got a FREE upgrade from RED -> GOLD status & I am flying etihad overseas

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Hi,

So A friend gets to give someone gold membership every year as he is Platinum, this year was my turn. I fly regularly, but NEVER enough to get out of the RED zone.

I have rewards flights booked from Brisbane to Dublin return, and my wife and infant have one way (to Dublin) on reward points also.

I know that I can use the lounge, can they if they are with me on the way over?

On my flight back, am I likely to get an upgrade, how would I go about this?

On the flight over, as we are travelling with an infant, I know an upgrade for us to business class is out of the question, but we asked for the "bunk" row (or whatever its called) and were told to get there early and we might get it, now that I am a GOLD status I should definitely get it right?

Lots of questions, sorry, just want to make the most of the GOLD status whilst I have it!
 
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Hi,

So A friend gets to give someone gold membership every year as he is Platinum, this year was my turn. I fly regularly, but NEVER enough to get out of the RED zone.

I have rewards flights booked from Brisbane to Dublin return, and my wife and infant have one way (to Dublin) on reward points also.

I know that I can use the lounge, can they if they are with me on the way over?

On my flight back, am I likely to get an upgrade, how would I go about this?

On the flight over, as we are travelling with an infant, I know an upgrade for us to business class is out of the question, but we asked for the "bunk" row (or whatever its called) and were told to get there early and we might get it, now that I am a GOLD status I should definitely get it right?

Lots of questions, sorry, just want to make the most of the GOLD status whilst I have it!

Welcome to AFF! Firstly are your reward flights on VA or Etihad? VA don't fly direct from BNE - AUH only via Sydney. As gold you can guest 1 into the lounges. If you are flying via SYD you will get to use the new Etihad lounge but if you are direct from Brisbane you will get stuck in the Air NZ lounge. In AUH you only have access to the Al Reem Lounge which will generally involve changing terminals (it's in T1) but in Dublin you will get access to the Pearl Business Lounge.

I don't have kids so not 100% sure about the lounge access but Etihad count children as the 1 guest allocation however I would be thinking this is for children aged 2-11 and the infants under 2 would not be included? Can someone please confirm?

The chance of getting a upgrade is minimal at best, the only chance you have is if the flight is oversold and there are no platinums etc who would get upgraded first. Also because they are reward flights you can't use points to upgrade either.

But the good news is that golds get advance seat selection so call VFF to see if you can book the 'bassinet' seat asap.
 
Welcome to AFF! Firstly are your reward flights on VA or Etihad? VA don't fly direct from BNE - AUH only via Sydney. As gold you can guest 1 into the lounges. If you are flying via SYD you will get to use the new Etihad lounge but if you are direct from Brisbane you will get stuck in the Air NZ lounge. In AUH you only have access to the Al Reem Lounge which will generally involve changing terminals (it's in T1) but in Dublin you will get access to the Pearl Business Lounge.

I don't have kids so not 100% sure about the lounge access but Etihad count children as the 1 guest allocation however I would be thinking this is for children aged 2-11 and the infants under 2 would not be included? Can someone please confirm?

The chance of getting a upgrade is minimal at best, the only chance you have is if the flight is oversold and there are no platinums etc who would get upgraded first. Also because they are reward flights you can't use points to upgrade either.

But the good news is that golds get advance seat selection so call VFF to see if you can book the 'bassinet' seat asap.

Wow, thank you so much for your informative reply.

I booked the seats through velocity rewards with my reward points, I know the flights are with Etihad, and I had to ring etihad directly to ask for basinett row as virgin said they had no access to book them. Should I do this again now that I am a GOLD frequent flyer?

Good news on the lounges, that will make the trip a bit better, I am transiting through Sydney on the return leg :-( which is a pain but its nice to know I can at least have a shower etc and refresh.
 
You should have no problems with 1 guest and 1 infant in the NZ lounge in BNE (ordinary lounge though), or the VA domestic lounges. From what I've read, Al Rheem in AUH might not be worth the bother.

Don't forget your flight over will stop in SIN briefly too.
 
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