Etihad Award Flights: Complete Guide to Booking Business and First Class with Credit Card Points

[@LivingTheDream21]

Love the simple step by step approach and listing all possible miles with each airline so we can do it the same way. Great video!! Saving this to re-watch when I'm ready to use points. ❤

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching! 😁

[@kevinManhattan]

I should hire you to do my travel schedules!! you are so knowledgable! Thanks Mel! It's an awesome video!

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Haha thanks so much!!

[@sharoncole5093]

You are so good at explaining everything! Thank you!

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

I'm glad you found it helpful!!

[@get2dachoppa249]

3:36 Unfortunately it was just announced that BILT will no longer be partnering with AA from this June, but will be gaining Alaska. I got the BILT card mainly because it transferred out to AA, and I live in AAs biggest hub city, and I utilize their Caribbean network out of Miami frequently. On the Etihad side, I just booked a flight from Abu Dhabi to Singapore in business with my Guest Miles. I’m not a frequent Etihad traveler (average one trip every 2 years) even thought I’m in that part of the world for work a whole lot. Their biz prices are too high for my wallet.

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

I heard that news too, and I'm so disappointed!! But thankfully there are other fairly easy ways to earn AA miles. Enjoy your Ethiad flight, and let's hope Alaska ends up being a good thing - they do offer some good sweet spots at least!

[@sandahildebrand2444]

More great booking advice! Thank you!!

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

My pleasure! Glad it was helpful!

[@JosephHaryanto-lk8bw]

You are so good at giving us step by step instructions

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Thank you!! I’m glad to hear it’s helpful! 😄

[@TheMinecraftJRB]

Very educational thank you

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

My pleasure!! :)

[@morselsthecat]

extremely helpful!!

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

So glad!😄

[@philbrassington557]

Great Video Mel, keep them coming

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Thank you!♥️

[@yanli7011]

Very helpful❤

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

I'm glad! Thanks!

[@isabellabrown8388]

BOOKED!!!🎉🎉🎉

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

🥳🥳🥳

[@saloni006]

How do you book the smaller/domestic routes after the longer routes (direct flights) are booked using miles? Would they not be on separate itinerary? I am looking to fly out of CVG (ohio) via Boston/JFK/ORD to Abu Dhabi.

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Yes for a segment like that, I'd book a separate flight but give myself plenty of time to account for unexpected issues.

[@nobodynobody1235]

I followed your video on japan award by searching united and AA, there's nothing through February 2025 on JAL or ANA

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Yes, far-out availability has been particularly bad lately. I’m hoping both ANA and JAL will start releasing more availability one of these days. It’s definitely challenging right now!

[@NurseMichaelTravels]

Congrats on 1k subs!

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Thanks so much!! I was very excited to see I hit 1K this morning!! ❤️🥳

[@abhimanyutyagi9676]

Hey Mel! Would it not ve possible to transfer credit card points to etihad and then transfer those points to AA? Or alternatively, use ethihad guest miles (after transferring from credit card) to book the selected flights on American airlines website?

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

No, unfortunately points can’t be transferred between different airlines. I wish they could be! The only exception are airlines that use Avios 😄

[@abhimanyutyagi9676]

@@MelsMilesandPoints aah thanks for that!!

[@randydonham6663]

Good information. I notice that in many of your videos the AA booking requires the fewest points. What is your strategy for acquiring the AA points?

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Yes AA can be really great for booking partner airlines! I recently did a video discussing my strategy for acquiring AA points, so I’ll attach a link. I hope it helps! 😁 kzbin.info/www/bejne/nICtYpqtmJacn9Esi=sKI0Huhg7RsC7b5w

[@kevinlin1529]

Question: how do you book the residence as opposed to the apartments? I don't see the distinction when booking through any of the websites of the airlines

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Unless things have changed, The Residence is only offered as an upgrade option if you’re flying in the Apartments. I don’t think they are allowing direct bookings anymore

[@kevinlin1529]

@@MelsMilesandPoints Do you know if you can upgrade to it if you purchase a normal first class flight with points? If yes, do you have experience with how much that upgrade costs?

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

@@kevinlin1529 I think you can. I was upgraded when I had an award ticket, so I think it's allowed. In terms of price, I have heard numbers ranging from $2000-$3000 for the upgrade. I know I was VERY lucky to have been randomly upgraded for free and still have no idea why 😅

[@wanderingdoc5075]

​@@MelsMilesandPoints Do you think it's due to your influencer status / filming?

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

@@wanderingdoc5075 definitely not. This flight was not long after I started a KZbin channel, and I would be shocked if they had any idea who I was 😅😂 I think maybe I just got lucky haha!

[@ccn042000]

I have not been able to find AUH to JFK first class nonstop award availability on american. Have you??

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

That route is not supposed to start until April, so that might be why. It’s also possible they aren’t releasing it to partners yet, and first class space can often be pretty tough to find too. Did you check on Etihad’s site too?

[@ccn042000]

@@MelsMilesandPoints update...saw availability today

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Great news!

[@jeanrobertobas511]

Hi Mel I am going to Dubai from Boston in Aug 21- Sep 1. I want to go to business or First class. I have $500k points with Amex. Is there a way I can transfer these points to AA Advantage through a partner program or do I have to buy point from AA advantage. Please leave me your comment below. Thanks

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

Unfortunately, AMEX points do not transfer to AA. BILT points transfer, but that relationship is ending in June. But there are quite a few ways to earn AA miles, and I recently did a video on it, so you might want to check it out! kzbin.info/www/bejne/nICtYpqtmJacn9Esi=UTTAVtnLwSnnF1gD

[@ronaldgomez608]

I can't find any first class flights only business

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

That can be frustrating, I know. They only release like one first class seat per flight, so availability can be tough to find at times!

[@charlesbaker209]

🔥🔥

[@MelsMilesandPoints]

😁😁