Amex Membership Rewards to Discontinue Etihad Guest Point Transfers
American Express will discontinue point transfers to Etihad Guest, the airline loyalty program of Etihad Airways, effective from July 1, 2026. Cardholders can continue to transfer their Membership Rewards points to Etihad Guest miles until June 30, 2026, after which the program will be removed from the transfer list.
Final Action & Transfer Rules
Cardholders planning to redeem points for award flights or cabin upgrades on Etihad routes must complete their transfer transactions before this deadline. Once transferred, the miles will reside in the member's Etihad Guest account and remain subject to the airline's standard mileage expiry rules. Note that transfer processing times can take up to 48 hours, so completing the request a few days prior to the deadline is highly recommended.
Remaining Transfer Partners
The removal of Etihad Guest does not affect the remaining transfer partnerships in the American Express portfolio. Cardholders can continue to convert their points to several airline and hotel loyalty programs. Here is the list of remaining active transfer partners:
| Partner Program | Partner Type |
|---|---|
| Asia Miles | Airline |
| British Airways Executive Club | Airline |
| Qatar Airways Privilege Club | Airline |
| Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer | Airline |
| Virgin Atlantic Flying Club | Airline |
| Marriott Bonvoy | Hotel |
| Hilton Honors | Hotel |
Impact Analysis & Redemption Alternatives
The exit of Etihad Guest reduces redemptions options for cardholders looking to book award travel to the Middle East, Europe, and North America. Etihad Guest was frequently utilized for booking premium class travel on Etihad or partner airlines.
For cardholders looking for alternative options, American Express continues to support travel redemptions via Marriott Bonvoy and Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer. Additionally, points can be redeemed for retail vouchers through the Amex rewards catalog. This includes instant e-vouchers from over 100 brands, such as Amazon, Blinkit, Taj Hotels, and The Postcard Hotels.
Bottom Line
Amex point transfers to Etihad Guest will officially end on July 1, 2026. If you have an immediate or mid-term travel plan using Etihad, execute your points transfer before June 30, 2026. For future travel, adjust your loyalty transfer strategy to focus on remaining premium airline programs like Singapore Airlines KrisFlyer or Qatar Airways Privilege Club.