Etihad seat selection

[fersea]

I am flying SYD to LHR via Abu Dhabi in a couple of weeks on a flight booked with Virgin points. It seems as though Velocity Gold members do not get complimentary seat selection on Etihad. However, I see check in opens 30 hours before the flight. At that point can you choose a seat for free? I am not particularly fussy about where on the plane, I just want to be able to choose an aisle seat. To do so now, you have to pay.

 

[Thibault]

Free seat selection opens at check-in, 30 hours prior to the flight departure - this is correct.
Otherwise, have to pay.
I think Etihad still makes you pay if you choose an Etihad Space Y Seat at anytime prior to the flight departure.

 

[Stealthflyer]

I am flying SYD to LHR via Abu Dhabi in a couple of weeks on a flight booked with Virgin points. It seems as though Velocity Gold members do not get complimentary seat selection on Etihad. However, I see check in opens 30 hours before the flight. At that point can you choose a seat for free? I am not particularly fussy about where on the plane, I just want to be able to choose an aisle seat. To do so now, you have to pay.

How did you go with your seat selection? Given the prices of flights to Europe in January, I'm tempted to purchase an economy seat using Velocity points. However, I get quite nervous about not having an aisle pre-selected.

 

[Rebus]

Following on from the OP I am interested to hear from anyone who has travelled as a group and waited until online check-in opens before selecting their seats. I am traveling DUB-AUH-MEL in April with my wife and two children. The AUH-MEL leg is on a B777-300 with 3-4-3 seating configuration. Do you believe that the system will automatically allocate us a block of 4 or could it be a complete lottery at T-30hrs?

I am prepared to pay to select seats in advance if necessary but I would rather spend the cash on something more enjoyable than lining EY's pockets.

 

[fersea]

How did you go with your seat selection? Given the prices of flights to Europe in January, I'm tempted to purchase an economy seat using Velocity points. However, I get quite nervous about not having an aisle pre-selected.

Hello, sorry I didn’t see this months ago. Seat selection worked out amazingly well for me. I was able to get an aisle seat when check in opened for both the Syd-Auh and Auh-LHR legs.

However when I got to the business class check in at Sydney airport, they said, “the flight has been overbooked in economy so we have upgraded you to business class.”

Me being the caring citizen I am graciously accepted losing my aisle seat in economy and assisted the airline by agreeing to take a business class, lie flat seat.

Sometimes you need to make sacrifices for the greater good.