There is yet another transfer bonus this month, this time between Capital One Miles and Etihad Guest. Unlike most transfer bonuses, this is being offered by Etihad, so you won’t see it reflected on your Capital One Miles transfer page. This was originally flagged by Travel on Points as an unadvertised sale, but it now has an official landing page.
The bonus is tiered, and it maxes out at 40% when you transfer 50,000 or more Capital One miles. It’s worth noting that, over the last couple of years, Etihad has taken a hammer to most of its sweet spots and has implemented some of the most draconian award cancellation and miles expiration policies ever seen by human eyes.
The Deal
- Receive the following bonuses when transferring Capital One points to Etihad:
- 1,000-9,999 miles = 20% bonus
- 10,000-49,999 miles = 30% bonus
- 50,000+ miles = 40% bonus
- You won’t see this transfer bonus being displayed when logging in to your Capital One account because the bonus is being administered on Etihad’s end.
Key Terms
- Expires March 31, 2025.
Best Uses for Etihad
- Business class to South America on AA from 30-50K each way. Etihad's award chart for American Airlines flights is very competitive, starting at 30K miles each way (includes Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, Ecuador, Costa Rica, Colombia, Belize, Nicaragua, Peru, Panama, and Venezuela).
- Business class to Europe from 80K each way. Etihad Guest offers good value for flying on American Airlines, Brussels Airlines, or Royal Air Maroc between the US and Europe. Pricing starts at 80K each way in business class on Brussels Airlines or to Casablanca on Royal Air Maroc (connections to Europe will add additional miles and fuel surcharges around $170 each way) or in business class on American Airlines (no fuel surcharges).
Things to Know
- Etihad has a punitive cancellation policy for all award bookings whereby you’ll lose a significant chunk of miles for cancelling your flight. If you cancel more than 21 days in advance, you’ll lose 25% of the miles used. If you cancel between 7 and 21 days in advance, you’ll lose 50% of the miles used. If you cancel within 7 days but at least 24 hours in advance, you’ll lose 75% of the miles used. Within 24 hours of departure, you’ll lose 100% of the miles used.
- Etihad also has a brutal expiration policy: miles will are valid for a period of 18 months, and that can only be extended if you take a flight with Etihad or a partner airline and credit it to Etihad Guest.
- Book Etihad, AA, Air Canada or Virgin Australia awards online. All others must be booked by calling Etihad Guest at 1-877-690-0767.
- Etihad phone agents have historically had trouble booking partner awards, though the new call center in Serbia appears to be quite competent. If your agent appears to be having trouble, you might want to HUCA (hang up, call again).
- Transfer from: Amex Membership Rewards, Bilt Rewards, Capital One, Citi Thank You Marriott Bonvoy
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Does the bonus post instantly? Or is it like Citi-QR bonus, which takes up to 6 weeks?
I did two, both were instant
Dont forget about Jetblue mint (also bookable online) and AA flagship biz between SFO or LAX and JFK for 50k + $49. Those become great prices when you layer on the 40% bonus (35,714 + $49) for mint & Flagship biz. And dont forget AA flagship first for 67k and $61 which becomes (47,857 + $61) after the bonus. It seems like the market has softened as i am seeing gobs of availability close in which is really the only way Etihad makes any sense in light of their brutal cancelation policy.
good advice. only other use case is if you really want to fly etihad apartments and are 100% sure you will take the flight.