Etihad Airways has an amazing inflight product in firstclass and enterprise class, and traditionally it has been fairly straightforward to redeem factors for these experiences. Specifically, Etihad has partnered with American AAdvantage and Air Canada Aeroplan, that means you would redeem each factors currencies for journey in Etihad premium cabins.
Sadly in current months, it looks as if truly redeeming associate miles for journey in Etihad premium cabins has turn into more difficult. On the time, I couldn’t determine any rhyme or cause to when area was bookable with associate packages, and when it wasn’t. It appears like some developments are rising, within the type of a potential new 60-day rule.
Let me share how I view the present state of issues, because it’s sort of advanced.
Etihad first & enterprise class awards with associate miles
Traditionally, Etihad has usually made the identical saver stage award seats out there to members of its personal Etihad Visitor program, as to members of associate packages.
That’s now not the case, and the precise scenario appears to differ between Air Canada Aeroplan and American AAdvantage. So let’s discuss what you’ll be able to anticipate when making an attempt to redeem these currencies for journey on Etihad.
Redeeming Air Canada Aeroplan factors on Etihad
For a number of months now, Air Canada Aeroplan hasn’t had entry to a overwhelming majority of Etihad premium cabin award availability. It’s nonetheless potential to redeem Aeroplan factors for journey in Etihad economic system, however there appears to be nearly no premium cabin award area.
This lack of availability applies each via aircanada.com and thru Air Canada contact facilities. Whereas we’ve been informed that the partnership with Etihad will proceed, it’s anybody’s guess if/after we see premium award seats once more. The entire scenario is sort of unusual. So for all sensible functions, don’t plan on redeeming Aeroplan factors for Etihad premium cabins, a minimum of in the meanwhile.
Redeeming American AAdvantage miles on Etihad
Traditionally, American AAdvantage has had entry to most Etihad saver stage award availability. Now, there have lengthy been some quirks with these redemptions, with some awards being bookable on-line, and a few awards requiring ringing up a overseas American Airways name heart to get entry to the area. That gave the impression to be extra a technological and level of sale restriction, somewhat than intentional blocking.
Nonetheless, that has modified, so right here’s the present actuality of issues:
- American AAdvantage has entry to only about the entire GuestSeat availability that Etihad Visitor members have entry to
- American AAdvantage appears to have entry to Etihad GuestSeat availability for firstclass and enterprise class, however solely inside 60 days of departure
- It appears that evidently most award availability that American AAdvantage has entry to is now bookable instantly on aa.com, and American’s overseas name facilities now not have entry to further award area on Etihad
The 60-day rule appears to be a brand new factor. After all I can’t assure that it is a new long run strategy to releasing area, however every thing factors in that course.
Simply to provide some examples, there’s Etihad enterprise class award area nearly each day from Abu Dhabi to Muscat, till February 18, when it completely drops off. That’s precisely 60 days from right now.
For Abu Dhabi to Washington, you’ll discover firstclass awards bookable via American AAdvantage near departure, however then nothing extra. That displays all the provision via Etihad Visitor inside 60 days.
For Abu Dhabi to Geneva, you’ll discover firstclass awards bookable via American AAdvantage throughout quite a lot of dates within the coming 60 days, however then nothing. As soon as once more, this displays all the provision via Etihad Visitor inside 60 days.
What’s happening with Etihad award availability?
Whereas it’s exhausting to know precisely what’s happening right here, or the way it will evolve, I do have just a few observations.
Etihad’s personal frequent flyer program, Etihad Visitor, appears to have modified up the way it releases award availability usually. Again within the day, Etihad could be beneficiant with making first and enterprise class seats out there as awards on the final minute, when a cabin had lots of unsold seats. That’s now not constantly the case, even via the Etihad Visitor program.
I see largely empty firstclass and enterprise class cabins within the days and weeks main as much as departure, and there’s nonetheless usually no award area. So I believe Etihad’s new administration group is taking a brand new strategy to award availability, presumably to maximise profitably, or another aim.
Then there are the completely different conditions with Air Canada Aeroplan and American AAdvantage.
Within the case of Etihad awards with Air Canada Aeroplan factors, clearly there’s one thing happening between the 2 airways. I don’t know if it’s a operate of negotiating pricing, a expertise limitation, or what. However Aeroplan appears to only not have entry to Etihad premium area, for no matter cause.
The scenario with American AAdvantage miles is completely different, although. AAdvantage now has entry to Etihad premium award area, however solely within the 60 days main as much as departure. Whereas it’s potential that this modifications, it appears to me like a deliberate coverage, and there’s definitely precedent for this, as Etihad isn’t the primary airline proscribing award availability to companions till nearer to departure.
I think that is a part of Etihad’s administration making an attempt to overtake the Etihad Visitor program and make it extra worthwhile and interesting. There’s one thing to be stated for less than making associate award area in premium cabins out there 60 days out, as a result of it creates fairly an incentive to earn instantly with Etihad Visitor.
As a shopper, I in fact love when companions have entry to all award area, since I like benefiting from award arbitrage alternatives, and reserving via the packages that supply one of the best pricing. But when I ran a frequent flyer program, I’d in all probability equally attempt to take further motion to encourage direct bookings, because it’s doubtlessly a lot larger margin, and in addition has extra upside when it comes to engagement with the airline.
Backside line
Etihad has modified the way it releases award area. Air Canada Aeroplan doesn’t appear to have entry to any premium Etihad award seats, whereas American AAdvantage appears to have entry to premium Etihad award seats inside 60 days of departure.
On prime of that, Etihad has usually modified the way it releases award availability, even to its personal Etihad Visitor members. Etihad releases fewer award seats to its personal members than prior to now, particularly final minute.
I’m comfortable we’re a minimum of seeing some pattern with American AAdvantage availability on Etihad, because it provides us one thing to work with. If the 60-day rule sticks, I wouldn’t think about that the worst factor on the earth, because it’s higher than Etihad completely proscribing premium award area to companions. It additionally signifies that we’ll be capable of guide Etihad’s A380 firstclass to New York, we’ll simply should be affected person.
What do you make of the present Etihad associate award area scenario?
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