Review of Etihad benefits for Virgin Australia Plat

[jpp42]

Hi,
I am a Virgin Australia platinum and trying to decide between Qatar and Etihad for the following open-jaw itinerary in economy:

28 Nov - Dep SYD for BRU
29 Dec (approx) - depart IAD for SYD
(EU to IAD segment will be booked separately)

I am WP on both VA and QF, but have not used either EY or QR before. My understanding for EY is as follows:
SYD - should have EY lounge access on departure, plus one guest on same flight (but not same booking)
AUH - should have some lounge access (maybe first class?), plus one guest as above

IAD - unknown about lounge access, but some lounge access at least (I won't have a guest here)
AUH - as above

Questions are:
1) Any errors in the above about lounges?
2) Can I book any of this with VA flight codes to improve miles credit and still get a reasonable fare, if I go through a travel agent or VA call centre or something? I'm able to bring up an acceptable price ($1800) for the above itinerary on the Etihad web site, with EY codes of course, but the multi-city tool on VA web site isn't able to cope (just says unable to process flight options).
3) Is there any ability to access extra legroom seats or anything else like that as VA WP? I'm leaning towards QR right now because they have more A380's and A350's, and Eithad will be mostly 777's or 787's and the narrow economy seats on both of those are not too enticing.

 

[mikenz]

You're right about SYD and AUH lounges on EY, and they're both great lounges.
AUH First lounge is one of the best.

I can't comment on QR or their lounges.

Be careful with the fare you book with EY, they recently changed their offering where the cheapest fare only gets limited food and drinks included with the rest available for purchase on board.

 

[Thibault]

Be careful with the fare you book with EY, they recently changed their offering where the cheapest fare only gets limited food and drinks included with the rest available for purchase on board.

This statement is false.
All the new Y fare classes offers the same amount of food.
Even if you are on a Economy Classic or Flex ticket, you will be treated the same as the Guest who booked a Economy Deal or Saver ticket.
Food can be bought but on my 8 flights with them in the past 3 months, no one bought anything.
They do try to promote the BOB as much as possible and this is pretty annoying.