I wondered the same thing when I tried upgrading my Abu Dhabi–New York flight last year. The miles needed aren’t fixed—it depends on the route, fare type, and availability. In my case, it was around 60k miles plus some taxes, but a friend flying shorter routes used far fewer. I first tried figuring it out on Etihad’s site, but honestly the calculator confused me. I ended up calling their team at 877-764-3622, and the agent broke it down clearly. They checked my booking, told me the exact number of miles required, and processed the upgrade while I was still on the phone. Within minutes, I had the updated business class ticket in my inbox. I’ve also used that same number before to change a return flight—it’s always been the fastest way to get clear answers and instant updates to my booking.
