VA or Etihad points and status

[xd9000]

Hey All
New to the Virgin discussions and can't find an answer through search.
Just booked a couple of return flights in Business (W) from Manila to Rome. Flight stopping in Abu Dhabi for a night on the way there.

Is it better to link the flights to a VA account or keep them as Etihad ?
I can see that the MNL to AUH should give virgin status and miles, but can't find the AUH to FCO on the virgin site.
If I opt for Virgin, what would happen with the AHU to FCO flight miles / status credits?
Any advice much appreciated.

Thanks
XD

 

[jeppetto367]

You will get VA Points and Credits on any EY ticketed flight that is also EY metal (ie/ not a codeshare). I believe all EY AUH-FCO flights are on EY metal so shouldn't be an issue, though years ago you could book an EY ticket but on AZ metal from AUH to FCO (not an issue anymore).

 

[ozstamps]

Do those here think the 'marriage' with Etihad has much longer to run?

Looking at booking Etihad to London in Biz class now and typing in the dates on Virgin website they only show SQ and Qatar flights offered, zero option to even book Etihad, even if I wanted to, so Etihad have fallen right out of the marital bed it seems.

Looking at May June and hope the 1100 or so SC will be honoured - not sure what lead time notice is usually given for any 'divorce', but do not want to spend $13,000 on 2 tickets and find no Virgin SC flow from that!

 

[HS-TQE]

EY and VA has been 'divorced' for a while now. EY are still listed on VFF as a redemption option, and EY still offers some reward seats (although in a 'drip feed' manner) however no longer offer most pre-Covid codeshares (since replaced with QR), and as stated the booking engine prioritises QR and SQ over EY.

 

[ozstamps]

Yes it seems that way for sure.

So in the past when these things fall out of bed like Delta etc, does Velocity 'grandfather' SC and points for bookings made when things were all rosy?

Or, what advance time frame do other recall being given that things are changing. If 6 months we are sweet .. if 3 months, we are not!

 

[jase05]

Yes it seems that way for sure.

So in the past when these things fall out of bed like Delta etc, does Velocity 'grandfather' SC and points for bookings made when things were all rosy?

Or, what advance time frame do other recall being given that things are changing. If 6 months we are sweet .. if 3 months, we are not!

I don’t think there will be a complete divorce yet.
They are still secondary partners and I think the arrangement will stay like that unless QR really put their foot down

 

[ozstamps]

Probably but I am about to plonk down $12,000 of my hard-earned - with chunky cancel penalties, and all to get the SC, so am checking my options carefully as to what usual prior notice is given in such divorces from the program, and if existing booking are 'grandfathered' in such cases etc.

I am sure there will be a 'norm' - I forget what they did with Delta etc.