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Few things in life are certain: death, taxes, and Bilt Rewards adding new transfer partners every quarter. The latest addition is Etihad Airways, which becomes Bilt’s 22nd partner. Starting today, October 7, 2025, you can transfer your Bilt Points to Etihad’s Guest loyalty program.
Here’s your briefing on Bilt’s newest transfer partner.
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Etihad Airways Becomes Bilt’s 22nd Transfer Partner
You’ve heard it several times this year, but Bilt Rewards has added yet another transfer partner. Abu Dhabi–based Etihad Airways is now the program’s 22nd partner, and Bilt members can transfer points to Etihad Guest at a 1:1 ratio effective immediately.
Like other Bilt transfer partners, transfers happen in increments of 1,000 points. Members without Bilt elite status (Blue members) have a minimum transfer of 2,000 points, while Silver and higher members can transfer as few as 1,000 points.
To transfer Bilt Points to Etihad, log into your Bilt Rewards account, head to the transfer partners screen, link your Etihad Guest account, and you’re ready to roll.
Related: Guide to Bilt Rewards Transfer Partners: Which Redemptions Offer the Best Value?
Bilt's addition of Etihad Guest is noteworthy for two reasons
The addition of Etihad is noteworthy for a couple of reasons. First, it ends Bilt’s brief two-week hiatus of not holding the top spot for the most transfer partners among credit card rewards programs. For a short time, Capital One took the crown, but now Bilt and Capital One are tied with 22 partners apiece.
Second, Etihad is another Bilt partner that opens the door to some remarkable redemptions. A few examples include:
- Partner awards on American Airlines starting at just 6,000 Etihad Guest miles plus taxes and fees
- Etihad business class between the U.S. and Abu Dhabi for 120,000 miles plus taxes and fees, or first class from 160,000 miles plus taxes and fees — with much better award availability than through partners.
- Partner business class awards — such as ANA from the U.S. to Tokyo or Air Canada from Vancouver to Asia — for 120,000 miles plus taxes and fees
Better yet, Etihad is already a transfer partner of several other major rewards programs. That means if you don’t have enough Bilt Points for a redemption, you can top off your balance by transferring points from another program to Etihad Guest.
Downsides of booking through Etihad Guest
There is an elephant in the room, so let's address it. While Etihad Guest has some value to speak of, the program has its fair share of drawbacks, too.
- Most Etihad awards come with steep taxes and fees. For example, that business class award between the U.S. and Abu Dhabi comes with $500+ in fees. Short-haul American Airlines awards are a better bargain, but it’s still something to keep in mind.
- Etihad has a complicated award change and cancellation policy. Refunds depend on how far in advance you cancel, and the math Etihad uses to calculate how much you’ll actually get back isn't exactly clear. Here's a full breakdown of this policy.
Before you book an award with Etihad Guest, make sure it’s the best deal among all your options — and that your travel plans are set in stone.
Related: Airline Award Ticket Change and Cancellation Policies
Final Thoughts
With the addition of Etihad Guest, I think it’s fair to say Bilt Rewards now has a lot of transfer partners. And while Etihad might be of the same quality as a World of Hyatt or United MileagePlus, for example, quantity still has a quality of its own. That’s part of what makes Bilt Rewards unique. There’s no shortage of ways to redeem your Bilt Points; there’s something for everyone.
Related: What You Get By Signing Up for the Free Bilt Rewards Program and Why You Should
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