Jan 13, 2015, 2:43 pm
Last edit by: SingaporeDon
Booking Award Seats on EY / Etihad Airways Using AA / AAdvantage Miles
This thread is about "how to" book Etihad / EY award seats using AA AAdvantage miles. This wiki is new, so anyone with 90/90 who wishes to add helpful information is, of course, urged to do so.
- You cannot search or book awards for travel on EY (Etihad) on www.aa.com
- You can search award availability on EY's website. Look for seats on flights operated by Etihad Airways labeled as "GuestSeats".
- You have to call AA to book them. You may need to request the AA agent to look up the inventory one segment at a time in order to find the inventory in their system. OR:
- Your best bet is to call AA Australia (+61 2-9101-1948 ) - although the call center is actually in Suva, Fiji -as they can see the inventory reliably, and you can book (or put the EY segments on hold so you can flesh out the award afterward).
- A handy EY route map is at http://flights.etihad.com/routemap
- The applicable AAdvantage miles award chart is the oneworld and Other Airline Award Chart
- Award routing rules are in the wikipost of this thread
- It can be instructive to read about our members' successful award bookings on EY using AAdvantage miles in the Success stories of award booking on Etihad using AA miles (>= 2015) thread. [Note: posts prior to 2015 about this topic (with the exception of a few 2014 end of year posts brought forward for continuity) are archived at ARCHIVE: Success stories of award booking on Etihad using AA miles]
- If you find EY inventory from your continent but not your city of choice, as usual you can include any other AAdvantage award airlines in order to complete the itinerary. E.g. LHR-xAUH-DEL-xAUH-CDG on EY connecting to CDG-LHR on BA.
How to: Use AA Miles to Book Award on Etihad / EY (Archive - 2015 and earlier)
Dec 13, 2015, 1:56 pm
#1126
A FlyerTalk Posting Legend
Join Date: Jan 2002
Posts: 44,624
AUH-CHI/NYC-AA/B6/EY-AUS
is also a valid routing, so no problem connecting in JFK if preferref. I would have thought that DFW would be the nicer connection to minimise the time on a AA flight
Dec 13, 2015, 2:30 pm
#1127
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: USA
Programs: IHG/Spire Amb., Hilton/Diamond, SPG/Gold, Marriott/Gold, AA/Plat, Southwest/CP
Posts: 270
It isn't the only permitted routing ; I just posted that one since it was the one that showed that AUH-DFW-AUS is valid on EY/AA
AUH-CHI/NYC-AA/B6/EY-AUS
is also a valid routing, so no problem connecting in JFK if preferref. I would have thought that DFW would be the nicer connection to minimise the time on a AA flight
AUH-CHI/NYC-AA/B6/EY-AUS
is also a valid routing, so no problem connecting in JFK if preferref. I would have thought that DFW would be the nicer connection to minimise the time on a AA flight
Dec 13, 2015, 3:58 pm
#1128
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: California
Programs: AA EXP...couple hotels and cars too
Posts: 4,548
Rule 35 in there international tariff:
https://www.aa.com/i18n/Tariffs/AA1.html
AA WILL BEAR LAYOVER EXPENSES WHEN ITS SERVICES ARE USED FOR INTERCONTINENTAL TRANSPORTATION, WHEN THE PASSENGER IS CONNECTING TO/FROM OTHER INTERNATIONAL SERVICES AND SAME-DAY CONNECTING SERVICES INVOLVING AA ARE NOT SCHEDULED OR AVAILABLE. AA WILL ONLY PARTICIPATE IN PRORATION OF EXPENSES WHEN SERVICES ARE PROVIDED AT AIRPORTS DESIGNATED BY AA AND AT SPECIFICALLY DESIGNATED HOTELS (INCLUDING WHEN AA IS THE RECEIVING CARRIER). HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS WILL ONLY BE PROVIDED WHEN CONNECTING TIME EXCEEDS SIX HOURS AND WHEN ARRANGED IN ADVANCE OF ARRIVAL AT THE TRANSFER POINT.
I dont recall ever seeing a post from anyone that did get them to honor this rule....
Dec 14, 2015, 9:33 pm
#1129
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New York
Programs: Marriott Gold, AA, United, Delta, Alaska
Posts: 144
My JFK-AUH flights in J on the A380 are coming up. In the case that I can't find F space on the A380 (EY seems to only release space on certain flights), is it worth the AA miles changing flights from A380 J to Jetihad F? I believe it's 22.5k per person. My thought is no, particularly since my wife isn't that big of a fan of Indian food and neither one of us has flown on an A380 before, but would love to hear your opinions.
Dec 15, 2015, 8:56 am
#1130
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: CHS
Programs: DL Diamond, WN A-List, Marriott Platinum Elite, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 685
For what it's worth, I just booked a flight from AUH-MEL in June and actually found a lot of availability on both AUH-MEL and MEL-AUH on the A380 in First. The space is scattered about from June-November.
Here’s the Etihad A380 First Apartment award space that is available for at least two passengers between June and November 2016. FYI, I ran the search around 10 pm EST 12/12 so the space has probably changed a bit since then. Here's a calendar of available dates on the AUH-MEL route:
Again, the award space that is available for at least 2 passengers from Melbourne-MEL to Abu Dhabi-AUH:
Hopefully some will find the info useful!
Here’s the Etihad A380 First Apartment award space that is available for at least two passengers between June and November 2016. FYI, I ran the search around 10 pm EST 12/12 so the space has probably changed a bit since then. Here's a calendar of available dates on the AUH-MEL route:
Again, the award space that is available for at least 2 passengers from Melbourne-MEL to Abu Dhabi-AUH:
Hopefully some will find the info useful!
