Hello,

I did not wish to start a brand new thread, but could not find an appropriate thread to post my queries.

I have an upcoming flight to Kansas, USA via Abu Dhabi (Travelling on Economy class with a 3-hour layover at AUH):

• Leg-1 : India to Abu Dhabi via Etihad
• Leg-2 : Abu Dhabi to Chicago via Etihad
• Leg-3 : Chicago to Kansas via American Airlines

I am a Gold member and was hoping to use the extra 23kgs that is allowed for this status (C.A). But Customer Care says that since the last leg of my trip is not via an Etihad flight, I am not eligible to those extra 23kgs .

Just wanted to double-check as Flyertalk is always correct .

In case I cannot use the extra baggage .. I see very limited benefits with the Gold status..except maybe the extra miles that I get for each trip.

Lounge access:

1. Etihad will only allow me to access the Al-reem lounge (First Class Lounge & Spa in T3, Etihad Premium Lounge in T1 & T3, Etihad Arrivals Lounge T3 seem to be out of bounds)
2. However, am a Priority pass member. And its website states I can access the Al Dhabi and Al Reem lounges in Terminal-1

Any suggestions on which lounge would be better i.e. Al Dhabi or Al Reem?

Look forward to your comments .

Thanks in advance,
Monk

you should get that extra bag of 23kg at least upto chicago. once there you need to recheck your bags anyways so at that point negotiate with AA.
Both Al Reem and Al dhabi are fine. Near enough to one another for you to go in have a peek and decide if which you want to stay in

+1

I believe they've refurbished Al Reem which was very overdue and Al Dhabi is quite new anyway.

Or bump into a Platinum and beg for them to take you into the First lounge they're allowed one guest

You wouldn't need to recheck you bags in Chicago, that's one of the main benefits of preclearance--bags go through to your final inland US destination.
I believe the luggage allowance for additional pieces is based on the first leg..but my only experience is with a business upgrade (first leg) and economy the second, both on Etihad. I'd say you are entitled due to it being an EY codeshare, but ultimately up to the check in agent.

Luggage allowance is based on the leg with the most generous allowance, given this was all booked under a single PNR.
There's a lot of confusion about it and a lot of check-in agent still think in terms of most significant carrier, but that rule no longer applies, at least not with EY.