VA Platinum - Any recent experiences

[Notyourbag]

Hi All

Velocity Platinum member here flying Etihad Y to LHR in a few weeks. Any recent experiences with:

- Priority Boarding (is this a thing?)
- Any seating upgrades (i.e. exit rows?)
- Quality of Lounge Access at SYD and AUH - has it decreased?
- Service in Y (I heard they have cut amenity kits, menus, etc)
- Do the A380's get gate access or is it likely they will still be on remote stands?

Unfortunately SQ was $1000 more so couldn't justify the cost.

 

[BCons]

Cant answer all your Q's, as last flights been J and F so priority/lounge access not been an issue. Am pretty sure tho that 380's all get proper gate access along the (long, crowded) length of AUH's T3. You will be sent downstairs and thru security on arrival, but the F lounge entrance & lift are quite close to the exit from that security check.

 

[Denali]

Please let me know your experience when you do it, we're flying EY in April (in J) and from what Ive read, the AUH boarding can be hectic.

 

[Notyourbag]

I've got a 2hr 30 layover in AUH but from all reports you'd be lucky to get 15 minutes lounge time with all the waiting around and queues.

 

[Denali]

Yeah, I already said to hubby that we will bypass the lounge and just get to the gate because its only 2hrs.

Will guest people in if they want to/they there the same time, its in the April lounge meet ups for info.

 

[ozjuice]

Flew there in J back in Y in November but as Plat was in the First class lounge. Not sure about boarding priority as we were the last to get on the plane, the lounge was so good i lost track of time. Seats in Y are tight though.

Didn't experience any queues at all although in J you are express. Coming back in Y was no queue though.

 

[Must...Fly!]

I am but a VA Gold (Platinum after this trip) but I can relay my experiences of Economy later next week.

 

[Dee#]

Abu Dhabi is very unattractive airport. Very busy. We have flown from Perth to Europe 2017 J so not in A380. Queuing and being bused out to the plane.
Make sure you know where first lounge is. Its hard to find, but you can sit down for a good meal if you have the time. However the i sushi and nibbles in the business lounge are good too.

We don't have much luck with the complimentary chauffeur service either.
In Perth end March 17 chauffeur changed pick up time to later for hubby. Then he rang to say he was late in traffic. (Not mid-afternoon in Perth!!!!.) He was miles out so I had to get our car and rush him to airport or he would have missed check -in. Very Lucky I was going later.
Then in Madrid airport for me and about 8 other J travellers chauffeur car didn't turn up. They got taxi I went to find out what was going on. No record of my booking Huh?. So 30e's later took taxi too....
This year Etihad not supplying chauffeurs to J.
Don't find Business bed very comfortable especially the PER-Abu Dhabi leg. very hard. And in window seat it was like lying in a coffin.
Virgin 'the business' is so much better.
Etihad also have some strange seating arrangements in the newer planes with seats facing backwards.

 

[Ausbt]

I've flown Y on EY through AUH as a VA WP. Use the J class 'express' security lane where you can (it's not a WP perk - and it's not policed). Be prepared for a lot of pushy people. Of course you can board with F & J, you might get a little lonely as your Y cabin-mates shuffle on board. The EY First Class lounge F&B is great. As a VA WP, EY told me they would block the neighbouring Y seat for me and they did. Of course 'protecting' that blocked seat from others who might want to move there is a different challenge ...but challenge accepted!

Gate access for the A380 yes (I'm thinking only the 777's don't). No joy in unlocking exit or bulkhead rows. I've always found the service in EY Y to be pretty good and on occasion have even got the extra greeting. Can't say anyone has greeted me on VA metal for a long while now, even in PE or J.

 

[ozjuice]

I did have my ticket checked when using the express security check. But it saved me so much time it would be worth trying it on.

 

[Notyourbag]

I bid for a J upgrade from SYD-AUH for the minimum $1340 and was accepted at T-47 hours.

Will be cheeky and ask at check in if they can bump the second leg to J too!!

