By Bryce Casson, Founder · Cardocrat · Updated June 2026
The short answer: In March 2023 Etihad Guest replaced its varied, sweet-spot-filled partner award charts with a single consolidated chart, sending some redemptions soaring, for example American Flagship First from Los Angeles to Sydney from 62,500 miles to 200,000, more than triple. In 2024 Etihad lowered its own-flight rates by up to 30 percent and reduced some partner premium rates, recovering part of the lost value, but the famous partner sweet spots are gone.
The brutal March 2023 chart
For years Etihad Guest was a sweet-spot machine, with award prices that varied by route and partner and several outstanding deals on partner airlines. In March 2023 Etihad scrapped that in favor of a single consolidated partner award chart, and the damage was severe. A booking like American Flagship First from Los Angeles to Sydney went from 62,500 Etihad miles to 200,000, more than triple the old price, and cheap partner redemptions such as American transcontinental first class at 25,000 miles disappeared entirely. Frequent-flyer blogs called it one of the most brutal devaluations of the year.
The partial 2024 recovery
Unusually, Etihad walked back some of the pain in 2024. It reduced award rates on Etihad-operated flights by as much as 30 percent across the board and lowered some partner business and first-class rates, helping the program recoup part of the value lost in 2023. That makes Etihad one of the few programs to partially reverse a major devaluation, though the recovery applied mainly to Etihad own metal, not the partner sweet spots that made the program famous.
Where Etihad Guest stands now
Today Etihad Guest is most useful for Etihad own flights, including its excellent business class and the A380 First Apartments, where the 2024 reductions restored reasonable pricing. The partner chart remains far more expensive than the pre-2023 sweet spots, so the old strategy of using Etihad miles for cheap American or other partner premium awards no longer works. Etihad miles come from transferable currencies including Amex, Citi, and Capital One, often with transfer bonuses. Book Etihad metal when the price is fair, and look elsewhere for partner awards. See the devaluation overview.
Frequently asked questions
What happened to Etihad Guest in 2023?
In March 2023 Etihad replaced its route- and partner-specific award charts with a single consolidated chart, eliminating many sweet spots. Some redemptions more than tripled, such as American Flagship First Los Angeles to Sydney rising from 62,500 to 200,000 miles.
Did Etihad Guest improve its rates in 2024?
Yes, partially. In 2024 Etihad cut award rates on its own flights by up to 30 percent and lowered some partner premium rates, recovering part of the value lost in the 2023 devaluation, mainly on Etihad-operated awards rather than partners.
Are Etihad Guest miles still worth it?
They are best for Etihad own flights, including its premium cabins, where 2024 reductions restored fair pricing. The partner sweet spots that once defined the program are gone, so it is far less valuable for booking other airlines than it was before 2023.
Where do Etihad Guest miles come from?
From transferable bank currencies including American Express Membership Rewards, Citi ThankYou, and Capital One miles, frequently with transfer bonuses. Because rates can change, confirm the current award price before transferring.
Bryce Casson, Founder of Cardocrat. Every card is ranked by what it actually returns, with all points valued at a flat 1 cent and offers verified against issuer sources. About the author.
