Anyone booked an Etihad flight through the Virgin website?

5 replies

SaltyJ

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 06 Dec 2012

Total posts 157

Anyone booked an Etihad flight through the Virgin website? Just interested in peoples experience of book VA marketed flights on Etihad metal. Have any higher tier Velocity FF's booked Economy on EY flights from AUH to Europe? Do you think your Velocity status had an influence on the seats that were allocated to you? Thanks

radiC00l

Member since 22 Jul 2011

Total posts 18

Yes - I booked a flight to Europe via Virgin - VA to Abu Dhabi  PE and EY economy to Paris. I had hoped for a modicum of preferential treatment re seats etc. On one leg I was in the very last row. Perhaps this has recently changed as this was a year ago. However not too long after I flew AirNZ (booked on AirNZ even) and was blown away by the service, Virgin status recognition. Etihad felt low-cost in comparison. Plus the airport is a shocker IMO - although they now let VA platinums into the proper Etihad lounge.

SaltyJ

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 06 Dec 2012

Total posts 157

Thanks radiC00l! I am booked on VA to Europe via Abu Dhabi in May. VA PE and EY economy to Isanbul. I am have Gold status and while not expecting the world, thought maybe it would help a bit, but I am back in the second economy cabin on an A330 in the 30's rows in the centre lot of four seats, both outbound and inbound and I booked over 3 months ago as well, when I am sure the flight wasn't chockers! I have a feeling it is because I booked through VA and not through EY. In a recent discussion with some very helpful Virgin/Velocity staff at the call centre when looking to upgrade (purchase/pay fare difference) to Business, Etihad informed the VA staff that because the fare was ticketed by VA, no changes can be made, not even if I ring EY and deal with them. What's the point of an alliance/codeshare if EY sees the VA side of things as tainted goods?

chrisjrn

Member since 09 May 2011

Total posts 177

For what it's worth, Etihad have swapped over to the Sabre booking platform that Virgin use, just in the last month or so (weekend of 23/24 Feb to be precise).

Have you talked since then?

If you want to go ahead with an upgrade to business, you can ask VA to cancel your current ticket and re-book it in Business class. You should be able to put most of your current Premium Economy fare towards the cost of the Business Class ticket.

BUT, Insist that since they can't process a simple upgrade, they waive any change or cancellation fees that are applicable, as you will be re-booking seats on the same flights.

Oh, and explain why you want to cancel your tickets first... you don't want to be left without any reservation at all.

SaltyJ

Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards

Member since 06 Dec 2012

Total posts 157

Thanks chrisjrn! I spoke to them on Monday just gone.  I rang Etihad today and mentioning my Velocity Gold got me nothing.

Thanks for the advice on the upgrades, very helpful. My problem is that I upgraded the VA segment with points, so I cant just upgrade the EY segment. I would have to cancel my VA upgrade and pay for business upgrade for the whole outbound journey. I know that this topic has been brought up before and that it is common amongst all the airlines, but I find it funny that you can redeem a flight with EY but you can't upgrade one!


Thanks again!!

radiC00l

Member since 22 Jul 2011

Total posts 18

Only other thought is putting in a formal complaint to Virgin, and see if the Virgin customer/complaints team can ask Etihad directly. This is a little unusual given you haven't flown yet, but it may be worth a shot. Agree that it's the Etihad side that's letting down the partnership.

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