Etihad Airways Airbus A380 First Class House

August 21, 2024

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Wednesday newsletters at all times characteristic a lodge or flight evaluation.

I lately loved an exceptional vacation within the Maldives, the place I stayed on the archipelago’s 4 most unique ultra-luxury resorts. You may learn my evaluations right here:

At this time: Etihad Airways A380 First Class (Abu Dhabi to London)

I lately flew with Etihad Airways from Male (Maldives) to London (United Kingdom) with a stopover in Etihad’s hub in Abu Dhabi (United Arab Emirates). That was not a part of the unique plan, since I used to be scheduled to fly out of the Maldives with Beond, the brand new all-premium airline flying to and from the Maldives. Nevertheless, two weeks previous to my departure to the Maldives, I used to be knowledgeable by Beond that my flight from Male to Munich was cancelled (since Munich was downgraded from a everlasting to a seasonal vacation spot). I used to be solely provided an (unacceptable) choice to journey to Zürich as a substitute, both two days previous to or after my initially scheduled journey date. Happily, I used to be in a position to e book a last-minute award flight with Etihad as a substitute (and Beond refunded the return flight).

The seven hours flight from Abu Dhabi to London was operated by Etihad Airways’ flagship airplane, the double-decker Airbus A380. The service has six A380s in its fleet, deploying them on routes from Abu Dhabi to New York, London, Paris, and Singapore. Etihad Airways pushed luxurious to a sky-high new stage and revolutionized First Class with the introduction of the ‘House’ idea on its A380 superjumbos in 2014. Greater than only a seat, the House has a big leather-based armchair and separate mattress. There’s even area to stroll round after closing the privateness doorways. The general expertise was mind-blowing (and a minimum of pretty much as good as in comparison with my final Etihad First Class flight, which happened previous to the pandemic).

Etihad Airways options in my high 10 record of the world’s greatest airways for flying First Class.

Have you ever ever flown with Etihad Airways? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark beneath.

Journey: Abu Dhabi (AUH) to London (LHR)
Airline: Etihad Airways
Plane sort: Airbus A380
Plane registration quantity: A6-APG (delivered to Etihad in 2016)
On time departure: Sure (2 am)
On time arrival: Sure (6 pm)
Miles: 3430 (5520 km)
Flight time: 7 hours
Seat: 3K
Class: First Class

On this evaluation (extra data & images beneath my YouTube clip):

Price of my ticket
Etihad Airways lounge at Abu Dhabi Airport
First Class cabin
First Class seat (+ greatest & worst seats)
Facilities
Meals
Leisure
Onboard web
Onboard bar (‘The Foyer’)
First Class toilet with bathe
Service & cabin crew
My verdict (rating)

1. COST OF MY TICKET

I paid this one-way ticket (Enterprise Class from Male Abu Dhabi and First Class from Abu Dhabi to London) with miles & money: $190 USD + 65,000 miles. The ticket was booked through American Airways’ frequent flyer program AAdvantage (Etihad is a associate airline of American Airways). Learn my evaluation of AAdvantage (with execs, cons, & suggestions) right here.

2. ETIHAD AIRWAYS LOUNGE AT PARIS CDG AIRPORT

First Class passengers have entry to Etihad’s unique First Class lounge, which is positioned on the highest ground of the airline’s brand-new lounge complicated in Terminal A of Abu Dhabi Worldwide Airport. I’ve beforehand printed a separate evaluation of this lounge (with dozens of images), which you’ll learn right here.

3. FIRST CLASS CABIN

The First Class cabin on Etihad’s Airbus A380 is positioned on the airplane’s ahead higher deck. The cabin has a genuinely residential really feel and trendy decor, with a impartial colour palette of soothing beige tones and a few darkish wooden touches. Two superbly crafted partitions body the aisle (which ends up in the ahead staircase) and maintain the sliding entrance doorways of the Flats. Lighting patterns within the ceiling tasks Arabian motifs on the partitions and ground, creating a classy ambiance.

