Ever since Etihad came out with its First Class Apartments and Residence on its A380, I've been *dying* to try it. Well, last week, that dream became a reality…
But, how was this all possible?
With Etihad having very limited A380 routes, my only viable option with plenty of AAdvantage availability and limited fuel surcharges was repositioning to Abu Dhabi and then flying on to Paris. About a week prior to departure, I found first class award availability for the incredible price of just 62.5k miles. With frequent flyer programs being prone to devaluations, this bucket list experience was one I simply couldn't turn down. Incredibly, after a few dummy searches, there were 7 (!!) first class awards available on this one flight.
Being based in the US, I booked a cheap one way economy ticket on Qatar Airways to Abu Dhabi via Doha. Which is where this incredible experience begun…
Etihad First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi
Etihad's new first class lounge in Abu Dhabi is in a word, "okay". It's no doubt a pleasant place to be, however certain aspects significantly detracted from my enjoyment.
First, it is INCREDIBLY quiet. You could seriously hear a pin drop. When I go there I was one of a handful of guests, and by the time it was time to board, it was ~ 1/4 full. The service felt robotic and forced (not a fault of the staff at all!), and felt a bit uncomfortable and awkward at times. That said, I am most certainly not the target demographic of the lounge so I could very easily see this being a positive for others.
The space was very comfortable and included a few lounge areas with various types of seating and two dining areas (one a la carte). I particularly liked the private, sectioned off loungers which were a great place to relax in comfort. Surprisingly, the business class lounge supplies blankets in its equivalent nap room while the first class lounge doesn’t (they very well could have been on request, I didn't ask). While very comfortable, the design certainly doesn't stand out design-wise like Etihad's onboard products.
I decided to have a light lunch (at least that's what it felt like in my body clock) at the a la carte restaurant. I started off with a mezze, followed by a wagyu steak and finished with an ice cream sundae per the server's recommendation. The presentation of all three dishes was great, with the ice cream being the only stand out.
As a huge airline geek, it is very cool to me that Etihad matches each premium lounge's serviceware with what they use on board (the business class lounge featured the Armani / Casa partnership they have in that cabin. I actually in a way prefer the business class tableware.).
After my meal, I took a shower and then spent the rest of my time in one of the relaxation pods. Again, for whatever reason, the lounge design scheme feels distinctly less 'Etihad' than the previous design iteration.
It is also worth noting that First Class and Residence guests get a free 15 minute treatment in the Be Relax spa located within the business class lounge. This was offered proactively at reception and I was able to schedule a treatment right away.
The Main Event
Etihad allows you to board through select gates directly from the lounge which a very cool touch. At this point, I was giddy with excitement.
As soon as I entered, my jaw dropped to the floor. Having anticipated this moment for about 10 years, my expectations were incredibly high. Words cannot describe how impressive these seats are. I knew the seat inside and out (through other flight reports) and it still blew me away in a manner I couldn't have anticipated, even with a decade of anticipation.
WOW. That is the only way to describe this cabin. There are only nine first class seats and one Residence in an area that Emirates puts 14 (!!) seats. Having flown in Emirates' A380 first class a few months prior, the difference between the two airlines and how they designed their cabins was astounding. Etihad's A380 Apartments are far superior in just about every way. The feeling of space is unparalleled and the overall design of Etihad's cabin feels far more refined compared to Emirates' tacky (but fun) design choices.
Included at the seat was a massive, separate bench that converts into a bed as well as a super comfortable armchair that reclines a solid amount. Many complain about lack of recline in the seat however I found it more than enough, coupled with the comfortably placed bench/ottoman in front of it.
As for special features, it includes a (chilled) minibar, plenty of enclosed storage compartments (including a spacious hanging closet) and a full size vanity mirror.
Pajamas and slippers (from Armani) along with products from ESPA were provided in a very large bag.
Shortly after settling in I was offered a pre departure beverage (I chose lemon mint juice) along with dates and later on Arabic coffee.
