SYD-LHR-SYD, VA Economy Rewards flight, on EY: my experiences

[aplmac]

This is the start of my VA/EY code-sharing experience. I'm heading to the UK to see family, travelling alone, on a Velocity Rewards Economy ticket, which was executed via the Velocity website to being on EY metal on an EY ticket. I have Virgin FF Platinum and (coincidentally) Etihad Guest Silver Status. The booking was made in April 2012, and the ticketing carries my VFF Platinum number.

Subsequent to the booking being made, and closer to departure, I contacted Virgin Platinum Desk to see if it was possible to select seats for the whole trip. I had seen through KVS what seats were available on the four sectors, and the Platinum agent entered the requests, and we got back confirmation of the seats I had asked for. As of this moment on 18 June, both the Etihad 'Manage Booking' and, FWIW, the all-embracing 'CheckMyTrip' website confirm those seats selections against my PNR. I'm 18D SYD-AUH.

Next now I go to the Etihad Online Checkin, enter my PNR, and find that my seat is allocated to 41H down the back of the bus near the bathrooms, and my luggage allowance, 23KG, which is the bog standard for economy. So when I go log in to the Etihad 'Manage My Booking' screen, there's no FF number listed - neither VFF or Etihad. Which might explain why I don't have my so-called 'Confirmed' seating, or my status-level baggage allowance. The plane is, I can see, chockers, and given my 'seat choice' was one of only three available shortly after opening time, I don't think I'm going to have much luck getting my 'confirmed' seat. I will flash some FF plastic at the checkin desk tomorrow to sort out the luggage allowance though, and get this amended for the remaining sectors.

So: What lessons to take away from this? Firstly, it would appear that your VFF status doesn't 'carry over' automatically to the Etihad booking, inspite of being on your VA confirmations etc., so once a booking is made, and ahead of time, one should perhaps enter this info into the Etihad website 'Manage Booking' section if only to get your SC and FF points attributed, and perhaps it might lend some weight to whatever prior seating arrangements your status may confer further down the track. Secondly, your VFF status seems not to carry any weight on Etihad, and may be overridden, although this in all probability may be due to the lack of crossover. Thirdly, your 'confirmed' prior seat selection you're showing may bear no resemblance to the seat you've actually been allocated, so be prepared for worst-case scenario!

I'll see what happens at the desk tomorrow evening and report back.

 

[aplmac]

So to checkin. Me in the Pearl Business lane, a squillion in the Coral Economy.

I flashed both my Virgin Platinum and Etihad Guest Silver, and explained about the apparent seat discrepancies four minutes after the gates opened for online checkin last night. Even the Etihad booking agent I phoned this morning saw my seats confirmed as per my confirmation but couldn't see the seating map as the 'airport' had control.

The delightful checkin lady took said plastics and went to see the boss, with the end result I've moved further up the bus to 34C. I do, however, have my boarding pass for the AUH-LHR sector now, and I have my preordained 16D seat. The return leg will be back to the lottery!

I asked why, after OLCI had opened, the seating was as above; she indicate that the flight was overfull, and the seating was preallocated before the OLCI was opened.

She did pickup on, and explained, that my status did entitle me to the increased baggage allowance, not as indicated on the booking.

Off to the Koru lounge via the Express Gate...!

 

[aplmac]

So I get the name call, and duly front up: 5A! Awesome! Thank you Etihad for the magical long haul birthday present!

So, as the champers slides down smoothly, lessons here: an overly full Etihad flight is ripe for a statusal upgrade (SHMBO is VA P, Etihad Gold Elite and 90% gets J>F as the planes are always overbooked.)

It's worth playing the two-card tango if you have status, smile a lot, have a birthday and expect 15 hours of cattle!

 

[docjames]

Congrats on the op-up and enjoy the flight.

