Etihad Releasing A380 First Class Award Space to/from USA

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Etihad is again releasing First Class award space on its daily A380 flight between New York and Abu Dhabi that you can book for only 90,000 American Airlines miles each way.

Some credit card offers in this post have expired, but they might come back. If they do they will appear –> Click here for the top current credit card sign up bonuses.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® MasterCard® and CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World MasterCard® are each offering 50,000 bonus American Airlines miles after $3,000 in purchases made with your card in the first 3 months the account is open. Don’t be thrown off by the word “Platinum.” Both cards have no annual fee the first 12 months, and then $95.

Get both cards and meet the $6,000 total spending requirement in the next three months to have over 106,000 American Airlines miles, more than enough miles to fly Etihad First Class on the A380.

I am looking forward to flying the route in January because First Class features a shower, and each suite has a couch/bed and seat. The plane looks amazing.

In the past, award space on the route has alternated between brief plentiful periods and long non-existent stretches. Now we see a new pattern. Award space is only being released on the route in each direction at the last minute.

You can search for award space here on Etihad’s site.

Results will look something like this. Remember that American Airlines miles can only book seats in the Guest Seat column.

Right now I see one First Class award seat from New York to Abu Dhabi on the flight that departs in six hours (above) and three on the December 3rd flight from Abu Dhabi to New York.

This story broke a few days ago, and in that time award space has existed on several flights within a few days of departure, leading to the conclusion that Etihad A380 First Class award space is being released at the last minute between the United States and Abu Dhabi.

Last time award space popped up on the route, I excitedly booked it from Abu Dhabi to New York. Since American puts the Middle East and India in the same region, I decided to start the award in India to explore it for the first time. Since American charges the same whether I ended the award in New York or anywhere else in North America, I also tacked on a First Class leg on American’s new A321T for no extra miles.

The award priced out at 90,000 American Airlines miles and about $35. I paid with my Citi ThankYou® Premier Card to get 3x points on the taxes.

Bottom Line

Etihad is now releasing its amazing A380 First Class as award space between New York and Abu Dhabi in the last few days before departure. You can book the space for 90,000 American Airlines miles one way.

Some credit card offers in this post have expired, but they might come back. If they do they will appear –> Click here for the top current credit card sign up bonuses.

The Citi® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® MasterCard® and CitiBusiness® / AAdvantage® Platinum Select® World MasterCard® are each offering 50,000 bonus American Airlines miles after $3,000 in purchases made with your card in the first 3 months the account is open. Don’t be thrown off by the word “Platinum.” Both cards have no annual fee the first 12 months, and then $95.

Get both cards and meet the $6,000 total spending requirement in the next three months to have over 106,000 American Airlines miles, more than enough miles to fly Etihad First Class on the A380.

The price of this award goes up to 115,000 American Airlines miles one way if booked after March 22, 2016.

Further Reading

• How to Search and Book Etihad Award Space
• Pattern for Etihad Releasing Last Minute Business and First Class Award Seats
• Amazing Award Space for 2 on Nicest First Class in the World? 14 Hours in Etihad A380 First Class for 60,000 Miles
• Anatomy of an Award: Etihad First Class on Dreamliner from Egypt to United States
• The Cheapest Award to Fly the Fanciest Commercial Plane in First Class
• The Longest Award that Flies the Fanciest Commercial Plane in First Class
• The Flight from America That Flies the Fanciest Commercial Plane in First Class