Aboard Etihad's Dreamliner, review of business class on the 787 to Abu Dhabi
The last time I took a flight with Etihad I was using my Millemiglia points, to avoid losing them in the [...]
Etihad Airways
MXP
United Arab Emirates
The last time I took a flight with Etihad. I was using my Millemiglia points, To avoid losing them in September 2021 In the midst of Covid, self-certification and swabbing, I had burned as many points as I could to fly to Thailand, to Phuket, one of the few attainable destinations at the time.
In this article:
- Specifications
- Aircraft:
- 787/10
- Class:
- Business
- Treat:
- MXP - AUH
- Price:
- 450€
- Book
The best bonuses
Today the world is back to what it was before and the national airline of the United Arab Emirates is growing again. After the wrong investments in Air Berlin, Air Serbia, Jet Airways and especially Alitalia. Not only is the fleet growing, But the new terminal at Abu Dhabi airport has also finally opened., a ribbon-cutting ceremony long overdue.
Reservation
I booked this ticket by paying cash for it, Etihad like Emirates, does not participate in any alliance so there is no possibility of traveling using points, although a few days after my flight partnership with Flying Blue has been made official and today the two loyalty programs are very closely linked.
Ticket paid for and points uploaded to Etihad Guest program with a single goal: to have enough points to book first class aboard Etihad's A380, the famous "Residence" or three-room apartment with living room, master bedroom and bathroom (with shower) that only EY has installed aboard the A380s and that I want to try before it disappears.
A premise
The flight from Milan to Abu Dhabi takes 5 hours and a few minutes, it is a daytime flight you leave at 10 a.m. and land at 3 p.m. Italian time, it is absolutely not worth the investment of points, just as it makes no sense to waste points to fly to Oman, Qatar or Dubai in business or higher. Of course if you can find a cash ticket for cheap, as in my case, then you can throw money away, but points can be used MUCH better to fly farther.
Here you stay awake all the time, I watched F1 in Las Vegas while writing this review, which I could do in economy. So Always evaluate cost/benefit well when deciding to use points To redeem a prize ticket.
Check-in
I did everything online, but I still went by the desks to get my boarding pass printed, yes I know I am an incurable romantic, but as long as they are there I want to keep them.
The flight leaves at 10 a.m., and when I arrived at Malpensa T1, there was already an endless queue. Fortunately, however, I was traveling in business, so I only waited a couple of minutes To get the little souvenir.
At the airport
Having passed through the controls, at the fast track, in a few minutes (actually seconds) I headed to the border control. I must say that technology has really simplified procedures and speeded up all the downtime. At the security checkpoint everything stays in the bag, at the border everything is done with the e-passport.
I then headed to the lounge, unfortunately at the Montale Hall. Etihad does not have its own lounge in this airport, actually outside Abu Dhabi I found louge of this company only in New York and nothing else.
The most beautiful thing about this independent lounge is definitely the view of the runway, If you then arrive at sunrise on a day like this, it is a unique sight. The rising sun, the snow-capped Alps, a clear and beautiful sky. We also forget that it is still Friday the 17th.
Breakfast in the norm, maybe I could say that breakfast is the best time in terms of catering in this lounge.
About 20 minutes before boarding opened, I headed for the gate to try to take a couple of pictures of the planes on the tarmac.
By airplane
Full plane, but all in all managed boarding well. Attendants directing passengers to the correct rows, and fairly quick procedures despite a few distracted passengers.
Embarkation occurred through a single door, the second, and then business cabin on the left as the rest of the passengers proceeded in the opposite direction.
The configuration of Erihad's business class cabins is very dense, a single section with 32 chairs. All passengers have direct access to the aisle, but Half of travelers fly sitting upside down. It is very similar to the QSuite, but without the doors and options of the Qatar cabin.
The odd-numbered rows of business seats face the back of the plane, while the even-numbered rows travel facing the cockpit.
The alternating seating arrangement allows for plenty of legroom, in contrast Those traveling facing the back of the plane are further from the window And more exposed to the corridor.
This version of the business is the traditional cabin, although Etihad on the new planes is installing a different cabin, a suite with a door that isolates from the aisle and gives much more privacy.
There is very little privacy in this cabin. Sure if you travel in the middle section you can raise the bulkhead and not live for hours with a stranger next to you, but In all other situations everyone is looking at you in the house And you can look into everybody's house.
