I'm flying with my partner through Abu Dhabi on the A380, business. Unfortunately we can't sit together - no side by side seats available. Instead they've booked us rear facing seats with an aisle in-between (!).
I'm a bit concerned, my partner hasn't flown business before and she can get anxious flying so we'd like to be able to hold hands on takeoff and landing. She also suffers from motion sickness when sitting backwards on trains so forward facing seats would certainly be desirable.
I've called Etihad twice but they've told me there's no other seats currently available. They have informed me that there are side by side seats unoccupied but they are 'blocked' and I have to try my luck at check in.
Anyone have any tips on how to reserve these seats? I'm VA Gold status and the seats are reward seats if that matters?
I'd suggest trying again on twitter. Etihad can be really helpful but only when you tweet about it first.
I had a flight change of 24 hours to one of my flights and needed to cancel it. The 1st person I called said it can't be done, the 2nd person hung up and the 3rd had no idea what I meant.
By taking it to twitter I was able to have the canceled and the money appear back in my account a couple of business days later. Tweet them and then they'll follow you so you can DM them back. They'll then ask for a phone number and someone will call back from the social media team to assist.
We had the same problem a couple years ago, but just asked someone when we got on the plane would they mind swapping. No hassle at all for a lot of people. Worth a shot.
Also worth getting to the airport early and asking at check-in. Have had two trips recently where the seating map online could not provide adjacent seats, but the check-in agent at the airport was able to 'work some magic' to find those seats for us whilst at the check-in counter.
Before escalating it to Twitter, you could try the VA call centre. you are their gold customer and it's a reward booking through them. They may be able to do something, if not immediately then by listing you for a change if/when there are any cancellations. Business class bookings are frequently changed or cancelled and there's a good chance availability will change. Given they are reward bookings, I assume you're not going this week.
The seats that are blocked are done so for parents with infants, basically if there are no infants in Business then the seats will be yours! You might want to check if you can be put on a waitlist for those seats. I would suggest FB or Twitter.
We were in exactly the same position as you, having booked reward flights via VA. we had no joy with Twitter, FB or phone, so asked a couple on the plane to swap, it turned out they were exactly the same situation as us, so win all around.
I've spoken to VA but they were unhelpful, apparently they have no access to Etihad seat selection.
Had a chat to Etihad on FB but they would not help, advising me to try my luck at check-in. Apparently they have no reservation or wait-list process for these seats. I understand that these are bassinet seats and I'm more than happy to give up my seat if an infant requires a bassinet. But they've blocked two whole rows in business class, all of which are currently empty (apparently). Flight leaves next week. Surely that's overkill, no?
TLDR:
So basically I have to get to the airport early as possible and ask for the seats.
I've spoken to VA but they were unhelpful, apparently they have no access to Etihad seat selection.
Had a chat to Etihad on FB but they would not help, advising me to try my luck at check-in. Apparently they have no reservation or wait-list process for these seats. I understand that these are bassinet seats and I'm more than happy to give up my seat if an infant requires a bassinet. But they've blocked two whole rows in business class, all of which are currently empty (apparently). Flight leaves next week. Surely that's overkill, no?
TLDR:
So basically I have to get to the airport early as possible and ask for the seats.
Fingers crossed :(
Look at the silverlining, more time in the lounge :)
mo
mo
Member since 22 Dec 2012
Total posts 12
Hey all
I've called Etihad twice but they've told me there's no other seats currently available. They have informed me that there are side by side seats unoccupied but they are 'blocked' and I have to try my luck at check in.
Anyone have any tips on how to reserve these seats? I'm VA Gold status and the seats are reward seats if that matters?
Cheers
henrus
henrus
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
Member since 23 Oct 2013
Total posts 765
I'd suggest trying again on twitter. Etihad can be really helpful but only when you tweet about it first.
Melbin
Melbin
Member since 08 Feb 2016
Total posts 5
We had the same problem a couple years ago, but just asked someone when we got on the plane would they mind swapping. No hassle at all for a lot of people. Worth a shot.
wdeguara
wdeguara
Etihad - Etihad Guest
Member since 06 Apr 2012
Total posts 96
Also worth getting to the airport early and asking at check-in. Have had two trips recently where the seating map online could not provide adjacent seats, but the check-in agent at the airport was able to 'work some magic' to find those seats for us whilst at the check-in counter.
CBR boy
CBR boy
Member since 12 Feb 2015
Total posts 61
Before escalating it to Twitter, you could try the VA call centre. you are their gold customer and it's a reward booking through them. They may be able to do something, if not immediately then by listing you for a change if/when there are any cancellations. Business class bookings are frequently changed or cancelled and there's a good chance availability will change. Given they are reward bookings, I assume you're not going this week.
asbindia
asbindia
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 26 Aug 2013
Total posts 49
The seats that are blocked are done so for parents with infants, basically if there are no infants in Business then the seats will be yours! You might want to check if you can be put on a waitlist for those seats. I would suggest FB or Twitter.
Not_again
Not_again
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 28 Apr 2013
Total posts 3
We were in exactly the same position as you, having booked reward flights via VA. we had no joy with Twitter, FB or phone, so asked a couple on the plane to swap, it turned out they were exactly the same situation as us, so win all around.
mo
mo
Member since 22 Dec 2012
Total posts 12
I've spoken to VA but they were unhelpful, apparently they have no access to Etihad seat selection.
TLDR:
So basically I have to get to the airport early as possible and ask for the seats.
Fingers crossed :(
asbindia
asbindia
Virgin Australia - Velocity Rewards
Member since 26 Aug 2013
Total posts 49
TLDR:
So basically I have to get to the airport early as possible and ask for the seats.
Fingers crossed :(
Look at the silverlining, more time in the lounge :)