Did Etihad Devalue the Royal Air Maroc Sweet Spot?

Note: This post was published on September 19, 2019. Card details and benefits may have changed since then.

It appears so. And not only without warning, but in advance of even updating their award chart.

Royal Air Maroc Awards on Etihad Now Pricing By Segment

For some time, you’ve been able to fly from any point in Royal Air Maroc’s network to any other point, via Casablanca, for 44,000 Etihad Guest miles. Just last week, I wrote about how their new route to Beijing could well become one of the best sweet spots around.

According to a writer at Miles to Memories, this deal has come to a painful end – learning bout the change only via multiple calls and Twitter explanations, all saying that Etihad is now pricing Royal Air Maroc awards by segment.

Note that the Etihad webpage still says one way, 2001 miles and up, 44,000 Etihad Guest miles.

So apparently, Etihad Guest has changed the rules, with no warning, and haven’t even updated the award chart ahead of the change. I’d suggest that if you have any RAM awards you were eyeing, you MAY be able to persuade them to ticket you at the current rate, given the website, however they seem to be saying that one-way means one segment (even though it does not), so YMMV.

Recap

This is why it’s a) best to earn transferable currencies and b) why it’s best not to speculatively transfer during transfer bonus opportunities. If you got a 15% bump to speculatively transfer to Etihad and found the award you wanted just went up by 100%, you’re going to be pretty unhappy.

Points in transferable programs equal flexibility.

I’m disappointed any time there’s an unannounced program change. What do you think about this?

Let me know here, on Twitter, or in the private MilesTalk Facebook group.

You can find credit cards that best match your spending habits and bonus categories at Your Best Credit Cards. 

New to all of this? The MilesTalk “introduction to miles and points” book, MilesTalk: Live Your Wildest Travel Dreams Using Miles and Points is available on Amazon and at major booksellers.