American Express Membership Rewards will discontinue points transfers to the Etihad Guest loyalty program on June 30. This means cardholders will no longer be able to convert Amex points directly into Etihad miles after that date.
Why this matters: The Etihad Guest program has been a valuable workaround for booking partner airline flights, particularly American Airlines, using Amex points. While Amex does not directly transfer to American Airlines AAdvantage, the Etihad program’s codeshare agreement allowed members to redeem Amex points for flights on airlines like American, Air Canada, and Korean Air.
The program was especially useful for low-cost domestic travel. For example, flights between Philadelphia and Florida could be booked for as little as 12,000 Etihad Guest miles plus taxes and fees, offering significant savings.
What are the alternatives?
After June 29, Amex cardholders can still use their points to offset the cost of Etihad flights through the Amex Travel portal using “Pay with Points.” However, this method generally provides less value compared to the direct points transfer.
Other programs unaffected:
The Etihad Guest program will remain a transfer partner for Bilt, Capital One, and Citi ThankYou Rewards. This means holders of those cards will still be able to convert their rewards to Etihad miles.
The end of Amex transfers to Etihad Guest marks another shift in the points and miles landscape. While other options remain, the change removes a popular method for maximizing value when booking partner flights.
