Best use of Velocity points for Etihad upgrades

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scullkr

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Oct 4, 2016
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Hi everyone,

Short version: Is there any way I can use my Velocity Points balance to upgrade segments of my future Etihad flights from Perth to Dublin?

Long version:

I started getting into FFPs in September 2016.

With the help of AFF, Pointhacks etc I quickly accumulated a lot of points through credit cards for myself and my partner (Amex Explorer x 2, NAB Velocity x 2, Amex Platinum Edge x 1). I had some miles with Etihad, and along with my spending in Coles I am now Etihad Silver and Velocity Silver. I fly Perth to Dublin with my partner once or twice a year and my simple goal was never to complete this journey Y again. I was happy to pay for Economy flights, and use my points to upgrade the second segment of each journey to J as I will always be relatively points poor and cash rich.

We have 2 upcoming return trips to Ireland and I've used virtually all my Amex points to upgrade the second segment on each journey on Economy Classic bookings for about 300,000 Etihad Miles. Along the way I also learned how to purchase American Airlines miles to book flights in Qantas J from Perth to Tokyo at a steal. These will be our first experiences in Y- thanks AFF! I will keep an eye out an offers like these to fly to Europe in future.

My question is what to do with my 213,000 Velocity points- specifically with regard to my Perth-Dublin flying habit. Is it possible to use them as I've been using my other points i.e. upgrading rather than an outright redemption? I have 397 status credits, and could make Gold by the end of the year if this makes a difference, although I would be forfeiting Etihad status to do this, and I prefer upgrading the second segment of each trip in order to sleep (Velocity Gold benefits mention upgrading to Abu Dhabi).

I do fly domestically in Australia, but am often happy to sit in Y short haul.


Any advice is appreciated as always.
 
You can't use your velocity points to upgrade on Etihad... sorry! You can only use them for straight out reward seats but there is a per sector surcharge. Velocity gold would not get you into the AUH Etihad business lounge lounge but would get you into the Al Reem lounge (not the Etihad premium/business lounge). From the sounds of it you would not need this this time as your auh- Ireland and auh-Australia sectors sound like they have been upgraded to business so you will have access to the premium lounge?? On future trips velocity gold or your Etihad silver would get you in to the al reem lounge... Etihad platinum or velocity platinum would be needed to get you into the first class lounge (Etihad gold doesn't really have any lounge benefit when flying in economy out of AUH as far as I can tell but would at other ports) Velocity gold would get you better options for departure from Australia than Etihad silver
 
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You can't use your velocity points to upgrade on Etihad... sorry! You can only use them for straight out reward seats but there is a per sector surcharge). Velocity gold would not get you into the AUH Etihad business lounge lounge. From the sounds of it you would not need this this time as your auh- Ireland and auh-Australia sectors sound like they have been upgraded to business?? On future trips velocity gold or your Etihad silver would get you in to the al reem lounge... Etihad platinum or velocity platinum would be needed to get you into the first class lounge. Velocity gold would get you better options for departure from Australia than Etihad silver

Thanks for the reply.

Any experience then in mixed cabin bookings using Velocity?

For example, using points for Y reward PER-AUH and J award AUH-DUB in the same booking?

Is this an option with them over the phone?
 
I don't have any experience with mixed class bookings using virgin sorry. I think it may mean 2 booking but not sure. Perhaps your best bet would be to book singapore Y all the way and transfer your points to kris flyer for the upgrade. They don't fly direct to Dublin though by the look of it :(. Unfortunately as well you would need to make sure the flights with Singapore do not include PE as they would only upgrade you from economy to PE
 
No worries PhilandJosh.

Yes KrisFlyer is an option I'll look into although I would prefer the one stop instead of two. Thanks for your help.
 
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