Monday, May 19, 2025

Etihad Airways and TAP Air Portugal have strengthened their travel partnership by launching a new frequent flyer collaboration that allows members of both airlines’ loyalty programs to earn and redeem miles across each other’s networks. This strategic move enhances travel flexibility and rewards for frequent flyers by combining Etihad’s global reach with TAP’s strong European and Atlantic presence. By integrating their loyalty benefits, the airlines provide customers with more seamless travel options, greater value from their miles, and expanded opportunities to access premium services—making this collaboration a significant step forward in delivering enriched travel experiences.

Etihad Airways and TAP Air Portugal have deepened their strategic alliance by launching an innovative frequent flyer partnership that builds upon their existing codeshare agreement initiated in late 2023. This new collaboration allows members of both airlines’ loyalty programs to earn and redeem miles seamlessly across each other’s networks, significantly enhancing travel flexibility and rewarding customer experience.

Passengers enrolled in Etihad Guest, Etihad Airways’ loyalty program, and TAP Miles&Go, the frequent flyer scheme of TAP Air Portugal, can now accumulate and utilize their points when traveling on flights operated by either airline. This cross-utilization of loyalty currency marks a key milestone in the cooperation between the two carriers, enabling travelers to enjoy greater earning potential and more redemption options regardless of which airline they choose.

This agreement notably benefits those journeying between the Middle East, Europe, and North America, where the combined networks of Etihad and TAP offer complementary routes. TAP Air Portugal’s extensive footprint within Europe and connections to the Americas blend well with Etihad’s global reach from its Abu Dhabi hub, presenting an expanded web of travel possibilities for frequent flyers.

While TAP Air Portugal is a member of Star Alliance—the world’s largest global airline alliance—Etihad Airways continues to operate outside the three main alliance frameworks: oneworld, Star Alliance, and SkyTeam. Instead, Etihad has pursued a strategy of forming bespoke partnerships and bilateral agreements with select carriers and their loyalty programs. These include collaborations with Air France KLM’s Flying Blue program and JetBlue’s TrueBlue loyalty scheme, illustrating a flexible and targeted approach to expanding its network benefits without the constraints of alliance membership.

The recent tie-up with TAP Air Portugal further cements Etihad’s commitment to forging meaningful connections with major carriers and enhancing value for its frequent flyers through strategic partnerships. This approach allows Etihad to maintain operational independence while still providing its customers with access to a broader range of destinations and reciprocal loyalty perks.

In a concerted effort to enrich its loyalty offering, Etihad Guest introduced several improvements in the past year that have resonated well with members. Among the most welcomed updates was a significant reduction in the number of miles required for redemptions on selected routes. This adjustment aims to make award travel more attainable and appealing, encouraging more members to redeem their miles for flights, upgrades, or other services.

Additionally, Etihad Guest launched a new Custom Benefits program, which personalizes the experience for members based on their tier status. This feature enables loyalty members to select from a tailored range of benefits, such as complimentary lounge access, priority check-in, or chauffeur-driven transfers, empowering them to choose rewards that best suit their individual preferences and travel habits.

Such initiatives have positioned Etihad Guest as a competitive and member-centric frequent flyer program, focusing on flexibility, personalized experiences, and tangible value.

The Etihad-TAP frequent flyer collaboration exemplifies a growing trend in the airline industry where carriers seek strategic partnerships beyond traditional alliance frameworks. As competition intensifies and traveler expectations evolve, airlines are increasingly adopting bilateral agreements that offer customized benefits and expanded route options without the binding commitments of full alliance membership.

This strategy allows carriers like Etihad to cultivate targeted partnerships that align with their network strengths and customer base, delivering enhanced value while retaining the agility to adapt to changing market dynamics. For TAP Air Portugal, teaming with Etihad opens doors to lucrative long-haul markets and introduces its loyal customers to new destinations across the Middle East and Asia, fostering mutual growth.

Frequent flyers of both airlines stand to gain significantly from the new frequent flyer arrangement. Members can now enjoy a smoother and more rewarding journey by earning miles whenever they fly with either carrier, accelerating their progress towards elite status and unlocking a wider variety of redemption opportunities.

For example, a TAP Miles&Go member flying from Lisbon to New York could earn miles on the TAP-operated leg, then redeem those miles on an Etihad-operated flight from Abu Dhabi to destinations in Asia. Similarly, an Etihad Guest member traveling from Abu Dhabi to Europe can collect miles on TAP flights within Europe and redeem their points for upgrades or award flights on TAP’s network.

This interoperability not only increases travel options but also enhances the overall value proposition of being loyal to either program, making frequent travel more rewarding.

With the launch of this frequent flyer partnership, Etihad Airways and TAP Air Portugal signal a strong intent to deepen cooperation and explore further collaborative opportunities. Both airlines recognize the strategic advantage of combining their respective strengths: TAP’s dominant presence in the European and Atlantic markets, and Etihad’s reach across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia-Pacific.

Travelers can expect the partnership to evolve with potential additions such as joint marketing campaigns, integrated customer service initiatives, and possibly expanded codeshare agreements covering more routes and schedules. Such developments would continue to enhance connectivity and provide an enriched travel experience for customers on both sides.

Etihad Airways and TAP Air Portugal have launched a new frequent flyer travel partnership to enhance loyalty benefits by enabling seamless mile earning and redemption across both networks. This collaboration expands travel options and rewards, offering greater value and flexibility to frequent flyers.

This new frequent flyer collaboration marks a pivotal step in Etihad and TAP Air Portugal’s journey toward offering a truly global and customer-focused travel ecosystem. By blending loyalty benefits and network strengths, they are creating a seamless experience that reflects the modern traveler’s desire for flexibility, choice, and value.