Win 5 Million Etihad Guest Miles: Be the First to Visit 15 New Destinations (Extraordinary Challenge)

Etihad Guest has launched a new campaign, The Extraordinary Challenge, aimed at celebrating the expansion of its global network. The concept is straightforward: travel to (or from) 15 newly announced destinations served by Etihad, and you could win up to 5 million Etihad Guest Miles.

But this is not a casual promotion or a random prize draw. It’s a competitive race where only the top three participants will receive rewards. Below, we explain how the challenge works, what’s at stake, and what you should keep in mind if you’re thinking about joining.

What Is Etihad’s Extraordinary Challenge?

The challenge centers around Etihad’s newly launched destinations for 2025. Members are invited to fly to or from 15 specific cities between May 26, 2025 and May 26, 2026.

The top prize?

🥇 5,000,000 Etihad Guest Miles for the fastest finisher

What could 5 Million Etihad Guest Miles get you? This incredible sum could translate to:

Over 40 First Class tickets (think The Apartment!)
More than 70 Business Class redemptions across the globe
Upwards of 130 upgrades from Economy to a premium experience
Or potentially over 500 Economy Class flights, depending on the route and availability.

Additional Prizes:

🥈 2nd Place: 3,000,000 miles
🥉 3rd Place: 1,000,000 miles

It’s crucial to understand: only three individuals will win miles. This is a competition rewarding speed and dedication.

As Mark Potter, Managing Director of Etihad Guest, put it: “This challenge embodies Etihad’s purpose to give flight to ambition. We’re inviting our adventurous members and travellers to explore 15 incredible destinations while competing for our largest-ever miles prize.”

win 5 Million Miles with the Extraordinary Challenge by Etihad Guest.

How To Join the Extraordinary Challenge

Participating is open to any Etihad Guest member aged 18 or over. Here’s how to get started:

Create an Etihad Guest account (if you don’t already have one).
Register for the challenge via the official page.
Book and complete flights to or from the 15 designated cities.
Track your flights (details on leaderboard functionality to come).

🕓 Start Date: May 26, 2025 (00:01 AM GMT+4)

The deadline for completing the challenge is May 26, 2026, giving you a full year to plan and execute.

The 15 New Destinations

To win, participants must travel on Etihad-operated flights to or from each of these 15 new year-round destinations:

Continent	Destination	IATA Code
Africa	Addis Ababa, Ethiopia	ADD
Africa	Algiers, Algeria	ALG
Africa	Tunis, Tunisia	TUN
Asia	Chiang Mai, Thailand	CNX
Asia	Hanoi, Vietnam	HAN
Asia	Hong Kong, Hong Kong	HKG
Asia	Krabi, Thailand	KBV
Asia	Medan, Indonesia	KNO
Asia	Peshawar, Pakistan	PEW
Asia	Phnom Penh, Cambodia	PNH
Asia	Taipei, Taiwan	TPE
Europe	Prague, Czech Republic	PRG
Europe	Sochi, Russia	AER
Europe	Warsaw, Poland	WAW
North America	Atlanta, USA	ATL

Etihad has stated that if a route is canceled, an alternate destination may be accepted. Keep an eye on their announcements for any changes to the qualifying list.

Challenge Rules and Selection Criteria

This is explicitly a game of skill, not a random draw. Winners will be determined based on:

✅ Complete all 15 destinations in the shortest possible cumulative time.
⏳ Register early: The time of your challenge registration can help break ties.
🚨 Partial completions (minimum 10 cities) may be considered if no participant completes all 15.

Winners will be notified by June 15, 2026.

You can join the challenge even after completing one or more eligible flights, but retroactive claims must be submitted within 6 months of travel.

Make sure to thoroughly review the official Etihad Guest The Extraordinary Challenge page for the complete terms and conditions.

Can You Join After You’ve Already Flown?

Yes. You can register after flying to one or more of the listed cities. However, you’ll need to claim retroactive credit within six months of travel.

That said, I strongly recommend registering early and planning ahead to avoid complications.

