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Etihad Transfer Partners | Etihad Guest Miles Guide

Which credit cards transfer to Etihad Guest?

Looking to transfer points to Etihad Guest?

Etihad Guest is the gateway to one of the world's most aspirational premium products, the Etihad A380 First Apartments, often considered alongside Singapore Suites and Emirates First Class as the pinnacle of commercial aviation. For U.S.-based points collectors, four major flexible points programs currently transfer to Etihad Guest at a 1:1 ratio: American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, and Bilt Rewards.

That breadth of access is changing soon. American Express has announced it will end its Etihad Guest transfer partnership effective June 30, 2026 — giving Amex cardholders only until June 29, 2026 to make 1:1 transfers. After that date, the program will rely entirely on Capital One, Citi, and Bilt for U.S. credit card transfers, with Marriott Bonvoy as a secondary hotel option.

Despite the upcoming Amex change, Etihad Guest remains valuable for specific redemptions — particularly Etihad's own A380 First Apartments and Business Studios out of Abu Dhabi, plus selective partner awards on American Airlines, JetBlue, Air Canada, ANA, and Korean Air. This guide explains Etihad Guest transfer partners, transfer rules, eligible cards, and the best ways to maximize your Etihad Guest miles.

Na-update Agosto 17, 2026 · 6 min read

Etihad

Mahahalagang detalye

Primary partner
American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points, Bilt Rewards
Mga Transfer Partner

Credit Cards That Transfer to Etihad Guest

American Express Membership Rewards

Ratio ng paglilipat1:1 (through June 29, 2026 only)

American Express Membership Rewards is currently a 1:1 transfer partner with Etihad Guest, but this partnership is ending. American Express has officially announced that cardholders will no longer be able to transfer Membership Rewards points to Etihad Guest Miles effective June 30, 2026. The last day to initiate a transfer is June 29, 2026.

After the partnership ends, Amex cardholders can still use points toward Etihad-operated flights through the Pay with Points feature in Amex Travel, but this typically delivers significantly less value than a direct 1:1 transfer. If you have Amex Membership Rewards points earmarked for an Etihad redemption, the deadline to transfer is approaching.

Eligible Amex Cards (1:1 Transfers)

  • American Express Platinum Card®
  • American Express® Gold Card
  • American Express® Green Card
  • The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express
  • American Express® Business Gold Card
  • The Business Platinum Card® from American Express

Transfer Details

Minimum Transfer1,000 Amex Membership Rewards points (in increments of 1,000 points)
Transfer SpeedTypically instant; Amex states allow up to 48 hours
Transfers are finalcannot be reversed
No U.S. federal excise tax feeapplies on Amex transfers to Etihad
Partnership endsJune 30, 2026 — final transfer date is June 29, 2026
View Amex Transfer Partners

Capital One Miles

Ratio ng paglilipat1:1

Capital One Miles transfer to Etihad Guest at a 1:1 ratio. Capital One has not announced any plans to end its Etihad Guest partnership, making it a reliable long-term pathway into the program for U.S. cardholders. With Amex departing in June 2026, Capital One becomes one of the most accessible options for building an Etihad Guest balance through credit card transfers.

Eligible Capital One Cards (1:1 Transfers)

  • Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card
  • Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card
  • Capital One Spark Miles for Business

Transfer Details

Minimum Transfer1,000 Capital One miles
Transfer SpeedTypically near-instant
Transfers are finaland cannot be reversed.
View Capital One Transfer Partners

Citi ThankYou Rewards

Ratio ng paglilipat1:1 from premium ThankYou cards (1,000 points = 1,000 Etihad Guest miles); 10:7 from no-annual-fee Citi cards

Citi ThankYou Points transfer to Etihad Guest at a 1:1 ratio from premium ThankYou cards such as the Citi Strata Premier and Citi Strata Elite, while points earned on no-annual-fee Citi cards (Citi Double Cash, Citi Custom Cash, Citi Rewards+) transfer at the weaker 10:7 ratio. If you hold both a premium and a no-annual-fee Citi card, pool your points to the premium card before transferring to lock in the 1:1 ratio.

