Etihad: changes for gold & silver

[Major]

Just received this. I wonder if it's an "enhancement".

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Dear

We continue to make our guest experience our top priority. To ensure we deliver on our service promise to guests we have decided to implement some new temporary arrangements for lounge access at Abu Dhabi International Airport as we enter the peak travel season.

From 1st July 2011 our Etihad Gold and Silver members travelling in Coral Economy Class will now be entitled to use the Al Reem Lounge in Terminal 1. Etihad Guest Gold members will still enjoy the benefit of being able to invite one other Guest into this lounge.

Guests flying in Diamond First and Pearl Business Class may continue to use the Etihad Premium Lounges in Terminal 1 and 3.

We are developing additional space at Abu Dhabi International Airport and look forward to inviting back Gold and Silver Guests travelling in Coral Economy to our own lounges when these facilities become available.

For your further convenience, Etihad Guest Gold and Silver members are invited to use our new dedicated check-in counter in Terminal 1, irrespective of your terminal of departure.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Etihad Guest Team

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[notzac]

Posting from said crowded EY premium lounge at AUH T3; it's probably an enhancement, if for no other reason that it should provide for more seating in the lounge (in saying that, I have no idea what this other lounge is like..)

I wonder if or how this affects Velocity Gold guests traveling in EY whY?

 

[dajop]

Just received this. I wonder if it's an "enhancement".

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[TD]Etihad Guest Gold members will still enjoy the benefit of being able to invite one other Guest into this lounge.

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Doesn't explicitly say it, but can't help but think this is a bit of a dig at the competition as EK have eliminated Gold members bringing guests into lounges, system-wide.

 

[Zulaiha]

the only thing I know is that the Al Reem lounge does not have a smoking room in it

As all my flights are generally has only 1hour 20 min waiting in Abu Dhabi, I did not bothered to go in to the lounge, due to its location.

since the changes, I had been passing through Abu Dhabi 3 times, and only once tried to check it out, which I did not proceed to go in due to my desperate need to smoke

 

[moa999]

Has this 'temporary' arrangement become permanent?