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Etihad Airways introduced sweeping adjustments to its Etihad visitor loyalty program beginning in June 2024. There are some winners and losers beneath the brand new system.
Etihad Visitor is an under-the-radar frequent flyer program, and prospects can often discover beneficial associate candy spots on its printed rewards chart. For instance, some TPG workers desire to e book American Airways flights by way of Etihad as a result of they’ve obtained award redemptions for a fraction of the miles American costs.
Nonetheless, with the change to Etihad Visitor in June 2024, will this system be devalued?
Preserve studying to be taught concerning the adjustments coming to this airline loyalty program.
Etihad Visitor broadcasts adjustments to 2024 loyalty program
In constructive information, Etihad introduced that the price of financial system and business-class award redemptions will truly be decreased on “some widespread routes.” In accordance with Etihad's web site, financial system redemptions will begin at 5,000 miles, and enterprise class redemptions will begin at 15,000 miles.
Costs from the US to Abu Dhabi are presently the identical on the time of publishing, beginning at 60,000 miles in financial system or 120,000 miles in enterprise class. However, as a result of some airways function utilizing dynamic pricing, you possibly can typically lower your expenses by reserving business-class tickets by way of Etihad; Different worldwide tickets might price way more than this.
One other thrilling improvement coming to Etihad? Prospects will be capable to redeem miles to improve to Etihad's famend A380 lodging between Abu Dhabi and London Heathrow Airport (LHR) or New York Metropolis's John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK). Improve costs and phrases haven’t but been introduced.
As for the dangerous information, Etihad Visitor Miles will expire after 18 months and can solely be prolonged when you take a flight operated by Etihad or a associate airline inside that time-frame. That is much more restrictive than different packages that enable any incomes exercise (comparable to a small buying portal buy or a 1,000-mile buy) to increase the mileage expiration.
The brand new redemption cancellation charges are additionally prone to be unpopular, with Etihad Visitor Redemption canceling greater than 21 days earlier than departure topic to a 25% mileage penalty, with cancellations inside seven days of departure topic to a hefty penalty of as much as 75%. Once more, that is much more restrictive than competing packages; For instance, Qatar Airways Privilege Membership costs solely $25 to vary or cancel a redemption as much as 24 hours earlier than departure.
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Etihad visitor elite standing adjustments
Unique standing members will proceed to take pleasure in key advantages comparable to precedence check-in and boarding, complimentary Wi-Fi and extra mileage earnings. Nonetheless, Etihad introduced that Visitor members will now not be required to earn tiered segments to earn elite standing; As a substitute, tier miles would be the sole earnings metric for the airline.
From June 2024, Unique members will be capable to select from several types of perks: Core, Customized and Past. Along with the core advantages out there at every particular standing stage, the variety of customized advantages will even improve as your standing stage will increase. Silver tier members will be capable to select two personalized options, Gold tier members will be capable to select 4, and Platinum members will be capable to select 5.
Silver Tier members who earn 20,000 tier miles (10,000 from flights) in a membership 12 months can select two of the next:
- lounge entry in abu dhabi
- free seat choice
- 25% off on baggage costs
- two carbon offset vouchers
Etihad Visitor Gold tier members (earn 40,000 tier miles plus 20,000 from flights) can select 4 of the next customized advantages:
- Lounge entry in Abu Dhabi (with one visitor).
- one further checked bag
- Two free driver companies inside UAE
- Free chauffeur service for visitor seats in Enterprise or First Class within the UAE
- A free refund on guestseat bookings
- Two free dwelling check-ins inside UAE
- 4 carbon offset vouchers.
Gold tier members who earn 75,000 miles also can present the next advantages to household and mates (referred to as “Past Advantages”):
- Two business-class lounge passes
- a silver tier standing
- 10,000 Etihad Visitor Miles
Platinum tier members who earn 100,000 tier miles (with a minimal of 40,000 tier miles from flying) can select from 5 of the next advantages:
- First Class lounge entry in Abu Dhabi (with one visitor).
- one further checked bag
- Two upgrades on eligible routes
- Further legroom seats for as much as 4 company
- Journey free of charge on the earlier flight on the identical day
- Two free driver companies inside UAE
- Two free refunds on guestseat reserving
- 4 free dwelling check-ins inside the UAE
- six carbon offset vouchers
Moreover, a model new standing stage, Diamond Tier, is being launched for members who spend at the least $150,000 with Etihad Airways in 12 months. The advantages of this new tier are nonetheless to be introduced.
So far as Past perks go, these will probably be advantages which can be completely out there to Gold and Platinum tier members.
Gold tier members who earn 75,000 Tier Miles can present the next advantages to household and mates:
- Two business-class lounge passes
- Silver Tier Standing Enrollment
- 10,000 Etihad Visitor Bonus Miles
Platinum tier members who earn 175,000 miles also can give the next items to household and mates past the advantages:
- Three business-class lounge passes
- Three passes for precedence check-in, boarding and baggage
- 20,000 Etihad Visitor Miles
RELATED: Etihad brings flagship Airbus A380 – with personal onboard residence – again to US
floor stage
Total, there are a lot of adjustments coming to the Etihad visitor loyalty program, each constructive and detrimental. Hopefully, there will probably be extra reductions in rewards redemptions, though we haven't seen something vital on the time of publication.
Though charges haven’t but been revealed and could possibly be very excessive, having the ability to redeem miles to improve to Etihad's well-known A380 Residences is an thrilling improvement.
For members with elite standing, the choice to decide on particular advantages will probably be welcomed by some, though different packages supply all advantages moderately than forcing top-tier elite members to decide on.
Should you're seeking to redeem transferable miles for flights operated by Etihad, it's value contemplating Air Canada Aeroplan. The scheme has fastened charges for associate redemptions and a way more affordable redemption cancellation price than Etihad Visitor, which got here into impact from June.