Removal of chauffeur service for some business class passengers
Feb 28, 2015, 3:55 pm
#197
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: half way between AMS and BRU
Programs: BA gold, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 265
When trying to book chauffeur service, I see the following message
Unable to connect to booking reference service
It worked earlier this week, should I start worrying?
Unable to connect to booking reference service
It worked earlier this week, should I start worrying?
Mar 1, 2015, 5:31 am
#198
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Qatar Gold, flying Blue, Falcon, Lufthansa, Eva
Posts: 1,428
I raised this thread and still very annoyed at the way this was sneaked in
As I also said that this was a great way for Etihad to loose previously loyal customers (I have a gold card) and I have just booked my next trip with Qatar because the chauffeur was crucial for any early morning flight out of Manchester for me (Qatar leave at 13.55) and I certainly did not want to arrive in Bangkok in the evening. I would certainly have flown with Etihad had the chauffeur service still been in place
Any one else deserting Etihad?
As I also said that this was a great way for Etihad to loose previously loyal customers (I have a gold card) and I have just booked my next trip with Qatar because the chauffeur was crucial for any early morning flight out of Manchester for me (Qatar leave at 13.55) and I certainly did not want to arrive in Bangkok in the evening. I would certainly have flown with Etihad had the chauffeur service still been in place
Any one else deserting Etihad?
Mar 1, 2015, 8:08 am
#199
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NCL and LBA
Programs: BD*G, BAGold, Hyatt Diamond, SPG Plat
Posts: 3,268
Does anyone know how mixed (fare) class bookings work? Looking at flights which are W in the way out to MNL but Z on the return from BKK. MNL doesn't have chauffeur service anyway but wondered if I could get it from bangkok given that the booking isn't an entirely Z booking?
Mar 1, 2015, 12:30 pm
#201
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,629
I raised this thread and still very annoyed at the way this was sneaked in
As I also said that this was a great way for Etihad to loose previously loyal customers (I have a gold card) and I have just booked my next trip with Qatar because the chauffeur was crucial for any early morning flight out of Manchester for me (Qatar leave at 13.55) and I certainly did not want to arrive in Bangkok in the evening. I would certainly have flown with Etihad had the chauffeur service still been in place
Any one else deserting Etihad?
As I also said that this was a great way for Etihad to loose previously loyal customers (I have a gold card) and I have just booked my next trip with Qatar because the chauffeur was crucial for any early morning flight out of Manchester for me (Qatar leave at 13.55) and I certainly did not want to arrive in Bangkok in the evening. I would certainly have flown with Etihad had the chauffeur service still been in place
Any one else deserting Etihad?
There are other ways to get to MAN early in the morning. The cost is negligible compared to the price of a J/F ticket.
Mar 2, 2015, 4:29 am
#203
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Qatar Gold, flying Blue, Falcon, Lufthansa, Eva
Posts: 1,428
Seriously? It is one thing to be a bit annoyed; it's another to make an expensive purchase decision based on a cheap freebie. It's like not buying a pearl necklace because they aren't giving you a free plastic toy with it.
There are other ways to get to MAN early in the morning. The cost is negligible compared to the price of a J/F ticket.
There are other ways to get to MAN early in the morning. The cost is negligible compared to the price of a J/F ticket.
Mar 2, 2015, 4:31 am
#204
Original Poster
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: UK
Programs: Etihad Gold, Qatar Gold, flying Blue, Falcon, Lufthansa, Eva
Posts: 1,428
Does anyone know how mixed (fare) class bookings work? Looking at flights which are W in the way out to MNL but Z on the return from BKK. MNL doesn't have chauffeur service anyway but wondered if I could get it from bangkok given that the booking isn't an entirely Z booking?
Mar 2, 2015, 5:50 am
#205
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: SYD
Programs: QF WP (OWE), VA PLAT, EY GLD, SPG PLAT, Hyatt DIA, Hilton DIA, Hertz PC
Posts: 8,520
Seriously? It is one thing to be a bit annoyed; it's another to make an expensive purchase decision based on a cheap freebie. It's like not buying a pearl necklace because they aren't giving you a free plastic toy with it.
There are other ways to get to MAN early in the morning. The cost is negligible compared to the price of a J/F ticket.
There are other ways to get to MAN early in the morning. The cost is negligible compared to the price of a J/F ticket.
Mar 2, 2015, 6:11 am
#206
Join Date: Jul 2013
Posts: 81
I bought the cheap AUH-GRU Z class fares before they've changed the rules on the eligibility of the chauffer service. I was able to book online the chauffer a week before the flight only to realise they've cancelled the chauffer with NO correspondence. I only found out the day before the flight when double checking my chauffer services. Called Etihad and explained to them how my ticket was supposed to be governed by old rules but it didn't work out. Anyway was still happy with my £550 J class return to GRU so I paid for a taxi instead 
Mar 2, 2015, 8:22 am
#207
Company Representative, Etihad
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 1,813
Dear Guest,
Sorry for the inconvenience. Please email us your booking reference and feedback on [email protected] if you would like to lodge a formal complaint with us.
Thank you. *JS
Sorry for the inconvenience. Please email us your booking reference and feedback on [email protected] if you would like to lodge a formal complaint with us.
Thank you. *JS
Mar 6, 2015, 6:43 am
#208
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: England
Programs: Many but loyal to none
Posts: 141
Yes and no for me. I am travelling to BKK in May and would probably have gone with them had they still being doing the chauffuer on Z fares.
However I have just picked up flights AMS-BKK with Etihad for £915 return in J for December, the price was too good to resist.
However I have just picked up flights AMS-BKK with Etihad for £915 return in J for December, the price was too good to resist.
Mar 6, 2015, 6:51 am
#209
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: England
Programs: Many but loyal to none
Posts: 141
Seriously? It is one thing to be a bit annoyed; it's another to make an expensive purchase decision based on a cheap freebie. It's like not buying a pearl necklace because they aren't giving you a free plastic toy with it.
There are other ways to get to MAN early in the morning. The cost is negligible compared to the price of a J/F ticket.
There are other ways to get to MAN early in the morning. The cost is negligible compared to the price of a J/F ticket.
If I can live without the chauffuer I'm going to pick Qatar and save £100, if I can't then I'm going to choose Emirates.
Bear in mind that a return taxi fare for someone living 70 miles from Manchester isn't going to consider an extra £150-£200 negligible
Mar 6, 2015, 8:45 pm
#210
Join Date: Sep 2010
Location: USA
Programs: UAmm, Hyatt Plat,Marriott Gold, AA EXP
Posts: 84
Do first class bookings made with AA miles still get chauffeur service? I used the Etihad insider @etihad.ae and only got a response linking to the terms page on the Etihad website which does not seem clear to me.
