Sweet Spot Sunday: Travel to Morocco in business class for only 44,000 Etihad miles

Etihad Guest is a loyalty program that frequently goes unnoticed by U.S. travelers. Yet, it boasts several hidden treasures, such as American Airlines flights available at pre-devaluation rates. Additionally, it partners with various transferable currencies like American Express Membership Rewards, Capital One Miles, and Citi ThankYou points.

In this guide, we'll highlight a particular sweet spot: Royal Air Maroc business class tickets from the U.S. to Morocco for just 44,000 miles each way. This is among the most affordable options for crossing the Atlantic in business class using points and miles.

Even better, Morocco has recently reopened its borders to tourists, making this sweet spot even more valuable.

What makes it unique

Although redeeming miles for Etihad's own flights often doesn't provide good value, there are some worthwhile partner awards available for relatively few miles, like Royal Air Maroc's business class.

Etihad Guest requires a flat rate of 22,000 miles for economy and only 44,000 miles for business class on all nonstop Royal Air Maroc flights exceeding 2,000 miles. Essentially, this applies to all the carrier's flights from the U.S. to Morocco.

This rate is much lower than what you'd pay with other partners such as American AAdvantage or British Airways Avios, which charge upwards of 57,000 miles for one-way business class tickets.

Royal Air Maroc provides nonstop flights to Casablanca (CMN) from Miami, New York, and Washington, D.C. If you wish to travel to other locations in Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East, you will need to purchase the connecting segment based on its distance.

How to secure this award

Regrettably, these awards cannot be booked online, so you'll need to contact Etihad Guest customer service to arrange them. Fortunately, Etihad's phone representatives are typically quite helpful.

Step 1: Check for award availability

You can find Royal Air Maroc award availability online via its Oneworld partners like American Airlines. Just visit aa.com, enter your travel details, and check the "redeem miles" option. Any Royal Air Maroc awards displayed on American's website should be bookable through Etihad Guest. Alternatively, you can monitor award availability and set alerts using ExpertFlyer (which is owned by TPG's parent company, Red Ventures).

Step 2: Reach out to Etihad Guest for your booking

After identifying availability, call (877) 690-0767 and navigate the phone tree to access the Etihad Guest section. Be prepared to share your itinerary, including flight numbers and departure timings.

The agent will need to manually verify the award availability and handle the ticketing, so the conversation should last around 20 minutes. They may suggest calling you back once everything is processed, but typically, they return calls in a timely manner.

Although the taxes and fees associated with these awards are low, it's wise to use a card like The Platinum Card® from American Express or Chase Sapphire Reserve for added security in case of any travel issues. Before ending the call, ensure you request both the Etihad and Royal Air Maroc booking reference numbers.

How to accumulate miles for this reward

You can transfer points to Etihad Guest from four transferable points currencies:

• American Express Membership Rewards points at a 1:1 transfer rate.
• Capital One miles at a 1:1 transfer rate.
• Citi ThankYou points at a 1:1 transfer rate.
• Marriott Bonvoy points at a 3:1 transfer rate.

If you're looking to earn Etihad miles, consider adding a new travel rewards card to your collection. Here are some of the best current offers available:

• The Platinum Card® from American Express: Earn 80,000 Membership Rewards points after spending $8,000 in the first six months of card membership.
• Capital One Venture Rewards Credit Card: Earn 75,000 bonus miles after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening.
• Citi Premier® Card: Earn 60,000 ThankYou points after spending $4,000 in the first three months of account opening (see rates and fees).
• Marriott Bonvoy Brilliant® American Express® Card: Earn 95,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points after spending $6,000 in the first six months. ($650 annual fee, see rates and fees).

Final thoughts

There are numerous ways to travel across the Atlantic with points and miles. However, booking Royal Air Maroc business class via Etihad Guest stands out as one of the most cost-effective options. To enhance your journey, don't forget to explore our first-timer's travel guide to Morocco.