Shifting allegiance away from Etihad to Emirates?
Mar 27, 2017, 3:32 am
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
Posts: 1,168
Shifting allegiance away from Etihad to Emirates?
Is anyone else considering switching to Emirates Skywards (or even Qatar Airways) from Etihad following the recent drops in service levels all around?
One that will seal the deal for my shift of allegiance to Emirates is the removal of chauffer service for business class passengers on Etihad This looks to be confirmed now.
I live in Abu Dhabi and with extra miles earning opportunities like CityMiles all over Abu Dhabi and the obvious proximity to the Abu Dhabi Int’l airport, I am evaluation my options carefully.
Having said that, the drops in F&B offerings in the premium caibins, all-too-frequent less friendly (read: overworked) flight attendants, and now the removal of chauffer service is inching me towards ditching Etihad (and my gold status).
Am wondering whether anybody else is in the same boat…
One that will seal the deal for my shift of allegiance to Emirates is the removal of chauffer service for business class passengers on Etihad This looks to be confirmed now.
I live in Abu Dhabi and with extra miles earning opportunities like CityMiles all over Abu Dhabi and the obvious proximity to the Abu Dhabi Int’l airport, I am evaluation my options carefully.
Having said that, the drops in F&B offerings in the premium caibins, all-too-frequent less friendly (read: overworked) flight attendants, and now the removal of chauffer service is inching me towards ditching Etihad (and my gold status).
Am wondering whether anybody else is in the same boat…
Mar 27, 2017, 3:57 am
#2
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dubai , UAE and Leeds, UK
Programs: Etihad Guest Platinum, BA Bronze, And EK silver
Posts: 161
Wow! This is alarming! Can you please quote your sources with regards to the removal of chauffeur services?
I agree that there has been significant cost cutting everywhere across Etihad. However removing chauffeur driven services will be the last nail in the Coffin for me. I really hope they don't do that. What a disaster otherwise !
I agree that there has been significant cost cutting everywhere across Etihad. However removing chauffeur driven services will be the last nail in the Coffin for me. I really hope they don't do that. What a disaster otherwise !
Is anyone else considering switching to Emirates Skywards (or even Qatar Airways) from Etihad following the recent drops in service levels all around?
One that will seal the deal for my shift of allegiance to Emirates is the removal of chauffer service for business class passengers on Etihad This looks to be confirmed now.
I live in Abu Dhabi and with extra miles earning opportunities like CityMiles all over Abu Dhabi and the obvious proximity to the Abu Dhabi Int’l airport, I am evaluation my options carefully.
Having said that, the drops in F&B offerings in the premium caibins, all-too-frequent less friendly (read: overworked) flight attendants, and now the removal of chauffer service is inching me towards ditching Etihad (and my gold status).
Am wondering whether anybody else is in the same boat…
One that will seal the deal for my shift of allegiance to Emirates is the removal of chauffer service for business class passengers on Etihad This looks to be confirmed now.
I live in Abu Dhabi and with extra miles earning opportunities like CityMiles all over Abu Dhabi and the obvious proximity to the Abu Dhabi Int’l airport, I am evaluation my options carefully.
Having said that, the drops in F&B offerings in the premium caibins, all-too-frequent less friendly (read: overworked) flight attendants, and now the removal of chauffer service is inching me towards ditching Etihad (and my gold status).
Am wondering whether anybody else is in the same boat…
Mar 27, 2017, 5:16 am
#3
Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Knoteetingham
Programs: EY Gold, QF WP
Posts: 311
Is anyone else considering switching to Emirates Skywards (or even Qatar Airways) from Etihad following the recent drops in service levels all around?
One that will seal the deal for my shift of allegiance to Emirates is the removal of chauffer service for business class passengers on Etihad This looks to be confirmed now.
I live in Abu Dhabi and with extra miles earning opportunities like CityMiles all over Abu Dhabi and the obvious proximity to the Abu Dhabi Int’l airport, I am evaluation my options carefully.
Having said that, the drops in F&B offerings in the premium caibins, all-too-frequent less friendly (read: overworked) flight attendants, and now the removal of chauffer service is inching me towards ditching Etihad (and my gold status).
Am wondering whether anybody else is in the same boat…
One that will seal the deal for my shift of allegiance to Emirates is the removal of chauffer service for business class passengers on Etihad This looks to be confirmed now.
I live in Abu Dhabi and with extra miles earning opportunities like CityMiles all over Abu Dhabi and the obvious proximity to the Abu Dhabi Int’l airport, I am evaluation my options carefully.
