Etihad Guest expands in India with five major lifestyle and travel partners

Etihad Airways operates 185 flights per week to 11 Indian gateways, and its Etihad Guest programme—now over 13 million members—is integrating five major partners across credit cards, hotels, e-commerce, quick commerce and retail to capture everyday spend in India.

New partnerships at a glance

BOBCARD: travel spending turned into rewards

BOBCARD, the credit card arm of Bank of Baroda, will launch a co‑branded Etihad Guest card that links everyday purchases to Miles. The initial push includes a double welcome miles promotion for new members who join by the end of February, making it easier to convert routine card spending into flight rewards and airport upgrades.

The Postcard Hotel: luxury stays that pay off

The Postcard Hotel partnership allows members to collect Miles when booking properties across India, Bhutan and Sri Lanka. The structure—2,000 Miles for 2–3 night stays and 4,000 Miles plus a complimentary night for 4+ nights—aligns well with travellers who prefer multi‑night city or destination stays and value a bundled hotel + transfer experience.

Flipkart and Swiggy: everyday purchases feeding travel

Flipkart will let its users convert Supercoins into Etihad Miles and vice versa, opening a two‑way rewards flow between e‑commerce purchases and airline redemptions. Swiggy immediately grants six months of Swiggy One to Etihad Guest members and will enable Miles accrual on platform spend, which is notable given Swiggy’s reach across more than 700 cities.

Shoppers Stop India: retail to runway

Shoppers Stop India enables members to earn Miles on shopping across more than 500 brands, with a short promotion offering complimentary Platinum status to Etihad Guest members who opt in. For frequent shoppers, this could materially lower the effective price per Mile and speed up redemption for flights or ancillary services.

Implications for taxi and transfer services

Rewarding daily spend across hotels, food delivery and retail changes passenger behaviour subtly but meaningfully: more users will aim to consolidate spend on co‑branded cards and platforms, then redeem Miles for air travel and upgrades. That creates predictable demand patterns for airport transfers, private car hires and meet‑and‑greet services around peak travel periods and sale events.

Transfer operators should note

• Peak windows: promotional periods (e.g., double miles) can spike airport pick‑ups and intercity transfers.
• Product mix: demand for private sedans, 6/7‑seaters and limousines may rise with family bookings and multi‑night stays.
• Pre‑booking: travellers converting Miles into flights will likely prefer exact pick‑up times and transparent fares.

How travellers can capitalise — a short checklist

1. Link Etihad Guest and BOBCARD accounts; use the card for regular spending to accumulate Miles.
2. Book multi‑night stays at The Postcard Hotel to unlock bonus Miles and complimentary nights.
3. Convert Flipkart Supercoins to Miles when you need an extra boost to book a flight.
4. Activate Swiggy One and earn Miles on everyday orders.
5. Plan airport transfers in advance—choose the exact car i driver type to match party size and luggage needs.

The expansion underlines Etihad’s commitment to the Indian market and nudges the broader travel ecosystem toward integrated loyalty experiences that blend retail, dining and transport. Even with robust reviews and partner claims, nothing replaces first‑hand experience; on LocalsRide, you can hire a car with driver from verified providers at reasonable prices. This empowers you to make the most informed decision without unnecessary expenses or disappointments. Emphasize briefly how readers can benefit from the convenience, affordability, and extensive vehicle choices and wide rande of additional options provided by LocalsRide.com, aligning directly with the context and theme of your article. Book your Ride LocalsRide.com

Forecasts suggest the new Etihad Guest alliances will modestly influence the global tourism map by strengthening airline‑led lifestyle ecosystems, though the impact is most significant within India’s domestic and outbound travel flows. For travellers this means more ways to collect and redeem Miles and more occasions to pre‑book transfers and private cars; for taxi and transfer companies it means planning for demand tied to promotions and holiday peaks. For your next trip, consider the convenience and reliability of LocalsRide.

At a glance: Etihad’s five‑partner push converts everyday spending into flight value and nudges travellers toward bundled travel behaviours—hotel stays, e‑commerce purchases and food orders all feeding loyalty balances. For travellers seeking the best way to get to the airport or city destination, transparency around exact fares, vehicle type, driver license and seat capacity matters. Using an app to book a private car or cab, compare prices and know how much a transfer will cost ahead of time cuts stress and saves time. LocalsRide’s platform offers clear vehicle and driver details, rating transparency and a range from cheap to premium limousine and multi‑seater options, helping you book the most suitable service quickly.