Photo: Etihad Etihad Airways of the United Arab Emirates and STARLUX Airlines of Taiwan are expanding the cooperation between their frequent flyer clubs. Under the new agreement, which took effect yesterday (October 28), club members can earn and redeem miles on flights operated by both companies in all classes of service: Economy, Business and First Class.
Previously, under the partnership launched in August, Etihad Guest Club members could redeem their miles for bonus tickets on STARLUX flights in Economy and Business Class.
Now, the agreement is being extended in both directions, allowing STARLUX COSMILE members to redeem miles on Etihad flights, alongside the ability to earn miles on both airlines.
In addition, members of both clubs can request retroactive credit for eligible flights, subject to each program's terms.
According to Mark Potter, Managing Director of Etihad Guest, the expanded agreement allows passengers to earn miles on a flight with one company and use them later on a flight with the other.
STARLUX CEO Glenn Chai added that the collaboration gives club members more options for redeeming miles and expands the possibilities of reaching more than 120 destinations worldwide through Etihad's hub in Abu Dhabi.
The new agreement builds on the companies' commercial cooperation, signed in June 2025, and the launch of Etihad's route between Abu Dhabi and Taipei in September of that year, operated by Boeing 787-9 aircraft.
The connection between the networks allows Etihad to offer its passengers additional connecting options across Asia via Taipei, while STARLUX can expand its customers' onward travel options to destinations in Europe and other regions via Abu Dhabi.
The expansion of benefits is another step in deepening ties between airlines that are not members of the same global aviation alliance, and allows passengers to enjoy greater flexibility in accumulating benefits and redeeming them even outside the network of the airline of which they are a members.