Etihad overbooked economy, volunteer bumped experiences

[gravity]

Hi AFF family
I'm flying LHR to AUH this Friday with Etihad and I know they are overbooked in economy. Anyone had any experience in what Etihad will offer those willing to be bumped?
Also I'm platinum with Virgin and I know there is J class availability, is there a chance they will upgrade me or is that for Etihad guest status over virgin?
Thank you for any feedback

 

[mannej]

No need for the duplicate thread - Etihad overbooked economy, volunteer bumped experiences

 

[gravity]

No need for the duplicate thread - Etihad overbooked economy, volunteer bumped experiences

Hi Mannej
Thanks for the reply, apologies for the double post. I'm trying to work out how to delete the thread? Can't seem to find how to. Sorry

 

[serfty]

Threads merged ...

 

[EtihadAirways]

Hi Gravity,
how do you know you flight is overbooked? What is your flight number? We can then check it for you.
Also when there are still seats available in another cabin the flight is not considered overbooked. *Isi

 

[gravity]

Hi Gravity,
how do you know you flight is overbooked? What is your flight number? We can then check it for you.
Also when there are still seats available in another cabin the flight is not considered overbooked. *Isi

Hi Etihad. I don't know for sure that it is. EY12 on Thursday. LHR to AUH. Appreciate that, the information isn't for public knowledge so I'm not expecting to find out how many seats are left.
More what happens in cases when you say have to many Y class but spare J class for example. I know every airline is different.
I'm not sure if my platinum status with Virgin is recognised if Etihad upgrades people. Or more so if Etihad will even upgrade people?
Thank you

 

[Must...Fly!]

P2 F3 A3 J7 Y4

Some codeshares have more availability but not much. Seems to be a pretty full one. Please report back your experience as a VA WP, I'll be most curious to see any outcome (as I'm sure others will)

 

[gravity]

Hi All
Thanks for your replies, so my experience went as follows:
The flight ended up being perfect loading for them except for the residence. Y, J, F all full on an A380. They didn't need to bump anyone, they marked me (as I volunteered at check in) as willing to be bumped. Thus allowing me to go through security and chill in the lounge. No one ended up being bumped. Check-in agent did say, were where you yesterday when we needed to bump people!
At check in I almost got my favorite seat, 76A which is the one at the exit but with the seat in front missing. It was released for me and snapped up by the check-in next to me. They were going to reinstate for me and then she goes i've got 40A for you, it's better. I was half asleep. DON'T take 40a! Unless you like cramps and cold feet and limited window. Pic attached! Still it did mean I was first off and in a quiet part of the cabin.

I found someone who was bumped the night before sitting a few seats over, he was put up for the night, given an exit seat 40C the next morning and paid 550 pounds into his account. About $1050. So if you're not in a rush to get to your destination, worth it!

During my flight with my VA WP status they did refer to me as Mr 'Gravity' other than that nothing else, Etihad now charges for snacks and no love there either.

Though the best perk is always the first class lounge at Abu Dhabi. However due to the air bridge at LHR breaking down for 45 minutes then missing our slot we were 75 minutes late, which meant only an hour in the lounge.

Hope the above helps a little

Thank you

 

[kelvedon]

During my flight with my VA WP status they did refer to me as Mr 'Gravity' other than that nothing else, Etihad now charges for snacks and no love there either.

Etihad charges for snacks now?

 

[gravity]

Etihad charges for snacks now?

yeah!!! so for my long haul flights, I got a meal service and later with just over an hour to go like a toasted sandwich. If you go to the galley and ask for something they offer you a USD$8 thing of chocolates. The crew member I asked also knew I was VA WP as at the start of the flight she said anything you need to make your flight comfortable please don't hesitate to ask. I slept through the meal service...
So many cutbacks recently from Etihad.

 

[Denali]

Pay for snacks?

I really want to know who is the bean counter in charge at Etihad. Pay for snacks, pay for amenity bags, pay for pjs. Y charged $8usd for champagne.

 

[gravity]

Pay for snacks?

I really want to know who is the bean counter in charge at Etihad. Pay for snacks, pay for amenity bags, pay for pjs. Y charged $8usd for champagne.

Since they dropped PJs, Chauffeur etc from business i've just been buying economy instead

 

[Denali]

Im suppose to have driver as booked flights before the rule change but Etihad change flight time by 5mins so now saying original booking cancelled and new booking (flight time change) excludes driver.

Packing Emirates and Qatar PJs in protest

 

[gravity]

Im suppose to have driver as booked flights before the rule change but Etihad change flight time by 5mins so now saying original booking cancelled and new booking (flight time change) excludes driver.

Packing Emirates and Qatar PJs in protest

Really thats so bad. Yeah i would be selecting PJ's from my collection as well!!!!! Definitely ME3 carrier ones as well

 

[Must...Fly!]

Pay for snacks?

I really want to know who is the bean counter in charge at Etihad. Pay for snacks, pay for amenity bags, pay for pjs. Y charged $8usd for champagne.

Last time I took EY (Feb) there were free snacks in the galley in addition to the buy on board option. Can't remember what was on offer but not much. The offering didn't seem to have been diminished, there was still a mid flight snack on the longer hauls.

 

[gravity]

Last time I took EY (Feb) there were free snacks in the galley in addition to the buy on board option. Can't remember what was on offer but not much. The offering didn't seem to have been diminished, there was still a mid flight snack on the longer hauls.

Hmmmm maybe further cut backs. I went to the galley and as mentioned even spoke with the crew member who knew I was VA WP and said earlier anything at all to help with your flight please let me know. Was offered nothing unless I paid.

Also I've learnt today that they are downgrading the dreamliner to A330 for PER to AUH in a couple of weeks

 

[Must...Fly!]

Hmmmm maybe further cut backs. I went to the galley and as mentioned even spoke with the crew member who knew I was VA WP and said earlier anything at all to help with your flight please let me know. Was offered nothing unless I paid.

Also I've learnt today that they are downgrading the dreamliner to A330 for PER to AUH in a couple of weeks

Hmm that's a shame. For the record only time I visited the galley was one flight, SYD-AUH and there were muffins, crisps out and some drinks iirc. Maybe they've cut back more.

And indeed they are changing to the A330. If in Y, I consider it almost better (except for the older, slightly smaller/lower contrast AVOD screen)

 

[gravity]

Hmm that's a shame. For the record only time I visited the galley was one flight, SYD-AUH and there were muffins, crisps out and some drinks iirc. Maybe they've cut back more.

And indeed they are changing to the A330. If in Y, I consider it almost better (except for the older, slightly smaller/lower contrast AVOD screen)

There is slightly more room on the seats. I take my own device to watch things on. But no fancy cabin humidity. Still A330 is a good plane

 

[ywwol]

Hmm that's a shame. For the record only time I visited the galley was one flight, SYD-AUH and there were muffins, crisps out and some drinks iirc. Maybe they've cut back more.

And indeed they are changing to the A330. If in Y, I consider it almost better (except for the older, slightly smaller/lower contrast AVOD screen)

This is the last week it flies.
Sucks for the cabin crew though who have to go back to using the last 3 rows of economy for crew rest.

 

[gravity]

This is the last week it flies.
Sucks for the cabin crew though who have to go back to using the last 3 rows of economy for crew rest.

That is true. Well in 6 months it's gone altogether now...

Anyone want to take a wager with me? $50 says VA take over PER to AUH And buy EY a330s and reconfigure them!