How to get Etihad Silver status (lounge access) and other travel benefits for £60

I came unstuck on Monday when Etihad – whose ‘Gold status match’ I was promoting in the main story – changed the rules of the promotion literally overnight. 

By the time you all saw the post, the words ‘UAE residents only’ had been added to the small print.  They have been accepting matches from non-UAE residents who applied earlier, however.

I’m not sure why they did this (even though it makes sense) as they have run this match for the last two years and it has been open to anyone.

Anyway, there is a ‘Plan B’ to getting Etihad status.  You may or may not have heard of A Small World, a failed social website.  It has now relaunched as an “international members-only travel and social club” with a subscription of $105 per year.

ASW has put together an impressive list of travel related benefits for members, as you can see here.

The standout one is Silver status with Etihad Guest.  This gets you lounge access when flying with Etihad and may also be something you can use to leverage a status match with a oneworld or Star Alliance airline.  It also gives you lounge access when flying airberlin.

There are no flight requirements for the Etihad status.  Once you have joined A Small World, there is a special link to use to join Etihad Guest.  Your membership will be updated to Silver status within two weeks.

I would also rate free membership of The Leading Hotels of the World Leaders Club and Platinum level membership of GHA Discovery (the Global Hotel Alliance programme) as worth a look.  The two upgrade vouchers for Taj Hotels properties may also be useful to some.

A Small World membership enquiries need to be submitted via this webpage.  Alternatively, I think that you can be recommended by another member.  I’m sure there are a few amongst our readers, I don’t know if there is a formal referral scheme or not but I’m sure someone can tell us.

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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.