Etihad from Dubai
 

Will possibly fly Etihad from DBX to SFO after a cruise in Dec 2012 (especially if/when EY becomes OW partner and can redeem AA FF miles).
Looking at schedule, it appears that there is a bus shuttle from DXB to AUH to pick up the flight itself.
Can anyone comment on this? Is it any different for J/F passengers (like a limo perhaps)?
TIA

Etihad is based in AUH. Y passengers can get a free bus from Dubai, J and F can request the chauffeur service.

Any sense of how long the trip takes and whether the J/F chauffeur service is free if on an award ticket?

What makes you think EY is going to join OW?:confused:

Probably 2 hours or so. It's about 1 1/2 hours in a taxi. No idea about the award ticket question.

Yes, you can get free limo service when travelling on award ticket. Just call EY and they will book it for you.

OP might have been confused, though the bottom line of redeeming AA miles might be the same. AFAIK, EY isn't joining OW, but has entered into a mutual miles earning relationship with AA with mutual redemptions to start by the end of this year.

Thanks!

Can't comment on J/F, but a friend flew Y in Etihad DXB>ORD yesterday. She Facebooked that they gave out drinks and food on the shuttle!

Yes, that is what I ment - my bad.
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/ameri...-1-2011-a.html

Thank you for the transfer info.

If all you've mostly flown are Nth American carriers you will be blown away by the Arab carriers in terms of hard and soft product.

Equal to or better than CX, QF, BA J/F?
I flew EK Y and was underwhelmed (I know it's much better in J/F).

Actually they spoil you after trying their F class product ^^

I understand from a thread at the AA forum that if I use AA miles to get an EY ticket, I won't be eligible for the free transfer service. Could anyone provide an estimate of how expensive taxis are between Dubai (where I'd be staying) and AUH? How about buses? And how nice are the buses?

Thanks for any help.

Dubai to AUH by taxi will cost about Aed200 to Aed250 - Say $75 ($100 max to be on safe side). EY operate a bus service from a few pick up points in Dubai (including Dubai Marina I believe. They look nice enough but I have never used them. If you can use one it would be more than fine for the 60 min trip from Dubai Marina say.

I got a taxi from central Abu Dhabi to Dubai Marina a couple of days ago & the fare was 185 AED which I rounded to 200 AED & it took an hour and a quarter or so. The airport at Abu Dhabi is closer to Dubai than the city centre. Depending on where you are staying in Dubai could add quite a bit to the fare of course (the Creek for example ia quite a way the wrong way!) You may want to look at a hotel car service if wanting a bit of luxury. These run at c 325 & up (AED) again depending on establishment & location.