Points - Booked through VA, Flying Etihad

[jacko304]

Hey Guys!

Bit of a silly question but I'm new to the whole earning points etc.

I've booked a flight through Virgin from MEL - LHR return, and all legs are on Etihad metal via AUH.

Now, I put down my Velocity number when I booked with Virgin, as I want to earn Velocity points for the flight.

I also contacted Virgin to get my PNR for Etihad so I could manage my booking - on the Etihad site it has brought over my Velocity membership details for the loyalty program. Now, I also have an Etihad Guest membership

If i was to change my Loyalty Program on my Etihad booking to the Guest program, but not change anything on the Virgin booking, would this cancel my Velocity points and give me Etihad instead or is there a loophole where I could earn points in both accounts? In other words, do the etihad and virgin bookings share loyalty info & update each other?

I'm sure a loophole like this probably wouldn't exist but as you guys are rather well versed on how these things work, I figured I'd ask.

Cheers!
Jack

 

[Intra]

Just on the surface, your playing a very fine (and silly) line; One could have you earn no points or all...
Someone, somewhere, would pick up on the conflicting loyalty numbers I'm sure; If an automatic update isn't done, which would actually surprise me if none was done.

Do you have status with either VA or EY?

 

[notzac]

Nice try, won't work.

If you want to earn points with Velocity, leave the Velocity details in the booking. Also, pay close attention to your boarding cards to make sure they have the correct FF number printed on them -- if they don't, you need to get it fixed before you board the plane.

 

[grubbidok]

Do you have status with either VA or EY?

He might end up with neither if he gets caught!

 

[notzac]

He might end up with neither if he gets caught!

I don't think anything like that would happen -- it just wouldn't work out is all.

Let's say I have bought VA marketed, EY operated flights to Europe. VFF number in the reservation at the VA end, but then I log in to the EY record and change the number to an EY FF number. When the flight is boarded, the EY systems will note I've boarded, see the EY FF number in the record and ship the points off to my EY account.

If I call VFF and ask them to lodge a retro claim to accrue the points to VFF, they would contact EY and EY would tell them the points have already been allocated to an EY account. Case closed, no VFF points or SCs for me!

 

[Gredgy69]

On a similar note, I almost didn't receive my points from a hertz rental because they thought I was trying to use 2 loyalty programs so I think they do cross reference. It took 2 weeks to sort out. I wouldn't risk it if I was you, just pick which ever one will give you the best results.

 

[Intra]

He might end up with neither if he gets caught!

I was more just curious if the OP had/was building towards status with either program... Can't have your eggs spread out to thinly in the SC Game, else you get nothing. Unless you fly enough to warrant High Status in both, in which case I wonder why the heck we are all here answering this question...

 

[boylero]

Must fly Etihad someday

 

[Kieran2274]

Must fly Etihad someday

Yes, on my tick box list too - one of the few majors that I've not gotten around too (and given the accumulation of Velocity points, I should redeem some with them).

 

[serfty]

If you have Velocity status but wish to earn on EY it may indeed be possible to travel with your VA status but accrue to Etihad's scheme.

Note if successful, you would still only accrue to one programme.

Note, this can be fraught with danger as, if not done correctly, earning can go completely awry. A good agent is essential.

Search for FQTV & FQTS.

 

[fantasy86dj]

EY are amazing to fly on - I would quite easily fly them again, loved every second of the experience !

 

[DaleS]

Etihad are great to fly on in F & J (never stooped to Y). I'm an Etihad Gold due to a few J & F flights over the years. However on my EY flights to Europe last year I put all my points to my Velocity account to help keep Plat. Plus EY points are fairly useless to me as I can only really use then on EY flights but can use VA points much more effectively on dom flights. Will soon fall back to EY silver or whatever it is but that will be no great loss. Have had good recognition of Gold status on some EY flights. VA Plat admission to AUH first lounge is also a bonus as the J lounge is usually packed while the F lounge is quite serene.