Access to Etihad Chauffer service when booked with a VA flight #

[cssaus]

I'm not sure if this post should be in the Etihad Forum or here in the VA forum, but here goes.

My wife and I are both flying back together from London on separate reservations that have us flying from AUH-SYD in business class on an EY operated flight but with a VA flight number on VA issued tickets. Are we precluded from using the EY Chauffeur service on arrival in Sydney?

Under the T&C's for using the chauffeur service it does say "Guests travelling only on Etihad Airways operated flights (although holding other airline tickets)". I did try and book the service online using our separate booking reference numbers but is says we are ineligible.

 

[serfty]

I did use this nearly two years ago with VA*EY award bookings.

What web site did you use?

 

[williamsf1]

EY made a change re eligibility of the fare types eligible for this service – if on a business saver fare you no longer receive - this could be your issue

 

[williamsf1]

full list here

• Eligible Virgin Australia international Business tickets are:
  • First Class fares (F or A class)
  • First Class Reward fare classes (O class)
  • Adult Business fare classes (J or C class)
  • Adult Business Sale classes (D class)
  • Adult Business Reward fare classes (Z class)
• Guests with these tickets are eligible to receive complimentary limousine transfers at participating airports when travelling on flights operated by Etihad Airways, and on some domestic connecting flights in Australia.

 

[cssaus]

full list here

• Eligible Virgin Australia international Business tickets are:
  • First Class fares (F or A class)
  • First Class Reward fare classes (O class)
  • Adult Business fare classes (J or C class)
  • Adult Business Sale classes (D class)
  • Adult Business Reward fare classes (Z class)
• Guests with these tickets are eligible to receive complimentary limousine transfers at participating airports when travelling on flights operated by Etihad Airways, and on some domestic connecting flights in Australia.

I'm on a flight from AUH-SYD in D class (Business Sale Class from the above list) on VA7086 operated by EY flight 450 ticketed by VA. I attempted to book the chauffeur service for my arrival in Sydney but I got a message saying:

Not eligible
Please contact your nearest Etihad customer service centre

Does this seem correct?

I tried using my wife's booking reference number who is travelling with me on the same flight on a Z class award ticket and it only offered the chauffeur option for the LHR-AUH sector which is on EY18 but not the AUH-SYD sector.

 

[serfty]

I presume you used the EY web site.

Maybe it's time to call EY?

 

[brebbles]

I believe you might need to book the chauffeur through the VA website, not EY - we had this issue a couple of years ago on a AUH-MEL flight (EY metal, VA issued tix and VA flight number). After trying to book the chauffeur service through EY without success I stumbled onto a page on the VA site that suggested I was actually supposed to book through VA - unfortunately for us this was only a day before our flight so wasn't enough time to arrange.

This page has a link you can book through - hope it works for you!
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/airport-transfers/#limousine-service

 

[cssaus]

I believe you might need to book the chauffeur through the VA website, not EY - we had this issue a couple of years ago on a AUH-MEL flight (EY metal, VA issued tix and VA flight number). After trying to book the chauffeur service through EY without success I stumbled onto a page on the VA site that suggested I was actually supposed to book through VA - unfortunately for us this was only a day before our flight so wasn't enough time to arrange.

This page has a link you can book through - hope it works for you!
https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/airport-transfers/#limousine-service

Thanks for pointing that out to me, I too have just stumbled onto the VA web page for booking an airport transfer. The EY chauffeur service is only offered if the operating flight has an EY flight number.

I submitted the reservation request and got a response to say that VA will get back to me in 24 Hours.

 

[Colrad]

I have a similar, but slightly different question. I am flying MEL-PER in J on a VA operated flight on an EY flight number in September, then PER-AUH-ZUR also in J. Does anyone know if I am eligible for the car service to the airport in Melb?

 

[Colrad]

I can answer my own question...having being told both EY and VA that this service was not available to me, due to my booking being on VA metal with an EY flight number, I decided to put my details into the online booking tool on the VA website https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/e...ousine-service anyway. 24 hours later I received a confirmation email complete with a booking reference number for my chauffeur service. So I guess the answer is: Yes

 

[cssaus]

Got another interesting scenario later this year.

My wife & I are both traveling together from SYD-LHR in J on flights operated by EY. I have a VA revenue ticket booked on VA flight numbers and my wife has a separate VA award ticket in J showing EY flight numbers.

