Virgin Platinum seat selection on Etihad

[Stealthflyer]

Does anyone know if Virgin WPs get complimentary seat selection when flying the cheapest Etihad fare? I understand Etihad Guest status holders do, but Etihad’s website doesn’t say if status holders of partner airlines do or not.

I know Singapore Airlines doesn’t give Virgin WPs complimentary seat selection; however, Singapore seat selection isn’t nearly as dear as Etihad’s. I‘ve never flown Etihad before (I always fly Singapore to Europe), and I am now wondering if I’ve made a mistake.

 

[klm597]

Even I was impressed with this effort from Etihad.

Wow Etihad have really out-done themselves! Only thing better would have been a middle seat in the last row.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Wow Etihad have really out-done themselves! Only thing better would have been a middle seat in the last row.

I assume that's the status benefit!

 

[Stealthflyer]

Even I was impressed with this effort from Etihad.

VA Platinum, Velocity number in the booking.

View attachment 207909

I thought my auto-allocation was bad! I was only 3rd row from the back.

That reminds me, I must fill in the Etihad feedback form they sent me after my return flight. I want to comment on partner status holders and seating allocation. For all the marketing about reciprocal benefits, it sure doesn’t work out that way in practice.

 

[Must...Fly!]

Don't want to beat a dead horse, but flying AUH-MEL tomorrow and it's completely full. Not everyone has a seat assignment though and there are plenty of space+ available.

So inevitably a whole bunch of no status pax will get the good seats at the front by virtue of luck, while as a VA Plat I'll be in a standard seat, or face an outlay of $220. Sad state of affairs.

 

[Thibault]

So inevitably a whole bunch of no status pax will get the good seats at the front by virtue of luck, while as a VA Plat I'll be in a standard seat, or face an outlay of $220. Sad state of affairs.

I had to fly back to Paris as an massive emergency just happened today in my family.

Bought my ticket at 17.00 BNE time for the second VA BNE MEL EY codeshare Friday (today) and then EY463 (currently flying now).

The system put me for the first flight on 24K- so it’s the first row that is not Eco Space.
For the second flight a bit later EY31 to Paris, the system put me on a bad seat at the back of the Y cabin.

After my first flight to MEL, I went to the Check In Desk - the lady could not change my seat to a Space one for EY463 but she did with no issues for EY31.

Thé most annoying thing is that all Guests actually seated in the EY space area are non status holders.

This kind of annoys me - EY do not even recognise the loyalty from their own loyalty program. On a EY ticket EY flights marketed and operated.

They really need to work on it:
I have not choose my seats for my return yet but usually the system puts me on 2 Space Seat so we will see how we go next week.

No reason to pay 200+ AUD per segment when a no loyalty Guest can have it for free !