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Etihad First Class space is widely available for next summer between the United States and Abu Dhabi for two passengers with connections throughout the Middle East and Indian Subcontinent. The award space costs 90,000 American Airlines miles one way plus low taxes.
Until Tuesday (10/27/15), the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® offers 75,000 bonus American Airlines miles after spending $7,500 in the first three months. That means you’ll have 82,500 American Airlines miles after meeting the spending requirement.
Included in the $450 annual fee, the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard® offers Admirals Club lounge membership, meaning you can access over 90 American Airlines Clubs in airports around the world whenever you’re flying–even if you’re not flying on American. Plus you can bring in any two guests for free OR your spouse and all children under 18 for free on each visit.
I have never flown Etihad First Class. I am booked to fly Etihad First Class on the A380 in January. Here’s how I booked that.
And I booked myself an award in Etihad First Class on the Dreamliner that I will have to cancel.
Etihad First Class looks awesome, and it is widely available between the United States and Abu Dhabi for two passengers next summer. American Airlines charges 90,000 miles each way on the route. The price is the same no matter where you start in North America and no matter where you end in the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, Maldives, or Egypt (or vice versa.)
To search for Etihad award space that American Airlines miles can book, create a free Etihad Airways account, and go to the award search page. American miles can book all the space in the Guest Seat column. Ignore the number of miles and cash listed in that column. You will pay 90,000 American Airlines miles plus low taxes (and not the fuel surcharges you’d pay if you booked with Etihad miles.)
New York to Abu Dhabi
Award space is great in Summer 2016 from New York to Abu Dhabi on the 777, not on the A380.
You can quickly see a week of availability above the daily results. All the days that say “Miles 117556” have award space American Airlines miles can book. (Again you will pay 90,000 American Airlines miles plus low taxes, but knowing the price Etihad charges for its Guest award space will allow you to scan a week of award space at once.) In the week below, every day except June 27 has Guest award space.
Washington-Dulles to Abu Dhabi
This route features the 787 Dreamliner. Guest award space (“Miles 121222”) is available almost every day in June.
That space is available for two people on the overwhelming majority of days.
Abu Dhabi to Los Angeles
Award space from Abu Dhabi to the United States is also wide open. There is space every day this week in June 2016 (“Miles 143981”):
The space is, again, for two passengers.
Where Etihad Flies
Etihad flies to Abu Dhabi from six American cities, and connects from Abu Dhabi throughout the Middle East, Indian Subcontinent, the Maldives, and Egypt, which American Airlines’ award chart has in one huge region.
Bottom Line
There is fantastic space in Etihad First Class for two passengers for 90,000 American Airlines miles each way to Abu Dhabi and beyond. Book that space now or with the miles you get from the Citi® / AAdvantage® Executive World Elite™ MasterCard®. It offers 75,000 bonus American Airlines miles after spending $7,500 in the first three months only until Tuesday. That means you’ll have 82,500 American Airlines miles after meeting the spending requirement.
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