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If Etihad joins Star Alliance, 75k points may put you in First/Apartment to the Middle East

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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.

Screen Shot 2017-02-01 at 12.53.27 PM

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

Screen Shot 2017-02-01 at 1.31.26 PM

Aeroplan at 115k

Screen Shot 2017-02-01 at 1.30.47 PM

United is a whopping 140k!!!

Screen Shot 2017-02-01 at 2.22.21 PM

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.

Etihad 787 Business Stuido - 5 of 153

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!!!!

Screen Shot 2017-02-01 at 2.02.53 PM

 

Opinions, reviews, analyses & recommendations are the author’s alone, and have not been reviewed, endorsed or approved by any of these entities.

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10 Comments

  • […] If Etihad joins Star Alliance, 75k points may put you in First/Apartment to the Middle East Courtesy of etihad.com […]

  • Ryan February 1, 2017

    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

    • Miles February 1, 2017

      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.

    • Angel February 2, 2017

      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!

  • ZO February 1, 2017

    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.

    • Miles February 1, 2017

      hahaha thanks for reading!

  • choi February 1, 2017

    what about fuel surcharge ?

    • Miles February 1, 2017

      Hey Choi – I’d assume there would be some…

  • Charlie February 1, 2017

    It would actually be 140k united miles. The rate you have is for UA metal, the partner miles are way higher!

    • Miles February 1, 2017

      AHHHH good catch – Thank you! I’ll make the switch

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