Etihad Airways’ A380 First Class cabin is without doubt one of the business’s few single aisle cabins on a large physique plane. It options 9 Flats in whole. There are 5 Flats on the proper aspect of the cabin (with two bathrooms within the entrance), whereas the left aspect options solely 4 Flats. This asymmetry is defined by the truth that the lacking fifth House and bogs on the left aspect of the cabin are changed by The Residence. The latter is the world’s most unique airline ‘seat’ and incorporates a personal lounge, separate en-suite bathe room, and a bed room with a double mattress. You may learn my evaluation of The Residence right here.

Click on right here for a seat map of Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380.

4. FIRST CLASS SEAT (+ BEST & WORST SEATS)

The A380 First Class cabin has 9 Flats in whole: 5 with a rear-facing seat (1H, 3A, 3K, 5C & 5H) and 4 with a forward-facing seat (2C, 2H, 4A & 4K). The Flats 3A, 4A, 3K and 4K have their seats positioned subsequent to the window, whereas within the different Flats, the seats are positioned nearer to the aisle away from the window, making it tougher to benefit from the views in the course of the flight. Six of the Flats (3A & 4A, 3K & 4K, and 1H & 2H) are interconnecting, with a divider that may be lowered to hitch rooms, which is ideal for {couples} or buddies touring collectively.

Every House incorporates a comfy armchair and a separate House-wide bench, each upholstered with high-quality Poltrona Frau leather-based. The comfy recliner seat has a pitch of 80 inches (203 cm) and is 29.5 inches (75 cm) huge. It’s outfitted with in-seat therapeutic massage and a pneumatic cushion management system. The seat has two arm rests: one holds the bifold tray desk, whereas the opposite holds the House and inflight leisure system controls. On the push of a button, you’ll be able to change the place of the seat, elevate or decrease the window blinds, and management the sunshine settings for quite a lot of lamps positioned throughout the House.

Subsequent to the seat is a big vainness unit with a lit make-up mirror. Under this cupboard a small storage field, a minibar (stocked with Coke, Sprite and water) and a drawer for blanket stowage.

In entrance of the seat is an House-wide ottoman, which is multifunctional. It may be used as a footrest when watching TV, or it may be used as a further seat for “buddy eating’. The bench will also be flattened out into a totally flat mattress that’s 80.5 inches (205 cm) lengthy. The flight attendants present luxurious turn-down service, and canopy the mattress with an honest mattress, quilt, cotton sheets and two pillows. Passengers touring in one of many interconnecting Flats can decrease a divider to benefit from the consolation of a semi-double mattress.

What are the greatest First Class seats on Etihad Airways’ A380? Click on right here for a seat map.

Journey companions ought to choose the interconnecting Flats that may grow to be one area when decreasing a divider (3A & 4A, 3K & 4K, or 1H & 2H).
In the event you prefer to look out of the window, select one of many Flats the place the seat is positioned proper subsequent to the window (3A, 3K, 4A or 4K).

What are the worst First Class seats on Etihad Airways’A380?

In the event you don’t prefer to be seated in a rear going through seat, keep away from Flats H1, 3A, 3K, 5C and 5 H.

5. AMENITIES

Throughout my First Class flight onboard Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380, I obtained the next facilities:

A First Class amenity equipment, designed by Italian luxurious model Acqua Di Parma. The equipment was introduced as a yellow pouch and contained socks, eyeshades, toothpaste, toothbrush and Acqua Di Parma skincare merchandise (e.g. lipbalm, physique lotion, and perfume).
Excessive-quality pajamas and slippers designed by “A Pal Of Mine,” an Emirati trend model.
Phitek branded noise-cancelling headphones; they have been of nice high quality as they successfully suppressed cabin noise and engine drone.
Sleeping facilities, which contains a classy blanket, quilted mattress, and two pillows (flip down service was offered upon request).

FYI, since I took this flight, Etihad has modified their onboard First Class facilities:

Friends flying in First Class now get a Giorgio Armani and Etihad branded massive folio bag – one of many largest amenity kits within the sky. Collectable in 4 colors, the bag can be utilized post-flight to hold paperwork, tablets or perhaps a 13” laptop computer. The big folio bag comes filled with goodies from ESPA.
First Class company are additionally gifted bespoke Giorgio Armani and Etihad loungewear and slippers, introduced within the massive Giorgio Armani folio bag. The charcoal loungewear is tender to the contact, anti-wrinkle, and incorporates a Henley neckline and bespoke tonal print impressed by the trendy Abu Dhabi skyline, in addition to matching trousers with pockets.

