and miles and get maximum value is by transferring them to a partner airline loyalty program. I recently took advantage of a huge 40% transfer bonus from Capital One to Etihad Guest — and you can, too, before the transfer bonus expires March 31.
I booked first class, which you can get for as little as 160,000 Etihad miles — or 115,000 Capital One miles with the 40% transfer bonus. If I paid cash for those seats they would be $10,000 apiece, so this is a great deal for your miles, especially for a 13-hour journey to Abu Dhabi.
Then I paid the cash upgrade to reserve The Residence, Etihad’s flagship product. It is actually much more than a seat: It’s a three-room suite for up to two passengers, complete with a living room, a bedroom, and a private lavatory with a shower.
This was my fourth time flying The Residence, and with two kids, it was so nice to be able to close the door to our own private area and not disturb other passengers.
Etihad flies nonstop to the following U.S. destinations: Boston Logan International Airport (BOS), New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), Washington D.C.’s Dulles International Airport (IAD), Chicago O’Hare International Airport and, starting in July, Hartsfield–Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL).
Etihad’s business-class and economy seats are also luxurious, and Abu Dhabi is a great stopover destination for several days as a way to split up the long journey to Asia or Africa.
I spent three days at Qasr Al Sarab by Anantara, and it was pure magic — I can’t recommend it enough. A two-and-a-half-hour drive south of Abu Dhabi is this castle-like resort rising out of the red sand desert — originally built by the Royal family and it shows! The resort offers camel rides, falcon shows and a list of activities like dune bashing and desert safaris, or you can simply relax by the pool or with a treatment at the amazing spa.
If you’re looking to leverage transfer bonuses for a dream redemption, the timing could not be better. There are several other airline transfer bonuses available now, along with a 50% transfer bonus to a popular hotel program. Check out our transfer bonus guide for full details.
If you want to be ready for potential future transfer bonuses using Capital One miles, and get in on a limited-time elevated offer, the Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card has its best welcome offer in years, worth up to $1,000 in travel. You can earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 on purchases within the first three months from account opening. Plus, you’ll receive a $250 Capital One Travel credit valid for your first cardholder year.
Safe travels,
BK
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| Photo Credit: BRIAN KELLY/THE POINTS GUY. |
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