Purchase first class and fly business on Etihad

Malaysia News.Net
Saturday 31st October, 2009

The Abu Dhabi-based airline in July this year was advertising what it called

Etihad Airways promoted business class seats as first class, duping travellers into forking out thousands of dirhams.

The Abu Dhabi-based airline in July this year was advertising what it called "First Special" seats on its Web site. Travellers booked seats on the understanding they were booking first class seats (pictured). Not so, says the airline - they were business class seats that were called "First Special."

Asked this week what the "first special" connotation meant and the airline had no answer.

A call to Etihad Reservations was met with a denial that the UAE airline promoted such seats. When confronted with written email confirmations, Etihad Reservations said the promotion had nothing to do with them - it was a product promoted by the online division.

We asked for questions to be relayed to the online division, however at the time of going to press there was no response - this after four days.

Etihad Airways is one of the fastest growing airlines in the world. It normally promotes its business class as Pearl, and its first class seats as Diamond. The airline has won more than forty global awards for service and innovation including Best Business Class at the 2009 Skytrax.

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Comments on this story

Teutonicjack 10-31-09, 10:34 AM	Etihad Airways sold business class seats as first class What a joke!
Consultant Tom 11-01-09, 06:29 PM	Lame I’ll be directing all of my division’s corporate travel to exclude Etihad as an option until they speak to this issue. 50% of my group travels on 1st class fares, but discounted when we can get them, via corp. negotiated or if the airlines have specials. This is misleading and until Etihad comes up with an explanation, they’ll not have access to any of my group’s spend (>US $440 this year to Africa/ME).
MurrayMc 11-02-09, 12:58 AM	Deception is fraud I was tempted by the
MurrayMc 11-02-09, 12:58 AM	Deception is fraud I was tempted by the
MurrayMc 11-02-09, 01:00 AM	Deception is fraud I was tempted by the

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Purchase first class and fly business on Etihad

Comments on this story

Etihad Airways sold business class seats as first class

Lame

Deception is fraud

Deception is fraud

Deception is fraud

Have your say on this story