Velocity members can now only access Etihad J/F reward seats 30 days out

[AFF Editor]

Canonical URL

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/etihad-restricts-reward-seats/

Etihad has recently made a change to the reward seat inventory it offers to members of partner airlines. Business & First Class reward seats are now only available to Etihad Guest members until 30 days prior to departure, at which time any remaining seats are released to book through partners such as Velocity Frequent Flyer.

Details here:

https://www.australianfrequentflyer.com.au/etihad-restricts-reward-seats/

 

[bernardblack]

Yes, it had been ~60 days and now it's ~30 days. It applies to both Velocity and AAdvantage. And it looks like Aeroplan is still completely blocked in premium cabins.

 

[TMP]

Disappointing update. Have benefited from two return J trips to Europe using Velocity points on Etihad in the past, having planned well in advance. Much more of a last minute gamble now.

 

[bernardblack]

Yeah, I have an upcoming trip which I hope to convert to Etihad closer to the date for better timing and to try the AUH First Lounge before my Velocity Platinum expires, but I currently have backups on QR and SQ with less desirable dates.

 

[Rayesfeg]

Disappointing update. Have benefited from two return J trips to Europe using Velocity points on Etihad in the past, having planned well in advance. Much more of a last minute gamble now.

That is a very disappointing update. Realistically, when redeeming a business/first class rewards seats, many people will wait up till midnight (of whatever time zone of the airline) 365 days out to snap up the limited rewards seats that are available.
I doubt that there will be any seats left within 30 days of departure, especially on popular routes.
This change does feel like it depreciates the value of being a velocity rewards member.

 

[flyguy77]

That is a very disappointing update. Realistically, when redeeming a business/first class rewards seats, many people will wait up till midnight (of whatever time zone of the airline) 365 days out to snap up the limited rewards seats that are available.
I doubt that there will be any seats left within 30 days of departure, especially on popular routes.
This change does feel like it depreciates the value of being a velocity rewards member.

Unfortunately the value of every FF program worldwide is drastically decreasing year after year.....slowly inching closer to a model where proper 'cheap' reward seats being released 11-12 months in advance is a thing of the past.

 

[Stewarto]

You would be rolling the dice flying premium cabins on Etihad anyway, they’ve been using charter low cost airlines to fly their scheduled flights to Jakarta and Brussels. This has been often at the last minute, not informing customers at time of purchase. Who knows if this will happen to other destinations

 

[ozstamps]

Yes the divorce is well underway.

Booked revenue Biz tickets on Etihad website to Europe for May .. just pray the Decree Nisi does not occur before then. A lot of SC.

TRIED to book them direct on Virgin website and get the 4% CashRewards discount, but no dice, no option whatever to do it - weird. These days all that shows is Singapore and Qatar seats.

Virgin's loss totally - they stump up the mega 1000s of points and many 100s of SC and make not a cent off me.

 

[sydunipete]

Unfortunately the value of every FF program worldwide is drastically decreasing year after year.

True. I'm VA Platinum and TK Gold. TK just released a significant devaluation by increased points needed for redemptions (close to double!). So that's two of my programs in a week.

After the TK devaluation I've decided to focus on VA Platinum and otherwise fly best value long-haul J. I'll miss gold lounges but since I fly business most of the time anyway (and have Priority Pass as a backup) I think I'll cope.

 

[Rayesfeg]

Yes the divorce is well underway.

Booked revenue Biz tickets on Etihad website to Europe for May .. just pray the Decree Nisi does not occur before then. A lot of SC.

TRIED to book them direct on Virgin website and get the 4% CashRewards discount, but no dice, no option whatever to do it - weird. These days all that shows is Singapore and Qatar seats.

Virgin's loss totally - they stump up the mega 1000s of points and many 100s of SC and make not a cent off me.

Thats correct. Virgin does not sell Etihad codeshare revenue tickets. It is only Etihad reward seats that you can book with Virgin.

 

[tmdl]

Yes the divorce is well underway.

Booked revenue Biz tickets on Etihad website to Europe for May .. just pray the Decree Nisi does not occur before then. A lot of SC.

TRIED to book them direct on Virgin website and get the 4% CashRewards discount, but no dice, no option whatever to do it - weird. These days all that shows is Singapore and Qatar seats.

Virgin's loss totally - they stump up the mega 1000s of points and many 100s of SC and make not a cent off me.

Lets hope that Qatar can get some more planes into Australian and increase the amount of reward seats

 

[lovestotravel]

Etihad have lost the plot!

 

[doctau]

This is probably going to cause even more fun for me than a situation would otherwise would have.

I have Etihad AUH-LIS-AUH J flights booked as a Virgin award in a few months, originally on a Thursday. It's not a daily direct flight and they have been changing the days around, so it's shifted from Thursday to Friday to Saturday to Friday and just now to Sunday (but Thursday is flying again).

I can't fly the Sunday, so now I need to call VA and see if they somehow can get me on a different date due to the involuntary change. That would be hard enough since it's partner flight and in peak season, but I guess now going to be even worse if they can't access EY inventory this far out.

 

[SYD]

Etihad have lost the plot!

They were the first ME carrier to impose excessive fuel fines - that EK then embraced and perfected - all bizarrely ironic for still oil rich nations.

Now EY are stealing from QR’s playbook on withholding award seats. Which was also bizarre school boy antics.

 

[jase05]

Now EY are stealing from QR’s playbook on withholding award seats. Which was also bizarre school boy antics.

Difference is the EY are witholding seats to all partners no exceptions.
QR on the other hand are selecting which partners to withold from.
Ove actually noticed a lot more airlines also seem to be very selective when it comes to which partners get awards.
I think others will follow EY’s lead and block awards to others until a set time out

 

[levelnine]

You can see why EY are doing it. They are one of those airlines where using their own miles is the worst option for redeeming flights — AA, AC & VA are all cheaper. So they need some way to incentivise people to use their terrible program. Restricting award availability is the obvious play.

 

[tmdl]

You can see why EY are doing it. They are one of those airlines where using their own miles is the worst option for redeeming flights — AA, AC & VA are all cheaper. So they need some way to incentivise people to use their terrible program. Restricting award availability is the obvious play.

I was thinking this exact thing, at least AMEX platinum has EY as a transfer partner at 2:1

Post automatically merged: Feb 26, 2024

They were the first ME carrier to impose excessive fuel fines - that EK then embraced and perfected - all bizarrely ironic for still oil rich nations.

Now EY are stealing from QR’s playbook on withholding award seats. Which was also bizarre school boy antics.

Perfected? taxes and carriage charges are not $2k AUD if you want to fly from AU to europe, which is terrible

 

[SYD]

Perfected? taxes and carriage charges are not $2k AUD if you want to fly from AU to europe, which is terrible

Yes, EK “perfected” the art of gauging PAX for fuel fines on their metal. It’s their way of keeping reward seats for their own FFs - although plenty stump up the $$$ anyway….

 

[tmdl]

Yes, EK “perfected” the art of gauging PAX for fuel fines on their metal. It’s their way of keeping reward seats for their own FFs - although plenty stump up the $$$ anyway….

I am guilty of this, sometime one wants First class for $600 in additional taxes haha

 

[Mattg]

Yes, it had been ~60 days and now it's ~30 days. It applies to both Velocity and AAdvantage. And it looks like Aeroplan is still completely blocked in premium cabins.

Not sure how long Aeroplan members were unable to book EY rewards, but I just wanted to mention that EY J/F awards are currently showing on Air Canada's website for close-in bookings again.