https://www.flyertalk.com/arti...frequent-flyers.html

"Fresh indications that Gulf carrier Etihad Airways will drop American Airlines in favor of a partnership with United Airlines and Star Alliance affiliation, have frequent flyers scrambling to anticipate exactly how the long-rumored move will affect current and future reward bookings. So far, Etihad, American and United Airlines have remained silent on the expected shakeup.

According to recent reports, American Airlines’ strained relationship with Etihad Airways may soon be coming to a close. Aviation industry insiders say the Abu Dhabi International Airport (AUH)-based carrier could announce plans to end its relationship with the world’s largest airline in favor of a new affiliation with United Airlines. The Gulf carrier is also expected to launch a renewed bid for membership in the Star Alliance.

Travel site One Mile at a Time, reports that “reputable sources” have indicated Etihad could make an announcement ending its partnership with American Airlines and instead embarking on a new pact with legacy carrier rival United Airlines as soon as this week. It is believed the Etihad announcement could also be made in conjunction with fresh plans to join the Star Alliance.

The contentious relationship between American Airlines and Etihad Airways came to ahead after a series of harsh public statements from leadership at both airlines in recent years, culminating in the two carriers ending a long-standing codeshare agreement in July of 2017. Since then, tensions have cooled (at least publicly) before again making headlines in recent weeks.

Speculation that Etihad will soon ditch American in favor of United is widely viewed as a precursor to an announcement the airline plans to join the Star Alliance in an official fashion. Etihad is believed to have quietly sought membership in the Star Alliance since even before the bankruptcy of partially-owned subsidiary Air Berlin in October of 2017. The carrier, in 2014, created its own Etihad Airways Partners alliance. In the years since, the alliance has been reduced to “little more than a badge on several different websites.”

Meanwhile, reports of potentially losing privileges on Etihad has not been greeted as welcome news by American Airlines frequent flyers. AAdvantage members have taken to the Flyertalk forums to express disappointment in the rumored partner-exchange, in some cases, to lament the possible loss of access to Etihad’s famed First Apartment suites and even to question the dependability of upcoming rewards travel on Etihad.

Is the rumored divorce of Etihad Airways and American Airlines, as one Flyertalker put it, “another big devaluation of AAdvantage” or is it much ado about nothing? This discussion continues in the Flyertalk Forum."

Hate to hear this. I flew Etihad a few years ago first class from A LAX to JNB via AUH using AA miles and it was simply unbelievable. Looks like I will use Qatar Airways going forward.