Etihad Guest status match for Australian residents [improved offer as of 22/11/24]

[justinbrett]

Perhaps big brother doesn’t want QF playing nicely with EY

Doubt it. EK and EY play nicely these days. Even other single open jaw tickets into DXB and out of AUH or vice versa.

Perhaps looking at similar for QF customers.

(and EY is the big brother to EK, not based on the airline but the Emirs that own them. Abu Dhabi is the one with the money and power).

 

[jase05]

Doubt it. EK and EY play nicely these days. Even other single open jaw tickets into DXB and out of AUH or vice versa.

Perhaps looking at similar for QF customers.

(and EY is the big brother to EK, not based on the airline but the Emirs that own them. Abu Dhabi is the one with the money and power).

I’m saying EK are big brother and QF are the little brother.

As someone who travels to the UAE 2-3 times per year I know where the power lies there. The locals definitely make it well known

 

[bussyboy]

Etihad has updated its status match offer for Australian residents.

The Gold match is now free of charge, you get Etihad status upfront for six months (rather than 3-4 months) and Velocity members are now eligible.

No doubt on the back of Velocity & Etihad announcing the end of their partnership.

Etihad Status Match

Etihad Guest Status Match Status Match. Eligible travellers apply today for a Status Match with Etihad Airways.

etihad.statusmatch.com

The first image in the article needs a caption update, currently reads "Etihad’s new status match is targeting Qantas Frequent Flyer members. "

 

[Mattg]

The first image in the article needs a caption update, currently reads "Etihad’s new status match is targeting Qantas Frequent Flyer members. "

Thanks for pointing this out, it's been corrected!

 

[drmatte]

Applied just now with VFF gold and approved in about 10 minutes.

 

[Hunter4vr]

Does Etihad status give any benefits when flying on any of the airlines they are partnered with?

 

[Mattg]

Does Etihad status give any benefits when flying on any of the airlines they are partnered with?

Yes, they do on VA (until June 2025), ANA, Air Serbia, Gulf Air and Korean Air.

 

[Thibault]

Yes, they do on VA (until June 2025), ANA, Air Serbia, Gulf Air and Korean Air.

Also limited benefits on ANA if flying on an EY*NH codeshare.

Saudia also offered lounge access - it however looks like it got scrapped ?
Cannot find any references about it on Etihad Guest's website anymore.

 

[Mattg]

Also limited benefits on ANA if flying on an EY*NH codeshare.

Saudia also offered lounge access - it however looks like it got scrapped ?
Cannot find any references about it on Etihad Guest's website anymore.

The benefits are outlined on this page:

https://www.etihadguest.com/en/earn-miles/flying.html

If you click on an airline, you'll find the status benefits listed under "Service benefits".

Only the airlines I've listed above have this section. In other words, Etihad only gives status benefits on those 5 partners.

 

[justinbrett]

I’m saying EK are big brother and QF are the little brother.

Which makes no sense, if you’re talking about EK/QF as a team and EY on the outer - EY doesn’t need permission to offer a status match.

My analogy of the EK/EY team works better for this conspiracy.

 

[jase05]

The benefits are outlined on this page:

https://www.etihadguest.com/en/earn-miles/flying.html

If you click on an airline, you'll find the status benefits listed under "Service benefits".

Only the airlines I've listed above have this section. In other words, Etihad only gives status benefits on those 5 partners.

And even then the benefits aren’t great.
-For ANA you only get lounge access on EY coded flights

- Gulf Air you only get lounge access between AUH and BAH

- Korean has suspended all benefits

 

[BudgetFly]

It’s worth noting Eithad has devalued Gold so much that lounge access and extra luggage is no longer a standard benefit and needs to be selected as a choice benefit.

How does that work? Do they give you a list of benefits and you pick a couple that are then locked in?

 

[Thibault]

How does that work? Do they give you a list of benefits and you pick a couple that are then locked in?

https://www.etihad.com/en/guest/program/tiers-and-benefits

Correct - you must choose Custom benefits and those are locked for your membership year.

They have removed and re-added quite a few quietly (thinking of First Class Check-in for Platinum members who travel in any booking class).

 

[trippin_the_rift]

A dual-airline strategy can be as follows:

- Retain your VA status based on domestic travel
- Try Etihad for one of the 1...2...3...4.. intl trips you do each year. Their prices are typically less than every other airline and if they make it easy to retain Gold/Plat, then why not? AUH (on EY) is much easier to navigate than most other airports and pre-clearance for US immigration is a bonus.

Plus who knows... maybe Etihad will join an alliance and the status becomes even more interesting...