How to redeem Etihad Guest miles for Virgin Australia flights

[Mattg]

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)

Should be 330 days out...

There were probably just no seats available on the date you wanted. Either that or the agent was searching incorrectly. I have no idea why they would advise you to call back in March. Perhaps try the HUACA method?

 

[easypoints]

Should be 330 days out...

There were probably just no seats available on the date you wanted. Either that or the agent was searching incorrectly. I have no idea why they would advise you to call back in March. Perhaps try the HUACA method?

Yeah I rang back and spoke to a different person and booked straight away... not sure what the first rep was on about

 

[Mattg]

Yeah I rang back and spoke to a different person and booked straight away... not sure what the first rep was on about

Any idea which call centre/s you were transferred to on the first & second attempt?

 

[easypoints]

Any idea which call centre/s you were transferred to on the first & second attempt?

Unfortunately not - I didn't ask
Was just happy to have the ticket I needed booked!

 

[Leroy87]

Read several pages of this thread but can't seem to find it mentioned, so apologies if it has been covered already.

Can you book VA flights using Etihad miles for other people when you aren't flying with them? Just thought I'd check before I try and play phone tag or start moving points around from AMEX.

 

[andye]

Read several pages of this thread but can't seem to find it mentioned, so apologies if it has been covered already.

Can you book VA flights using Etihad miles for other people when you aren't flying with them? Just thought I'd check before I try and play phone tag or start moving points around from AMEX.

I did last year
Edit: for wife and children-same surname though suspect not an issue

 

[Leroy87]

I did last year
Edit: for wife and children-same surname though suspect not an issue

Great good to know, thanks.

 

[blueythecat]

Read several pages of this thread but can't seem to find it mentioned, so apologies if it has been covered already.

Can you book VA flights using Etihad miles for other people when you aren't flying with them? Just thought I'd check before I try and play phone tag or start moving points around from AMEX.

Yep I’ve done it without issues- different surnames too and I wasn’t travelling on the booking

 

[Leroy87]

Read several pages of this thread but can't seem to find it mentioned, so apologies if it has been covered already.

Can you book VA flights using Etihad miles for other people when you aren't flying with them? Just thought I'd check before I try and play phone tag or start moving points around from AMEX.

I did last year
Edit: for wife and children-same surname though suspect not an issue

Yep I’ve done it without issues- different surnames too and I wasn’t travelling on the booking

A follow up question - what do Etihad charge for infant award tickets on VA domestic? A search around says their policy is 10% of the mileage for international awards but I'm thinking that it probably covers all award tickets... much like booking using BA on Qantas domestic attracts a 10% mileage fee for an infant.

Does anybody know for sure? May use velocity points for one of the seats then to allow the infant to be added for free.

 

[awkwardpaws]

A follow up question - what do Etihad charge for infant award tickets on VA domestic? A search around says their policy is 10% of the mileage for international awards but I'm thinking that it probably covers all award tickets... much like booking using BA on Qantas domestic attracts a 10% mileage fee for an infant.

Does anybody know for sure? May use velocity points for one of the seats then to allow the infant to be added for free.

Leroy -- we book for an infant, it was 10% of the points needed for an adult (+ I think 10% of the cash). note that VA uses a 737 for SYD-ZQN and there is no bassinet though...

 

[Leroy87]

Leroy -- we book for an infant, it was 10% of the points needed for an adult (+ I think 10% of the cash). note that VA uses a 737 for SYD-ZQN and there is no bassinet though...

Great thanks for the info.

 

[BudgetFly]

Was able to use my Etihad Guest miles (transferred from Flybuys) before they started expiring (3 years) with two VA economy tickets PER - BNE October school holiday period. 16900 points and just $26 per ticket. Spent my last 3700 points on a gold plated, Swarovski Crystal turtle! Which arrived promptly and unharmed from Latvia! I guess that will be the end of my involvement with Etihad but I'm a happy camper. As an afterthought I sent the last 144 Etihad points to the Fred Hollows Eye Foundation! Doubt that will do much on its own but if many sent their scrap points it would all add up.

 

[Pleb Status]

I burned my expiring EY miles this week on three VA MEL-PER 330 J flights. Still in a very nice sweet spot at only 21,800 miles per flight + ~AUD21.

I transferred a few Amex MR points to get the final flight over the line and these were credited to my EY account within 24 hours (compared to the three to seven business days quoted by Amex).

With EY pulling out of PER in October, I may close my EY account once I have completed my final award flight at the end of the year.

 

[Mattg]

Flybuys is terminating its partnership with Etihad Guest from 31 July 2018.



Personally I'm disappointed they couldn't work things out. I valued the ability to transfer Flybuys points to Etihad very highly.

I do think it's a bit disingenuous for Flybuys to say that members will no longer be able to redeem Flybuys points for Etihad miles from 31 July - it already hasn't been possible for more than six months!

 

[Gold Member]

Flybuys is terminating its partnership with Etihad Guest from 31 July 2018.

View attachment 131630

I valued the ability to transfer Flybuys points to Etihad very highly.

Me too. With FB to EY redemptions on domestic VA business class offering up to 40% discount compared to FB to VA outright, this a big devaluation which as you say has been apparent for a few months now. But this just removes all doubt and confirms what we originally suspected - EY abruptly pulled the plug as one of many measures to rein in costs and enhance their customers’ experience.

 

[exceladdict]

Me too. With FB to EY redemptions on domestic VA business class offering up to 40% discount compared to FB to VA outright, this a big devaluation which as you say has been apparent for a few months now. But this just removes all doubt and confirms what we originally suspected - EY abruptly pulled the plug as one of many measures to rein in costs and enhance their customers’ experience.

Ironic as surely when converting FB points to EY miles, FB gives EY money. Perhaps, people smart enough to send them there were only chasing high value redemptions which cost too much to deliver.....

 

[andye]

Worked very easily for two SYD-CNS in Y yesterday
The Amex to EY transfer took 3 business days

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

I realise this thread has been a bit quiet for a few months, but I didn't want to start a new one. Hopefully one of the regulars is watching.

I have just been reminded I have some points expiring today. I'd like to use them to book some VA flights next year for Mrs_G: she works for a charity and so I basically 'donate' her interstate flights.

Reading through some threads and articles, once I've checked on Velocity for availability I can call Etihad and book the flights? There is no issue in them being for Mrs_G and I don't need to do anything special?

 

[daveozsydney]

I realise this thread has been a bit quiet for a few months, but I didn't want to start a new one. Hopefully one of the regulars is watching.

I have just been reminded I have some points expiring today. I'd like to use them to book some VA flights next year for Mrs_G: she works for a charity and so I basically 'donate' her interstate flights.

Reading through some threads and articles, once I've checked on Velocity for availability I can call Etihad and book the flights? There is no issue in them being for Mrs_G and I don't need to do anything special?

yeah just call and book. If you're booking trans tasman sometimes there's an issue as the operator is not technically virgin australia - if you get that hang up and speak to someone different. The process probably takes 15-30 mins for them to book a simple virgin redemption as most operators don't do it often. Also get the VA booking ref too.

 

[Mr_Gimlet]

yeah just call and book. If you're booking trans tasman sometimes there's an issue as the operator is not technically virgin australia - if you get that hang up and speak to someone different. The process probably takes 15-30 mins for them to book a simple virgin redemption as most operators don't do it often. Also get the VA booking ref too.

Thanks - they will be vanilla Australian flights (Sydney, Canberra).