Etihad just announced some changes they were making to their frequent flyer program. Most of the changes are not of concern to anyone not currently in their frequent flyer program except for one tidbit – they will be releasing more GuestSeat availability on their most popular routes. This release of GuestSeat availability will be on the order of 1,000 additional seats per month on their most popular routes.
Etihad Making More Business Class Seats Available For AA Bookings
What makes this great news for people not in the Etihad program is that GuestSeat allocations are what partner awards are booked into. If you see GuestSeats available, then you can book them with American Airline miles. The fact that they are making more business class seats available is great news for everyone wanting to travel in Etihad’s business class seats. I have written before about how pathetic business class availability was (vs even Etihad’s First Apartment availability) on their Abu Dhabi-London route. Well, it is also pretty dismal on other popular routes as well. By making more seats available in the GuestSeat booking class, we should be able to book more AA awards aboard Etihad’s business class product.
This is great timing for those wanting to book business class on Etihad’s A380 to/from JFK to Abu Dhabi. While many would like to try the First Apartment on the A380 (which will begin flying that route in December), there are far more business class seats than First Apartment seats. Since JFK-Abu Dhabi is certainly one of their popular routes, we should expect to see more business class availability soon. They say they will release an additional 20% of seats into the GuestSeats booking type.
For those wanting to book economy award seats, Etihad is also promising to make at least 5 economy GuestSeats available on every flight as well.
In line with the growing demand from members, the minimum number of GuestSeats available in Business Class on some of our highest demand routes will increase by 20 per cent. This will result in Etihad Airways releasing around 1,000 additional seats in Business Class each month on popular routes.
There will be a minimum of five GuestSeats available in Economy Class on every flight.
Booking Etihad Seats With Miles
To find award space, head over to the Etihad rewards page – here – and enter your originating and destination cities. Then choose Business (or First, whichever you are searching for).
Search for business on Etihad to see availability before calling AA.
Next, you need to look for GuestSeat space. That is what will be bookable with partner miles. In our example here, it does show it as available so you can simply call American Airlines (800-882-8880) to book it!
Check for GuestSeat availability
Just remember that when you are booking these awards with AA miles, the cost in miles will be based on AA’s award chart and the cost you see with Etihad has no bearing on the cost you will pay. To see AA’s award chart, click here.
