Get Etihad Guest elite status quickly with these bank cards

Earning elite airline status typically requires a significant amount of flying, sometimes referred to amusingly as butt-in-seat miles. For instance, Etihad Guest Platinum Tier status requires 125,000 tier miles to achieve the first time and 100,000 tier miles to renew. That’s the equivalent of ten return trips to London in Business Class. 

Pre-covid Etihad Guest made this hurdle a little easier by occasionally running double and triple Tier Miles promotions. These promotions were often targeted at members towards the end of their year if they needed to earn more Tier Miles to renew their current tier status. 

It was one of these double-tier miles offers that helped me make the jump from Gold to Platinum for the first time. 

However, there is a fast-track route to getting Etihad Guest elite status that does not require a lot of flying. Several Etihad Guest co-brand cards in the UAE offer complimentary Etihad Guest elite status as a card benefit. The cards listed below offer either Etihad Guest Gold Tier or Silver Tier status. Unfortunately, no co-brand card currently offers Platinum Tier status as a benefit.

Which cards offer a fast track to Etihad Guest Gold Tier status?

As a reminder, Gold Tier is a mid-tier status in Etihad Guest but is the sweet spot in the programme. It comes with most of the elite benefits travellers appreciate. At the same time, the hurdle to earning and retaining Gold is less demanding. The key benefits in my view are: 

• 50% bonus miles 
• Free chat/messaging onboard Etihad flights
• Priority check-in worldwide
• Fastrack security and immigration 
• Lounge access for self plus one guest worldwide
• Priority boarding 
• Free standard seat selection for two 
• Complimentary excess baggage 

Seven co-brand cards offer Etihad Guest Gold Tier status as a benefit. However, each has a slightly different requirement to trigger the perk. The list of cards and their requirements are:

ADCB Etihad Guest Infinite 

ADCB is the only co-brand card that allows you to earn status purely by card spend. 

You can earn status by accruing 35,000 Tier Miles within six months via spend on your card. This is the equivalent of spending $35,000.  

Alternatively, one return flight on Etihad within six months will trigger Gold status. 

ADCB Islamic Etihad Guest Infinite

The requirements are the same as the standard version of the card. 

ADIB Etihad Guest Platinum 

This is the only card to give you a full year to trigger status. You must take two return flights on Etihad Airways within 12 months to earn Silver status. 

Al Hilal Etihad Guest Infinite

This is the only option giving you instant Etihad Guest Gold Tier status. Your Etihad Guest Gold Tier will be valid for six months from the first use of the card. It can be retained by flying two return economy flights or one return business class flight within those six months. 

FAB Etihad Guest Infinite

Take one return flight with Etihad within six months to get Gold status. 

Emirates Islamic Etihad Guest Premium 

You must complete either one return flight or two one-way flights on Etihad Airways within the first six months to get Silver Tier status.

Emirates NBD Etihad Guest Elevate

Just one return flight on Etihad Airways to fast-track to Silver Tier status.

Which cards offer complimentary Etihad Guest Silver Tier Status?

The benefits of Etihad Guest Silver Tier are limited beyond earning Etihad Guest Miles. The critical perks, in my view, are: 

• 25% bonus miles 
• Free chat/messaging onboard Etihad flights
• Lounge access for self only at Abu Dhabi Airport 
• Priority check-in desk at Abu Dhabi Airport only
• Complimentary excess baggage  

Eight co-brand cards include Etihad Guest Silver Tier status as a perk. However, each card has a slightly different requirement to trigger the benefit. The list of cards and their requirements are:

ADCB Etihad Guest Signature 

ADCB is the only co-brand card that allows you to earn status purely by card spend. If you accrue 18,000 Tier Miles within six months via spend. This is the equivalent of spending $18,000.  

Alternatively, take two return flights on Etihad Airways within six months. 

ADCB Islamic Etihad Guest Signature 

The requirements are the same as those for the standard version of the card. 

ADIB Etihad Guest Gold 

This is the only card to give you a full year to trigger status. You must take four return flights on Etihad Airways within 12 months to earn Silver status. 

Al Hilal Etihad Guest Signature

This is the only option giving you instant Etihad Guest Silver status. Your Etihad Guest Silver Tier will be valid for six months from the first use of the card. It can be retained by flying two return economy flights or one return business class flight within those six months. If you do not, your status will be downgraded. 

Emirates Islamic Etihad Guest Saqer

Emirates Islamic includes one-way flights. You must complete either two return or four one-way flights on Etihad Airways within the first six months to get Silver Tier status. 

Emirates Islamic Etihad Guest Ameera 

You must complete either two return or four one-way flights on Etihad Airways within the first six months to get Silver Tier status.

Emirates NBD Etihad Guest Inspire 

Just one return flight on Etihad Airways to fast-track to Silver Tier status.

FAB Etihad Guest Signature 

This card requires two return flights with Etihad within six months to get Silver Tier status. 

Conclusion 

Co-brand bank cards offer a fast track to elite Etihad Guest status, which means you can start enjoying frequent flyer perks such as lounge access, priority boarding and excess baggage sooner.

Don’t forget; in addition to complimentary Etihad Guest status, these cards also offer new cardholders a sign-up bonus ranging from 20,000 to 200,000 Etihad Guest miles. Check out the best current sign-up bonuses available on all Etihad Guest co-brand cards.