Good outcome from 41H 24hrs ago.....:mrgreen:

 

[EuroFlyer]

Thanks for the entry aplmac. Congrats on the upgrade, a great start to the trip.
I will be flying Mel - Dub return with Etihad in August and Im interested in reading your review. I have seen allot of bad reviews about the Etihad offering. The past few years I have flown Qantas but this year decided to try a Middle East airline (Emirates or Etihad) as they fly direct to dublin and this helps avoid a stop over and wait in Heathrow.
Il keep an eye out for any updates.
I will submit a review also of my trip in economy (im sure I wont be lucky to get a upgrade as I am a lowly Silver in Virgin velocity)

enjoy the trip
EuroFlyer

 

[aplmac]

Just to complete my roundup of the SYD-LHR trip, this would have to be the most memorable journey!

As I said above, it was my birthday and the op-up from whY to J was a totally unexpected pleasure. I mentioned this to the FA who brought the opening bubbly. After t/o the CSM to also wish me a happy birthday. Comfort kits handed out, more drinks, then the food service. Food was really nice, well presented, and served with a smile as you might expect.

What I didn't expect was after dinner when I came back from the toilet, the CSM and cabin staff brought me a birthday dessert and sang happy birthday and gave me a card they'd all signed! Doesn't get much better than that!!

After a decent enough sleep in the almost- flat bed, and breakfast, I was able to get off the flight quick smart, leg it across to T3 and go to the Etihad premium lounge there and grab a quick shower and cup of coffee before the AUH-LHR sector started to board.

For this 7 hour stretch I was back in whY, 16D, decent enough room two rows behind the J bulkhead. So a typical flight as you might expect, with the FAs focused on controlling and feeding the masses in the given time. Food was OK for tray and tub airline food (I've had worse, QF) and the flight uneventful. Off the plane and out of the airport in less than 30 mins using the dual passport process (see other discussions on AFF).

All in all, I have to say its worth considering EY for the SYD-LHR, especially in J for the 15hr long haul sector, and the night departure from SYD and the lunchtime arrival at LHR meant I slept when I expected to and wasn't totally buggered on arrival. WhY was better than average, so if that's the only option you could do worse.

[On a related note, from the airport I went to VA travel partner Europcar for my Velocity FF points paid hire car. VA Platinum gives Privilege Elite status, so I booked compact, paid in FF points, but you get complimentary upgrade to standard and get to choose which car from the designated section. No dramas, booking handled well, and an hour after landing was heading north up the motorway!]

 

[EuroFlyer]

Just to complete my roundup of the SYD-LHR trip, this would have to be the most memorable journey!

As I said above, it was my birthday and the op-up from whY to J was a totally unexpected pleasure. I mentioned this to the FA who brought the opening bubbly. After t/o the CSM to also wish me a happy birthday. Comfort kits handed out, more drinks, then the food service. Food was really nice, well presented, and served with a smile as you might expect.

What I didn't expect was after dinner when I came back from the toilet, the CSM and cabin staff brought me a birthday dessert and sang happy birthday and gave me a card they'd all signed! Doesn't get much better than that!!

After a decent enough sleep in the almost- flat bed, and breakfast, I was able to get off the flight quick smart, leg it across to T3 and go to the Etihad premium lounge there and grab a quick shower and cup of coffee before the AUH-LHR sector started to board.

For this 7 hour stretch I was back in whY, 16D, decent enough room two rows behind the J bulkhead. So a typical flight as you might expect, with the FAs focused on controlling and feeding the masses in the given time. Food was OK for tray and tub airline food (I've had worse, QF) and the flight uneventful. Off the plane and out of the airport in less than 30 mins using the dual passport process (see other discussions on AFF).

All in all, I have to say its worth considering EY for the SYD-LHR, especially in J for the 15hr long haul sector, and the night departure from SYD and the lunchtime arrival at LHR meant I slept when I expected to and wasn't totally buggered on arrival. WhY was better than average, so if that's the only option you could do worse.

[On a related note, from the airport I went to VA travel partner Europcar for my Velocity FF points paid hire car. VA Platinum gives Privilege Elite status, so I booked compact, paid in FF points, but you get complimentary upgrade to standard and get to choose which car from the designated section. No dramas, booking handled well, and an hour after landing was heading north up the motorway!]

Thanks for the update aplmac