Etihad chauffeur

[KATERGOO]

Personally, I would contact Etihad. Given that you are both Etihad passengers, travelling on the same flight, and that it is just the two of you, I would hope that it wouldn't be an issue. When booking the chauffeur, it doesn't ask how many people are travelling but as it is referenced to your PNR that information is probably provided to the chauffeur.

If you do call and get the all clear, I would ask for an email verification just as a backup or ask for a comment to be put on your booking. Alternatively, contact Etihad Guest via email - in my experience, they do usually respond fairly quickly.

Thanks Bazzi. I followed your advice and phoned them. They confirmed it would not be an issue. I keep my fingers crossed as we have booked 4 chauffeur drives, and it could be a bit of a problem if I could not get on the car. Their customer service does not sound very reliable. Maybe it is just because I spoke french to them ?

 

[EuroFlyer]

Hi all,
A quick one. Booked a reward ticket (Through velocity) from MEL - SYD - DUB in J. MEL - SYD is with VA and then connecting to the SYD - AUH - DUB Etihad flight flight.
Am I eligible to have a chauffeur pick up as this is a reward?
And if so am i eligible to have the chauffeur from the city to MEL airport aswell as in Dublin? How far out do people generally book this service.

Any experience with the above would be great.
Many thanks.

 

[day-heg]

Hi all,
A quick one. Booked a reward ticket (Through velocity) from MEL - SYD - DUB in J. MEL - SYD is with VA and then connecting to the SYD - AUH - DUB Etihad flight flight.
Am I eligible to have a chauffeur pick up as this is a reward?
And if so am i eligible to have the chauffeur from the city to MEL airport aswell as in Dublin? How far out do people generally book this service.

Any experience with the above would be great.
Many thanks.

Hey, I would say no, you can't use the chauffeur for your departure from MEL, but you deffo can in DUB.

I'm in a similar situation - we're flying MEL-BNE with VA on Friday, connecting to BNE-SIN with EY. I went into the Etihad office in Melbourne CBD yesterday to see if I could swing the chauffeur in Melbourne given we're not using it in Brisbane. She said explicitly that the limos only 'connect' with EY metal departures, so I think you're out of luck.

Having said that, she was very helpful - a true angel! And in terms of timescales around when to book, yesterday I did organise the pickup in SIN for this Friday evening, no problem.

Hope this helps, even if its not quite what you want to hear...
D-H.

 

[day-heg]

Sorry, missed your question ref reward seats... our BNE-SIN is also a J reward, so yes you will be able to get a transfer in DUB.

 

[Bazzi]

Sorry, missed your question ref reward seats... our BNE-SIN is also a J reward, so yes you will be able to get a transfer in DUB.

Just ts tried to book the EY chauffeur for transfer to CDG and from AUH to hotel and was told I did not qualify??? Travelling on J Award tickets. Had no problem booking EY chauffeur to AUH (on separate J award ticket). Will call Sydney office tomorrow but from the T&Cs we seem to meet qualifications. Am sure this message did not 'pop up' when I did a trial run a couple of months ago.

 

[Jack_OC]

Award tickets definitely qualify for the chauffeur in the same way as fully paid fares. However, just in case you're not aware, you don't necessarily get chauffeur transfers at all points in your intinerary any more. Not sure if that's the issue for you in this case or not, but the rules are now as follows:

• This service can be used at all points throughout the journey by our Diamond First Class guests.

• Etihad Guest loyalty programme members who hold Gold Elite, Gold and Silver membership can enjoy this service at all points throughout their journey when traveling in our Pearl Business Class.

• All other Pearl Business Class guests can enjoy this service for two transfers per journey unless their journey begins or ends in the UAE or includes a stopover in Abu Dhabi, in which case Etihad Chauffeur will be provided for all travel within the UAE in addition to two transfers in other countries.

 

[Bazzi]

Will see what they say tomorrow. Of the two sectors we are flying with EY, I really wanted the CDG transfer - partner doesn't know we are flying J. We're not using the chauffeur on arrival in SIN but can't see them 'swapping' that for CDG.

 

[Jack_OC]

Will see what they say tomorrow. Of the two sectors we are flying with EY, I really wanted the CDG transfer - partner doesn't know we are flying J. We're not using the chauffeur on arrival in SIN but can't see them 'swapping' that for CDG.

If you're only flying CDG-AUH and AUH-SIN (with a stopover), you should qualify for transfers to/from both flights - ie 4 transfers in total. As an aside, even when pax only qualify for 2 transfers, they get to choose where to use them. So it sounds like this might just be a glitch with the online booking system. Let us know what happens anyway, as I'd be interested to know if they've tried to secretly change the rules!

 

[vmile]

I would not worry about when you phone them, you usually get the AUH call centre, wherever it is.

Your not on some Air France codeshare are you?, i.e. Air France metal?

 

[KATERGOO]

I would not worry about when you phone them, you usually get the AUH call centre, wherever it is.

Your not on some Air France codeshare are you?, i.e. Air France metal?

Its not a problem being on AF metal. I flew EY38 operated by Air France, business class, in september, and got chauffeur transfer to CDG without a problem.

 

[Bazzi]

I would not worry about when you phone them, you usually get the AUH call centre, wherever it is.

Your not on some Air France codeshare are you?, i.e. Air France metal?