 

[Notyourbag]

Just to provide an update on both flights:

SYD-AUH
- Nice experience in the SYD EY lounge - a la carte menu, buffet and coughtails were all available
- Priority boarding for business was enforced

Business Product is very diminished due to:
- No bed mattress (only a fitted sheet over the seat)
- No separate menu's for dinner, breakfast, etc. Only one menu you could order from
- Amenity kit bag was nice but contents were minimal and looked cheap
- No Pajamas
- Steak Sandwich halfway the flight was tough and not tasty at all

AUH-LHR
- Transit in T3 was quick! Max from 15 minutes from disembarking to EY first lounge (FYI - I forgot my VA Platinum card at home but they access the digital card)
- Lounge was very nice and had approx 1 hour there

Economy experience:
- No signs for priority boarding for VA status passangers
- Managed to get exit row seats at AUH transfer desk (but not able to be allocated in SYD)
- Catering was a snack box (sandwich, nuts, apple slices) soon after take off and breakfast served 90 mins before landing.
- Terminal 4 is a hole at Heathrow. T2 that SG flies into is much nicer (and quicker to get through home security!)
- Baggage had priority tags.

 

[Denali]

To confirm, is there a toothbrush/paste in the amenity kit?

thanks,

 

[Notyourbag]

Negative. You have to ask and they will give it to you separately

 

[Denali]

Negative. You have to ask and they will give it to you separately

Geez, the cost cutting is getting rough.

thanks,

 

[Saltywings]

This year Etihad not supplying chauffeurs to J.

No chauffeur drive for even F reward bookings now...

 

[Must...Fly!]

I am but a VA Gold (Platinum after this trip) but I can relay my experiences of Economy later next week.

VA Gold;

SYD-AUH
Started the trip in MEL - had to wait about 25 minutes for the transfer bus at the VA transfer desk. Just wasting lounge time .
Received an express pass at MEL check-in. Not sure why I used it!
On-board: No special treatment, except for a welcome back at the door.
Very light load, had a row of 4 to myself. Loved it.

AUH
Al-Reem lounge. Kinda small but oddly adequate for what it is. The scrambled eggs were absolutely delicious!

AUH-LHR
Priority boarding saved a fair queue. This was the *only* flight where I received any "special" treatment. The F/A came to me after take off to introduce herself, check how to pronounce my name (fair...) and asked what I wanted to eat, so to be sure I got my first choice. This was really appreciated.

VA Platinum;
LHR
No queue at check-in. Though my boarding passes predictably still showed my as Gold. I tried to get the check-in agent to remove my number and re-add, to trigger a re-query from Sabre after I said I was a Platinum now. But I may as well have asked her to suck an egg. Decided I would treat it as a research to see if experiences matched to the outbound trip.
I also asked to try and move up the front, as I wanted to be out of the A380 quickly and to security, to maximise F lounge time. Apparently there was nothing available at all. But "try on board to go up to row 45-48". Haha. A premium experience this was not.
Lounge was fine, busy and probably not as nice as the SYD one, but fine.

LHR-AUH
Priority boarding worked great, skipped a massive line. On board, nothing special at all. Had my choice of meal along with everyone else. I was in one of the rear most rows and it was completely full.

AUH
Had to wait for almost an entire A380 load to disembark before I could. F lounge time slipping away! And I had a short transit. Security was a zoo, but for the first time I've seen at AUH the premium line was manned. The lady tried to direct me to the long queue (reading a book by its cover presumably) but let me through on presentation of Gold BP.
F Lounge I expected to have a back and forth about my status. But thankfully it was very easy, just asked for my card, I offered my digital one (as obviously I didn't have the physical one) and was in 2 minutes later. Sat down to a quick dinner of pumpkin soup and tandoori lamb. Delicious. And great service.

AUH-PER
Middle seat vacant, nice win. Didn't want to eat, but thought to see what the experience would be. Oh boy....
Served amongst the last, and had no choice of meals. Just a "I have fish for dinner for you sir" and put the tray down. Dear me...

Rest of the flight uneventful.

Sorry didn't expect this to be so long, mini-TR of sorts! Anyway, hope it helps someone out.

 

[lostincable]

Thanks everyone for your experiences.

To clarify if VA Gold you can access security priority line at AUH on the left just show the card?

Also at check in at Sydney / LHR has anyone checked in at the business class counter even if flying in Y? it's a perk of Gold / Plat just not sure if they honour it?

 

[Must...Fly!]

Thanks everyone for your experiences.

To clarify if VA Gold you can access security priority line at AUH on the left just show the card?

Also at check in at Sydney / LHR has anyone checked in at the business class counter even if flying in Y? it's a perk of Gold / Plat just not sure if they honour it?

Yes and Yes. VA Gold should be mentioned on your boarding pass so shouldn't need the card, but good for a back up.