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Update 3/9/2023: As part of its program overhaul, Etihad Guest introduced a new award chart for Saudi Arabian Airlines award flights. This post has been updated to reflect the new rates.
Etihad Guest is one of our favorite niche airline award programs. Just like Turkish Miles & Smiles, there's plenty of value to be found in the program — if you just know where to look.
As it isn't a member of any major airline alliance, Etihad partners with an eclectic mix of airline partners. And, in March 2021, Etihad added another one of those partners: Saudi Arabian Airlines.
While those of us based in the U.S. may not know the airline well, Saudia operates passenger flights to over 100 cities and 40 countries. But, how many of these destinations are good redemptions on Etihad Guest? Let's take a look.
Etihad Guest Redemption Chart for Saudia Awards
Like with many of its partners, Etihad Guest utilizes a distance-based award chart for Saudia award flights:
| Flight Distance | Economy | Business | First |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0-500 | 6,000 | 10,000 | 14,000 |
| 501-1,000 | 12,000 | 20,000 | 27,000 |
| 1,001-1,500 | 15,000 | 30,000 | 40,000 |
| 1,501-2,000 | 23,000 | 40,000 | 54,000 |
| 2,001-2,500 | 28,000 | 50,000 | 67,000 |
| 2,501-3,000 | 34,000 | 60,000 | 80,000 |
| 3,001-4,000 | 45,000 | 80,000 | 107,000 |
| 4,001-5,000 | 60,000 | 100,000 | 134,000 |
| 5,001-6,000 | 67,000 | 120,000 | 160,000 |
| 6,001+ | 75,000 | 140,000 | 200,000 |
Prices are one-way and awards are priced by segment. So, if you're connecting through Riyadh or one of Saudia's other hubs, you'll need to price out the miles required for each flight separately.
Example Saudia Award Rates
Saudia currently operates the following nonstop flights from the U.S. to Saudi Arabia:
- New York (JFK) to Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH)
- Washington Dulles (IAD) to Jeddah (JED) and Riyadh (RUH)
As these flights are all over 6,000 miles in distance, you'll have to pay 75,000 Etihad Guest miles for a one-way economy flight or 140,000 Etihad Guest miles for a business class flight. Those are some high rates, but they are a notable improvement over the original redemption rates rolled out in March 2021: 85,000 miles for economy or 170,000 miles in business class.
The rates are similarly high on mid-haul flights between Saudi Arabia and Europe. The 6-hour flight between Jeddah (JED) and London Heathrow (LHR) almost maximizes the 2,501-3,000-mile distance band. Still one-way flights cost:
- 34,000 miles each way in economy (down from 35k)
- 60,000 miles each way in business class (down from 70k)
However, short-haul flights are much more reasonable. You can book Saudia award flights between 501 and 1,000 miles in distance for 12,000 Etihad Guest miles in economy or 20,000 Etihad Guest miles in business class. This includes regional flights such as Riyadh (RUH) to Beirut (BEY) and Medina (MED) to Dubai (DXB).
Getting Etihad Guest Miles
Etihad Guest miles are some of the easiest miles to accumulate. You can transfer points from four (of the five) major transferrable point currencies:
- American Express Membership Rewards (1:1 transfer ratio)
- Capital One Miles (4:3 transfer ratio)
- Citi ThankYou Points (1:1 transfer ratio)
- Marriott Bonvoy (3:1 transfer ratio)
You can also transfer hotel points at less-optimal rates from:
- Hilton Honors (10:1)
- World of Hyatt (5:2)
- IHG Rewards (5:1)
Or, you can buy Etihad Guest miles. Typically buying miles at full rate isn't a good deal. However, Etihad Guest sells miles at no more than 2¢ each. That price recently dropped as low as 1.2¢ during a recent buy miles promotion.
Other Ways to Book Saudia Awards
Just because you can redeem Etihad Guest miles for Saudia award flights doesn't mean it's the best option. If you have flexible point currencies, you may be able to book Saudia awards for a lower rate through other programs.
Saudia's other mileage partners include SkyTeam partners such as:
- Delta SkyMiles (Amex partner)
- AeroMexico Club Premier (Amex, CapOne, Citi)
- Air France/KLM Flying Blue (Amex, CapOne, Chase, Citi, Marriott)
- Alitalia MilleMiglia (Amex, CapOne)
Despite Delta's recent devaluations, Delta's award prices are fairly reasonable for Saudia award flights to the Middle East. However, the taxes and fees can be excruciatingly high:
Bottom Line
It's always good to see new airlines partnerships form. As Etihad has some excellent award rates on its other partners, I had high hopes when I initially saw this new addition. However, the mileage rates for Saudia award flights are extremely high on most routes. You're likely better off booking Saudia awards through other programs.
For long-haul flights, you'll want to use your Etihad Guest miles on other partner airlines — such as American Airlines, Royal Air Maroc, or Brussels Airlines. However, you might be able to find some value in the new Etihad-Saudia partnership on short-haul flights.
What's your favorite use of Etihad Guest miles?
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I think that with Etihad you have some better award rates with other partners.
Anyway, as I have said in another comment the big disadvantage is the fact that to book you need to call and this could be quite frustrating depending on the agent you find.
Yes, as with many businesses, the agent you get matters greatly.
Boy the transfer rates from the hotel programs is a bit steep.
Sure is! That’s the case with most transfers from hotel programs. Marriott is really the only exception.
Thank you for the information. However I do not plan on flying to the Middle East anytime soon.
It looks like the outlook is good for the air market in the Middle East. The companies are managing to survive the geopolitical obstacles and the passenger is the winner.
Not much compelling value in the Etihad Guest program that I can see….reminds me a lot of BA Avios….if you end up with some of their mileage currency try using on short/medium haul flights on other carriers (ie AA) that don’t have surcharges.
Maybe no value in this Saudia chart, but there are sweet spots on the AA, ANA, Brussels, Royal Air Maroc (and more) charts. We highlight a few in this post: https://awardwallet.com/blog/current-etihad-buy-miles-promotion/
The program is worse than Avios, isn’t it?
although saudi airlines is not a major player in the loyalty program space, an additional way to spend miles is always a good thing for a loyalty program like etihad.
The fact it’s a dry airline aside, Saudi have a good business class product
Agreed, I really like the styling of their cabins. And as a non-drinker, them being a dry airline doesn’t bother me in the slightest.
Eithad only flies to JED, RUH and DMM on its own.
Will never complain about airlines adding partners as long as the don’t devalue award charts
Agreed!