Query on booking a one-way business award LHR-SYD (via AUH)

[cssaus]

I'm looking at booking an business class award flight in November from LHR-SYD viia AUH. The number of points required for a one-way award is 1250,000 plus taxes.

The flights I would like to book are LHR-AUH on VA7018 (codeshare on EY18) and then VA30 AUH-SYD.

Looking on VA's booking site it says VA7018/VA30 "sold out". However if I look on the Etihad web site it says that EY18 has business class seats for redemption which from past experience means that I should be able to book through VA using VA points. The connecting VA30 flight AUH-SYD shows business class award availability.

Therefore, would it be possible to redeem the award EY18/VA30 LHR-SYD by booking by phone and would the points still be the 1250,000 or would it require two separate awards to be redeemed?

 

[Kolo]

If both legs are available through VA they will be combined into the one award.

 

[scottz95]

If both legs are available through VA they will be combined into the one award.

I've found that recently this hasnt been a dead lock. I was booking my mum a leg from LHR-PER via AUH. Both Etihad flights individually show up as available in VAs website but weren't able to be paired as a connecting online. When we called, the Contact Centre wasnt particularly useful and took the view that and I quote:

But thankfully for us the computer said Yes to a CDG-AUH-PER route (saving her $300 in taxes by not leaving Heathrow due to their luxury travel tax thing). It might not be so simple when you call as you might need to hang up and call again to get a semi compotent agent to do things properly or get someone with authority to approve the connecting.

 

[cssaus]

Here's the outcome of my inquiry.

Via the VA website I was unable to book the VA codeshare (VA7018) for EY18 and VA30, it just didn't offer it up as an available award. Checking the EY website, EY were showing award seats available on EY18 LHR-AUH and on the VA website there was award availability for VA30.

Called up VA and they were able to ticket a J award LHR-AUH-SYD using EY18 and VA30. They did have to leave me on hold for long periods of time whilst consulting with a supervisor but eventually were able to secure the booking. The points required were exactly the same as if it had been booked online for an all-VA flight booking.

It certainly helps in knowing that if award seat availability is showing over on the EY site then VA should be able to provide an award booking.

 

[Fiches Mouser]

Here's the outcome of my inquiry.

Via the VA website I was unable to book the VA codeshare (VA7018) for EY18 and VA30, it just didn't offer it up as an available award. Checking the EY website, EY were showing award seats available on EY18 LHR-AUH and on the VA website there was award availability for VA30.

Called up VA and they were able to ticket a J award LHR-AUH-SYD using EY18 and VA30. They did have to leave me on hold for long periods of time whilst consulting with a supervisor but eventually were able to secure the booking. The points required were exactly the same as if it had been booked online for an all-VA flight booking.

It certainly helps in knowing that if award seat availability is showing over on the EY site then VA should be able to provide an award booking.

This is really good to know. I've been told in the past that they can't access EY flight numbers, they have to be VA codeshares. So very encouraging!

 

[chrisbris]

Thanks for this info

 

[andy2015]

What you "should" be able to do and what the velocity phone reps will tell you are two totally different things. My experiences with them over the last few weeks has been terrible - 1 out of 5 I've spoken to has been helpful. Just last night I believe I got outright lied to - was trying to book EY F AUH-IAD with "GuestSeat" available on the Etihad website. Was told there was none available and only economy seats...oh that's funny as even the Velocity website is showing Business class seats available...

 

[scottz95]

Just last night I believe I got outright lied to - was trying to book EY F AUH-IAD with "GuestSeat" available on the Etihad website. Was told there was none available and only economy seats...oh that's funny as even the Velocity website is showing Business class seats available...

Interesting, as AA was having a similar issue through their US Aadvantage Booking line where they could only see some economy awards rather than the full compliment of J/F guest seat availability. I wonder if maybe VAs agents are experiencing a similar issue which would indicate this is a Etihad problem rather than a VA/AA problem.