Dec 15, 2015, 11:31 am
#1131
Join Date: Jul 2013
Programs: Mileage Plus, AAdvantage, Executive Club
Posts: 198
Trying to figure out if my routing is valid for one award. I have expertflyer, and I know how to look for published fares, but how do I check if the specific routing is allowed?
Routing is TXL-LHR-AUH-BOM, with TXL-LHR in J and the rest in F. I already had TXL-LHR-AUH booked, but AA wants 25000 more to add AUH-BOM. There's a published fare for TXL-BOM, so I'm wondering about the routing, as many posts above indicate each fare has an allowed route.
Routing is TXL-LHR-AUH-BOM, with TXL-LHR in J and the rest in F. I already had TXL-LHR-AUH booked, but AA wants 25000 more to add AUH-BOM. There's a published fare for TXL-BOM, so I'm wondering about the routing, as many posts above indicate each fare has an allowed route.
Dec 16, 2015, 10:24 am
#1132
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: USA
Programs: IHG/Spire Amb., Hilton/Diamond, SPG/Gold, Marriott/Gold, AA/Plat, Southwest/CP
Posts: 270
My JFK-AUH flights in J on the A380 are coming up. In the case that I can't find F space on the A380 (EY seems to only release space on certain flights), is it worth the AA miles changing flights from A380 J to Jetihad F? I believe it's 22.5k per person. My thought is no, particularly since my wife isn't that big of a fan of Indian food and neither one of us has flown on an A380 before, but would love to hear your opinions.
Hope you enjoy! Sorry to hear the A380 F doesn't seem to be opening up. I hope something works out at the last minute!
Dec 16, 2015, 10:52 am
#1133
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: SF Bay Area
Programs: AA LT PLT 3 MM+, BA (very) Blue, CO nobody
Posts: 2,640
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/etiha...u-bkk-kul.html
A recent quote from there:
Jetihad flights are Jet airways aircrafts with Jet cabin crew onboard but they werar Jet and Etihad badges. The cushions and blankets have Etihad written on them but the food is the absolutely crap Jet food. Pop into AUH MacD's and buy a meal before you boar the Jetihad flight
Enough said
Last edited by Paulchili; Dec 16, 2015 at 11:12 am
Dec 16, 2015, 1:39 pm
#1134
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: USA
Programs: IHG/Spire Amb., Hilton/Diamond, SPG/Gold, Marriott/Gold, AA/Plat, Southwest/CP
Posts: 270
Hmm, the TPG TR was only a few months difference from that, so not sure which to go with.
I don't speak from personal experience, but it sounds like it perhaps varies by day or by flight?
I flew on one of Etihad’s two daily 777s flying between Abu Dhabi and New York-JFK. One of these flights is operated by Etihad’s own plane, while the second (and the one I flew) is wet-leased, meaning that Etihad leases the plane from Indian carrier Jet Airways and nearly everything on the plane is Jet-branded. Nonetheless, the food and crew are still provided by Etihad, so you can expect the traditional Etihad experience you paid for, regardless of the aircraft you happen to be flying.
Dec 16, 2015, 2:35 pm
#1135
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Chicago & AUH
Programs: AA PLT Pro, EY Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 172
Just a heads up...I just noticed 3 J seats popped up for ORD-AUH next week (12/26) and when I called AA here in the states they could also see the availability and was able to book me. In doing so, I've actually cancelled my 2 booked F tickets on the A380 
going JFK-AUH on 12/26 so if anyone is looking for tickets they might be there!!!
going JFK-AUH on 12/26 so if anyone is looking for tickets they might be there!!!
Dec 16, 2015, 2:42 pm
#1136
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: New York
Programs: Marriott Gold, AA, United, Delta, Alaska
Posts: 144
Just a heads up...I just noticed 3 J seats popped up for ORD-AUH next week (12/26) and when I called AA here in the states they could also see the availability and was able to book me. In doing so, I've actually cancelled my 2 booked F tickets on the A380 going JFK-AUH on 12/26 so if anyone is looking for tickets they might be there!!!
going JFK-AUH on 12/26 so if anyone is looking for tickets they might be there!!!
Dec 16, 2015, 2:47 pm
#1137
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Chicago & AUH
Programs: AA PLT Pro, EY Gold, Hilton Gold, Marriott Gold, Hyatt Globalist
Posts: 172
Dec 16, 2015, 2:56 pm
#1138
Suspended
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: FIND ME ON TWITTER FOR THE LATEST
Posts: 27,730
I'm looking right in/around that date as well, so glad you mentioned it, last I had looked, unsurprisingly, it was more like F3, so, I think it's a safe bet some award F will reopen on that flight at some point, hoping to grab one!
Dec 16, 2015, 3:23 pm
#1139
Join Date: Mar 2010
Programs: AA EXP, AA LT Gold, SPG Plat 75
Posts: 890
Just a data point: There were 3 F seats on the A380 JFK-AUH for tomorrow 12/17 when I checked at 5am EST this morning. By 11am EST, there was 1 left, and by 3pm EST they were all gone.
I would have booked one, but connecting flights had 0 availability to anywhere I wanted to go.
I would have booked one, but connecting flights had 0 availability to anywhere I wanted to go.
Dec 16, 2015, 4:23 pm
#1140
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KYE
Posts: 4,156
With the current transfer bonus to EY Guest which allows more flexibility and better value especially for short-midhaul redemptions, it's hard for me to see the value for using AAdvantage except for F/J long hauls on AU sectors which is going down the drain in few months any way and provided that one had acquired the miles through sign up bonuses.
Last edited by edy4eva; Dec 16, 2015 at 4:30 pm