Bits: Emirates / Amex Membership Rewards and Etihad BusinessConnect promo

Here are two quick updates on recent articles, because I thought the info was worth sharing.

Emirates joins Membership Rewards

First, I wrote on Monday that Emirates is now a partner with UK American Express Membership Rewards.

I can confirm that points transfers from Amex are instantaneous.   (Virgin Atlantic transfers from Amex also go across instantly.)  I did a transfer yesterday morning and the points were in my Emirates account 30 seconds later.

However, your accounts must be linked first.  If you have not already linked your Emirates account to your Amex Membership Rewards account, the first transfer you do will take at least 48 hours because it takes 48 hours for Emirates to confirm your membership details to Amex.

Remember that you get a 25% bonus on Amex transfers to Emirates if you transfer on or before November 21st.  However, only the first transfer you do will attract the bonus.

There are some interesting ‘sweet spot’ ideas.  For example, Emirates runs a non-stop flight from New York to Milan.  Business Class return is only 90,000 miles and First Class – in an private suite – just 135,000 miles.  With the 25% transfer bonus, these redemptions look great value as long as you don’t mind taking a positioning flight to Italy.

Etihad BusinessConnect promotion points posting

I wrote here about Etihad’s generous BusinessConnect promotion. 

You had, before 30th October, to open an Etihad BusinessConnect account in the name of your company and link your personal Etihad account to it.  You would receive 10,000 miles in your personal account and your company would receive 10,000 miles.

I received both sets of miles yesterday.  The initial opening bonus in my company account was topped up to 10,000 from the initial 5,000, and I got 10,000 miles added to my personal account.

The only use for the miles in the company account – unless someone knows otherwise – would be to cash them out for roughly £40 of Visa card via PointsPay.  The miles in my personal account will be topped up by an Amex Membership Rewards or Starwood Preferred Guest transfer and used for a redemption.

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How to earn Etihad Guest miles from UK credit cards (April 2025)

Etihad Guest does not have a UK credit card.  However, you can earn Etihad Guest miles by converting Membership Rewards points earned from selected UK American Express cards.

Cards earning Membership Rewards points include:

• American Express Preferred Rewards Gold (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 20,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 20,000 Etihad Guest miles. This card is FREE for your first year and also comes with four free airport lounge passes.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on the ‘free for a year’ American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card is increased from 20,000 Membership Rewards points to 30,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (30,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

• The Platinum Card from American Express (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 50,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 50,000 Etihad Guest miles.

SPECIAL OFFER: Until 27th May 2025, the sign-up bonus on American Express Platinum is increased from 50,000 Membership Rewards points to a huge 80,000 points. Points convert 1:1 into Avios (80,000 Avios!) and many other programmes. Some people may see even higher personalised offers. Click here to apply.

• American Express Rewards credit card (review here, apply here) – sign-up bonus of 10,000 Membership Rewards points converts into 10,000 Etihad Guest miles. This card is FREE for life.

Membership Rewards points convert at 1:1 into Etihad Guest miles which is an attractive rate.  The cards above all earn 1 Membership Rewards point per £1 spent on your card, which converts to 1 Etihad Guest mile.

The American Express Preferred Rewards Gold card earns double points (2 per £1) on all flights you charge to it, not just with Etihad but with any airline.