Etihad Airways introduced a big selection of modifications coming to its Etihad Visitor loyalty program beginning in June 2024. There are some winners and losers below the brand new system.
Etihad Visitor is an under-the-radar frequent flyer program, and prospects can normally discover priceless associate candy spots on its printed award charts. For instance, some TPG staffers want to ebook American Airways flights by means of Etihad as they’ve discovered award redemptions for a fraction of the miles American was charging.
Nonetheless, with modifications coming to Etihad Visitor in June 2024, will this system endure a devaluation?
Preserve studying to search out out concerning the modifications coming to this airline loyalty program.
Etihad Visitor pronounces 2024 loyalty program modifications
In constructive information, Etihad introduced that the price of economic system and business-class award redemptions on “some fashionable routes” will really lower. Economic system redemptions will begin from 5,000 miles, and enterprise class redemptions from 15,000 miles, per Etihad’s web site.
Pricing from the U.S. to Abu Dhabi at present stays the identical on the time of publication, ranging from 60,000 miles in economic system or 120,000 miles in enterprise class every means. However, as a result of some airways function utilizing dynamic pricing, you possibly can typically lower your expenses by reserving business-class tickets by means of Etihad; different worldwide tickets may be a lot greater than this.
One other thrilling growth coming to Etihad? Clients will have the ability to redeem miles to improve to Etihad’s well-known A380 Residence between Abu Dhabi and London’s Heathrow Airport (LHR) or New York Metropolis’s John F. Kennedy Worldwide Airport (JFK). Improve costs and guidelines haven’t but been introduced.
As for the not-so-good information, Etihad Visitor miles will expire after 18 months and can solely prolong should you take a flight operated by Etihad or a associate airline inside that timeframe. That is way more restrictive than different packages that enable any incomes exercise (resembling a small purchasing portal buy or buying 1,000 miles) to increase the mileage expiration.
New redemption cancellation costs are more likely to even be unpopular, with a 25% mileage penalty when canceling an Etihad Visitor redemption greater than 21 days earlier than departure, as much as a steep 75% penalty for cancellations inside seven days of departure. Once more, that is way more restrictive than competing packages; as an illustration, Qatar Airways Privilege Membership costs simply $25 to vary or cancel a redemption as much as 24 hours earlier than departure.
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Etihad Visitor elite standing modifications
Elite standing members will proceed to obtain core advantages like precedence check-in and boarding, complimentary Wi-Fi and extra mileage earnings. Nonetheless, Etihad introduced that Visitor members will now not must earn Tier Segments to earn elite standing; as an alternative, Tier Miles would be the sole incomes metric for the airline.
From June 2024, elite members will have the ability to select various kinds of perks: Core, Customized and Past. Along with the Core perks accessible at every elite standing Tier, the variety of Customized advantages will enhance as your standing stage will increase. Silver Tier members will have the ability to select two personalized perks, Gold Tier can select 4 and Platinum members can select 5.
Silver Tier members who earn 20,000 Tier Miles in a membership yr (10,000 from flying) can select two of the next:
- Lounge entry in Abu Dhabi
- Free seat choice
- 25% low cost on baggage charges
- Two carbon offset vouchers
Etihad Visitor Gold Tier members (incomes 40,000 Tier Miles with 20,000 from flying) can select 4 of the next customized advantages:
- Lounge entry (with one visitor) in Abu Dhabi
- One additional checked bag
- Two free chauffeur providers inside the UAE
- Free chauffeur service within the UAE for GuestsSeats in Enterprise or First Class
- One free refund on a GuestSeat reserving
- Two free Dwelling check-ins inside the UAE
- 4 carbon offset vouchers.
Gold Tier members who earn 75,000 miles may reward the next advantages to household and associates (referred to as “past advantages”):
- Two business-class lounge passes
- One 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 5 of the next advantages:
- First-class lounge entry (with one visitor) in Abu Dhabi
- One additional checked bag
- Two upgrades on eligible routes
- Additional legroom seats for as much as 4 friends
- Transfer to an earlier flight the identical day free of charge
- Two free chauffeur providers inside the UAE
- Two free refunds on a 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 these members spending a minimum of $150,000 with Etihad Airways in 12 months. The advantages of this new tier are nonetheless to be introduced.
As for Past perks, these will likely be advantages which are completely accessible to Gold and Platinum Tier members.
Gold Tier members who earn 75,000 Tier Miles can reward the next advantages to household and associates:
- Two business-class lounge passes
- Silver Tier Standing nomination
- 10,000 Etihad Visitor Bonus Miles
Platinum Tier members who earn 175,000 miles may reward the next past advantages to household and associates:
- Three business-class lounge passes
- Three passes for precedence check-in, boarding and baggage
- 20,000 Etihad Visitor miles
Associated: Etihad brings flagship Airbus A380 — with personal onboard Residence — again to the US
Backside line
General, there are lots of modifications coming to the Etihad Visitor loyalty program, each constructive and destructive. Hopefully, there will likely be extra reductions to award redemptions, although we’ve not seen something vital on the time of publication.
Though the charges have but to be revealed and could also be steep, with the ability to redeem miles to improve to Etihad’s well-known A380 Residence is an thrilling growth.
For elite-status members, the choice of selecting elite advantages will likely be welcomed by some, although different packages provide top-tier elite members all advantages quite than forcing them to decide on.
In case you are seeking to redeem transferable miles for flights operated by Etihad, it is price contemplating Air Canada Aeroplan. The plan has mounted charges for associate redemptions and way more affordable redemption cancellation charges than Etihad Visitor will implement beginning in June.
