We made it! It only was a day later than planned after Etihad would not let Sally and Tony get on the plane in Abu Dhabi. It seems that they over booked the flight. It was a surprise as we had booked the tickets in February and paid in March, 7 months earlier.

After offering us a compensation package of $400, hotel and food for a day, the flight we were booked left without us. Then that package got changed to a $300 voucher on Etihad airways. A bit pointless really when they can't get you on a plane you paid real money for 7 months ago.

We were lucky though as we met a couple who got bumped 2 days earlier. They were sent to Dubai to get an Emirates flight only to find they were not actually booked on that one either. They had been there 2 days but managed to get out on the same flight as us.

Debra is not a happy camper when she can't eat so we made sure 5 times that the vegetarian meal was booked and loaded for the 14 hour flight to Sydney. 3 staff confirmed that is was, including the Etihad operational manager at the airport, so it was with some surprise that once on board there was no meal for Debra. Staff on board asked us to complain as they did so every flight but nothing ever changes. Cold comfort really.

Getting home we did send a complaint to Etihad and were told they would do their best to get back to us within 107 days.

A good thing we are home already otherwise we might have stayed in Abu Dhabi till Christmas.