If you use American Express Membership Rewards points to book flights, there is an important deadline you need to know about. Etihad Guest, the frequent flyer program for Etihad Airways, is being removed as a transfer partner from Amex Membership Rewards on June 30, 2026. After that date, you will no longer be able to move your Amex points into an Etihad Guest account. Right now, the transfer ratio is 1:1, meaning every Amex point you transfer becomes one Etihad Guest mile. If you have been planning to use this transfer option, you need to act before the deadline.

Etihad Guest miles can be used to book some great award flights, including business class seats on Etihad and partner airlines. The program has offered solid value for people flying to destinations in the Middle East, Europe, and beyond. Once the transfer partner relationship ends, the only way to earn Etihad Guest miles will be through flying Etihad, using their co-branded credit card, or other Etihad-specific earning methods. The window to move Amex points into Etihad Guest is closing fast.

Our Take

If you have Amex Membership Rewards points and have been eyeing an Etihad award flight, now is the time to make your move. Do not wait until the last minute. Transfer your points before June 30, 2026, and lock in the redemption you want. Etihad business class is genuinely one of the better products in the sky, and using points to fly it is a smart way to stretch your travel budget.

That said, we do not think this is a reason to panic. Amex Membership Rewards still has a strong lineup of transfer partners, including Air Canada Aeroplan, Delta SkyMiles, and Flying Blue, among others. Losing Etihad Guest stings a little, but the program remains one of the most flexible points currencies out there.