Seating Policy update
 

Just seen this email on seat policy changes, the way I read it then you now have to pay for seats, no more free choice 30 hours before flight.

Also probably increased prices for the forward and middle zones.

https://cimg6.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...9c296acd64.jpg
https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...6fc235dc1d.png
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...72637b7832.jpg

I'm assuming this impacts tickets issued before 28th Nov too :(

What a bummer!

I have an AUH-LIS flight in April. How is the capacity on this new route? I'm planning to chance not booking a seat in advance.

I have a flight next month - will see if existing tickets are imapcted. Virgin Atlantic also recently started charging for seats in Y but my existing booking was not impacted

Thanks - please keep us updated.

Just seen an updated email, looks like you will be allocated a seat for free at check-in. But if you want to change it or select in advance it will cost. I'm sure middle and forward zones will cost more than rear. Etihad Guest members silver and above should still get the free/discounted seat selection.

https://cimg8.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.fly...d818543dbd.jpg

Ah, the dreaded "get out of middle seat" fee...

I suspect this will drive many people to pay to select a seat in advance, if it will still cost money to change at check-in from the automatically allocated seat. Which I suppose is the reason why they are doing it.

Isn't this the sort of change that then results in families being split up all over the cabin?

What happens to a paid seat when you change your flight to a different day?

As a data point, can confirm that forward and middle now cost more than before. This is for an FCO-AUH itinerary. Prior to the 28th, all standard seats were ~20eur. Now only rear is that price, with middle and forward a fair bit more.

I paid for seats in the forward section just before the change. Wasn't keen on paying up, but didn't want to risk getting allocated something rubbish at check-in and then being stuck with it or having to pay even more with limited choice. So in my example, their new policy has worked for Etihad. Ho hum.

It seems like they even started charging 37 AED for the 48 hour transit visa on Dec 1....some official advance notice of all these changes would have been good to have....

The fee applies to bookings pre November too.
What's worst is if you are connecting in Abu Dhabi, you cannot offer to pay at origin airport for the AUH onwards leg. I was lucky to get an aisle for the longer Europe- AUH hop but got a middle seat assigned for the AUH-BOM leg(though I'm the forwards rows marked XL). I tried changing the middle in AUh but not of the agents agreed to do for free.

Thanks for the update.

I will be connecting at AUH on a CGK-AUH-LIS itinerary. Would agents change assigned seat in AUH for the onwards leg if payment is offered once I arrive in AUH? Also do you know whether the seat selection fee is the same when booking at airport as when booking in advance?

In this case, it seems like there is no point of checking-in online in advance as we can no longer select our seat?

Yes agents in AUH can change seats on payment. I also think gate agents can do for free if they want to. I spoke to a few people around me on the 2.5 hr AUH-BOM flight - no one had paid for their seats but somehow all of us were allocated the XL rows in front section - as I'm assuming people who paid for aisle/window chose the cheaper middle/rear option.

I saw a family of 4 separated 2-2 in different sections. Its all randomly assigned - and once done - it can only be changed on payment or at gate by a agent with authority to override. I did give my feedback at the transfers desk at AUH that this new policy is rubbish and I refused to pay. I found the entire experience at Terminal A a bit of a letdown for such a new terminal.

I've just come of four EY flight and this is what I learned
If your flight is full then at the check in desk, the checkin agents can do as they please. Be nice to them and they will allocate extra leg room seats. From LHR the guy was nice enougth to select extra leg room on request. He was not willing to do my connecting flight, allbeit I had already preselected. At BKK again the same I was told as it was a full flight she needed to ask her supervisors permission and then allocated. At AUH they seemed to be all trainees on the checkin desk with mentors stood to assist. I insisted on a extra leg room seat without charge and eventually I was allocated it.