Special Offer for Challengers: Fly & Get AwardFares Diamond Free

We’re always excited about supporting aspiring adventurers in these crazy initiatives. That’s why we are offering one month of FREE AwardFares Diamond access to all participants in Etihad’s Extraordinary Challenge who. To participate, simply

Show proof of travel for at least five qualifying flights that is part of The Extraordinary Challenge.
Share your full planned itinerary for tackling the challenge with us (even if it’s just your initial plan!).

📩 Email your details to: [email protected]

This gives you access to premium tools like award availability alerts, visual seat maps, route planners, and more-valuable for planning a winning strategy.

Plan Your Extraordinary Challenge: Interactive Itinerary Tool

If you’re considering taking part in Etihad’s Extraordinary Challenge, planning your route carefully is essential. Our interactive Itinerary Planner can help you map out a potential journey, estimate the number of Etihad Guest miles required for each leg, and access award availability searches through AwardFares.

How it works:

Select the cities you plan to include in your itinerary, in the order you’d like to visit them.
The map will show your route, assuming connections via Etihad’s hub in Abu Dhabi (AUH).
You’ll see a breakdown of each flight segment, including estimated mileage and a link to search availability.
Use the “Reset Itinerary” option to start over if needed.

Note: Mileage estimates are based on Etihad’s distance-based award chart for Economy Class and represent starting rates. Actual award pricing may vary depending on availability, cabin, and partner flights.

Select Challenge Cities:

Your Route Map:

Flight Itinerary & Miles Estimation:

Selected Path: None

Select at least two cities to see flight details.

Total Estimated Miles: 0 miles

⚠️ What You Should Know Before Taking On Etihad’s Extraordinary Challenge

Let’s be real for a moment. On paper, this challenge looks like the ultimate adventure: fly to 15 new cities and possibly win millions of miles. But if you’re seriously considering it, you need to go in with your eyes wide open. Here are the main things you need to think about before you start planning (and spending):

1. Not All 15 Cities Are Easy to Reach

Some of the destinations on the list, like Sochi, Medan, or Peshawar, are not exactly easy weekend getaways. In fact, several of them are low-frequency or seasonal routes, and often don’t connect easily to other Etihad flights. You may find yourself stuck trying to build convoluted itineraries or needing long layovers just to tick one city off the list.

In addition, a few of these cities don’t have a lot of Etihad-operated flights. That means you might be forced to rely on partner airlines or multi-leg routings. If the route changes or gets canceled (which is always a risk with new destinations), you could find yourself scrambling to adjust.

2. There Are Real Geopolitical and Safety Concerns

This challenge requires flying to places that are currently experiencing geopolitical instability, safety concerns, or travel restrictions. Sochi is in Russia, enough said. Peshawar, while fascinating, sits near a conflict-prone region in Pakistan. Addis Ababa is in a country that has experienced civil unrest in recent years.

As a traveler, you always want to be respectful of local realities and mindful of your safety. This challenge might force you to choose between completing a route and avoiding potential risks. It’s not just a logistical issue, it’s a moral and personal one too.

3. It’s Not a Lottery: Only 3 People Will Win

This isn’t like the SAS EuroBonus challenge where everyone who completes the task becomes a point millionaire. Etihad’s version is cutthroat: only three winners, and the top spot goes to whoever flies the 15 cities the fastest and registers the earliest.

So, if 100 people complete the challenge, 97 of them walk away with… nothing. Well, nothing but the memories (and the flight bills). You could spend thousands of dollars or miles chasing the challenge and not receive a single extra point in return. You’re betting big on speed, strategy, and a bit of luck.

4. The Rules Leave Room for Confusion

At the time of writing, Etihad hasn’t published full details about how the leaderboard will work or how progress will be tracked. They say it will go live soon, but until then, it’s unclear how you’ll actually verify that you’re in the lead, or how quickly the system updates.

There’s also ambiguity around what happens if Etihad cancels a route. Will they offer alternatives? Accept codeshares? That kind of uncertainty can derail even the best-planned itineraries. If you’re going to make this kind of commitment, you want guarantees, not grey areas.

