Etihad Meet & Greet

[eckorock]

Etihad Global

Anyone planning to use the Meet & Greet service?

I have a 3-hour transit coming up in a few months (SYD-AUH-IST) 11:50pm arrival in AUH, -> 2:40am departure to IST,
wondering if the expedited transfer service might be worth it to make sure I don't miss my connection? (flights booked on seperate PNRs)

 

[JessicaTam]

AUH is fairly straightforward to navigate, so 3 hours should be fine. Admittedly, I have not transited there, just ended and started a journey, but everything was fairly efficient.

 

[MrJetset]

Unnecessary. The airport is so small you can walk between terminals (connected) within 10 mins. We often to do this to use better lounges.

All they do is meet you at the door with an ipad with your name on it, but if you are through checked you generally just walk straight though, other than another security check. There is a transfer desk if you don't have your onward boarding pass.

 

[markis10]

Unnecessary. The airport is so small you can walk between terminals (connected) within 10 mins. We often to do this to use better lounges.

All they do is meet you at the door with an ipad with your name on it, but if you are through checked you generally just walk straight though, other than another security check. There is a transfer desk if you don't have your onward boarding pass.

Depends on what lounge access you might have, as I note some of the options include it.

 

[JessicaTam]

Depends on what lounge access you might have, as I note some of the options include it.

Good point. For $89 you get Etihad Airways Premium Lounge access as part of the escort. Might be worth it for a three hour layover.

Edit: At the time you are there the airport will be quite busy.

 

[eckorock]

Good point. For $89 you get Etihad Airways Premium Lounge access as part of the escort. Might be worth it for a three hour layover.

Edit: At the time you are there the airport will be quite busy.

Really, at midnight it will be busy ? Why?


Also, pardon my ignorance but what's the idea of a transfer desk, if you don't have your boarding pass don't you just have to go to check-in like everyone else?
In my scenario, VA flight landing at midnight, collecting luggage from the carousel, heading over to the Turkish Airlines desk and checking-in my luggage with them, and to get my boarding pass... what use is the transfer desk?

 

[markis10]

Really, at midnight it will be busy ? Why?


Also, pardon my ignorance but what's the idea of a transfer desk, if you don't have your boarding pass don't you just have to go to check-in like everyone else?
In my scenario, VA flight landing at midnight, collecting luggage from the carousel, heading over to the Turkish Airlines desk and checking-in my luggage with them, and to get my boarding pass... what use is the transfer desk?

Transfer desks exists for HLO or through check passengers who don't have an inward BP, it exists airside to save the need to go through customs etc.

 

[IrishPete]

Unnecessary. The airport is so small you can walk between terminals (connected) within 10 mins. We often to do this to use better lounges.

All they do is meet you at the door with an ipad with your name on it, but if you are through checked you generally just walk straight though, other than another security check. There is a transfer desk if you don't have your onward boarding pass.

Three hours is plenty in my experience, but be prepared to spend a significant amount of that time in the internal security queue, regardless of what class you are travelling. Longer in economy than Business or First, but still not a trivial amount of time in the "priority" queue.

Pete

 

[JessicaTam]

Really, at midnight it will be busy ? Why?


Also, pardon my ignorance but what's the idea of a transfer desk, if you don't have your boarding pass don't you just have to go to check-in like everyone else?
In my scenario, VA flight landing at midnight, collecting luggage from the carousel, heading over to the Turkish Airlines desk and checking-in my luggage with them, and to get my boarding pass... what use is the transfer desk?

AUH is Etihad's hub, and a lot of flights seem to transit around that time.

Are your VA and TK flights on the one booking? If so, you may be able to get your bags checked through when you checkin for your VA flight. In that case you will just need to go to the transit desk to get your BP.

 

[markis10]

AUH is Etihad's hub, and a lot of flights seem to transit around that time.

Are your VA and TK flights on the one booking? If so, you may be able to get your bags checked through when you checkin for your VA flight. In that case you will just need to go to the transit desk to get your BP.

I think the OP is doing what you DID, and in fact was the person who found it in the first place!

 

[JessicaTam]

I think the OP is doing what you DID, and in fact was the person who found it in the first place!

Ahh, got it. In which case my gratitude to the OP.