Removal of chauffeur service for some business class passengers
Feb 12, 2015, 7:38 pm
#151
Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: IAH
Programs: SPG Platinum, Hyatt Diamond, IHG Gold Ambassador, Marriott Gold
Posts: 519
Feb 13, 2015, 7:09 am
#152
Join Date: Sep 2013
Programs: BAEC Gold, EK Skywards (enhanced Blue !), Oman Air Sindbad Gold
Posts: 6,399
I can't say I've read through all posts on the thread cdn1 but - given its title/subject matter - I assume that your comments about a continued decline in standards relate either in part or whole to the removal of the CD service for some business class journeys.
But does the (publicised) change to a service which most carriers do not even provide at all indicate that standards of customer service at EY really are "going downhill" ......???
In all honesty, I'm not an EY regular myself but your post caught my eye as an interested bystander. I'm very conscious that different people have different perspectives when it comes to customer service - and in some ways that's a good thing. But I also believe that it would be next to impossible to find an airline that would fit all one's needs/preferences AND on a totally consistent basis. Or to coin a phrase, I'd say the grass is always greener on the other side of the road.....
Feb 18, 2015, 8:01 am
#153
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,725
From my experience in award F travel, Etihad driver service is definitely available for those traveling on American issued tickets (meaning AA award travel). The promotional hotel stays for business and first class are not available, but sometimes if you ask, they do it anyway.
One point of possible confusion is that even after American has given you the American record locator and also the Etihad record locator, it takes a few days before the accounting is settled between the carriers, and until that happens, you can't book the driver services.
One point of possible confusion is that even after American has given you the American record locator and also the Etihad record locator, it takes a few days before the accounting is settled between the carriers, and until that happens, you can't book the driver services.
Just a little confused since some posts have said that "Z" class awards booking does not have chauffeur service. Z seems to be used to designate First class at some airlines, but is apparently used to designate Business class at Etihad.
Feb 18, 2015, 1:26 pm
#154
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,344
Just double checking that Etihad chauffeur service is available for those redeeming AA miles for First class travel? I have an AUH-SYD trip on hold and the booking class is "O".
Just a little confused since some posts have said that "Z" class awards booking does not have chauffeur service. Z seems to be used to designate First class at some airlines, but is apparently used to designate Business class at Etihad.
Just a little confused since some posts have said that "Z" class awards booking does not have chauffeur service. Z seems to be used to designate First class at some airlines, but is apparently used to designate Business class at Etihad.
Feb 18, 2015, 2:51 pm
#156
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KYE
Posts: 4,156
Originally Posted by iluvdoco
Just double checking that Etihad chauffeur service is available for those redeeming AA miles for First class travel? I have an AUH-SYD trip on hold and the booking class is "O".
Just a little confused since some posts have said that "Z" class awards booking does not have chauffeur service. Z seems to be used to designate First class at some airlines, but is apparently used to designate Business class at Etihad.
Just a little confused since some posts have said that "Z" class awards booking does not have chauffeur service. Z seems to be used to designate First class at some airlines, but is apparently used to designate Business class at Etihad.
Feb 18, 2015, 4:48 pm
#157
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 5,632
Maybe it is available for J partner awards but not for F partner awards? Highly unlikely.
Feb 18, 2015, 6:16 pm
#158
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 3,725
So the consensus is;
- no explicit language in T&C that restricts chauffeur service for AA awards redemptions
- a few data points that suggest phone reservations not available for J bookings using AA miles
* SeeBuyFly says online reservations for J bookings using AA miles ok.
- F bookings using AA miles ok (unclear if it works with online, phone, or both)
Last edited by iluvdoco; Feb 18, 2015 at 6:27 pm
Feb 18, 2015, 11:31 pm
#160
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,344
Hang up and try again. Or do it online.
Feb 19, 2015, 2:23 am
#162
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BHX
Programs: BA GGL CCR GfL, SQ Gold, Hyatt Glob, HH Diamond, Marriott Plat, Cafe Nero Loyalty Card (7 Stamps)
Posts: 7,344
It's just a case of "anything to get you off the phone", approach.
For whatever reason the system wouldn't let me sit anywhere other one of the centre pairs, and rather than try and sort out why, it's easier to lie to me.
For whatever reason the system wouldn't let me sit anywhere other one of the centre pairs, and rather than try and sort out why, it's easier to lie to me.
Feb 19, 2015, 3:36 am
#163
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: West Sussex, UK
Programs: BAEC Bronze, HH Gold, Etihad Silver
Posts: 102
That's no real indication. My Z business class fare says that and you can actually go through the booking process but you then get an email saying "unable to confirm, ineligible fare class"
Feb 19, 2015, 3:39 am
#164
Join Date: Oct 2011
Posts: 3,839
I just booked a Z class chauffeur but I had booked this 2 weeks before the official change. But I haven't tried for my O booking yet, it is pretty far in future.
Feb 19, 2015, 6:45 am
#165
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: KYE
Posts: 4,156
My recent experience was for two bookings, one in F, one in J. Both said eligible online, went to book it, no dice. I called for the F, asked to book the transfer, was told not eligible. Asked how come, was told recent changes to rules meant that partner awards not eligible. I pointed out the T&C on the EY website, was told they're not responsible for what the website says because the agent was reading of her screen.
Fine. Hung up. Called an EY number in another country, the call went to the Manchester. I asked to do the same, citing this time the J booking. The agent placed me on hold, came back 5 minutes later saying the booking is not eligible because the ticket stock is non-EY. Again pointed out the text on the website. Agent checked it and said it is out of date. Now I have been rejected few times before, but that was due to the agent NOT knowing what's going on. Both the agents I spoke to seem to know about the 'rules' and where to get them.
Anyhow, I'll let this slide for a while then try again but I'm not hoping for much, especially that I already wasted more than an hour of calls on this simple task. (... with that 3 step verification, asking for ticket numbers, spelling out passenger names, phone numbers, email addresses, flight numbers, flight times -this is a new one, how the ticket were booked, where the tickets are issued). Are they becoming more creative or what?
Fine. Hung up. Called an EY number in another country, the call went to the Manchester. I asked to do the same, citing this time the J booking. The agent placed me on hold, came back 5 minutes later saying the booking is not eligible because the ticket stock is non-EY. Again pointed out the text on the website. Agent checked it and said it is out of date. Now I have been rejected few times before, but that was due to the agent NOT knowing what's going on. Both the agents I spoke to seem to know about the 'rules' and where to get them.
Anyhow, I'll let this slide for a while then try again but I'm not hoping for much, especially that I already wasted more than an hour of calls on this simple task. (... with that 3 step verification, asking for ticket numbers, spelling out passenger names, phone numbers, email addresses, flight numbers, flight times -this is a new one, how the ticket were booked, where the tickets are issued). Are they becoming more creative or what?