Etihad cutting costs to the bone?
May 29, 2016, 12:21 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: England
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Etihad cutting costs to the bone?
Sat here in BKK airport in Louis Tavern lounge as it looks like they have ditched Thai Orchid, whilst food and beverages are on a par, the size is tiny and no toilets, you have to use the public ones outside which unusuallly in my experience were run down and dirty.
On the way out from AMS again KLM have been dropped, although to be fair I did actually prefer their new partner which I think was aspire 41 or something.
But the main gripe is that on 3 of my last 5 sectors flown in J I have ordered my meal only to be informed at the time of service, not upon ordering, that there had been an error and my choice was no longer available.
The food in general seems to be reducing in quality, gone are the prawns or scallops for starters, or fillet of beef or lamb cutlets for main etc... unless I've been unlucky. Even the latest cheese board I had has shrunk to just Brie and Stilton, the Cheddar was no more.
Oh and we got bumped out of our chosen seats on one leg for no apparent reason.
Maybe I'm making mountains out of molehills but flying with them just seems to be losing it's sparkle. Here's keeping my fingers crossed my next flight is better.
On the way out from AMS again KLM have been dropped, although to be fair I did actually prefer their new partner which I think was aspire 41 or something.
But the main gripe is that on 3 of my last 5 sectors flown in J I have ordered my meal only to be informed at the time of service, not upon ordering, that there had been an error and my choice was no longer available.
The food in general seems to be reducing in quality, gone are the prawns or scallops for starters, or fillet of beef or lamb cutlets for main etc... unless I've been unlucky. Even the latest cheese board I had has shrunk to just Brie and Stilton, the Cheddar was no more.
Oh and we got bumped out of our chosen seats on one leg for no apparent reason.
Maybe I'm making mountains out of molehills but flying with them just seems to be losing it's sparkle. Here's keeping my fingers crossed my next flight is better.
May 30, 2016, 12:18 am
#3
Join Date: Aug 2011
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This is typical of Gulf carriers. They offer splendid service at unbeatable price and then start cutting back once they feel that they have gathered enough loyal customers. Same with Qatar Airways. I havent flown Emirates enough to be able to judge objectively.
May 31, 2016, 2:05 am
#4
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: England
Posts: 135
There was a discussion a while back re. Louis Tavern at BKK and I have to agree it really is very poor standard. It is so small I saw people turned away when it was full which does not take long.
Might reconsider my carrier on next BKK flight.
Might reconsider my carrier on next BKK flight.
May 31, 2016, 3:26 am
#5
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ARe you sure your admittance to the Aspire lounge was not on the basis of Priority Pass membership or some other criteria that you may have? Or were you actually turned away from the KLM Crown Lounge?
May 31, 2016, 2:15 pm
#7
Join Date: Jul 2015
Posts: 973
This is typical of Gulf carriers. They offer splendid service at unbeatable price and then start cutting back once they feel that they have gathered enough loyal customers. Same with Qatar Airways. I havent flown Emirates enough to be able to judge objectively.
Jun 1, 2016, 7:42 am
#8
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Are you sure? The KLM Crown Lounge is still listed on Etihad's worldwide lounges page, and EY and KL have a codesharing relationship which makes it less likely that they would suddenly change this lounge arrangement.
ARe you sure your admittance to the Aspire lounge was not on the basis of Priority Pass membership or some other criteria that you may have? Or were you actually turned away from the KLM Crown Lounge?
ARe you sure your admittance to the Aspire lounge was not on the basis of Priority Pass membership or some other criteria that you may have? Or were you actually turned away from the KLM Crown Lounge?
Jun 1, 2016, 7:51 am
#9
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Wow....that really is strange.
And I don't see how it would save Etihad any money, as one would expect lounge access from KLM as part of the "normal" terms of their reciprocal codesharing agreement.
And I don't see how it would save Etihad any money, as one would expect lounge access from KLM as part of the "normal" terms of their reciprocal codesharing agreement.
Jun 1, 2016, 9:35 am
#10
Join Date: Dec 2013
Location: FRA
Programs: EY Guest Platinum; A3 Gold; Delta Platinum, BA Silver, IHG Gold
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It is possible to use all luis tavern lounges in BKK. Just walk the 20m to the next one (G4) and you will have a much larger lounge.
I never understood why people are complaining. The Thai lounge was as bad as te current one. So no downgrade at all. The only downgrade is for the guest who were entitled to use the Thai first class lounge
I never understood why people are complaining. The Thai lounge was as bad as te current one. So no downgrade at all. The only downgrade is for the guest who were entitled to use the Thai first class lounge
Jun 1, 2016, 3:44 pm
#11
Formerly known as koeche
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The small Louis Tavern lounge is indeed a joke. I started to use the Oman Air Lounge (with Priority Pass) which is a quite nice alternative (when it's not crowded). It's next to the E gates from where EY is mostly departing.
Jun 4, 2016, 12:18 pm
#12
Join Date: Aug 2010
Programs: Skywards Gold, Etihad Gold
Posts: 462
The small Louis Tavern lounge is indeed a joke. I started to use the Oman Air Lounge (with Priority Pass) which is a quite nice alternative (when it's not crowded). It's next to the E gates from where EY is mostly departing.
Agree the Louis Tavern Lounge is a joke was there in Jan. I have recently booked two more flights from AMS-BKK Rtn in Business Class, sadly Etihad have lost my business to Qatar Airways gain. I have voted with my feet on this one, sorry Etihad but Jetihad one minute and Louis Tavern the next is enough to drive anyone away. I wonder what is on their agenda next?
Agree the Louis Tavern Lounge is a joke was there in Jan. I have recently booked two more flights from AMS-BKK Rtn in Business Class, sadly Etihad have lost my business to Qatar Airways gain. I have voted with my feet on this one, sorry Etihad but Jetihad one minute and Louis Tavern the next is enough to drive anyone away. I wonder what is on their agenda next?
Jun 6, 2016, 8:03 am
#13
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I think I figured out why EY stopped using the KL lounge at AMS.
Jet Airways recently moved their European stopover from BRU to AMS, and they use the Aspire lounge at AMS. I guess it makes more sense, then, for EY to also use this lounge given that Jet is one of the Etihad Airways Partners, too. They perhaps were able to negotiate an even more competitive rate by joining up in this manner.
Jet Airways recently moved their European stopover from BRU to AMS, and they use the Aspire lounge at AMS. I guess it makes more sense, then, for EY to also use this lounge given that Jet is one of the Etihad Airways Partners, too. They perhaps were able to negotiate an even more competitive rate by joining up in this manner.
Jun 11, 2016, 10:12 am
#14
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Jun 26, 2016, 4:03 pm
#15
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The Louis Tavern lounge under the airside LT hotel seems to at least have room to stretch out. I get they are trying to save money but it's disgusting that Etihad even puts its F passengers in the Louis Tavern lounges. They should shell out a few extra bucks to find a nicer lounge for F pax at the very least