5. You’ll Need Time, Money, and Flexibility

Even with a full year to complete it, doing this challenge efficiently means traveling often and booking aggressively. You’ll need to plan around visa requirements, entry restrictions, work schedules, and holidays, not to mention your own stamina. Flying to 15 far-flung destinations is no small feat, especially when you’re competing against others who might have fewer personal or professional commitments.

If you’re chasing the win, expect to commit significant time, money, and energy, and start immediately after the challenge begins.

🆚 Etihad vs SAS: Two Very Different Takes on a Frequent Flyer Challenge

I’ve done the SAS EuroBonus Millionaire Challenge myself, and while it was wild and exhausting (15 SkyTeam airlines in just under two weeks), it felt collaborative and inclusive. Etihad’s Extraordinary Challenge? That’s a whole different beast.

SAS EuroBonus Millionaire Challenge

SAS designed their challenge around participation and accessibility. The goal was simple: fly 15 different SkyTeam airlines before a deadline, and you’re guaranteed 1 million EuroBonus points. That led to hundreds of people winning, including me.

The challenge sparked community vibes. I met people in lounges and airports who were on the same mission. There were Telegram groups and social media threads sharing routing tips and experiences. It was less about racing, and more about sharing.

But there was a catch: so many new millionaires entering the EuroBonus program at once created a huge demand shock. Award seats dried up. Premium cabins became harder to find. I’m personally still experiencing fewer seats available and poor redemption opportunities. And with EuroBonus now using a semi-dynamic pricing model, the value of points feels increasingly diluted. It’s great that everyone won, but now we’re all competing for the same limited availability.

Etihad’s Extraordinary Challenge

Etihad, on the other hand, is going for exclusivity and prestige. Only three people will win: no participation prize, no tiered rewards, just a big pot of miles for the fastest travelers. And the prize pool is massive: up to 5 million miles for the winner.

But here’s the thing: the entry barrier is way higher. You’re not just booking flights, you’re optimizing a multi-continent race, dealing with route limitations, and making sure you’re not second-guessing your strategy halfway through. Add to that some politically complex destinations, plus unclear rules around tracking, and you have a challenge that’s as much a logistical puzzle as it is a travel goal.

Which One’s Better?

It depends what you value. If you want guaranteed rewards, go with promotions like SAS’s approach. If you’re chasing a big win and don’t mind the gamble, Etihad offers that “golden ticket” feeling.

Personally, I think the SAS challenge was more fun, but Etihad’s has the potential to be more rewarding (if you win). Just make sure you go in fully aware of the risks.

Maximize Your Etihad Guest miles with AwardFares

Whether you’re aiming for the 5 million mile grand prize or simply looking to explore some incredible new destinations, AwardFares is here to help you plan smarter.

Find Award Availability: Quickly search for Etihad Guest award seats, and seats on partner airlines, across multiple dates and routes.
Set Up Alerts: Get notified when award seats open up on your desired Etihad flights.
Explore Routes: Use our Map and Timeline View to visualize your travel options and build the most efficient itineraries for the challenge.

You can try AwardFares for free to get a taste of its power. For features like unlimited searches, alerts, seat maps, and more, check out our Gold and Diamond tiers.

And don’t forget our special offer: participate in Etihad’s Extraordinary Challenge, show proof of five qualifying flights and share your itinerary, and get one month of AwardFares Diamond.

About the Author

Germán is a technologist and travel strategist with a PhD in Computer Architecture and a rare ability to bridge the worlds of advanced computing and real-world adventure. Logging nearly 700 flights across the globe, he demystifies award travel and optimization strategies, helping others explore the world smarter, cheaper, and with less stress. Germán specializes in optimizing award redemptions, tracking loyalty program changes, and making complex airline systems easy to navigate.

Our guides have all the information you need to be a pro travel hacker and explore the world on points. Here are some related posts you might enjoy:

Win 5 Million Etihad Guest Miles: Be the First to Visit 15 New Destinations (Extraordinary Challenge)