Velocity Platinum members can now access EY Diamond First Class lounges

[Velocity Frequent Flyer]

It's great to be able to confirm that effective immediately, Velocity Platinum members +1 guest can access Etihad Airways’ Diamond First Class lounges when traveling on any flight operated by VA or EY in any class of service.

 

[maninblack]

It's great to be able to confirm that effective immediately, Velocity Platinum members +1 guest can access Etihad Airways’ Diamond First Class lounges when traveling on any flight operated by VA or EY in any class of service.

Surely Etihad only has ONE dedicated First Class lounge and it's in Abu Dhabi. (or are they opening one in CNS for us)

 

[DJSYD81]

Wonderful news!

A step in the right direction regarding platinum benefits.

I look forward to heading back to this lounge on my next trip through AUH.

 

[bullerdude]

Wonderful news!

A step in the right direction regarding platinum benefits.

I look forward to heading back to this lounge on my next trip through AUH.

Agreed. A good step in the right direction!

 

[notzac]

It's great to be able to confirm that effective immediately, Velocity Platinum members +1 guest can access Etihad Airways’ Diamond First Class lounges when traveling on any flight operated by VA or EY in any class of service.

For those of you that have never seen inside the EY FLounge at AUH, here's a sample:

 

[lovestotravel]

Great work Virgin!

 

[bullerdude]

For those of you that have never seen inside the EY FLounge at AUH, here's a sample:

*Photos removed*

Pretty nice and quite a step up from the Business Lounge at AUH.

 

[notzac]

Pretty nice and quite a step up from the Business Lounge at AUH.

The privacy / peace and quiet / vast selection of places to sit down is a wonderful upgrade from the Pearl Business lounge!

 

[hgwells01]

Great to see more improvements, lounge looks lovely, thanks notzac for the pics

 

[maninblack]

It looks utterly un-inspiring and dissappointing as a 'First Class' lounge. Really sterile and ubiquitous. Are there any private areas, snoozing/napping arrangements?

 

[Mak404matt]

It looks utterly un-inspiring and dissappointing as a 'First Class' lounge. Really sterile and ubiquitous. Are there any private areas, snoozing/napping arrangements?

I love the 'napping arrangements' there, super comfy!

 

[RooFlyer]

I was let in to this lounge flying Etihad J when flight was delayed/rescheduled/delayed/conflicting advice etc last year - right royal screw around on top of a crowded J lounge.

Very nice I can assure everyone. Not quite as good as QFlounge in SYD, for those familiar with it, but that may be just a case of the latter being a more familiar environment.

 

[cssaus]

It's great to be able to confirm that effective immediately, Velocity Platinum members +1 guest can access Etihad Airways’ Diamond First Class lounges when traveling on any flight operated by VA or EY in any class of service.

Do you have a link to the change?

 

[brzbnkr]

Flying through AUH 4 days from now - I see someone on ausbt page about this subject said nobody at Etihad in AUH knew about Velocity Platinum benefits, so he was relegated to the biz lounge.
Anyone had any problems/success with this? I've got a 6 hour layover in AUH, so hoping I don't need to start any fights to enjoy this luxury!!

 

[Blinky]

I upgraded two J seats to F with cash on our return to Melbourne from Frankfurt last Monday. I am also Velocity Gold. We weren't allowed into the F lounge in AUH because, apparently, cash upgrades don't have the same status as those upgraded with miles. Disappointing, particularly with Y class Platinum card holders now allowed access.

 

[notzac]

I upgraded two J seats to F with cash on our return to Melbourne from Frankfurt last Monday. I am also Velocity Gold. We weren't allowed into the F lounge in AUH because, apparently, cash upgrades don't have the same status as those upgraded with miles. Disappointing, particularly with Y class Platinum card holders now allowed access.

That depends on the type of upgrade - upgrades offered at the check in desk for minimal $$ don't come with lounge or baggage bennies; if you re-fare your ticket (for many more $$), you'd get the whole deal. I fail to see how this is disappointing..

 

[PDog]

we're flying through Saturday morning. I'm plat, Fingers crossed, will report back!

 

[SFO_FT]

The AUH lounges are great -- the one that isn't T3 is usually very lightly used!

 

[PDog]

No problems using my plat card to access F lounge this morning!

 

[brzbnkr]

good to hear!! i had loaded up my ipad with a bunch of screenshots of etihad & virgin's websites to prove the fact just in case... hopefully that was a waste of time
looking forward to tomorrow's 6 hour layover in comfort!