Which lounge can a Platinum on Business Reward use in Abu Dhabi?

[Rdarby]

Hi

I've done some searching for my upcoming trip but am a little confused. On this forum I see references to the First lounge and Al Reem for Platinum. The VA site says that in Abu Dhabi I can use the Etihad Premium Lounge. This corresponds with the only lounge I find mentioned on the EY site.

I am flying Brisbane - Abu Dhabi - Heathrow as a Virgin Australia Business Reward on Etihad. So basically business on Etihad.

I am a Plat VA.

Is the First and Premium and Al Reem the same thing? Does Plat have a better lounge than the business ticket has access to?

And do I need to take something special to get them to recognise me? I have had trouble in places like the US where they just don't know about VA.

Also any tips for Heathrow?

 

[Ausbt]

The Etihad Premium Lounge is adjacent to gate 35 in Terminal 3, and your AUH-LHR flight should be leaving from gate 30-something, so very close. Apparently as a Plat you do have access to the new First Class lounge in Terminal 1 (see link below). I didn't bother checking this out when I was in AUH a week ago - I was concerned about it's distance to my T3 departure gate. The Premium lounge was certainly quieter than I've seen before, making me wonder if it has relieved the demand there. Print out the lounge access rights and be prepared to state your case to the lounge angels as I've been rebuffed before, particularly on Business Rewards when you are carrying a Y ticket for your forward EY flight.

The Premium lounge is fine as far as I'm concerned, although I seem to experience Wi Fi difficulties. Only my iPad mini will connect, leaving my laptop and iPhone useless (this has occurred six times this year so clearly some problem or other). Great coffee and the food selection is fine with me, due to the timings I've never had an alcoholic drink there (but I've made up for that at LHR & SYD). I like to take a shower and have found waiting for the ones in the toilets is often quicker than queuing at the spa.

Tips for LHR? My transits there have been pretty seemless. On the last one I noted a sign advising that AU passport holders could avail themselves of electronic passport scanning if you 'pre-register' at this link https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller . On your homeward journey perhaps make sure you check in early and enjoy the EY LHR lounge - it's smallish however you can get a massage, have a shower and being there early ensures you get a seat as it gets busy later. Be aware if you hit the LHR duty-free shops with those last pounds-and-pennies then AUH gate-control will likely try to confiscate your duty free "because of your government's regulations". I managed to convince them to allow me to keep my Paul Smith after-shave but never again. Also if any normal shop at LHR (ie non-duty free) asks for your boarding pass, please refuse to show them. It has been well-reported in the UK media that convenience retailers / newsagencies are scamming travellers by asking for boarding passes but not passing on VAT-free savings on purchases, in fact pocketing same.

Etihad opens new Abu Dhabi business, first class Premium Lounge - Australian Business Traveller

One more thing: regardless of whether you are Y or J, when you arrive at AUH you will likely see two security scan queues, 'normal' and 'Business/First'. Just go through Business/First, it is quicker and I don't believe anyone is checking boarding passes. You will have at least one J pass anyway even if you are flying the second leg Y. Also as a VA Plat you get priority boarding even if you are doing the AUH-LHR leg in Y (if you have upgraded via points).

 

[Rdarby]

Thanks very much Ausbt. I will follow your lead and stay in the Premium Lounge, there is only about 2 hours to wait until the next flight to LHR so no point in going over to the other terminal. I am business all the way luckily but I will need more time if I wanted to get to the First lounge.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

Don't go near Al Reem, it's hideous.
Definitely stick to the EY lounges - you can walk between terminals 1 & 3 airside so if you have a long transit you could check out both of them!

 

[Wezza]

The Etihad Premium Lounge is adjacent to gate 35 in Terminal 3, and your AUH-LHR flight should be leaving from gate 30-something, so very close. Apparently as a Plat you do have access to the new First Class lounge in Terminal 1 (see link below). I didn't bother checking this out when I was in AUH a week ago - I was concerned about it's distance to my T3 departure gate. The Premium lounge was certainly quieter than I've seen before, making me wonder if it has relieved the demand there. Print out the lounge access rights and be prepared to state your case to the lounge angels as I've been rebuffed before, particularly on Business Rewards when you are carrying a Y ticket for your forward EY flight.

The Premium lounge is fine as far as I'm concerned, although I seem to experience Wi Fi difficulties. Only my iPad mini will connect, leaving my laptop and iPhone useless (this has occurred six times this year so clearly some problem or other). Great coffee and the food selection is fine with me, due to the timings I've never had an alcoholic drink there (but I've made up for that at LHR & SYD). I like to take a shower and have found waiting for the ones in the toilets is often quicker than queuing at the spa.

Tips for LHR? My transits there have been pretty seemless. On the last one I noted a sign advising that AU passport holders could avail themselves of electronic passport scanning if you 'pre-register' at this link https://www.gov.uk/registered-traveller . On your homeward journey perhaps make sure you check in early and enjoy the EY LHR lounge - it's smallish however you can get a massage, have a shower and being there early ensures you get a seat as it gets busy later. Be aware if you hit the LHR duty-free shops with those last pounds-and-pennies then AUH gate-control will likely try to confiscate your duty free "because of your government's regulations". I managed to convince them to allow me to keep my Paul Smith after-shave but never again. Also if any normal shop at LHR (ie non-duty free) asks for your boarding pass, please refuse to show them. It has been well-reported in the UK media that convenience retailers / newsagencies are scamming travellers by asking for boarding passes but not passing on VAT-free savings on purchases, in fact pocketing same.

Etihad opens new Abu Dhabi business, first class Premium Lounge - Australian Business Traveller

One more thing: regardless of whether you are Y or J, when you arrive at AUH you will likely see two security scan queues, 'normal' and 'Business/First'. Just go through Business/First, it is quicker and I don't believe anyone is checking boarding passes. You will have at least one J pass anyway even if you are flying the second leg Y. Also as a VA Plat you get priority boarding even if you are doing the AUH-LHR leg in Y (if you have upgraded via points).

I found the showers in the toilets in that lounge seemed to get water all over the floor outside the shower. But otherwise, nice lounge & good food selection.

 

[Ausbt]

I found the showers in the toilets in that lounge seemed to get water all over the floor outside the shower. But otherwise, nice lounge & good food selection.

They sure do. I was reflecting on that very thing a week ago - the design of the door pushes outward, moving the floor mat out of the way and allowing water to drop everywhere. Who designs these things? Just another note also that applies to the Heathrow Etihad lounge - all of the power sockets seem to have the thin cylindrical prongs rather than the squared-type prongs on my UK power adaptor. Thus I could not charge my laptop at all in that lounge.

 

[Danger]

http://www.australianfrequentflyer....-questions/lounge-access-help-desk-59405.html

 

[Kolo]

As of a week or so ago, the new F lounge is not yet open. The Premium Lounge is fine, I've seen it busy and quiet, busy when VA lands but quieter early evening.

 

[esseeeayeenn]

As of a week or so ago, the new F lounge is not yet open. The Premium Lounge is fine, I've seen it busy and quiet, busy when VA lands but quieter early evening.

The Premium lounges are open in both T1 and T3 though.