178 views
5 comments
stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full stars-rating-full
1.0

My mother was traveling from Chicago to Hyderabad through Abu Dhabi. Our friends warned us about the Etihad Airlines scam that is happening at the airport and that Etihad Airlines was imposing severe restrictions on the carryon just to extract the $300 additional fees to force passengers into checking in the carry on as 3rd check-in.

So we checked to make sure the carry on did not have any extra weight and was within the size limits. But they still said that the bag was too big. That carry on flew many times with us over the last several years on many a different airlines without problems. But Etihad would not allow it.

So she had to say good bye to our bag, put the belongings in a grocery bag and got on the flight.

Our bag now rests with a pile of other bags left by other customers because of what Etihad is making them do. We should all file a class action suite against Etihad for fraudulent business practices.

For now, we will not be flying this airline again!!

Reason of review: Poor customer service.

Location: Chicago, Illinois

Do You Have Something To Say ?
Write a review

Comments

chat-icon

Please avoid publishing any personal information and promotional content

You will be automatically registered on our site. Username and password will be sent to you via email.
Post Comment
Guest

O' Hare Airport. Sept-17-2016

Chicao to Abudhabi EY150

This happen to us as well.

Mother had smallest carry- on bag used on several international flight including Etihad. They just wanted to get $300.

We end up putting stuff in small open bag. Suggest we should stop flying this air line.

Guest

This happened to my mom on Wednesday, July 13th, 2016 when she flew out of ORD on a connecting flight all the way to Sri Lanka! She has terrible knee issues so I bought her the Swiss Gear 20-Inch Hard side Spinner carry-on that measured 21.5โ€ณ x 14โ€ณ x 9โ€ณ with wheels because of how sturdy it was, it almost helped her walk.

I made sure to check all the airlines for the size restrictions including Etihad which is, "All destinations - ECONOMY CLASS - 1 bag, up to 7kg" & "Each item, including the handles, pockets and wheels, must not exceed dimensions of 115 cm (40x50x25)". The Swiss Gear carry-on was well within their limits at 113.1cm (54.6cmX35.6cmX22.9cm) and we made sure it was less than 7kg in weight! The Etihad employees were so rude and tried to fit the carry-on to a sizer and when it did not fit in perfectly they told us we had to pay $300+ to take it!! What a ***!!

They have reduced fairs online and make-up the money this way!! Every one I tried to talk to was so rude, and at the check-in counter the lady just walked over the scale and threw the checked bags off the scale and said "go figure it out". I was so mad but willing to pay for the sake of my mom who has a hard time walking but at this point my mom was so frustrated about the situation said, "forget it, don't spend $300+ on a carry on when we are not wrong", and move the things she need to a plastic shopping bag. That was the only way Etihad employees would check her in without sending her to the back of the line.

Even the fact that I was there to help with the bags was a huge issue to them even though I explained that my mom has bad knees and cannot lift and etc! Ugh!

Terrible airline! That was our first and last time flying with them!

Guest

Hi All a lot people are getting same issue (Please refer other people posts regarding this)

I have sent to both airconsumer@***.gov and feedback@***.ae. Ethihad replied that it is their strict process.

I am really feel bad and pity about Ethihad.

Please find my compiant

---------------------------

Sir/ Madam,

I had very bad experience for my travel MCI โ€“ ORD โ€“ AUH โ€“ TVM on May 25 th 2016. (E-ticket number โ€“ 607775****319/20) at Chicago. I had a hand luggage which has linear size is less than 115 cm (53 * 35 * 25 including Hand and wheel).

I have checked the size at MCI (Kansas) airport with American Airlines officials and made sure that it is the correct size. Also I got full boarding pass for entire ternary. Apart from I got email and verbal confirmation from Etihad customer service that, if luggage size is less than 115 cm (not any fixed dimension for L * B * H),there wonโ€™t be problem. But at Chicago before boarding, an ARROGANT guy came with a measurement box and asked me to put the luggage in the box.

Unfortunately the luggage was not fit in the box even though my luggage is less than 115 cm. The guy asked 300 $ for check-in or buy new bag from airport and threatened me that will not allow to board the flight if I am not obeying this even though I have boarding pass after my luggage verification from MCI. I showed all email proof and measured the bag with a scale which I carried. I was really disappointed also my hand bag contains important Visa documents.

