Does Etihad’s New First Class Lounge Access Policy Make Sense?

needless to say, the lounge is AMAZING! I couldn't bring my friend who was in business class on my same flight so I checked it out for about two hours before going to the J lounge. Incredible service, almost personal butler like, as I was there before a "rush". Not crowded at all. great lounge. I can see they want to keep it exclusive but this doesn't seem fair what you are writing about.

I find that lounge access is probably one of the most inconsistently implemented benefits out there. Using Singapore Airlines as an example, last year I traveled in SQ Suites overnight from BOM to SIN arriving in the morning. The following day (after an overnight in Singapore), I was travelling on a separate economy class SQ ticket to BKK. I showed them the boarding card from my "connecting flight" with a date from two days prior, and was promptly admitted to the F lounge in SIN. On my return, I was travelling on SQ in Y from BKK to SIN, connecting the same day to an F ticket SIN to SYD. In BKK, both the SQ lounge and the TG lounge refused to admit me stating that my next flight was an economy flight, even though I had an boarding pass for a ticket in F the same day. Later that day, I was then admitted to the Suites lounge in SIN, once I arrived there.

For those who are saying this is a departures lounge and that's all that matters, aren't you overlooking the fact partner elites also have access? They've already opened the lounge to passengers who aren't departing in Etihad first. My point is, wouldn't it make sense to start with more Etihad passengers (particularly those in a 3-cabin to 2-cabin situation) before opening the lounge to partner elites? I'd suggest the complaints @Shahr mentioned are proof Etihad's priorities are backward.

I flew EY F from SFO to AUH had a connecting in two-class only J to AMM and got denied. The supe in the J lounge filed a formal complaint and said management is trying to figure out a solution given that it's been only 2 days and tons of complaints already. Considering it took em years to open the lounge it'll probably take em years to change policy; if they even change it

@Lucky: At first I would like to thank you your great website :-) My personal opinion is that this policy is unfair. The passenger pays the First Class fare for the whole trip but gets downgraded only due to the fact that the airline is not deploying an a/c with First on the short-haul connecting flight. So the customer doesn't get the experience he has paid for. Additionally he is deprived the Lounge experience he also has paid for. IMHO there are no valid excuses for that policy. It would only be fair to grant the lounge access on the fare basis paid, not the actual travel class. Would avoid a lot of disappointment.