Etihad chauffeur

[N860CR]

The wording was clearer previously, but it is known that EY and EK will not drive a pax between AUH and DXB and vice versa. Staff are also trained on this so I'm not sure how even if it was input 1) it was confirmed and 2) agents said it was fine. EY call centres may not be great but they definitely know this rule.

By all means, lawyer up over a few hundred dollars but I think you'll find that you won't win.

The T&Cs aren't clear and, to be honest, this is the first I've heard of the carriers not transporting people between the two airports. I've taken plenty of trips between Dubai and Abu Dhabi using EY and EK driver services and never had a problem. Admittedly, only about 4 have been from airport to airport but the conditions are certainly not clear if they wish to exclude that.

Regardless, the OP should have had no problem organising transport from AUH to Dubai itself which would have saved a lot of money.

I still believe a credit card chargeback is a good option.

 

[Uncle BJ]

Dear Uncle BJ,

We are sorry for your disappointment. We hope we can help in this case. Could you please provide us your case number by direct message so we can check it out with our Guest Relations team.

Thank you and Best Regards. *Jiaqi

Thank you Jiaqi - I will DM you now.

 

[drivatruk]

I remember someone on this thread mentioned that these guys are who Etihad use in Melbourne.
Chauffeured Cars and Executive Limousine Hire Sydney & Melbourne

so a correction:

J:
Chrysler 300C
Holden Caprice.

F: (potentially)
BMW 7
Audi A8
Audi S8
Mercedes S-class
JAG XJL
Range Rover Vouge

for me, if I could choose I'd go the S-class assuming it has the upgraded seats. I don't think i've ever been in a passenger car so comfortable at the back. Ultra soft leather (lamb's perhaps?) with massage function...

Well my transfer in MEL to the airport was an E class Merc.

In At AUH i was walked down the queue of nice new Audi A6's and out into the oldest one in the rank. I think the cars allocated and not like a taxi rank where you just get the next one in line.

The ride in AUH was a bit off as the driver sat 2 car lengths behind the car in front at 119 Kms per hour. I wouldn't call that professional.

 

[anat0l]

The ride in AUH was a bit off as the driver sat 2 car lengths behind the car in front at 119 Kms per hour. I wouldn't call that professional.

Too close for your liking?

 

[drivatruk]

Too close for your liking?

Much too close for my liking.

A van in front so no view of the road ahead. The 4 second rule works pretty well, so the 1.5 second gap he allowed was way short of what a professional driver would allow.

 

[Uncle BJ]

I really sympathise . Etihad customer service is an absolute joke and I won't ever fly with them again.

Had a similar incident in JNB. Arrived in J to find the booked chauffeur hadn't shown up. Stuffed around for an hour making expensive phone calls via pay phones before giving up. Etihad "customer service" was hopeless and pulled the same "need verified receipts" story.

Did you pay with a credit card? I'd action a charge ba

I thought I'd give a quick update about this, especially for N860CR...

After responding to Etihad's request on AFF for me to contact them directly, I was then told 'Hi Uncle BJ, we can see that our Guest Relations Officer has requested a receipt to process the claim. Please let us know what you can provide so that we can ask her to review your case and contact you accordingly.'

This was in circumstances where I'd already given Etihad the full account including inability to provide a receipt and willingness to provide a stat dec or similar. It's like talking to a robot which has been trained to be as infuriating as possible. A follow up message to Etihad then gave the same request for me to provide a receipt. Uggghhhhh.

Anyway, I'm done now. N860CR - you were right about Etihad customer service.

 

[N860CR]

I thought I'd give a quick update about this, especially for N860CR...

After responding to Etihad's request on AFF for me to contact them directly, I was then told 'Hi Uncle BJ, we can see that our Guest Relations Officer has requested a receipt to process the claim. Please let us know what you can provide so that we can ask her to review your case and contact you accordingly.'

This was in circumstances where I'd already given Etihad the full account including inability to provide a receipt and willingness to provide a stat dec or similar. It's like talking to a robot which has been trained to be as infuriating as possible. A follow up message to Etihad then gave the same request for me to provide a receipt. Uggghhhhh.

