Etihad or Virgin Atlantic for platinum velocity benefits

[amagz]

Hi all,

I am a VA platinum and using my points for a europe honeymoon next September. I have already booked a one way flight to London from Melbourne with Etihad for me and the missus to be in Y. On the way back from Athens we want to spend a couple days in Dubai.

This is our first long haul European flight despite my weekly domestic business travel. Any thoughts on a preference between etihad and virgin atlantic? (Singapore is 25,000 extra points per person). Status benefits seem similar, VS does offer priority screening at heathrow. Will Etihad give me this?

Which airline would I get better platinum recognition and perks from your experience (if any)? Any suggestions to make our trip more enjoyable in regards to our flights? Would it be worth cancelling the etihad flight to london and change to VS or same same?

Thanks

 

[mella2007]

Going purely on my experience on your return leg, Etihad will give you lounge access (I did the same route this year in Y from ATH to AUH) but no priority boarding or screening. You can use the business class check in, but they'll want to see your card and you have to press the point that you are eligible to use that line. The lounge in ATH is absolute rubbish...tiny, with a selection of very tired looking food. Eligible for extra luggage allowance also.

I'm sure some of our other members can other other info also...Welcome to AFF!

 

[notzac]

I don't think either EY or VS do a particularly good job of recognising VA elites (beyond published benefits), but that's almost certainly because their systems have no idea that you're platinum. Given you want to fly from ATH to MEL (and it seems that you're using points?), would this itinerary work?:

• ATH-LON on any airline
• LHR-DXB on VS (upshot of which will be using the Clubhouse lounge at LHR .. awesome, awesome lounge that it is)
• Spend a few days in Dubai and then..
• AUH-SYD-MEL on VA (rather than EY .. if you have to fly whY, the service will be far better on VA metal)

 

[Bolthead]

I have been very pleased with Etihad with three times being upgraded from Y+ to J. All times at the gate. Never had any issues with Etihad!

 

[notzac]

...do EY have a Y+ service?

 

[The Rok]

No they don't!

 

[mella2007]

Etihad do not have Y+ unless Bolthead was mistaking it for Virgin Atlantic.

To the OP, don't be expecting much apart from what I mentioned earlier. I would actually suggest to pay for J on the return leg if you can (or even part of the leg)..sometimes you can get one way fares direct on EY's website way cheaper than what you'd expect.

 

[amagz]

thanks for the advice. The plan was to fly EY MEL-AUH-LHR then tour Europe for 4 weeks mainly by train. End up in Athens then fly EY ATH-AUH-MEL with a couple day stop over in UAE. I have enough points to book all that with EY for me and the mrs amagz to be. Pearl business class sounds pretty good in AUH from what I read. Not expecting much in athens lounge wise. So unless VS are amazingly better in recognizing VA platinums than EY, perhaps stick with that?

Would love to upgrade to J but will see how the bank is going after the wedding. Any tips on getting a free upgrade at checkin? e.g. a smile, mention its our honeymoon, dress well, slip a $50?

Also I am looking forward to flying the A346. Unfortunately SG mapping doesn't match the EY website so I just chose as close to the front of Y, luck of the draw I guess.

 

[Bolthead]

I have been very pleased with Etihad with three times being upgraded from Y+ to J. All times at the gate. Never had any issues with Etihad!

Sorry guys, I was half asleep.... No Etihad don't have Y+. On my previous leg from SYD to AUH I was in Y+ on VA. I got upgraded at the gate to J.

 

[notzac]

Sorry guys, I was half asleep.... No Etihad don't have Y+. On my previous leg from SYD to AUH I awas in Y+ on VA. I got upgraded at the gate to J.

Make much more sense now..! In which case, you were probably upgraded by the good grace of VA (I'm told they control the flight, even though EY handles all ground services for it)

 

[amagz]

so Y+ to J is more feasible while Y to J on EY being a long shot