Etihad Guest has tweaked the elite benefits available to Platinum Tier members.
As a reminder, following the relaunch of Etihad Guest last summer, Tier Benefits are now divided into Core, Custom and Beyond categories.
Core Benefits are standard perks available to everyone with a particular tier level.
Custom Benefits are additional perks that can be selected from a menu of options once a year. Platinum Tier members can choose up to five additional perks. Gold Tier members can select up to five, and Silver Tier members can pick two.
If you do not select any Custom Benefits within time, default options will kick in. The current default Custom Benefits for Platinum are:
- First Class Lounge access for self + one guest
- Extra baggage allowance of 20 kg
- Refund/Cancellation of two GuestSeat bookings per year
- Complimentary Extra legroom seats for self
Beyond Benefits are additional perks triggered when a member passes certain Tier Mile thresholds between the Tier levels. This happens at 75,000 Tier Miles and 175,000 Tier Miles.
Etihad Guest has emailed Platinum Tier members to let them know they were changing the Custom and Core benefits following member feedback (ie complaints).
First Class check-in is now a Core Benefit
This change will surprise many Platinum members who assumed First Class check-in was a Core Benefit. It was when the new programme was initially relaunched.
However, reports on Flyertalk suggested it had been withdrawn, and Platinum Tier members were being denied access to the First Class check-in areas in Terminal A.
First Class check-in has now been reinstated as a Core Benefit where available, and Etihad reiterated that this benefit is available even when flying in Economy.
Business Class Lounge access is now a Core Benefit
Access to Business Class lounges in Abu Dhabi and worldwide for self + one guest is now a Core Benefit.
This is a genuine improvement. It was always surprising that lounge access was not included as a standard perk for the top elite tier in Etihad Guest.
Most Platinum Tier members I have spoken to prefer the Business Class lounge in Abu Dhabi Terminal A over the First Class, so this potentially frees up one of their Custom Benefits options to be used for a different perk.
If that does happen, it raises the question of the long-term value and purpose of the First Class Lounge in Terminal A or whether the space could be better used by being incorporated into an expanded premium lounge.
Selecting extra legroom seats for travel companions is now a Custom Benefit
Extra legroom seats for self and up to three passengers in the same booking is now a Custom Benefit option. Previously, Platinums could only choose extra legroom seats for themselves.
Annoyingly, Platinums who had previously selected extra legroom seats for themselves before the change will not be upgraded to the improved perk. They will have to wait until their next renewal window comes around. That is disappointing. Having recognised the mistake, Etihad Guest should upgrade the benefit for everyone who had already chosen extra legroom as one of their custom options.
My view
The new Etihad Guest programme is a bit of a mess. If you’re explaining, you’re losing. And the new Etihad Guest programme seems to require a lot of explaining.
Introducing Core and Custom benefits was touted as adding personalisation to the program. However, in my view, it adds complexity and confusion, which is not what you want in a program designed to increase engagement with a brand. The full Etihad Guest Tier perks and benefits list can be found here.
It is good to see Etihad Guest listening to members and making genuine improvements to the benefits on offer.