Etihad flight booking warning

[Fatboyfat 361]

Etihad are about to split all their fares up to take into account no luggage, seat booking, ticket changes etc. Although, if you book through the airline's website the options should all be fairly clear, I do foresee problems with those that book through third party travel agents. They could well advertise a really cheap rate, which you find later, does not include many of the amenities and conditions that you are used to. Worse still charge normal price and pocket the difference for a much reduced service which you only find out about too late.

Edited August 21, 2015 by Fatboyfat

[jacko 8,815]

Etihad are about to split all their fares up to take into account no luggage, seat booking, ticket changes etc. Although, if you book through the airline's website the options should all be fairly clear, I do foresee problems with those that book through third party travel agents. They could well advertise a really cheap rate, which you find later, does not include many of the amenities and conditions that you are used to. Worse still charge normal price and pocket the difference for a much reduced service which you only find out about too late.

Yeah, I got the email this AM,

Introducing Fare Choices:

Tailor-made fares for every guest.

 

From 14 September we will introduce Fare Choices, offering you the option to choose your ticket flexibility, baggage allowance, and many other benefits.

Now you can select a fare with the relevant services, giving you the power to pay for what you really need.

 

So more people who have paid less for cabin-baggage only cramming up the overheads!

Edited August 21, 2015 by jacko

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

Sounds pretty messed up.

 

I decided a couple of trips ago that I will only go every other year so I can fly business class. I just can't handle being part of the herd any longer. If fewer trips, so be it.

 

This is another example of why.

[Fatboyfat 361]

Sounds pretty messed up.

 

I decided a couple of trips ago that I will only go every other year so I can fly business class. I just can't handle being part of the herd any longer. If fewer trips, so be it.

 

This is another example of why.

This airline are extending all of that stuff down to Biz too mlc. Only first class seems relatively unaffected, apart from flexibility (which has always been the case).

[jacko 8,815]

This airline are extending all of that stuff down to Biz too mlc. Only first class seems relatively unaffected, apart from flexibility (which has always been the case).

Really, I shall have to take a look at their booking site. I had been using Etihad Biz for quite a while until Qatar came back with flights 15,000+ baht cheaper. (And a A380).

Edited August 21, 2015 by jacko
grammar

[TheFiend 1,181]

Looks like they are removing the higher baggage allowance for the base level Etihad Guest members as well, with only Silver, Gold and Platinum getting the increased allowance.

 

If that's the case then my October trip with Etihad might be the last time I fly with them. According the website it now looks like they are going to charge an extra $52.50 for the 32KG baggage allowance that base level members previously had included in their membership .

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

This airline are extending all of that stuff down to Biz too mlc. Only first class seems relatively unaffected, apart from flexibility (which has always been the case).

The airlines I have flown give business class earlier boarding which should help.

[Grandpollo 366]

This airline are extending all of that stuff down to Biz too mlc. Only first class seems relatively unaffected, apart from flexibility (which has always been the case).

This claim is highly doubtful for business class on Etihad or any airline.

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

This claim is highly doubtful for business class on Etihad or any airline.

I would hope so but I would bitch to the stewardess if there was no room for my backpack (small) in business class overhead.

[jacko 8,815]

Looks like they are removing the higher baggage allowance for the base level Etihad Guest members as well, with only Silver, Gold and Platinum getting the increased allowance.

 

If that's the case then my October trip with Etihad might be the last time I fly with them. According the website it now looks like they are going to charge an extra $52.50 for the 32KG baggage allowance that base level members previously had included in their membership .

To be honest that wouldn't hit me as hard as you, I travel alone and heading towards the UK my suitcase weighs about 2 KG, on the way back I pack more shit in there but never go beyond 20KG. So any extra baggage allowance is of no benefit whatsoever. Plus I still like to get rid of encumbrances so not checking in baggage would not occur to me (too much hassle at security for one).

Edited August 21, 2015 by jacko

[midlifecrisis 4,048]

I'm with you, I bring back more than I take with me.

[Fatboyfat 361]

This claim is highly doubtful for business class on Etihad or any airline.

WTF !? You are obviously not "enlightened" enough to receive their mailshots, or check their websites!

[TheFiend 1,181]

To be honest that wouldn't hit me as hard as you, I travel alone and heading towards the UK my suitcase weighs about 2 KG, on the way back I pack more shit in there but never go beyond 20KG. So any extra baggage allowance is of no benefit whatsoever. Plus I still like to get rid of encumbrances so not checking in baggage would not occur to me (too much hassle at security for one).

 

Mrs Fiend crams our suitcases full of Thai foodstuffs to bring back to the UK so we're usually hitting the 30KG when we're flying back to the UK. I just hope Qatar and Emirates don't do the same as Etihad with their Frequent Flyer schemes.

[firth1974 2,659]

Dont say i never do anything for you guys, but i've just come across a promotional code for Etihad that equates to about 20% off your fare. The only (small) thing is that you have to fly out on a Wednesday.

 

I've just done a dummy booking from LHR, and it gave me a discount of £78 on their cheapest priced fare. Discount seems to work on their other economy fare's as well as on Business class too.

 

No idea how much longer this promo code is valid for, but use it whilst you can!!

 

 

WE4SD31

[TheFiend 1,181]

I booked flights for our October trip in June and since then Etihad are not only changing their fare structures but in July they changed the Frequent Flier mileage awards depending on fare classes... Luckily my booking was made before the changes so I still qualify for the older membership benefits on our flights.

