Etihad Gold Elite. Worth shifting from Emirates?
Jan 10, 2012, 11:19 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: EK Platinum, Starwoods Platinum, HH Gold
Posts: 28
Etihad Gold Elite. Worth shifting from Emirates?
Folks: Any news/updates on feedback from the users on the new Etihad Platinum level. One of my colleagues who moved most of his travel from Emirates to Etihad last year, achieved Gold Elite mid-year and since then, would not stop talking about it. In addition to access to an Awesome first class lounge, he has been op up'ed 4 of 5 times to first. Any one here with similar stories??
Jan 11, 2012, 1:14 pm
#2
Join Date: Nov 2000
Posts: 1,941
Folks: Any news/updates on feedback from the users on the new Etihad Platinum level. One of my colleagues who moved most of his travel from Emirates to Etihad last year, achieved Gold Elite mid-year and since then, would not stop talking about it. In addition to access to an Awesome first class lounge, he has been op up'ed 4 of 5 times to first. Any one here with similar stories??
It seems the travel experience for EY Elites comes as close to Michael O'Leary's vision of long-haul travel (as revealed in a press conference in Dusseldorf three years ago) as it gets ... ;-)
Last edited by CalFlyer; Jan 11, 2012 at 1:28 pm
Jan 11, 2012, 9:42 pm
#4
Moderator, Trip Reports
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,715
For me, schedule is key. At present, neither Qatar or Etihad fly where I need them to (ie SIN-MEL on a daily basis). I continue to hear great things about both - and indeed, their hard product looks a lot more elegant (in J an F), but unless they meet my needs schedule wise, I will not move. If I need to head to Europe from SIN, then that's another matter and this year, will certainly give them both a shot.
Jan 11, 2012, 10:12 pm
#5
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: USA
Programs: SQ PPS SOLITAIRE, AA ,HHONOR GOLD, BONVOY GOLD, IHG PLAT
Posts: 2,041
For me, schedule is key. At present, neither Qatar or Etihad fly where I need them to (ie SIN-MEL on a daily basis). I continue to hear great things about both - and indeed, their hard product looks a lot more elegant (in J an F), but unless they meet my needs schedule wise, I will not move. If I need to head to Europe from SIN, then that's another matter and this year, will certainly give them both a shot.
I would certainly like to give QR a try if they go the US West Coast. Frankly, I'm surprised no other Middle Eastern carrier is going to SFO/LAX. The flights to SFO are regularly quite full in J and even F.Y is almost always overbooked.
Jan 11, 2012, 10:58 pm
#6
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: AKL
Programs: Skywards Gold, Qantas FF
Posts: 479
Jan 12, 2012, 10:42 am
#8
Join Date: Jun 2008
Location: AKL
Programs: Skywards Gold, Qantas FF
Posts: 479
Jan 12, 2012, 11:51 am
#9
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
Jan 12, 2012, 12:14 pm
#10
Moderator, Trip Reports
Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Denver, CO
Programs: UA GS-2MM, Marriott Ambassador
Posts: 3,715
Jan 12, 2012, 12:38 pm
#11
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Exile
Posts: 15,656
Jan 12, 2012, 1:02 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Delhi
Programs: Emirates gold *alliance silver jet airways platinum tridentprivilege gold.
Posts: 1,817
For me, schedule is key. At present, neither Qatar or Etihad fly where I need them to (ie SIN-MEL on a daily basis). I continue to hear great things about both - and indeed, their hard product looks a lot more elegant (in J an F), but unless they meet my needs schedule wise, I will not move. If I need to head to Europe from SIN, then that's another matter and this year, will certainly give them both a shot.
Jan 13, 2012, 2:38 am
#13
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
Thinking of switching to QR?
Before anyone jumps ship over to QR, I think they should fully be aware of what treacherous waters they may find themselves in.
I've been flying QR quite a bit lately. And service on board is honestly pretty good. I'm usually rather impressed with it. The 77s also have good seats and screens.
Add that with the premium terminal, and that golds now use the recently renovated oryx lounge , and silvers using the old gold lounge and also silver lounge.
The experience can be a delight so long as you don't encounter any issues that require ground crew involved.
HOWEVER, this trip I have in a few days, I've been struggling to upgrade my ticket and it's just basically making me more irate with attempt.
Issues like trying to reach a call centre operator - the most basic of customer service - has been impossible for the past 2 weeks.
Also no Gold Desk hotline. and countless more frustrating issues
Just read these threads:
lets-start-wish-list-what-can-do-qr-better.html
upgrade-redemptions.html
I've been flying QR quite a bit lately. And service on board is honestly pretty good. I'm usually rather impressed with it. The 77s also have good seats and screens.
Add that with the premium terminal, and that golds now use the recently renovated oryx lounge , and silvers using the old gold lounge and also silver lounge.
The experience can be a delight so long as you don't encounter any issues that require ground crew involved.
HOWEVER, this trip I have in a few days, I've been struggling to upgrade my ticket and it's just basically making me more irate with attempt.
Issues like trying to reach a call centre operator - the most basic of customer service - has been impossible for the past 2 weeks.
Also no Gold Desk hotline. and countless more frustrating issues
Just read these threads:
lets-start-wish-list-what-can-do-qr-better.html
upgrade-redemptions.html
Jan 13, 2012, 2:46 am
#14
Join Date: Sep 2010
Programs: AZ FA+, A3 G, AB G | IHG RA, HGP D, FPC P, Accor P, BW D, HH D, Eleva, GHA P, 1862 Voyager
Posts: 1,852
But those are operational upgrades so it is still route specific?
And if so, it basically means gets to be first on the list?
4/5 times is a really high percentage. Perhaps they did it without a full J cabin?
Its interesting because when it first launched, the sentiment seemed to reflect disappointment with the stated perks being rather lacking.
Jan 17, 2012, 9:17 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2010
Programs: EK Platinum, Starwoods Platinum, HH Gold
Posts: 28
But those are operational upgrades so it is still route specific?
And if so, it basically means gets to be first on the list?
4/5 times is a really high percentage. Perhaps they did it without a full J cabin?
Its interesting because when it first launched, the sentiment seemed to reflect disappointment with the stated perks being rather lacking.
And if so, it basically means gets to be first on the list?
4/5 times is a really high percentage. Perhaps they did it without a full J cabin?
Its interesting because when it first launched, the sentiment seemed to reflect disappointment with the stated perks being rather lacking.
The points that EB, Ung make about schedules are valid. Although all of the Gold Elite benefits seem nice, I am not sure about EY's Y class product. I usually travel J while on business but most of the award tickets that I use to travel with my family are in Y. And I absolutely love EK's Y product, especially in the A-380s.