How to redeem Etihad Guest miles for Virgin Australia flights

[pangwen]

Another success for ZQN-SYD in J (using my EY points for Mrs andye) to the UK call centre number at 2245 EST. Call did drop out three times (once as mobile ran out of charge) so took over an hour-worth noting the name of the agent in case it happens. They asked for passport details so be prepared. Taxes AUD67.20

Just had success booking one way J to NZ with VA using Etihad points for around Christmas. Called at around 0530 AEST. Don't think it was a Manchester based rep, but she was pleasant and persevered through a couple of false starts.

21800 points per person plus about $120 in taxes per person.

 

[Mattg]

Just had success booking one way J to NZ with VA using Etihad points for around Christmas. Called at around 0530 AEST. Don't think it was a Manchester based rep, but she was pleasant and persevered through a couple of false starts.

21800 points per person plus about $120 in taxes per person.

Good result, thanks for posting

I take it this was a SYD-ZQN redemption. Do you think you might have been put through to their Serbian call centre? I've always had good experiences with them.

 

[pangwen]

Good result, thanks for posting

I take it this was a SYD-ZQN redemption. Do you think you might have been put through to their Serbian call centre? I've always had good experiences with them.

I was hoping to do syd-zqn but ended up doing the less value for points BNE-DUD instead, due to availability on the day I needed to travel (and after I considered the cost of positioning from bne to syd).

I think it would have been the Serbian call centre, the accent did sound vaguely from that region.

 

[Jack_OC]

Can anyone answer the following questions based on recent experience?
- Is it still possible to use EY miles to book international short haul flights on VA metal? Specifically from DPS back to Australia? I have previously booked MEL-AKL flights on VA metal without issue, but that was quite a while ago and a lot of people seem to have had great difficulty booking international flights more recently.
- What about DPS-MEL via BNE or SYD? The EY miles table shows redemption options for DPS-MEL (at the same number of miles as DPS-BNE or DPS-SYD). However, VA doesn't fly that route direct - instead it offers connections via BNE or SYD. So (this is a long shot, admittedly), I'm wondering if you can book DPS-BNE-MEL for the same number of points as they quote for DPS-MEL?

Cheers.

 

[Mattg]

Can anyone answer the following questions based on recent experience?
- Is it still possible to use EY miles to book international short haul flights on VA metal? Specifically from DPS back to Australia? I have previously booked MEL-AKL flights on VA metal without issue, but that was quite a while ago and a lot of people seem to have had great difficulty booking international flights more recently.
- What about DPS-MEL via BNE or SYD? The EY miles table shows redemption options for DPS-MEL (at the same number of miles as DPS-BNE or DPS-SYD). However, VA doesn't fly that route direct - instead it offers connections via BNE or SYD. So (this is a long shot, admittedly), I'm wondering if you can book DPS-BNE-MEL for the same number of points as they quote for DPS-MEL?

Cheers.

It is possible to redeem Etihad miles on Virgin international short-haul flights, but not all operators seem to be able to book these. You may need to HUACA (hang up and call again) a few times. Generally, I think you should have no problems if you manage to get through to somebody in either the Manchester or Belgrade call centre. Calling late in the evening/very early morning seems to help with this.

Regarding your second question, it would price as two separate awards. The miles required would be the sum of whatever it costs to book DPS-BNE and BNE-MEL.

 

[Oxy]

Can anyone answer the following questions based on recent experience?
- Is it still possible to use EY miles to book international short haul flights on VA metal? Specifically from DPS back to Australia? I have previously booked MEL-AKL flights on VA metal without issue, but that was quite a while ago and a lot of people seem to have had great difficulty booking international flights more recently.
- What about DPS-MEL via BNE or SYD? The EY miles table shows redemption options for DPS-MEL (at the same number of miles as DPS-BNE or DPS-SYD). However, VA doesn't fly that route direct - instead it offers connections via BNE or SYD. So (this is a long shot, admittedly), I'm wondering if you can book DPS-BNE-MEL for the same number of points as they quote for DPS-MEL?

Cheers.

In my experience you will be out of luck. I have only been able to book point to point flights listed on the (outdated) table on EYs website.
Worth a try though...

 

[Mattg]

Well I just tried to transfer some more Flybuys points over to Etihad Guest and it looks like this option has been removed! I hope this is only a temporary glitch - if transfers to EY are no longer possible then I will be done with Flybuys.

