Etihad codeshare business class using Velocity points - recent seat selection experience ?

[KarenD]

Hi all

I'm looking for recent experience of selecting seats for an Etihad business class award flight booked through Velocity.

Trying to decide whether to fly Etihad AMS to SYD, or use Qantas points to book Qatar Airways business class. EY have the better flight time and transit time in Abu Dhabi, but if we can't choose our seat this would be a concern (although not the end of the world really). Qatar have a 8-9 hour layover in DOH which is not ideal but not a deal breaker either.

Has anyone recently flown EY using Velocity points in business and managed to select seats by calling Etihad or any other method?

Thanks
Karen

 

[CPMaverick]

It was about 14 months ago, but I was able to select seats using the Etihad app.

 

[oneworld3]

You can select a seat by calling Etihad or messaging them on Facebook. I have done this a few times

 

[MEL_Traveller]

Hi all

I'm looking for recent experience of selecting seats for an Etihad business class award flight booked through Velocity.

Trying to decide whether to fly Etihad AMS to SYD, or use Qantas points to book Qatar Airways business class. EY have the better flight time and transit time in Abu Dhabi, but if we can't choose our seat this would be a concern (although not the end of the world really). Qatar have a 8-9 hour layover in DOH which is not ideal but not a deal breaker either.

Has anyone recently flown EY using Velocity points in business and managed to select seats by calling Etihad or any other method?

Thanks
Karen

If you can get Qsuites on Qatar you're in for a nice ride. And you can pay a small sum - USD67 - to upgrade to the First class lounge in Doha: Qatar Airways Selling First Class Lounge Access (Including On Award Tickets) | One Mile at a Time

On the other hand there have been reports that EY's business class is on the decline, a bit like their economy product. Trying to save some serious $$.

 

[andrewpf]

I did it last week - the VA booking email includes the Etihad booking reference.

You have to call Etihad (rather than do it online), but was pretty simple, the Etihad call centre locked in my seating request with no hassle on my business points booking.

 

[KarenD]

If you can get Qsuites on Qatar you're in for a nice ride. And you can pay a small sum - USD67 - to upgrade to the First class lounge in Doha: Qatar Airways Selling First Class Lounge Access (Including On Award Tickets) | One Mile at a Time

On the other hand there have been reports that EY's business class is on the decline, a bit like their economy product. Trying to save some serious $$.

Hmmm yes I was concerned about this, the trip is a year away so would only get worse in the meantime, however it's still business class for *almost* free. We will try book QR anyway since it's available earlier and use EY as a backup if things go pear shaped with QR.

 

[KarenD]

I did it last week - the VA booking email includes the Etihad booking reference.

You have to call Etihad (rather than do it online), but was pretty simple, the Etihad call centre locked in my seating request with no hassle on my business points booking.

Ooooooh good to know, this gives me more confidence if we do end up booking EY! Thanks!

 

[pauly7]

Qatar is a much better product for sure.

But as others have said you can call Etihad to ask which seats are available / their IT is third world but their call centre staff are pleasant!