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The Etihad Apartment is one of the most over-the-top first-class products in the sky. Each private suite features a separate lounge chair, a 6-foot-7-inch bed, sliding privacy doors, a 24-inch TV, and access to an onboard shower. While other airlines have introduced similarly luxurious products since the product launched back in 2014 — like Singapore’s First Class Suite — Etihad Apartments remains one of the most luxurious ways to fly.
It’s also one of the toughest first-class awards to book with points and miles. Etihad’s Apartments are only available on the carrier’s Airbus A380s. And even with eight Airbus A380s in service, it's quite challenging to lock down Etihad Apartment award space.
Still, there are a few tried and true ways to score award space. Here’s how to book the Etihad Apartment in 2026 using miles or points.
Routes Featuring the Etihad Apartment in 2026
You'll only find the Apartment on Etihad’s Airbus A380s. In 2026, Etihad operates the A380 from Abu Dhabi (AUH) to:
| Destination Served | Seasonality | Frequency | Note(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bangkok (BKK) | October 25 thru March 27 | 1x Daily | Other daily frequencies operated by Airbus A321XLR |
| London Heathrow (LHR) | Year-Round | At least 1x Daily | A380 with Etihad Apartments operates AUH-LHR at least 1x a day with up to 4x daily service from March 2027 |
| Paris (CDG) | Year-Round | 1x Daily | A380 service on AUH-CDG resumed June 15th. Other daily frequencies operated by mix of Boeing 787s and Airbus A321XLRs |
| Singapore (SIN) | Year-Round | 1x Daily | A380 service on AUH-SIN resumed June 15th. |
| Tokyo Narita (NRT) | June 17 thru October 24 and from March 28, 2027 | 1x Daily | A380 service on AUH-NRT resumed June 17th and runs through October 24th. Service returns from March 28, 2027. |
| Toronto (YYZ) | Year-Round | 1x Daily | Consistent 1x daily frequency on AUH-YYZ. |
If you've been chasing the Apartment on routes to or from the U.S., note that the AUH–New York (JFK) A380 service ended in 2025 and the route is now operated by a Boeing 787-10 that does not feature the Apartment.
Toronto is now the only North American destination with regular Etihad Airbus A380 service.
How Many Miles Do You Need To Book The Etihad Apartment?
As of 2026, four frequent flyer programs offer Etihad Apartment award space: Etihad Guest, Air Canada Aeroplan, American Airlines AAdvantage, and Asiana Airlines Asiana Club. Here's how they stack up:
| Route (from Abu Dhabi / AUH) | Etihad (Etihad Guest) | Air Canada (Aeroplan) | American Airlines (AAdvantage) | Asiana Airlines (Asiana Club) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| London (LHR), Paris (CDG) | 140,000 miles (+$365) | 90,000 points (+$160) | 62,500 miles (+$37) | 40,000 miles (+$200) |
| Bangkok (BKK), Singapore (SIN) | 140,000 miles (+$365) | 90,000 points (+$160) | 50,000 miles (+$37) | 75,000 miles (+$200) |
| Tokyo-Narita (NRT) | 200,000 miles (+$365) | 100,000 points (+$160) | 50,000 miles (+$37) | 80,000 miles (+$200) |
| Toronto (YYZ) | 220,000 miles (+$365) | 120,000 points (+$160) | 115,000 miles (+$37) | 80,000 miles (+$200) |
All redemption rates in the above table are for one-way itineraries. It's also important to note that the rates quoted above are the minimum number of miles or points needed for a given route. Both Etihad and Air Canada utilize dynamic award pricing, so you may come across awards that are priced significantly higher than what's listed in the table above.
By contrast, awards booked through American or Asiana are typically more consistent with the rates above and usually align with prices shown in the table.
You'll also notice a cash component. These figures represent the average taxes and fees charged by each program when booking the Etihad Apartment. However, you'll also come across redemptions with higher taxes and fees. For example, departures from the European Union or the United Kingdom often come with substantially higher taxes and fees.
If your goal is to book Etihad's Apartment while minimizing out-of-pocket costs, AAdvantage miles are the clear winner. American Airlines consistently has the lowest carrier-imposed fees and taxes compared to the other three programs featured in this guide.
How To Book Etihad Apartment First-Class Awards
Four frequent flyer programs allow you to redeem points or miles for flights in the Etihad Apartment. The easiest option is through Etihad's own frequent flyer program. But this convenience comes at a price.
Here is a closer look at booking the Etihad Apartment through these four frequent flyer programs:
Booking the Apartment with Etihad Guest Miles
If you want certainty and the ability to book travel months in advance, Etihad Guest is your only real option. The trade-off is steep dynamic pricing and a terrible award cancellation policy.
Etihad Guest award pricing
Saver awards bottom out around 140,000 miles each way for the Apartment (but often price much higher). Plus you'll be on the hook for higher taxes and carrier-imposed fees, which can exceed $500 each way when departing from London Heathrow (LHR).