6. MEALS

Throughout this flight, a multi-course lunch was served after takeoff, though First Class passengers may additionally order different meals later within the flight. The fashionable menu card featured a particular grill part, out there to Etihad’s First Class passengers solely, with signature dishes ready to order (e.g. black cod, beef tenderloin, and hen breast) and a variety of delicate sauces and sides.

I select the next lunch choice from the menu:

Signature Oscietra caviar service with conventional garnishes
Starter: candy potato & kale soup, with brazil nuts and crispy kale
Intermezzo: grapefruit sorbet (palate cleanser)
Primary course: lamb Boukhari, served with Boukhari rice, fried onion, raisin, and smoked cardamom yoghurt
Dessert: heat chocolate & vimto fondant, served with Laben ice cream, date batheeth crumb, berries

Previous to touchdown, I ordered one of many dishes from the grill menu: steak frites, fillet of beef, frites, tomatoes, béarnaise.

Meals was okay and the high-quality bone chinaware, cutlery and crystal glassware accomplished the high-quality eating expertise at 40,000 ft. That mentioned, I used to be not blown away by what I used to be served, however possibly that’s as a result of I used to be a bit unfortunate with my meal decisions. Whereas I like Etihad Airways, I discover their meals repetitively to be one in all their weaker factors and never as refined as in comparison with the meals served by its Asian rivals (e.g. Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Singapore Airways).

7. ENTERTAINMENT

Every First Class House has a swiveling 24-inch (60 cm) flat-screen, which might be tilted so passengers can nonetheless watch TV when they’re mendacity of their mattress. The inflight leisure options lots of of hours of on-demand leisure, with greater than 300 TV exhibits in addition to greater than 100 films, starting from blockbusters to timeless classics and representing all corners from the world (Hollywood, Arabic, European, Indian and Asian Cinemas). Etihad Airways’ inflight leisure system additionally options dwell TV channels (e.g. BBC, CNN).

8. ONBOARD INTERNET

All of Etihad Airways’ A380s are outfitted with WiFi, and First Class passengers get a voucher for complimentary WiFi.

9. THE LOBBY

Etihad Airways has put in a lounge on the higher deck of the A380 between First and Enterprise Class, designated ‘The Foyer’. The latter is an intimate area that’s extra resemblant of a lounge in a boutique lodge than an airplane cabin, and it’s the good spot to calm down or socialize with different passengers. It seats as much as six company and is fitted with seatbelts, energy provide, connectivity ports, and a widescreen TV (so you’ll be able to watch a dwell recreation or sporting occasion with different company).

10. LAVATORY

Etihad Airways’ First Class cabin on the A380 has two bathrooms within the entrance. Each bathrooms have a beautiful design and are stocked with Acqua di Parma toiletries. One of many bathrooms additionally incorporates a totally outfitted bathe room. Every First Class passenger has entry to five minutes of operating water within the bathe, though you’ll be able to activate and off the water provide as many time as you need.

11. SERVICE & CABIN CREW

The worldwide cabin crew on this flight was skilled and pleasant (e.g. addressing me by identify and presenting themselves individually earlier than take-off). All requests have been handled promptly and cordially. On a aspect be aware, Etihad Airways’ cabin crew wears very trendy uniforms by Italian designer Ettore Bilotta. The chocolate-brown, purple and orange colours mirror the model of Etihad Airways, which is headed by Australian James Hogan.

12. MY VERDICT

Cabin design: 10/10
Seat consolation (upright place): 9/10
Seat consolation (mattress place): 9/10
Seat privateness: 10/10
Meals (high quality): 9/10
Meals (amount): 10/10
Inflight leisure : 9/10
WiFi: 9/10
Service: 10/10
Facilities: 10/10
General expertise: distinctive: 9,5/10

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