We are on EY metal. However my father-in-law flew CDG SYD in July, booked through EY but on AF metal and they wouldn't provide a chauffeur to CDG.

Likewise my mother-in-law is flying WAW DXB SYD SIN DXB WAW in Jan on EK ticket with SYD SIN codeshare with QF but neither QF or EK will provide chauffeur to SYD or from SIN - bit rough on a paid J fare.

 

[MrJetset]

No tip

The chauffeur services are well paid by Etihad

I have used this service several times in BNE, SIN, AUH, LHR, CAI and ATH. At no stage was a tip expected , asked for or offered. The drivers were all professional and provided a great service.

EY has never, and does not provide Chauffeur drive in CAI or ATH.

As for the type of cars in AUH, you simply take the next one off the rank. If you don't like vehicle, you mention it to the person kerbside and they will give you another of the 20 or so lined up cars.

In Australia the cars are provided by Equity Transport who you can call to change bookings, and request different pickup times once booked.

If you call EY, and are a Gold or higher, or select for Business or First Class then you should be routed to the Manchester Premium Call Centre.

 

[Jack_OC]

In Australia the cars are provided by Equity Transport who you can call to change bookings, and request different pickup times once booked.

In MEL the car service is provided by Unity Executive Services.

If you call EY, and are a Gold or higher, or select for Business or First Class then you should be routed to the Manchester Premium Call Centre.

This seems to be a bit hit and miss actually - it may be related to time of day and/or location. I've never got through to the Manchester call centre from Aus (I'm EY Gold), but I have got through to it from other places.

 

[Bazzi]

If you're only flying CDG-AUH and AUH-SIN (with a stopover), you should qualify for transfers to/from both flights - ie 4 transfers in total. As an aside, even when pax only qualify for 2 transfers, they get to choose where to use them. So it sounds like this might just be a glitch with the online booking system. Let us know what happens anyway, as I'd be interested to know if they've tried to secretly change the rules!

The glitch was that we had a flight departure time change of 5 minutes (which we had been notified about) but it hadn't been updated in the reservation (odd) so a new confirmation/e-ticket was emailed. I was told to wait 5 minutes before logging on and all good from there.

 

[Bazzi]

Just an update on our experience with the Etihad Chauffeur.


First sector PAR AUH - received a text approx 36 hours before flight with a pickup time (which seemed a little early to me) with contact details for local operator of any problem. Next morning I received a call asking if the pickup time was ok and I asked for it to be pushed back an hour - no problem. I received a text the next morning confirming the (new) pickup time and the name of our driver. Very swish black Benz rolled up, lovely driver who did not appear to be looking for a tip but I gave him one anyway. In AUH we were directed to the new Chauffeur Drive desk and were allocated a driver (next on the rank as someone previously pointed out) and we had a black Audi. Stayed at the Hyatt Capital Gate which is right next to the convention centre but the driver didn't know of the hotel. I mentioned its location and we were on our way but he couldn't figure out which hotel was the Hyatt and couldn't work out how to get into the hotel so we drove around the block a few times, sought advice from someone on the street and finally he telephoned someone for instructions. The entrance is a little tricky, you actually drive past the convention centre to an exit road. I did tip him regardless, but not much. As an aside, the lounge at CDG was lovely, all cooked breakfast dishes appeared to be made to order.


SIN AUH - I received a voice message in our room the day prior notifying the pickup time. Driver was 30 mins early and we had another Audi. My partner and I were on different PNR's but both in J and the driver seemed a bit flummoxed that he had 2 passengers not one. I explained that I had booked only one car, that we were travelling together on the same flight and offered to show him our e-tickets before we were on our way. Lounge at AUH T3 (?) was small and very cramped.


Thanks to advice garnered on this forum about using lounges on arrival at end destinations, we were able to gain access to the SATS Premier Lounge in SIN with our EY boarding cards to have some supper before overnighting at the airport transit hotel.

 

[Nizar]

Does anyone know if EY flights purchased using AA miles are eligible for chauffeur drive ?

 

[zainman]

Does anyone know if EY flights purchased using AA miles are eligible for chauffeur drive ?

Yes they are.

 

[Nizar]

Yes they are.

Ok awesome. Now for my next not so straightforward question.
I've just booked a redemption AUH-SYD in F then a ~2hr transit followed by SYD-MEL on QF in J.
Would I be entitled to use EY's chauffeur drive to get home in Melbourne ?

I realise that EY do have a AUH-MEL but that arrives in the evening, and I need to be back here before the afternoon.

Thoughts ? Maybe give them a call ?

 

[zainman]

Ok awesome. Now for my next not so straightforward question.
I've just booked a redemption AUH-SYD in F then a ~2hr transit followed by SYD-MEL on QF in J.
Would I be entitled to use EY's chauffeur drive to get home in Melbourne ?

I realise that EY do have a AUH-MEL but that arrives in the evening, and I need to be back here before the afternoon.

Thoughts ? Maybe give them a call ?

No you will not be entitled.

 

[Nizar]

No you will not be entitled.

Ok cheers. I suppose I will have to make do with the dubai-AUH chauffeur then !
How many hours of F lounge time at AUH do you suggest ? Do you have to prebook spa/massage bookings etc. Our flight is the morning flight at 10:25. Thanks