Hello,

Last week I was scheduled to take a EY codeshare on Jetblue from Orlando to New York, and from there take a regular EY flight to Abu Dhabi. My ticket was from Etihad.com and all flights on my ticket were EYxxxx numbers. I am a gold member on Etihad and as such am allowed to take 3 bags from North America to Abu Dhabi. Jetblue's website states that they honor the Etihad baggage allowance, and I called both Jetblue and Etihad to confirm that I would be allowed 3 bags free of charge from Orlando to Abu Dhabi, which both airline reps confirmed. However, when I reached the Jetblue counter in MCO, the agent would not allow me to check in my 3rd bag for free, insisting that I had to pay $100 for the privilege. I showed her the web page indicating that Jetblue honors the Etihad allowance, but she stated that it was only for the regular allowance, not bonus allowances. I even logged into my Etihad Guest account on my phone to show that I was a current gold member, but no dice. I needed to get on my flight so just sucked it up and paid the $100 but insisted I would try to get it back from Jetblue/Etihad.

Later, at the gate, my flight to New York was delayed by two hours due to inclement weather, which would cause me to miss my connection in JFK. Jetblue eventually rebooked me on a direct Emirates flight from MCO-DXB. When I inquired about a refund of the $100, they said I would need to contact Jetblue corporate as I paid with a credit card and they couldn't refund me at the counter. I eventually went up to the Emirates counter to check in and was told I needed to pay a separate $175 for the extra bag, something I initially protested but eventually gave in to as I was tired of arguing and just wanted to get home, but I still hoped Etihad would reimburse me for this amount as well.

I inquired with Etihad over the phone about transportation from DXB to AUH, as I paid for a ticket to Abu Dhabi, not Dubai 90 minutes away, and was told I needed to make my own way (with three large suitcases) to the downtown Dubai terminal where the Etihad coach picks up passengers. I inquired with the Etihad Premium Twitter account regarding the same DXB-AUH connection, and was told I would be accommodated at the Dubai airport. The Emirates flight itself was fine but when I arrived in Dubai there was no assistance from Etihad to be found. I was told by Emirates that I could not take the Emirates coach to Abu Dhabi as I did not have an official Emirates confirmation number. I eventually had a friend pick me up at DXB and take me to Abu Dhabi, but I wonder how someone without local connections would have fared.

I'm steeling myself up for long hours of phone calls/Etihad Premium Twitter messages in an attempt to get, at the very least, my checked baggage fees refunded, and so I hope to be able to direct my energy to the right areas.

1. Who should I contact regarding the first baggage fee, Jetblue or Etihad? Neither carried my bag but I'm still out $100 which I don't think was a valid charge in the first place.

2. Will Etihad or Emirates refund me the $175 I paid to Emirates for my 3rd bag from MCO-DXB? I did not ask to be put on this flight but believe if Etihad/Jetblue is putting me on it my Etihad allowance should be honored.

3. Is there any potential compensation from Etihad, even in the form of miles, available to cover my transport from DXB to AUH? I don't believe dropping me off in Dubai instead of my original ticketed and paid for destination of Abu Dhabi is 'good enough.'

I have all relevant paperwork and receipts given to me.

Thanks in advance for the assistance.