Etihad to shut out Silver frequent flyers from airport lounges
By Chris C., October 5 2016
Etihad Guest Silver members will no longer enjoy worldwide airport lounge access from next year under the airline’s latest round of revamps to its frequent flyer program.
Silver-tier flyers can currently use Etihad airport lounges around the globe when travelling on an Etihad Airways flight – but as of January 15 2017, lounge access will be offered to Silver members only in Abu Dhabi (Al Reem Lounge), Mahé (Seychelles) and in Belgrade.
That puts all other Etihad Airways-operated lounges – including those at Sydney, Melbourne (pictured) and London – out of reach of the airline's Silver frequent flyers unless they're booked in business class or first class.
The same restrictions will apply to partner and contract lounges at airports where Etihad doesn’t run its own lounge (such as Brisbane and Perth).
Etihad Guest Silver members will gain the use of priority check-in counters when travelling with selected Etihad Airways partner airlines – including Airberlin, Alitalia, Jet Airways and Niki – although we're sure most travellers would trade faster check-in for lounge access.
The Etihad Guest scheme was substantially overhauled in July 2015 to introduce new ‘carrier charges’ on reward bookings and new mileage earning rates, among other tweaks.
More recently, however, the airline made it easier for all members to use Etihad Guest miles to book Virgin Australia flights: now possible up until 24 hours before departure as opposed to 14 days in advance under the previous system.
Also read: Etihad Airways goes double-daily on Sydney-Abu Dhabi route
Connect with other business travellers in our Etihad Airways discussion group
Chris is a a former contributor to Executive Traveller.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
11 Nov 2014
Total posts 32
Really sucks how Gold Velocity Frequent Flyers are chucked in the Al Reem lounge too.
05 Oct 2016
Total posts 14
This is really going to hit Etihad members hard. This is such a bad move - although seeing how busy the Sydney lounge gets, I can understand why this is happening!
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer Platinum
07 Feb 2013
Total posts 548
Hardly, golds in almost every other program don't get lounge access so hardly a "bad move" just coming into line with most others.
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
04 Nov 2011
Total posts 361
I think you mean silvers..
Emirates Airlines - Skywards
30 Nov 2015
Total posts 730
This will cut down on the number of snouts in the trough.
14 Jun 2013
Total posts 353
To be fair to Etihad, how many other airlines allow their equivalent 'Silver' grade members unlimited lounge access? Definitely not Qantas, Virgin Australia, Singapore Airlines or Emirates. I think Cathay Pacific has also moved to giving that grade of members a limited number of lounge visits? It's a big change for Etihad Guest, no doubt about that, so maybe Etihad should give Silver members 3 or 4 lounge passes each year to soften the blow.
CX
05 Jun 2012
Total posts 127
" think Cathay Pacific has also moved to giving that grade of members a limited number of lounge visits?"
British Airways - Executive Club
28 Mar 2014
Total posts 70
BA Silver get lounge access but their silver is the equivalent to QF Gold.
21 Apr 2012
Total posts 3012
EY is institutionalising it's programme across all EY guest member airlines. This marks the birth of a proper fourth global alliance.
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
11 Nov 2014
Total posts 32
I understand the argument for making lounges a bit more exclusive. Air New Zealand need to do something with their airpoints scheme too because it is very easy to become a gold member. The Koru lounge in Auckland feels like a Bus Station, people everywhere.
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