The business class on Etihad is a relaxing way to travel.
You could have been watching for award availability to show up for a forthcoming journey, whether you wish to connect to another location or travel to Etihad's hub in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates.
If so, if you wanted to start in the US and reserve more than one seat, this might be your lucky day.
On several dates, there are a number of business-class seats for Chicago, Washington, and New York.
Deal fundamentals
Etihad Airlines.
Routes: From/to Abu Dhabi via Chicago, New York, and Washington, with a number of intermediate stops.
Cost: Business class flights start at 85,000 Aeroplan points + 48 Canadian dollars (approximately $37) per person, one-way.
September 20, 2022 through July 1, 2023 (not on every date; spotty throughout).
Use one of the following credit cards to pay taxes and fees: Chase Sapphire Reserve (3 points per dollar spent on travel), Chase Sapphire Preferred Card (2 points per dollar spent on travel), Platinum Card® from American Express (5 points per dollar spent on airfare booked directly with the airline, on up to $500,000 in these purchases per calendar year).
Getting Aeroplan points
Aeroplan points can be obtained in a variety of ways.
Transferring points from the following programs to Aeroplan is one of the quickest methods:
• Transfer points from American Express Membership Rewards at a 1:1 ratio.
• Points from Bilt Rewards: 1:1 ratio of transfer.
• Transfer at a 1:1 ratio for Capital One miles.
• Transfer Chase Ultimate Rewards points at a 1:1 ratio.
• Transfer points from Marriott Bonvoy at a 3:1 ratio.
But remember to factor in the anticipated transfer times.
While transfers from Marriott Bonvoy often take four days, they typically happen instantly from Chase Ultimate Rewards and Capital One.
Another choice is to buy Aeroplan points, particularly if you don't have enough transferable awards.
Enhance your purchase
For 5,000 Aeroplan points, Air Canada will allow you to add one stopover for your one-way journey.
However, if you want to add a stopover, you must call Air Canada to make a reservation.
Smart travelers will also keep in mind that American Airlines AAdvantage allows you to book Etihad award flights (usually at lower rates than with Aeroplan).
Etihad appears to have greater award availability with Air Canada's Aeroplan than for AAdvantage.
Even so, it's worth calling American to see whether they notice the same award availability if you already have AAdvantage miles and find an Etihad award bookable through Aeroplan.
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