The upside is that Etihad Guest has several transfer partners, including Capital One, Citi ThankYou, Bilt Rewards, and (for now) American Express Membership Rewards (which is set to end on June 30, 2026). The last day to move points is June 29, 2026.
Etihad Guest also occasionally runs flash deals worth watching. In spring 2025, Etihad briefly cut Apartment pricing on Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Paris (CDG) and Abu Dhabi (AUH) to Singapore (SIN) to 95,000 miles each way — a 32% discount off the standard rate. These promotions tend to come without warning and disappear just as quickly.
Etihad Guest award fees
Plus, Etihad Guest's cancellation policy is brutal. You can change your dates more than seven days out for $27. But if you cancel outright, you'll forfeit at least 25% of your miles. This cancellation penalty increases to 50% within three weeks of departure and 75% within a week.
Pros:
- Best availability of any program — saver space typically opens up to 360 days before departure
- Large transfer partner footprint, including Capital One, Citi, Bilt Rewards, and (for now) Amex Membership Rewards
- The only reliable option if you need to lock in specific dates well in advance
Cons:
- Highest mileage rates of any program, with saver awards starting at 140,000 miles one way and often pricing much higher
- Steep carrier-imposed surcharges — over $500 one way when departing London (LHR)
- Punitive cancellation policy (25/50/75% mile forfeitures depending on timing)
Using Air Canada Aeroplan points to book Etihad Apartment
Aeroplan can offer solid value when redeeming miles for Etihad’s Apartments. While pricing is higher than booking with AAdvantage or Asiana Club miles, Aeroplan has one noteworthy advantage: better access to Etihad partner space outside the 30-day window.
In theory, Air Canada does offer better availability when it comes to booking Etihad's Apartments. Though, in practice, this is not always the case. Even if there is first-class availability for a flight operated by Etihad, you won't always see this displayed online. This means that, to book Etihad's Apartments using Aeroplan points, you may need to call the Aeroplan contact center.
If you do book over the phone, this comes with an additional fee of around CAD $30 or around $22.
Aeroplan uses a distance-based award chart for partner redemptions, though actual pricing can vary depending on the itinerary and routing.
There is one additional plus compared to AAdvantage: Unlike American Airlines miles, Aeroplan points are easy to acquire thanks to partnerships with several major transferable rewards programs.
Related: Air Canada Aeroplan Award Chart Changes
Pros:
- No carrier-imposed fuel surcharges — taxes and fees can come in under $100 on certain routes
- Better access to Etihad partner award space outside the standard 30-day window
- Widest transfer partner network of any Etihad partner program (Amex, Chase, Capital One, Bilt Rewards, and Marriott Bonvoy)
Cons:
- Higher mileage cost than AAdvantage or Asiana Club on every route
- Apartment space rarely shows up on aeroplan.com — most bookings require a phone call which carriers a CAD $30 (~US $22) phone booking fee
- Like Etihad Guest, Aeroplan applies dynamic pricing to partner awards, so actual rates can exceed the published minimums
Using AAdvantage miles to book the Etihad Apartment
AAdvantage is the clear winner when it comes to redeeming miles for the Apartment — if you can find availability. At 62,500 miles between Europe and the Middle East and just 50,000 miles between Asia and the Middle East, you'll receive better value from your AAdvantage miles compared to redeeming Etihad Guest miles. You’ll also avoid a significant chunk of the taxes and carrier-imposed fees.
Booking through AAdvantage has another underrated perk: free connections. You can add on a positioning flight from anywhere in Europe to London or Paris, or beyond Abu Dhabi to almost any Middle East/Indian Subcontinent destination, for the same rate.
For flights between North America and the Middle East, you'll need to pay 115,000 AAdvantage miles for Etihad Apartments.
But, there are two big catches:
- The 30-day booking window: Etihad only seems to release premium cabin award space to partners within 30 days of departure. In practice, AAdvantage members typically see Apartment award space appear inside the 14-day window. So, if you’re hoping to use AAdvantage miles, you're confined to last-minute bookings.
- Limited transfer partners: Unlike Aeroplan or Etihad Guest, AAdvantage only partners with Citi ThankYou Points. Eligible cardholders able to transfer points at up to a 1:1 ratio. Marriott Bonvoy points can also be transferred to AAdvantage, but it's at a much less favorable 3:1 ratio.
- Earn 60,000 bonus ThankYou® Points after spending $4,000 in the first 3 months of account opening, redeemable for $600 in gift cards or travel rewards at thankyou.com.
- Earn 10 Points per $1 spent on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked on CitiTravel.com.
- Earn 3 Points per $1 on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases, at Restaurants, Supermarkets, Gas and EV Charging Stations.
- Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on all other purchases
- $100 Annual Hotel Benefit: Once per calendar year, enjoy $100 off a single hotel stay of $500 or more (excluding taxes and fees) when booked through CitiTravel.com. Benefit applied instantly at time of booking.
