Bilt Rewards has added Etihad Guest as a 1:1 transfer partner. I like the Abu Dhabi-based airline. And if you want their best award availability, you need to use their own miles. You can transfer points direct into Etihad with American Express, Citibank and Capital One. And now Bilt as well.

• Air Canada, while nominally a partner, hasn’t been great for award availability.
  
• American used to be awesome for this. I’ve redeemed countless Etihad first class and First Apartment awards through AAdvantage. But availability for premium cabin space largely got restrited to only booking a month out, and then even inside a month is no longer as good as what Etihad offers its own members.

But if you want to book Etihad award space long haul it’s actually been pretty good using their own miles lately. In fact there’s been a decent amount of first class space from New York JFK, and Airbus A380 First Apartment space from Toronto. I anticpate that when Etihad launches Charlotte service those awards will be pretty easy to get.

• JFK – Abu Dhabi in first class prices at 160,000 miles one-way

  

• Toronto – Abu Dhabi in First Apartment prices at 200,000 miles one-way

  

  

I’ve used Etihad to connect onward to the Maldives and to India many times. However, I avoid keeping any points in Etihad Guest and wouldn’t make a transfer to them except for an award I am certain I can book and that I am certain I will fly.

1. Etihad Guest miles expire after 18 months of inactivity and the only way to extend them is to credit a flight to the program. Points transfers or other earning (or redemptions) won’t do it.

2. Change penalties are absolutely draconian – and complex.
   • Changes more than 21 days in advance cost AED 100 (US$27)
     
   • Between 8 and 21 days prior to departure it’s AED 200 (US$54)
     
   • No changes at all – total miles forfeit – within a week of departure.

   The priciest Deluxe extra mileage awards do allow AED $400 (US108) changes per person between 1 and 7 days prior to departure, but not within 24 hours of scheduled flight.

I like the airline. I like Abu Dhabi airport. I like their first class lounge as well. I just don’t love the mileage program anymore.

Etihad used to have amazing value partner awards but in most cases when you consider surcharges and change penalties there’s almost always a better way to book awards with most of their partners. Virtually all readers will see Etihad points transfers as a play to redeem for Etihad flights.

This is potentially strategically useful. More partners are better. And you can now transfer Bilt Rewards points to 21 different partners, which outpaces Chase Ultimate Rewards, Capital One, and American Express:

• Star Alliance: Air Canada Aeroplan, Turkish Miles & Smiles, United Airlines MileagePlus, Avianca LifeMiles, TAP Air Portugal Miles&Go
  
• oneworld: Cathay Pacific Asia Miles, Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan, Iberia Plus, British Airways Club, Japan Airlines Mileage Bank
  
• SkyTeam: Air France KLM Flying Blue, Virgin Atlantic Flying Club
  
• Non-alliance: Emirates Skywards, Southwest Airlines, Aer Lingus Aer Club, Etihad Guest
  
• Hotels: World Of Hyatt, IHG One Rewards, Marriott Bonvoy, Hilton Honors, Accor ALL – Accor Live Limitless

Bilt Rewards points can also be used to buy travel at 1.25 cents apiece through their portal which is increasingly ‘book direct’ which means you can still get service directly from the airline (not Expedia reps) and earn hotel elite status credit and points.