More than a year after Etihad and Starlux first announced their codeshare agreement, the partnership finally has teeth: As first highlighted by @travelmugpoints on Instagram, you can now redeem Etihad Guest miles for Starlux awards.
That's a big deal because up until now, Alaska's Atmos Rewards has been the only realistic way for North American travelers to book Starlux with points. Alaska's pricing is genuinely good — one-way economy starts at 37,500 points, and business class can go for as little as 75,000 points — but Atmos points aren't exactly easy to come by in bulk. Your best shot is a big sign-up bonus on an Atmos Rewards credit card or transfers from Bilt.
Etihad widens the field as Guest Miles transfer in from Capital One, Citi, Bilt, and newcomer Rove – a broader set of options than Atmos offers. Meanwhile, travelers with a stash of Membership Rewards are out of luck: American Express dropped Etihad as a transfer partner earlier this year.
Now, for the bad news: Etihad's pricing on Starlux awards isn't great. A one-way economy ticket runs 75,000 miles, and business class costs a steep 139,999 miles one way. Taxes and fees are at least reasonable, landing around $34.
That's roughly double what Alaska charges for the same seats – so even with ample ways to earn Etihad miles, you're burning through a lot more of them per trip.
Wondering what all the hype is about? Check out our review of Starlux business class!
Etihad's pricing is consistent across all five of Starlux's North American gateways, and right now, it doesn't look like you can book onward connections to other Southeast Asian destinations with Guest Miles. If Etihad extended the same pricing to connections beyond Taipei, this partnership would be a lot more compelling.
What's more, premium economy doesn't appear to be bookable with Etihad miles right now (at least not online). If it does show up eventually, I'd guess we'll see pricing somewhere around 100,000 miles each way, based on how the airline is pricing economy and business class.
There's one other thing you should be aware of if you're planning to take advantage of this new booking option: Etihad's award cancellation policy is brutal. You'll forfeit at least a quarter of the miles you used just to cancel … and much more the closer you get to departure.
Zooming out, this new partnership is all part of Starlux's broader ambitions. It's long been rumored that the Taiwanese airline would like to join the Oneworld alliance, opening the door to more ways for travelers to redeem points and miles for these tickets – but that hasn't happened (yet). As a founding member of the Oneworld alliance with veto power, Cathay Pacific is widely seen as the biggest obstacle, with a strong incentive to keep Starlux out, given how directly the two airlines compete across Asia and the Pacific.
Until that changes, one-off partnerships like this one – and the existing one with Alaska – are the best options North American travelers have for booking Starlux with points and miles, at least for now.
Bottom Line
Etihad Guest miles can now book Starlux awards, adding a second points currency to the mix alongside Alaska's Atmos Rewards. But at roughly double the price, Alaska remains the better deal if you've got a stash of Atmos points – and that's even before considering Etihad's stingy cancellation policy.