 

[theblank]

Well I just tried to transfer some more Flybuys points over to Etihad Guest and it looks like this option has been removed!

Its all over the news! yes its been removed.
(ok, i dont know where i read it. maybe here, maybe pointhacks, maybe ausbt, maybe somewhere else)

 

[andye]

Its all over the news! yes its been removed.
(ok, i dont know where i read it. maybe here, maybe pointhacks, maybe ausbt, maybe somewhere else)

Pointshacks had the news but only till further notice (as the FB site says)

 

[get me outta here]

@Mattg, is a Flybuys transfer to VA no use to you from the Coles M/C?

Well I just tried to transfer some more Flybuys points over to Etihad Guest and it looks like this option has been removed! I hope this is only a temporary glitch - if transfers to EY are no longer possible then I will be done with Flybuys.

 

[Mattg]

Pointshacks had the news but only till further notice (as the FB site says)

Bugger! I certainly hope it's only temporary. I recall reading in another thread that Etihad weren't crediting points transferred over from Flybuys recently. It looks like Flybuys has decided to stop these transfers altogether until they resolve it.

@Mattg, is a Flybuys transfer to VA no use to you from the Coles M/C?

Velocity does have some use to me, but the main reason I've been using Flybuys is to earn Etihad miles. There are some great sweet spots with EY redemptions, especially for intra-Europe J.

I've been burning through my Velocity points lately and will let my status with them lapse ahead of my upcoming move to Europe. I suspect Velocity will be almost useless in Europe. The only real saving grace is the ability to transfer to SQ.

 

[oz_mark]

Must be something going on at Etihad. One Mile at a Time have also reported that ANA have suspended redemptions on Etihad.

 

[awkwardpaws]

Picking this back up, looks like the Flybuys / Etihad will only work if you have already linked pre Dec 2017, otherwise you have missed out

 

[awkwardpaws]

Booked VA Y, SYD-ZQN for 6,900 Etihad Guest miles one way + ~$90. Decided against J since it is only a 737 and not a 330.

Got the Serbian call centre, super helpful and knowledgeable. They let me "hold" the booking while I transferred from Amex, so that is a possibility (YMMV). They did warn me that the booking hold may lapse and disappear (which it did), but no issues in picking it back up as long as there is availability (which she did for me).

 

[Must...Fly!]

Picking this back up, looks like the Flybuys / Etihad will only work if you have already linked pre Dec 2017, otherwise you have missed out

I've just about given up on Flybuys after this. Might not even be their fault, but it's very annoying with no notice at all.

 

[EtihadAirways]

Booked VA Y, SYD-ZQN for 6,900 Etihad Guest miles one way + ~$90. Decided against J since it is only a 737 and not a 330.

Got the Serbian call centre, super helpful and knowledgeable. They let me "hold" the booking while I transferred from Amex, so that is a possibility (YMMV). They did warn me that the booking hold may lapse and disappear (which it did), but no issues in picking it back up as long as there is availability (which she did for me).

Hi there, thanks for your positive review. We're happy to hear that you are satisfied with our Contact Centre assistance in regards to your booking. We're looking forward to welcome you on board soon. *Ivy

 

[andye]

Hi there, thanks for your positive review. We're happy to hear that you are satisfied with our Contact Centre assistance in regards to your booking. We're looking forward to welcome you on board soon. *Ivy

Hi Ivy
Any news on when/if the flybuys to Etihad points transfer is likely to be reinstated?
Hopefully yours
Andye

 

[Jack_OC]

Just booked for 4 MEL-BNE with VA in Y. 6,900 miles + AU$29.12 per person . Not the most remarkable use of points, but they are soon to expire, and the cost of these flights in cash (which I was going to book anyway) would have been $940 in total.

I think I may also have got the Serbian call centre - or at least the person I spoke to had an Eastern European accent. He was very competent and helpful - I know this was a very straightforward booking, but it was one of the easiest interactions I've had with an Etihad call center!

 

[easypoints]

Would also be keen to know when/if FlyBuys to Etihad Guest transfers will be re-instated?

 

[easypoints]

Does anyone know how far out Etihad has access to seats with Virgin Australia?
I tried to redeem some miles for a domestic flight in June today (4 months out) - but was told that flights on that date are not yet available, and better I call back at the end of March (~2.5 months out)