 

I think this will be our last trip using Etihad. The one good thing about the Etihad Guest program is that you can convert your guest miles into some useful using the PointsPay program where your miles can be convert to credit on a pre-paid Visa card. the last time I flew with Etihad I converted the airmiles to £93 which I then used to buy Amazon Gift Certicates.

Edited August 22, 2015 by TheFiend

[firth1974 2,659]

I booked flights for our October trip in June and since then Etihad are not only changing their fare structures but in July they changed the Frequent Flier mileage awards depending on fare classes... Luckily my booking was made before the changes so I still qualify for the older membership benefits on our flights.

 

I think this will be our last trip using Etihad. The one good thing about the Etihad Guest program is that you can convert your guest miles into some useful using the PointsPay program where your miles can be convert to credit on a pre-paid Visa card. the last time I flew with Etihad I converted the airmiles to £93 which I then used to buy Amazon Gift Certicates.

 

Ive got £290 worth of points on PointsPay that i can convert if i feel like it, but im holding out to upgrade my flights at some point.

Edited August 22, 2015 by firth1974

[jacko 8,815]

I booked flights for our October trip in June and since then Etihad are not only changing their fare structures but in July they changed the Frequent Flier mileage awards depending on fare classes... Luckily my booking was made before the changes so I still qualify for the older membership benefits on our flights.

 

I think this will be our last trip using Etihad. The one good thing about the Etihad Guest program is that you can convert your guest miles into some useful using the PointsPay program where your miles can be convert to credit on a pre-paid Visa card. the last time I flew with Etihad I converted the airmiles to £93 which I then used to buy Amazon Gift Certicates.

Well I hope you give us some feedback on Etihad, I was a bit unhappy last year with them as when we came through Abu Dhabi there was construction going on and I got messed around a bit. Doubt I will go back to UK before 2016 but one can never be sure.

Thanks for the tip on using Etihad miles, I have basically semi-wasted mine by 'purchasing' stuff from their shop before they expired. I have a smart phone and a tablet I got from them and unlike Emirates they include postage costs.

 

Firth, thanks for the tip, although I must admit I have always included Wednesdays travel in my fare searches, as there are more 'saver' tickets available...avoiding the Arabic and Western weekends.

[Regyai 415]

Well just booked my next Etihad flights and cant concur with the above.

 

They have restructured the baggage allowances is all.

 

In my instance (UK/Thailand) what used to be a base 30kgs with no restrictions on the number of checked in items in cattle has become 1 bag of 23kgs

 

BUT

whereas my Gold Guest Card would have previously given me a 15kgs additional allowance - I now get one additional bag of 32kgs..

so now 55kgs compared to 45kgs before the revision.

[TheFiend 1,181]

Well just booked my next Etihad flights and cant concur with the above.

 

They have restructured the baggage allowances is all.

 

In my instance (UK/Thailand) what used to be a base 30kgs with no restrictions on the number of checked in items in cattle has become 1 bag of 23kgs

 

BUT

whereas my Gold Guest Card would have previously given me a 15kgs additional allowance - I now get one additional bag of 32kgs..

so now 55kgs compared to 45kgs before the revision.

 

But the basic tier level the allowance has dropped from 30kg down to 23kg, and the miles award has also dropped depending on fare option chosen for base level members.

 

I know one things for certain I won't book with Etihad again after this trip. I was lucky I booked my next trip before both mileage and luggage changes came in.

[TheFiend 1,181]

Since I booked my trip in June Etihad have made changes to the flights on 3 occasions.... 2 of those were flight times and I have now discovered what the 3rd change was....

 

When I booked the aircraft were 773ER MAN-AUH, A332 AUH-BKK , 773ER BKK-AUH and 773ER AUH-MAN

 

Just been checking my booking today and now they've changed the AUH-BKK leg to a 773ER and the AUH-MAN leg to A346....

 

The good thing about that is I get to fly on an Etihad A346, the bad thing is they messed up my seat allocations on 2 legs and didn't bother to inform me what the changes were...

[Fatboyfat 361]

Since I booked my trip in June Etihad have made changes to the flights on 3 occasions.... 2 of those were flight times and I have now discovered what the 3rd change was....

 

When I booked the aircraft were 773ER MAN-AUH, A332 AUH-BKK , 773ER BKK-AUH and 773ER AUH-MAN

 

Just been checking my booking today and now they've changed the AUH-BKK leg to a 773ER and the AUH-MAN leg to A346....

 

The good thing about that is I get to fly on an Etihad A346, the bad thing is they messed up my seat allocations on 2 legs and didn't bother to inform me what the changes were...

Not sure about the other classes Fiend, but the Biz class is more "cramped" on the A340/600 (and all the smaller Airbusses) than on the 777s. Seat size similar, but aisles much narrower, and overhead lockers are about half the size. The "craphouses" seem far more claustrophobic too !

[TheFiend 1,181]

Not sure about the other classes Fiend, but the Biz class is more "cramped" on the A340/600 (and all the smaller Airbusses) than on the 777s. Seat size similar, but aisles much narrower, and overhead lockers are about half the size. The "craphouses" seem far more claustrophobic too !

 

We're back in the cheap seats. I find the 3-4-3 of the arrangement of Emirates and Etihads 777's a lot more cramped than on the 2-4-2 they use on the A330 and A340's....

 

Looking forward to the A346... the only other time I've had an A340 was with Air France when I flew to China 10 years ago. Don't care about the size of the craphouse... As long as I can hit the target I'm happy!!!

[Fatboyfat 361]

Yes those 10 across seat configurations are pretty much universally condemned. They originally put them on the Asian routes, but have now spread them to all routes.