How to redeem Etihad Guest miles for Virgin Australia flights

[Spizz]

Can you use a points + pay option as you can for Etihad award flights where you can do 75% points and the rest cash?

 

[Mattg]

Can you use a points + pay option as you can for Etihad award flights where you can do 75% points and the rest cash?

Unfortunately not. This is only an option for Etihad flights.

 

[andye]

Just booked 2xSYD-CNS return for 4x6900 + total taxes of $116.74.
Taxes a smidge higher than I expected but still good value

 

[Mattg]

Just booked 2xSYD-CNS return for 4x6900 + $116.74.
Taxes a smidge higher than I expected but still good value

Good stuff.

What currency did you pay the taxes in? I wonder if slight differences in exchange rates may be the cause of the slightly higher than expected taxes?

 

[andye]

Everything said AUD on the receipt but will check again

It did take a HUACA and 49 minutes on the phone but time well spent. Not sure if it would have been quicker in office hours

PS: thanks mattg for advice at the start of thread

 

[andye]

Overnight, we decided to spend an extra night in CNS. Rang this morning, changed the ticket date very quickly with no charge. I could only change to a flight with reward availability though

I definitely got the feeling that the initial redemption process would have been quicker during office hours

 

[TSV]

I'm at 22 minutes on the phone for a straightforward redemption - single person travelling one way, Sydney to Townsville, have the points in my account, was told that they just needed to check availability, I've been on hold a while now.

Does anyone know if how it works in terms of lounge access? I'm VA Gold, and would like to use the lounge in Sydney prior to departure, do I need to get them to add my VA number at time of booking? Or can I just show the lounge ladies my boarding pass and VA card and they can sort it out?

Thanks!

UPDATE: Booking took a total of 50 minutes between 12pm and 1pm EST.
Booking completed, didn't ask him about the Velocity/Lounge thing as I wanted to get off the phone - I completed the customer service survey indicating I was unhappy with the duration of the call but satisfied with the knowledge/manner of the customer service rep.

 

[Mattg]

I'm at 22 minutes on the phone for a straightforward redemption - single person travelling one way, Sydney to Townsville, have the points in my account, was told that they just needed to check availability, I've been on hold a while now.

Does anyone know if how it works in terms of lounge access? I'm VA Gold, and would like to use the lounge in Sydney prior to departure, do I need to get them to add my VA number at time of booking? Or can I just show the lounge ladies my boarding pass and VA card and they can sort it out?

Thanks!

Yeah, sometimes the phone service with EY can be a bit slow...

If you're VA Gold, you should have access to the lounge in SYD by simply showing your card.

 

[TSV]

Yeah I just thought I would let everyone know that office hours didn't seem to make much difference - but for a 6900 redemption instead of a 10900 redemption we forgive

 

[JessicaTam]

I have just made a redemption. 21,800* EY miles and $18.25 for a VA J MEL-PER flight later this year.

The process couldn't have been simpler.

*previously known as 60,000 flybuys.

 

[blueythecat]

I have just made a redemption. 21,800* EY miles and $18.25 for a VA J MEL-PER flight later this year.

The process couldn't have been simpler.

*previously known as 60,000 flybuys.

Nice! For anyone that doesn't know, EY allow one free change per booking, as long as there are award seats on the new flight

 

[Mattg]

Nice! For anyone that doesn't know, EY allow one free change per booking, as long as there are award seats on the new flight

Good to know! If you change an EY redemption, does the new flight need to be on the same route originally booked?

 

[EtihadAirways]

Good to know! If you change an EY redemption, does the new flight need to be on the same route originally booked?

Hi Mattg,

If you are willing to change your destination and departure city, an extra charge may occur. Thanks. *Jiaqi

 

[TSV]

Nice! For anyone that doesn't know, EY allow one free change per booking, as long as there are award seats on the new flight

I assume this does not require two weeks notice from the new date, as is required for the booking itself?

Also in good news, I made a booking via etihad guest call centre last night for a VA domestic flight, and the whole process was finished in 22 minutes. This was at 9.30pm Saturday night. It seemed to help to have the airport code - originally the guy thought I said Frankfurt when I said Townsville

 

[illumination]

I have a couple of questions (have read the whole thread).

Firstly thanks for the brilliant summary. Succinct and has a lot of important information!

1) Can flights be booked in other people's names?
2) Does the 2 weeks in advance rule actually apply? This rule baffles me a little bit (I would imagine it would be in the airline's interests too to sell their seats at shorter notice, provided it is available)
3) People saying you can make one free change of date - that is actually really awesome. Is this in writing anywhere? Does the one free change refer to per sector (i.e. if you book return and want to change both the dates for both sectors, then that's technically two changes?)
4) What does it cost after that to make a change?
5) Can you cancel? Charges?

As a side unrelated question (not specific to Etihad). Does anyone know what the benefits are (in general) of booking one-way vs return (for cash or points tickets)? My opinion on this has always been booking return is generally better in case of a significant delay/cancellation, as if your return sector is the one affected, you are more likely to be able to be compensated as you have been disrupted "on the way home". The disadvantage is that you have to know when you want to be returning at the time you book your outbound flight too, i.e. less flexibility with selecting your return date. Sometimes booking one-ways also result in an overall cheaper airfare as the return sector being charged in the carrier's own currency may convert to a lower AUD amount than the return being charged as AUD as one ticket together with your outbound sector.

 

[Aussie_flyer]

The 2 weeks in advance rule is definitely enforced

 

[andye]

You can definitely redeem for other people

 

[EtihadAirways]

I have a couple of questions (have read the whole thread).

Firstly thanks for the brilliant summary. Succinct and has a lot of important information!

1) Can flights be booked in other people's names?
2) Does the 2 weeks in advance rule actually apply? This rule baffles me a little bit (I would imagine it would be in the airline's interests too to sell their seats at shorter notice, provided it is available)
3) People saying you can make one free change of date - that is actually really awesome. Is this in writing anywhere? Does the one free change refer to per sector (i.e. if you book return and want to change both the dates for both sectors, then that's technically two changes?)
4) What does it cost after that to make a change?
5) Can you cancel? Charges?

As a side unrelated question (not specific to Etihad). Does anyone know what the benefits are (in general) of booking one-way vs return (for cash or points tickets)? My opinion on this has always been booking return is generally better in case of a significant delay/cancellation, as if your return sector is the one affected, you are more likely to be able to be compensated as you have been disrupted "on the way home". The disadvantage is that you have to know when you want to be returning at the time you book your outbound flight too, i.e. less flexibility with selecting your return date. Sometimes booking one-ways also result in an overall cheaper airfare as the return sector being charged in the carrier's own currency may convert to a lower AUD amount than the return being charged as AUD as one ticket together with your outbound sector.

Dear ,

Thank you for choosing Etihad Airways.

Please be advised that Etihad Guest member can use their miles to book a ticket in other guests' names and you can find fares rules while booking online.

For more details about Changes & Cancellations Policy, please visit the website here: Cancellation policy.

Thank you and Best Regards. *Jiaqi

 

[gwilli1]

I didn't know we had an EY Rep on AFF. Great to know and thanks for your contribution & support of AFF

 

[Aussie_flyer]

I didn't know we had an EY Rep on AFF. Great to know and thanks for your contribution & support of AFF

Dont expect too much.