- No expiration and no limit to the amount of points you can earn with this card
- No Foreign Transaction Fees on purchases
- 10X on Hotels, Car Rentals, and Attractions booked through CitiTravel.com
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Air Travel and Other Hotel Purchases
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Restaurants
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Supermarkets
- 3X – Earn 3 Points per $1 spent on Gas and EV Charging Stations
- 1X – Earn 1 Point per $1 spent on All Other Purchases
Many Etihad premium cabin awards are now bookable directly on aa.com. However, if you’re not finding any space even just days before departure, it may be worth it to call the AAdvantage customer service desk.
Pros:
- Low mileage redemption rates offering solid value — 50,000 miles between Asia and the Middle East, 62,500 between Europe and the Middle East
- Free connections within Europe, the Middle East, and the Indian Subcontinent at no additional cost in miles
- Many Etihad premium-cabin awards are now bookable directly on aa.com
- No carrier-imposed fuel surcharges (lowest fees of the four programs featured in this post)
Cons:
- 30-day partner award window — Apartment space typically appears only within 14 days of departure, making advance planning nearly impossible
- Limited transfer partners — your best routes in are Citi ThankYou (up to 1:1 with a premium card) or Marriott Bonvoy (3:1)
- Some award space is still not visible when booking online requiring a call to the AAdvantage service desk
Related: Best Ways To Use American Airlines AAdvantage Miles
Booking the Etihad Apartment using Asiana Club miles
Asiana Club is one of the best-value programs for Etihad Apartment redemptions — if you can navigate its quirks and find partner award space. Asiana charges just 40,000 Asiana Club miles one way between Europe and the Middle East and 80,000 miles one way between North America and the Middle East.
The trade-off is higher carrier-imposed fuel surcharges. Expect to pay a minimum of $200 one way in carrier-imposed fees when redeeming Asiana Club miles for the Apartment, though these fees can exceed $400 one way.
Like AAdvantage awards, Etihad premium-cabin awards booked through Asiana are subject to Etihad's 30-day partner award window. On top of that, you won’t be able to book Etihad premium-cabin awards online. You'll first need to find space using another partner’s online search tool or a platform like ExpertFlyer. Once you find availability, you will then need to call the Asiana Club service desk to book.
The most reliable way to earn Asiana Club miles (aside from flying with Asiana or its partner airlines) is through Marriott Bonvoy, which transfers at 3:1 with a 5,000-mile bonus per 60,000 points transferred. That puts a one-way Europe-to-Abu Dhabi flight in Etihad’s Apartments within reach of about 105,000 Marriott points after the transfer bonus.
Pros:
- Lowest mileage cost of any program — just 40,000 miles one way between Europe and the Middle East, 80,000 between North America and the Middle East
Cons:
- Asiana passes on Etihad's carrier-imposed fuel surcharges, which routinely run $200 to $400-plus one way
- Phone-only booking with limited service hours for those based in the Americas
- Subject to the same 30-day partner-release window that limits AAdvantage awards
- Asiana customer service agents frequently can't see Etihad Apartment space that's visible elsewhere — booking could require multiple attempts
Related: How To Search and Book Award Tickets With Asiana Club Miles
Tips for Booking the Etihad Apartment With Miles or Points
If you have your eyes on the Etihad Apartment, you'll need to be flexible and check partner award space regularly. With Etihad Apartment partner award space typically available within 30 days of departure, you'll want to check flights within this window as space comes and goes at a moment's notice.
In addition to staying flexible and vigilant, here are a few additional tips for booking Etihad's Apartments using your miles or points:
- Use ExpertFlyer or seats.aero to monitor Etihad Guest and partner program award availability.
- Search one-way segments rather than round-trips.
- Watch for transfer bonuses. With the right transfer bonus, you may be able to price the Apartment under 80,000 transferable points each way.
- Book the right plane. Etihad flies the Boeing 787-9 to Paris alongside the A380 (and soon the A321XLR as well); only the A380 has Apartments.
- Couples shoud request seats 3A/4A or 3K/4K. Those rows have a partial divider that lowers between Apartments — the closest thing the cabin offers to a shared suite.
- Watch for Etihad Guest flash sales. While these are quite rare and availability is usually limited, you may be able to book the Apartment for around 30% off the typical award price.
Bottom Line
The Etihad Apartment remains one of the best first-class products in the sky. While award availability is tighter than ever, there are still four ways to book it in 2026. If you have flexibility within a 30-day window, AAdvantage and Asiana Club deliver the cheapest Apartment redemptions — sometimes for under 80,000 miles one way.
If you want to plan further out and need the easiest path from flexible points, Aeroplan strikes the best balance of price, availability, and ease of earning. And if you need bulletproof certainty over your dates, Etihad Guest is the only program with consistent long-haul availability — provided you can stomach the dynamic pricing and the cancellation penalties.
Whichever route you choose, the most time-sensitive move right now is to evaluate your Amex Membership Rewards balance before June 29, 2026. Effective June 30, 2026, American Express will drop Etihad as a transfer partner.
Once you’ve accrued the miles or points needed for the Apartment, start watching award space the moment your travel dates open up. Partner award space comes and goes at a moment’s notice.
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: Citi Strata Premier® Card (Rates & Fees)