Finally I forced to bought a new bag from airport for 125 $ to fit in that box and throw my old luggage. I never experienced like this situation from my past Etihad travels and other airlines and made unnecessary hassles at boarding point. I am pretty much sure that the complaint is not only for me, I saw a lot of cruel and pathetic scenes in the flight boarding point including for aged persons, ladies with Kids. Some of peoples were begging, some people are shouting etcโ€ฆ For more details, please inquire to the passengers who travelled in the flight.

So I would like to get following actions from Airline. 1. I need to get compensation for my hectic experience and cost of the luggage which I lost , cost of the luggage which I bought. Reasons a.

In Etihad baggage site, it was saying only about linear size.115cm.(My luggage was 113 cm including wheels and handle). Also I have checked the cabin luggage size from Kansas airport with American Airlines officials with their cabin measurement box. I got entire boarding pass from MCI airport itself and got clearance for all luggage from there. 2.

Need to take action against the guy who threatened me to deny boarding even though I have valid boarding pass. I asked him for getting Manager to solve issue. He showed a Lady (I am not sure whether she is manager or not). I tried to talk with her, but she was not ready to discuss the issue.

Escalation on top of their explanation -------------------------------------- I got feedback from Etihad regarding my complaints. But their explanation is not satisfactory due to following reasons. 1. My hand luggage size was verified from MCI airport by American airline which is Etihadโ€™s code sharing flight with their standard measurement and I got full boarding pass from MCI โ€“ AUH - TVM .

If any problem for the luggage, it has to be mentioned at MCI so that we had an option to change luggage. 2. Etihad was saying that the maximum size of the luggage is 40x50x21. But American Air line standard is 14 * 22 * 9 inches.

Even though it is code sharing flights, the dimensions are different. My hand luggage was as per US travel policy and used many airline travels including Qatar, United, American airline without any issues. Also it was under 14 * 22 * 9 standard US dimension and less than 15 pounds as weight. 3.

I already talked with Etihad Customer care and got both verbal and written document about the luggage size and they had explained me that we need to follow 115 (cm) linear size including handle and wheel and they confirmed that the size 40x50x21 in the web site is for an example or informative sample to customer. Unfortunately, I did not record the customer service call. 4. Just before 30 -45 minutes before boarding one guy came suddenly with a closed measurement box, and put the hand luggage in the box and tried to deny my boarding even though I have valid boarding pass without due to any issue from my side.

I am pretty much sure that this is not only one case, a lot of people were suffered this at time of the boarding. I saw old peoples, mother with kids were begging. One woman was crying and throw their luggage and kept everything in one plastic bag. One lady was given 300$ for checking the bag and were saying that โ€œI will not travel again in Etihad, I hate Etihadโ€ I am believing that my case is reasonable.

If need more clarification and proofs, I would suggest to conduct right investigation by DOT by looking at 1. CC TV capture (if available) at the gate. 2. Check with other Airlines.

3. Check with my customer service call with Etihad on 23rd May around 10 am (Kansas time ) 4. Inquire to other passengers in that flight during the boarding. 5.

Check with Brook Store who was selling luggage. I have paid 115 dollar to buy new luggage by throwing old one, 6. I can give detail of other Victim, who traveled the flight from Chicago in another day who faced the same issue.

In short the Etihad made me the travel as horrible one and I would like to get compensation for my lost luggage, cost for new luggage and apart from that I am requesting to DOT that it is not only my issue, Could you please review or conduct investigation and make sure that whether it is valid case. Also I would like to talk with some responsible persons from Etihad (especially senior manager level, if frankly speaking I would like to talk with CEO of Etihad about this and behavior of a guy at boarding point, I forgot to notice the name of that employee) I am really sorry to give complaint like this, but I was really frustrated with that international travel.

EtihadHelp

Hi there

and thanks for sharing your experience with us.

Please send us an email to socialmedia@etihad.ae with your booking details and we will investigate further and do our best to assist you with this. Thanks, *Mia

Guest

Hi there

and thanks for sharing your experience with us.

Please send us an email to socialmedia@***.ae with your booking details and we will investigate further and do our best to assist you with this. Thanks, *Mia

Etihad Airways Reviews

  1. 220 reviews
  2. 87 reviews
  3. 37 reviews
  4. 16 reviews
  5. 4 reviews
Etihad Airways reviews