Eligible Citi Cards (1:1 Transfers)

  • Citi Strata Premier℠ Card
  • Citi Strata Elite℠ Card
  • Citi Prestige® Card (legacy, no longer open to new applicants)

Transfer Details

Minimum Transfer1,000 Citi ThankYou points
Transfer SpeedTypically near-instant
All transfers must be made in increments of1,000 points
Transfers are finaland cannot be reversed.
View Citi Transfer Partners

Bilt Rewards

Ratio ng paglilipat1:1

Bilt Rewards added Etihad Guest as a transfer partner in October 2025, joining Amex, Capital One, and Citi as the fourth major U.S. credit card pathway into the program. Bilt is especially valuable for renters, as it remains the only rewards program that allows members to earn points on rent payments with no transaction fees. With Amex's departure looming, Bilt is positioned to become an increasingly important pathway for U.S. cardholders building Etihad Guest balances.

Eligible Bilt Cards (1:1 Transfers)

  • Bilt Mastercard® (original Wells Fargo-issued card, available to existing cardholders through February 6, 2026)
  • New Bilt credit cards issued by Cardless (launched February 7, 2026)

Transfer Details

Minimum Transfer1,000 Bilt Points (for Silver, Gold, or Platinum Bilt status members); 2,000 Bilt Points for Blue status members
Transfer SpeedTypically instant
All transfers must be made in increments of1,000 points
Transfers are finaland cannot be reversed.
View Bilt Transfer Partners
Limitadong Paggamit

Secondary Transfer Options (Limited Use)

Marriott Bonvoy

Ratio ng paglilipat3:1

(with a 5,000-mile bonus for every 60,000 Bonvoy points transferred, making the effective ratio approximately 2.4:1 — meaning 60,000 Bonvoy points yields 25,000 Etihad Guest miles)

Marriott Bonvoy is the only major hotel program that converts to Etihad Guest. While the ratio is poor compared to direct credit card transfers, the 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 Bonvoy points makes this a workable option for cardholders accumulating large Marriott balances who need to top up an Etihad Guest account before a specific redemption.

Transfer Details

Minimum Transfer3,000 Bonvoy points
Transfer TimeTypically 1–7 days

Best used for:

  • Small top-offs on a planned redemption only
Hindi Suportado

Programs That Do NOT Transfer to Etihad Guest

Several major rewards programs do not partner with Etihad Guest:

  • Chase Ultimate Rewards
  • Wells Fargo Rewards
  • Bank of America Premium Rewards
  • Hilton Honors
  • World of Hyatt
  • IHG One Rewards

If you are researching which cards transfer to Etihad Guest, the four major flexible points programs with direct 1:1 transfer paths are American Express Membership Rewards (through June 29, 2026), Capital One Miles, Citi ThankYou Points (premium cards), and Bilt Rewards. Chase Ultimate Rewards and Wells Fargo Rewards cardholders looking to book Etihad-operated flights can transfer points to other programs that partner with Etihad — including American Airlines AAdvantage (via Bilt), Air Canada Aeroplan (via Chase), or Air France-KLM Flying Blue (via Chase) — and book Etihad as a partner award through those programs.

Why It Matters

Strategic Context (Why This Matters)

Etihad Guest occupies a complicated position in the U.S. points-and-miles ecosystem, and four features explain why it remains relevant despite recent changes.

  • First, direct access to Etihad's iconic premium cabins. The Etihad A380 First Apartments and Business Studios are among the most luxurious products in commercial aviation, and Etihad Guest is the most direct path to these cabins. While AAdvantage and Aeroplan also partner with Etihad, Etihad Guest typically releases more award space to its own members for high-end redemptions.
  • Second, broad credit card transfer access (for now). Four major U.S. flexible points programs currently transfer to Etihad Guest at 1:1, giving cardholders multiple pathways into the program. After June 29, 2026, this drops to three (Capital One, Citi premium, Bilt) following Amex's departure.
  • Third, partner award redemptions on American Airlines, JetBlue, and Air Canada. Etihad Guest can be used to book partner flights at distance-based pricing that sometimes undercuts what those airlines charge through their own programs. A particularly notable sweet spot: JetBlue Mint redemptions from the U.S. East Coast to the Caribbean for as low as 40,000 Etihad Guest miles.
  • Fourth, alliance independence. Etihad is not a member of any of the three global airline alliances. Instead, it maintains direct partnerships with 25+ carriers including American Airlines, JetBlue, Air Canada, Lufthansa, ANA, Korean Air, China Eastern, Air France, KLM, Virgin Australia, and others — meaning Etihad Guest miles unlock award space across a uniquely diverse partner network that doesn't overlap with any single alliance.
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