Having said that, the drops in F&B offerings in the premium caibins, all-too-frequent less friendly (read: overworked) flight attendants, and now the removal of chauffer service is inching me towards ditching Etihad (and my gold status).
Am wondering whether anybody else is in the same boat…
Mar 27, 2017, 5:38 am
#4
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,264
Wow! This is alarming! Can you please quote your sources with regards to the removal of chauffeur services?
I agree that there has been significant cost cutting everywhere across Etihad. However removing chauffeur driven services will be the last nail in the Coffin for me. I really hope they don't do that. What a disaster otherwise !
I agree that there has been significant cost cutting everywhere across Etihad. However removing chauffeur driven services will be the last nail in the Coffin for me. I really hope they don't do that. What a disaster otherwise !
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/etiha...ick-up-16.html
Mar 27, 2017, 6:36 am
#6
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
Posts: 1,168
Yes I have been looking into QR as well but without a viable QR credit card in the UAE, the miles (and status) would be much harder to come by... (QR is still in the cards though)
Mar 27, 2017, 7:20 am
#7
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Dubai , UAE and Leeds, UK
Programs: Etihad Guest Platinum, BA Bronze, And EK silver
Posts: 161
I meant , any official source that confirms the removal of chauffeur services ?
So far , it's based on unconfirmed rumours ....
So far , it's based on unconfirmed rumours ....
Mar 27, 2017, 7:31 am
#8
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Phuket
Programs: SQ *Gold, BA, QR, EY, Hilton Diamond, IHG Plat, Marriott Gold, Amex Plat
Posts: 5,264
Mar 27, 2017, 7:47 am
#9
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 9,304
The other thread linked a couple of posts before yours indicates EY will maintain chauffeur drive within the UAE. EK's new fleet in DXB doesn't rule out a similar cut.
Mar 27, 2017, 11:56 pm
#10
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
Posts: 1,168
Mar 28, 2017, 3:29 am
#11
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: EK Gold, EY Gold, QR Gold, Accor Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 63
For those on here considering ditching EY to QR, we've applied for a UAE Citibank Emirates Ultimate card - this allows for QR Privilege Club Gold status. It does come with an annual fee of AED 800 but there are a couple of other perks apart from earning Skywards miles with every transaction...
Personally speaking, QR Gold seems a bit useless when flying premium cabin 99% of the time but it may be a good choice when starting off
Personally speaking, QR Gold seems a bit useless when flying premium cabin 99% of the time but it may be a good choice when starting off
Apr 1, 2017, 5:37 am
#12
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: South Korea
Posts: 1,168
For those on here considering ditching EY to QR, we've applied for a UAE Citibank Emirates Ultimate card - this allows for QR Privilege Club Gold status. It does come with an annual fee of AED 800 but there are a couple of other perks apart from earning Skywards miles with every transaction...
Personally speaking, QR Gold seems a bit useless when flying premium cabin 99% of the time but it may be a good choice when starting off
Personally speaking, QR Gold seems a bit useless when flying premium cabin 99% of the time but it may be a good choice when starting off
http://www.citibank.ae/uae/consumer/...i_ultimate.htm
Not sure if the QR Privilege Club Gold status is still offered, I don't seem to see it listed on the list of benefits on the page...
Apr 2, 2017, 12:45 pm
#13
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: EK Gold, EY Gold, QR Gold, Accor Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 63
Yes, that's the one but this particular entitlement itself is directly linked to the MasterCard World Elite benefits. Hopefully, this link works for you - http://www.mastercard.com/mea/ae/con...=1&benefitID=5
Apr 3, 2017, 2:22 am
#14
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: AUH
Posts: 8,265
For those on here considering ditching EY to QR, we've applied for a UAE Citibank Emirates Ultimate card - this allows for QR Privilege Club Gold status. It does come with an annual fee of AED 800 but there are a couple of other perks apart from earning Skywards miles with every transaction...
Personally speaking, QR Gold seems a bit useless when flying premium cabin 99% of the time but it may be a good choice when starting off
On airlines like BA, the OW Sapphire is also useful for seat assignments (which is otherwise charged, even in J
).
Apr 3, 2017, 10:41 am
#15
Join Date: Jun 2015
Location: DXB
Programs: EK Gold, EY Gold, QR Gold, Accor Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 63
@stargold - thanks for chipping in, definitely valid points that I've overlooked. QR Gold is definitely a worthy status in the wallet while trotting around the globe - OW is the largest alliance and it has come handy on more than one occasion...