The very friendly crew also came around to take meal and after takeoff drink orders. I ordered caviar followed by steak frites from the 'Lounge and Grill' section of the menu for my dinner. While this was technically a breakfast flight, the crew were happy to mix and match from different sections of the menu. After a quick taxi, we were in the air. Within about 10 minutes of takeoff I was brought my drink – champagne (Billecart-Salmon 2016) – along with a trio of snacks. While Etihad doesn't have as impressive of an alcohol selection as other airlines, the incremental improvements of say, Emirates, are lost on me.
Soon after, my table was set with my first course. The presentation of the caviar and the overall look of the place setting was gorgeous. This was followed by the steak cooked to my preference (medium rare) which was delicious – and far more tasty than the wagyu served in the lounge.
After dinner, I decided to check out Etihad's onboard lounge, The Lobby. I asked to have my bed made up and if I could have dessert and coffee in the lounge. Surprisingly, I was told they weren't allowed to serve anything with knives and forks in the lounge which was definitely odd. The crew were very apologetic and offered to bring my fruit plate to my suite (*ahem* Apartment) instead. I decided to have a cappuccino and sat for a bit in the lounge.
I have the (wildly) unpopular opinion that Etihad's lounge is superior to Emirates' onboard bar. It's a lot more cozy and stylish in design and its seating is way more comfortable. Being an introvert, the lack of social energy here wasn't missed. Having visited all of the "big three" Middle Eastern airlines' A380 social areas, I rank them in the following order: Qatar Airways (by a LONG shot), Etihad and then Emirates. I could see this lounge being a very nice change of scene for business class passengers, but less compelling for those in first class given the sheer amount of space in the suites there.
There was a classy drinks display across from the seating area as well as a pitcher of infused water (a nice, hotel-like touch).
After finishing my cappuccino, I headed back to my bed which was meticulously made up. I was completely speechless as the reality had just set in that this was MY bed for the night.
I scarfed down my fruit and then went to the lavatory to change into the (very comfortable) pajamas. As for the bed itself, it is completely unrestricted and features gorgeous plush, breatheable bedding. I've heard consistent complaints about the hardness of the bed. However, it now seems Etihad has added a second mattress pad as standard and has fixed the problem. Either way, I found it extremely comfortable and had no issues with the bed's amount of support.
I then settled into bed and eventually drifted off.
I was woken about an hour and 20 minutes out for my pre-breakfast shower.
While the aesthetic of the shower is gorgeous, it is no doubt far more cramped and less impressive than Emirates' shower spas (an absolute first world problem if ever I saw one). That said, showering on a plane is such an awesome experience that I will never take for granted. I enjoyed every second of it. Speaking of seconds, you get five minutes of running water which you can pause and then resume to increase the length of your shower.
Showering towards the end of a flight makes a massive significant difference in how you feel when you arrive. This is not just a gimmick – it provides a legitimate (totally unnecessary but awesome) practical benefit.
My table was then set for breakfast. My first course (bircher muesli) came with a few pastries and the iced latte I ordered – YUM.
I was then served my decadent main course; a marzipan croissant.
While one of the crew was clearing my table, I decided to try my luck and ask if they "sold" the pillowcases on the throw pillow since I really liked the design (I knew very well that they didn't sell them – if they had I would've already bought one years ago LOL). While a bit confused by my request (beyond understandable given the relatively bizarre nature of my request for anyone who isn't an AvGeek), she insisted on bringing me a "fresh" pillowcase to take home. And sure enough, one was brought to my seat shortly after.
A note about the crew: They were among the best I've ever had. They were incredibly friendly and kind, making for a truly once in a lifetime flight.
As we commenced our descent into a very foggy Charles de Gaulle, I ordered a cappuccino which was again beautifully presented alongside a hot towel and a box of delicious chocolates. We had great views of a beatiful Emirates A380 that we were 'racing' on our approach.
We landed on time and had a relatively long taxi to our arrival gate.
I bid farewell to the crew and to what was one of the best experiences of my life – it was already time to catch my flight home.
