Convoluted Virgin/Etihad Business-Class Points Trip SYD-DUB

[Sash]

Hi guys,

I've been reading a lot of AFF in order to get my head around the various rules and restrictions of various programs. This is my first post so Hi!

I want to fly 2 people SYD-DUB later this year. Virgin via an Etihad codeshare does this route. I have enough points (250,000) in my Velocity to for one business class fare outright. Unfortunately upgrades are not available on international long haul.

I also have 125,000 points in my Amex which can be transferred to Etihad Guest. An upgrade from a paid Economy seat is 108,264 point (or less depending on ticket type).

Sooooo, if I get a Virgin seat in business, and then purchase an economy with Etihad and use points to upgrade, is it all going to get a bit messy when I actually go to fly? I.e. different counters, not assured of sitting together, etc?

Thanks for any info and I wish I stumbled across this forum earlier!

Sash.

 

[The Rok]

Why not book two return J seats from SYD-AUH and then purchase cheap J fares from AUH-DUB?

 

[thegurio]

Would you be able to check your baggage the whole way through? In a perfect world, you would only have carry-on, but I know how difficult this is for MrsGurio, and we are thinking of doing close to the same trip in the future.

 

[loobloke]

Checkin is through the counter of the carrier operating and EY offer seat selection which in all my flights didn't change. If **** hits the roof then being on separate itineraries might be a headache with different fare rules and so.

Prices to AUH are really overpriced so I'm not sure that's the best idea.

 

[VRC]

If you transfer Amex points to your velocity account (375,000 total) then you should have enough points to get 2 return Business reward seats SYD AUH. (current princing is 94000 points +$73 one way per person with EY operated or 94100 +$313 VA operated).
The availability can be a bit limitted out of SYD so MEL to AUH is also an option. I just booked MEL AUH flights for May on EY as I couldn't justify the extra $240pp for the VA and am transitting in from HBA in any case.
Much less complicated that what you had proposed. There is regular bus connection between AUH and Dubai, I believe it takes around 2 hours for the 200km trip)

 

[777]

Was in a similar position over Xmas. I was trying to book J class MEL-AUH-MAN and back for two adults and one child but only had enough points for 3 legs out of the 4 in Velocity J.

I am skeptical about your ability to be sure of an upgrade. if you can transfer your Amex points to Velocity 1 for 1 or get an Etihad o/w business redemption you could try what i did.

I looked into various options and decided in the end to book:

2 (+infant) x SYD-AUH-MAN o/w in J on points (the availability was ex-SYD on the day i wanted to travel so decided that was the best option)
1 x BRU-AUH-MEL o/w in J on points
1 + (infant) x BRU-AUH-MEL o/w in J cash for the same itinerary.

I did a lot of searching and realised that One Way flights on Etihad ex-Brussels to Australia are actually pretty cheap in J. Obviously you've got to get to Brussells but my flight from there worked out at aprox $2500 Australian in J - not much more than a return Y. (BTW if you can yourself to Istanbul on a cheap flight they're even cheaper).

May not work for others but it was the best option for me.

 

[Sash]

Thanks for all the useful suggestions.

We do need to fly SYD-DUB with 1 stop so bouncing around isn't an option in this case. I called Etihad and they could confirm that an upgrade was available SYD-DUB but "there were none showing for all of September" for the return. She said this may be because it is too far in the future. I may call back and check a later time in a less popular traveling time to see if this holds true. Otherwise, she could tell me straight away if there were points upgrade seats available.

I haven't finished doing a complete comparison of getting separate SYD-AUH or AUH-DUB J seats on points, and buying the other leg. The points difference for the upgrade at least from an Etihad Guest point of view wasn't that big, so I'm not sure if it makes it worthwhile.

Also, Amex points are 1 for 1 for both Etihad Guest and Velocity.

Considering that we would be turning up to the Etihad counter together to check-in regardless of who the ticket was booked through, perhaps this is a reasonable option. We wouldn't be on the same itinerary but it seems this shouldn't pose too much of a problem from what loobloke says.

Anyone know how long ahead of time you can pick your seats with Etihad?

Cheers,
Sash.

 

[notzac]

Anyone know how long ahead of time you can pick your seats with Etihad?

So far as I know, you can choose seats as soon as the flight is ticketed (though you have to call up - there is no online seat selection)

 

[The Rok]

So far as I know, you can choose seats as soon as the flight is ticketed (though you have to call up - there is no online seat selection)

I have done it 3 weeks in advance before. I just used my E-Ticket number to log onto the EY website manage my booking section. Even managed to check in online there.

 

[Sash]

Well I finally came around to finding a solution. It was starting to get a bit much so I booked one J return using my Velocity points. I was then about to book the same fare using cash and my partner came up with one permutation I hadn't considered yet. I ended up booking a one-way J with cash and the return with Velocity points.

Final numbers:
SYD-DUB-SYD 250,000 points + $160ish
SYD-DUB $4400
DUB-SYD 131,000

Total: 381,000 + $4,560
Of course I earn some Velocity points and status credits for the paid sector as well.

Thanks again for everyone's kind assistance.

 

[777]

Well I finally came around to finding a solution. It was starting to get a bit much so I booked one J return using my Velocity points. I was then about to book the same fare using cash and my partner came up with one permutation I hadn't considered yet. I ended up booking a one-way J with cash and the return with Velocity points.

Final numbers:
SYD-DUB-SYD 250,000 points + $160ish
SYD-DUB $4400
DUB-SYD 131,000

Total: 381,000 + $4,560
Of course I earn some Velocity points and status credits for the paid sector as well.

Thanks again for everyone's kind assistance.

That was actually what I was suggesting and did. Apologies that I convoluted it with extra details about Brussels being 2 grand cheaper but the same principle applies if you book the o/w from DUB - its just double the price.