Etihad has been cost cutting significantly the past couple of years, after losing billions of dollars in botched investments. While the airline had been introducing cost cutting measures in their lounges around the world, recently they did something that seems almost unthinkable — they handed over control of their London Heathrow Lounge.
Continue reading: Etihad Will No Longer Operate Their Own Lounges In Australia
Share your questions, experiences, and thoughts below.
It seems it's rubbing off onto their partner Virgin Australia now too, with No 1 Lounges assisting VA launch a new international lounge at Brisbane International Airport "My Lounge" which will be designed in the style of a loft apartment. All VA flights ex- SYD & MEL will be using "The House".
With the level of cost cutting they're doing the question is what is the point of Etihad?
They don't have a large captive market, they're now decidely not a premium carrier but they don't have the aircraft to go low cost. They don't even have the advantage of Abu Dhabi being a place people actually want to go, unlike a Dubai. They're attempting to save some money but in return are losing whatever allure they had for people willing to spend extra money, thus probably getting fewer passengers.
Was in the newly badged lounge at LHR on Wednesday nite.
Definitely seemed that the service has been downgraded somewhat and the wifi was absolutely pathetic. I should have taken advantage of my Priority Pass membership and gone next door to the Sky Lounge.
Because of the continually downgraded service overall with Etihad, my next SYD-LHR trip is booked with Singapore.
As an ex Etihad staff I can clearly tell you where the Problem is and always has been. It is the poor Management. Most People there are have positions that they do not qualify for. I have never met so many incompetent people in a Company like at EY. You have the bunch that Hogan brought in from BMI and the other bunch from BMI. It is a huge mess. Everyone is there for his own sake......making as much Money as possible and that's it. Nobody really works towards achieving the objectives of the Airline. Whoever is competent and pushes for Change will be made to leave by his or her weenie Manager who is too terrified to lose his Job! Pathetic! Just look at fo example LH. They operate in such a difficult market with extremely huge costs in comparison to the MEB3 and yet they make record profits......it is the Management and the efforts of the staff Baby!
I’m not sure that Etihad’s lounge in Dublin is still open. Last Sunday afternoon it seemed closed when I passed it while an Etihad aircraft was parked outside. But I didn’t check opening times.
Sad story.
Good news for virgin platinums then as this will be yet another lounge to try having already used Air New Zealand, Singapore Airlines and plaza premium at BNE whilst flying international depending on the destination
I will never forget, as a The Residence customer, they had a "Reserved" sign at the FC-Lounge in Sydney for me, and sitting right next to me, there was a family of four with a crying baby. And then in Abu Dhabi, waiting four hours for my connecting flight, I was not allowed into the Residence Lounge, since my connecting flight was not offering The Residence....
Quite a shame though, I really enjoyed all my Etihad flights in First Class and The Residence.
Nowadays, I only book Singapore Airlines for my Australian flights, because it seems obvious Etihad could close any day now. Shame that Singapore has made such bad decisions on the new First Class design!
[Cue for the witty comments regarding "first world problems" in 3 - 2 - 1...]