I actually learned how to book American Airlines flights using Etihad miles the hard way last year when I was trying to plan a family trip from Dallas to Los Angeles. I had a decent stash of Etihad Guest miles from a previous Abu Dhabi trip, and I’d heard they could be redeemed for partner airlines like American. But when I tried to do it online, I couldn’t find any clear option to book directly through the Etihad website.
After a bit of research (and some trial and error), I decided to just call Etihad Airways at 877-764-3622, and that honestly saved me so much time. The agent explained that Etihad and American Airlines are partners under the oneworld alliance, which means you can use Etihad Guest miles to book American-operated flights — but only through the call center, not online. I gave her my preferred dates and routes, and she instantly checked award availability for me.
Within 15 minutes, she found a round-trip itinerary that worked perfectly and walked me through the mileage and taxes due. I only paid a small fee in cash, and the rest came straight out of my miles balance. The ticket arrived in my inbox right after the call — super smooth.
If anyone’s trying to use Etihad miles for American flights, don’t waste time struggling with the website. Just call 877-764-3622 and let them handle it. The representatives know exactly how the partner redemptions work and can tell you which routes are available without the guesswork.