Do I book the limo service for us both via the VA website link using my booking reference number or book the limo service via the EY website using my wife's EY booking reference number (even though booked via VA)? I guess I could could book separate limos for each of us through the respective web sites!

I'll probably try the VA website first but as my booking reference number is only for one pax, I'll have to explain that the pickup is for 2 people and see how I go.

 

[Colrad]

Got another interesting scenario later this year.

My wife & I are both traveling together from SYD-LHR in J on flights operated by EY. I have a VA revenue ticket booked on VA flight numbers and my wife has a separate VA award ticket in J showing EY flight numbers.

Do I book the limo service for us both via the VA website link using my booking reference number or book the limo service via the EY website using my wife's EY booking reference number (even though booked via VA)? I guess I could could book separate limos for each of us through the respective web sites!

I'll probably try the VA website first but as my booking reference number is only for one pax, I'll have to explain that the pickup is for 2 people and see how I go.

I've never had a problem with an additional passenger from the same pick up/drop off locations (although that has been with EK). As long as all the pax and the luggage fits it shouldn't be an issue.

In fact, I just checked the booking form on the VA website https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/airport-transfers/#limousine-service which asks you to specify the number of passengers and bags.

Having said that, if you want separate cars and have the EY PNR type that into the EY website in the Book a Chauffeur section and it should show any eligible flights.

Alternatively, just call Virgin and ask them to sort if both you and your wife's seats have been booked through VA.

Good luck!

 

[Tremere]

and my wife has a separate VA award ticket in J showing EY flight numbers.

I thought they cut the chaffeur service for award tickets?
I was able to do it a few months ago (on VA J award) but my award was booked before the changes.

Can't hurt to try - plug the EY PNR (listed on the Virgin award eticket) into the booking website.

 

[Denali]

I thought they cut the chaffeur service for award tickets?
I was able to do it a few months ago (on VA J award) but my award was booked before the changes.

Can't hurt to try - plug the EY PNR (listed on the Virgin award eticket) into the booking website.

Im late to this thread but I was just looking at my eticket email for reward flights and on the bottom it said I may be entitled to a driver service.

According to Velocity site: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/airport-transfers/#limousine-service





Our VA reward seats are marketed as EY flights, not VA, and when I selected seats (via phone) for our flights, Etihad emailed confirmed and on the bottom of their email was the below with a link to book our driver service;

 

[cssaus]

Im late to this thread but I was just looking at my eticket email for reward flights and on the bottom it said I may be entitled to a driver service.

According to Velocity site: https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/airport-transfers/#limousine-service





Our VA reward seats are marketed as EY flights, not VA, and when I selected seats (via phone) for our flights, Etihad emailed confirmed and on the bottom of their email was the below with a link to book our driver service;

I think the rule of thumb is that if your ticket is showing EY flight numbers book the chauffer service with Etihad. If your ticket is showing VA flight numbers then use the VA link to book the chauffer service.

 

[Pleb Status]

With the announcement of EY cutting CD outside of AUH for new bookings made after 03 July 2017, I assume this will also apply to all VA codeshare services as well. I am surprised they are cutting CD to F pax...

Etihad Airways introduces new changes to ground and inflight services -Etihad Airways

It is disappointing that EY have decided to go this way as I definitely used CD in LHR, DUB etc in the past. As EY are generally very cheap compared to others on similar routes, this change will most likely not have a major effect on my choice of airline however.

It looks like an ex QF staffer is on the EY media team as the press release reads like they are doing us a favour...

 

[Cryptarcadian]

Disappointed, but not really surprised that EY cost-cutting has come to this... but surprised it extended even to F!

But to answer the original question if you have an existing booking... I finally flew an existing reward booking made via using VA points prior to last year's devaluation. VA ticket with VA domestic connections both outbound and return, and EY for all the international flights. Made a booking via https://www.virginaustralia.com/au/en/experience/at-the-airport/airport-transfers/#limousine-service for the Australian ports and it was confirmed with no problem. (I didn't need chauffeur service at the overseas ports this time.)

On a previous trip on a VA ticket that started with an EY-coded flight out of SYD, I called EY to make the chauffeur bookings both here and at the destination, which was successful.