Anyway, I'm done now. N860CR - you were right about Etihad customer service.

Yep I hit the same point with them (including their social media team which is either totally powerless or totally incompetent). They just keep sending you the same response and clearly nobody has the ability to think for themselves.

The chargeback is very likely to work in this situation.

 

[EtihadAirways]

I thought I'd give a quick update about this, especially for N860CR...

After responding to Etihad's request on AFF for me to contact them directly, I was then told 'Hi Uncle BJ, we can see that our Guest Relations Officer has requested a receipt to process the claim. Please let us know what you can provide so that we can ask her to review your case and contact you accordingly.'

This was in circumstances where I'd already given Etihad the full account including inability to provide a receipt and willingness to provide a stat dec or similar. It's like talking to a robot which has been trained to be as infuriating as possible. A follow up message to Etihad then gave the same request for me to provide a receipt. Uggghhhhh.

Anyway, I'm done now. N860CR - you were right about Etihad customer service.

Hi Uncle BJ,

We really understand that, we will follow this up with our Guest Relations team to see if there is anything we can do from our end.

We have also replied to your DM. Thank you. *Jiaqi

 

[a330j]

I was getting worried about the change of chauffeur policy. Am travelling BNE-AUH-CDG in F in a few days. Fortunately I received a phone call today confirming pick-up time.

Unrelated to the thread, however I have to add that I am looking forward to the experience.

 

[JF75]

Does anyone have any knowledge or experience of how additional kms are charged outside the 50km zone in Sydney? I'd guess a per km charge? Can anyone tell me how much?

Thanks,

JF75

 

[a330j]

Terms and conditions say excess kms are charges at "locally applicable rates".

 

[JF75]

Terms and conditions say excess kms are charges at "locally applicable rates".

I saw that in the T&C's - I was hoping someone may have recent experience of what the the 'locally applicable rate' was in Sydney.

 

[JF75]

For anyone who is interested in the future, in Sydney, additional kms are currently charged at $3.50 per km.

 

[Masonic Phantom]

Do BA offer Limo service to F class??

 

[JF75]

I thought not, but apparently if you fly Sydney to London on BA15 or 16 all the way, they will.

More details here:
http://www.britishairways.com/en-au/offers/flights/first-transfer-service

I believe this is the only routing they offer it on.

 

[Masonic Phantom]

I thought not, but apparently if you fly Sydney to London on BA15 or 16 all the way, they will.

More details here:
Travel in comfort and style - British Airways

I believe this is the only routing they offer it on.

Thanks JF75... we are going Dubai/London, London/Dubai.

 

[MicoPico]

Heard that EY no longer offer chauffeur service for 3rd party booked Awards... I booked an EY F award using Velocity a few months ago for travel in March 2017. Does that mean I won't get chauffeur or they will only apply the change for bookings made after 10/8/16?

 

[anat0l]

Heard that EY no longer offer chauffeur service for 3rd party booked Awards... I booked an EY F award using Velocity a few months ago for travel in March 2017. Does that mean I won't get chauffeur or they will only apply the change for bookings made after 10/8/16?

This will only apply for bookings which are made after the ruling date. Previously made bookings are unaffected, although there is a possibility that if you make changes to your booking (especially if a new ticket is required), the modified booking - now having an issue date after the ruling date - may then not give you the right to chauffeur.

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Hmm I have a VA award ticket booked back in May, for travel after 10 Aug, and it's showing up as "Not Eligible" on the website now. I suspect that's because the ticket got reissued at some point due to an involuntary schedule change (one of the flights now leaves 10 minutes earlier or something)?

I called though to check whether it would work, and they were able to book the SYD pick-up over the phone. Phew!

I'll still need to call back later to book the chauffeur for the other ports later, once I have a hotel locked in, so hopefully no issues there!

 

[MicoPico]

Thanks anat0l and cryptarcadian. That's encouraging news.