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If Etihad joins Star Alliance, 75k points may put you in First/Apartment to the Middle East
Yesterday OMAAT published a post saying, on good authority, Star Alliance was potentially welcoming a new member: Etihad. My mind started spinning. Would this mean the end of the AA partnership? Should I make another speculative placeholder redemption for Etihad First Class with my AA miles? See, I’m an AA Exec Plat, and am working on retaining it and Alaska’s MVPG 75k this year. If they joined *A who knows how long AA miles could lock down a ticket? I don’t really have many miles in Star Alliance. I have access to them via Chase, Amex, and Citi, but I don’t actively pursue Star Alliance revenue fares. Then I looked at Singapore Airlines award chart for the Middle East. HOLY COW. If Etihad joins Star Alliance, 75k points may put you in First/Apartment to the Middle East.
Yes, I’m talking the Apartment and Diamond First/ First Suite
Where am I getting 75k?
Singapore Airlines award chart. First class is 150k roundtrip for partner awards.
Why is this a “MAY put you in First/Apartment?”
Etihad opens up their first class awards to partners right now. In fact it costs 115k AA to fly it from JFK to AUH. However, this deal is a maybe right now, and we have no idea what the terms will be…Etihad could restrict availability to partners for their most coveted awards. Singapore holds back First Class/Suites from it’s partners and makes them only avail to their own loyalists. Swiss Air restricts as well. Air France, albeiet SkyTeam, only releases to their Top Tier status holders! You get my point…
Put out those good vibes!
What are some other rates?
American at 115k
Aeroplan at 115k
United is a whopping 140k!!!
To end on a high note…this would also mean that the INCREDIBLE Etihad Business Studio would come in at only 57,500 Singapore Krisflyer from the States to the middle east.
To go even further…look at Europe to the Middle East?! 35k!!!!
You can fly the Apartment on the A380 from AUH to LHR. THAT IS RIDICS!!!!
It would actually be 140k united miles. The rate you have is for UA metal, the partner miles are way higher!
AHHHH good catch – Thank you! I’ll make the switch
what about fuel surcharge ?
Hey Choi – I’d assume there would be some…
and if my grandmother had balls she would be my grandfather. a whole post based on ifs, maybes, and total conjecture about something that hasn’t happened. sott.
hahaha thanks for reading!
Lufthansa F experience destroys EY!! I can already book that for 75K. and keep in mind SQ charges big bucks in fuel surcharges. Usually $650 to the Middle East. I can book 110K united and save the $650
Ryan – not sure everyone would choose Lufthansa First with a layover to a direct Etihad Apartment, but to each their own…we’ll see what fees are added if the deal happens. How are you getting 110k? United partner is 80k+60k in First.
Ryan – I’m not sure LH “destroys” EY. I’ve flown both in F and, yes, LH is awesome but EY service was even better (“chef” was excellent and crew were super attentive). Both are amazing products IMHO!