Etihad has relaunched Airbus A380 service on the London – Abu Dhabi route, and First Apartment award seats are wide open between now and early June 2024.
American AAdvantage charges just 62,500 miles each way for these seats, and you can connect onward within the Mideast, India, the Maldives or anywhere within the “Indian Subcontinent” region for no additional miles.
Or for 115,000 AAdvantage miles you can fly first class from the U.S. to London, connect to London – Abu Dhabi, and then on to wherever you’d like in the Mideast or Indian Subcontinent.
- The American Airlines website has been glitching for me this morning, even apart from booking or holding awards. The space doesn’t just show up for American AAdvantage, it shows up on the Etihad Guest website as well, so shouldn’t be phantom. Just call.
- In theory you should be able to book these seats using Air Canada Aeroplan miles, but the space isn’t coming up for me on the Aeroplan site. You might try calling. Aeroplan is an American Express, Capital One, Bilt and Chase transfer partner.
- Etihad Guest – which is a transfer partner of American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One, and Citibank – charges a whopping 140,006 miles for a one-way London – Abu Dhabi redemption plus higher fees. On the plus side you’d be eligible for a not-inexpensive paid upgrade to The Residence.
Back in March, when Etihad first announced the A380’s return to this route, award space was wide open for the entire cabin in some cases. Right now you’ll mostly see it only for two passengers. But you have an incredible pick of dates.
It’s exciting that one of the best first class products in the world is so available on points right now, and has returned to the skies – something that was very much in doubt during the pandemic.
Do watch the aircraft you’re booking though because Etihad has four London flights per day, and two are generally operated by the A380. Don’t wait as I do not expect such wide open first class award space to remain available for long.
(HT: One Mile at a Time)
Thanks for the heads up! What a way to travel. Etihad first class is more elegant than Emirates decadent first class in the a380. I prefer elegance over decadent so this is a win.
As someone living in North America, AUH-LHR is a route that is very difficult to utilize for my travels.
I really hope they will fly the A380 to the US again at some point.
Nothing with Aeroplan.
Still blocked.
But blogs quiet.
Found a few flights that would work for me but I get the dreaded this flight is no longer available and then a return to screen showing that the flight is available. Thanks AA IT. Gave up on trying to book it
Booked. Thx. (And I was ready to slum it in Q Suites ).
I was wondering when this news would break. I ticketed a week ago with AA miles. or so, then confirm BA new First on 777 with 70,000 AS miles
Also have AUH IAD ticketed for 115,000 on the Sweet DreamLiner one of my favorite rides but will delay that 😉
Which airline do I use( new to using miles)
I meant to book with. No one at AA had any idea what I want.
Any news on when this starts showing up on Air Canada? Quite frustrating to know there’s availability but no flights loaded on the AC side to redeem
Etihad guest seats on A380 First class no longer visible on AA.com or phone agents. Even Australia agents cant see.