Etihad Guest now has a second transfer bonus opportunity, joining the 20% transfer bonus from American Express, for the month of March. There is one small, but very important, detail. As this promotion is run by Etihad, only select flexible point currencies within the United States qualify. While both American Express and Citi fall out-of-scope, Capital One remains in-scope for the promotion.

Capital One To Etihad Transfer Bonus Details

Between March 1st, 2024 and March 31st, 2024, you can receive up to a 40% bonus when transferring Capital One Miles to Etihad Guest. Normally, the transfer ratio is 1.0 : 1.0, but with the bonus it increases up to 1.0 : 1.4. You must transfer in lots of 1,000 Capital One Miles, which makes the transfer bonus an exchange of 1,000 Capital One Miles for up to 1,400 Etihad Guest miles. However, unlike a traditional transfer bonus, this promotion is tiered:

• Receive a 20% bonus on transfers up to 10,000 Capital One Miles
• Receive a 30% bonus on transfers between 10,000 and 50,000 Capital One Miles
• Receive a 40% bonus on transfers of more than 50,000 Capital One Miles

While the initial transfer is normally instant, it can take up to 24-48 hours, but the bonus posting will happen within 15 days of March 31st, 2024.

Note: Etihad Guest is offering this transfer bonus opportunity and not Capital One. As such, you will not see the transfer bonus on the Capital One website and the Etihad Guest transfer bonus will post directly with Etihad Guest in a secondary transaction.

Credit. Etihad. Etihad 20%-40% Transfer Bonus Promotion.

Etihad Guest Award Booking “Sweet Spots”

The award chart for Etihad Guest has been severely lacking for “sweet spot” redemptions in recent years. However, Etihad recently announced a “shake-up” for the Guest program with some significant, positive changes. This includes between 25%-30% reductions in the redemption rates for First and Business Class on Etihad operated flights. With that in mind, here are some of the “best” options for those Etihad Guest miles:

Economy Class Deals

• Fly Brussels From The United States To Belgium For 33,000 Points (Normally 45,000 Points)
• Fly Royal Air Maroc From The United States To Morocco For 33,000 Points (Normally 45,000 Points)
• Fly American From The United States To Europe For 43,000 Points (Normally 60,000 Points)
• Fly Air Serbia From The United States To Serbia For 43,000 Points (Normally 60,000 Points)
• Fly Etihad From The United States To U.A.E. For 43,000 Points (Normally 60,000 Points)

Business Class Deals

• Fly American From The United States To Europe For 58,000 Points (Normally 80,000 Points)
• Fly Royal Air Maroc From The United States To Morocco For 58,000 Points (Normally 80,000 Points)
• Fly ANA From The United States To Japan For 72,000 Points (Normally 100,000 Points)
• Fly Air Serbia From The United States To Serbia For 72,000 Points (Normally 100,000 Points)
• Fly Etihad From The United States To U.A.E. For 86,000 Points (Normally 120,000 Points)

First Class Deals

• Fly Etihad From The United States To U.A.E. For 115,000 Points (Normally 160,000 Points)

As with all award bookings, take specific note of the potential taxes and fess. On some Etihad Guest redemptions, the one-way taxes and fees can reach $500+ per person.

Credit. GlobalNews. Etihad First Class “The Apartment.”

Final Thoughts

The Etihad Guest program is a classic case of “buyer beware.” On the one hand, the Etihad Guest program is one of the best to book Etihad First and Business Class flights, as the entire award calendar is available (vs 30-60 days out for American Airlines). The 40% transfer bonus, brings the point cost down to a “reasonable” level, in line with other partner programs. On the other hand, the program is in flux and has some very customer unfriendly policies. Two specific ones of note are the new mileage expiration policy and the cancelation fees on award tickets.