If then add the fact that you travel face to face, like on the Qsuite, but without the privacy, it's just not the best.
The chair
The chair has all the possible gadgets. Lumbar massage and ability to decide how stiff to set the session. I ended up in seat 8K, which as we have explained in other articles, Is one of those with one less window.
However, given the space I still had two portholes to enjoy the outside show.
One of the things that I was curious to see were the Armani/Casa products that Etihad has chosen to offer a unique service to its passengers. The equipment is complete. Comforter, pillow and topper.
Certainly the topper of other companies, such as Oman and Jordanian is on another level, but it is appreciable that it is there since many other companies have cut this product, which In my opinion it is very important at the level of hygiene, because it separates the passenger from the seat especially in bed mode.
The chair becomes a bed, and thanks to the straight, not tilted orientation you have plenty of leg room, although it is not very wide.
Legroom is much more than what Singapore offers in its business class.
It is controlled via the hand control on the frame or with the touch screen that also manages lighting and all possible configurations.
There is not much space for personal items, there is a cockpit, but there is no space to safely store glasses or a tablet, of course then I travel with a lot of stuff, but even the ordinary person has to make practical choices.
What also puzzled me was the level of cleanliness in some parts of the plane, and it is not a matter of passing "forgetfulness."
I really like the windowed bathroom and the understated, un-kitch style of Etihad's bathrooms.
However, I don't understand why there is both the curtain and the button panel to operate the windows.
Personally I still don't like the 787's electrochromic windows, it's not a true "dark".
Service
As soon as I set foot on board a flight attendant arrived to ask me for clarification about my videos. I explained that I only film myself and assured her that I respect other people's privacy, Less than 30 seconds later I was already drinking my first glass of champagne. Yes I know it's 9 a.m., but it always depends on the time zone and I was on the Tokyo time zone, so cocktail hour.
Already in place was the small beauty, a novelty because there is no longer the Acqua di Parma one, but a limited edition product to celebrate the company's 20 years
Here is the bare minimum, note that even the eye mask was "limited edition" with the 20th anniversary logo.
For the past few weeks, EY announced the new clutch bags and products for all passengers, even bringing the PJ back to business class.
Just before takeoff, the assistant came by to pick up the lunch order. Etihad offers Dine on Demand, or the ability to eat when you want. I opted for a small snack immediately after takeoff and to have lunch just before landing.
Throughout the flight, which lasts just over 300 minutes, the crew went back and forth several times, to control and serve passengers.
Food & Beverage
Five-hour flight and opportunity to eat (and drink) continuously.
I, having not had breakfast, had, immediately after takeoff, the arancini with tomato and grana padano cheese.
Really good product, a dish that positively surprised me. I took advantage of the dine on demand and chose to be served before landing.
Service is by tray, not exactly the most elegant, but on the flip side. Armani/Casa flatware is spectacular, really the most elegant and beautiful products I've ever seen aboard an airplane. Even of the first classes.
As an appetizer I had the roast beef, I must say it looked more like a carne salada, but promoted dish. Served in the tray along with a small salad, warm bread and butter.
The mani dish was chicken with rice, a dish with very good Indian flavors and in a really nice terrine, I dare not imagine what this service might cost in a store.
Dessert was the Lava Cake, warm chocolate cupcake, but overcooked and the lava which was a berry compote did not complement the dish well, definitely the weakest course of the service. I could also have had an ice cream, Etihad serves Hagen Daz, but I held back.
IFE
The E-Box does not betray. Of course there are business seats that have larger TVs, but in the end it is the quality of the screen and the content that matters most. Here we are at the top.
Hundreds of films, in all languages, of all features and for all tastes. Eight channels of live TV, I watched the free practice of the Formula 1 GP in Las Vegas live. Games, TV series and kids section, you are spoiled for choice.
And then, of course, there is wi-fi. Two prices 2.99 to have messaging , but if you are enrolled in Etihad's loyalty program it's free, and 9.99 to navigate the whole flight With no time or traffic limits.
Only the speed was not up to the mark, but for surfing and emailing it was more than enough.
The screen is touch, but if you want you can use the remote control.
One very interesting fuctionality is being able to share the screen with another passenger, perfect for Simultaneously watching the same content when traveling together.
Too bad about the quality of the headphones, really below average, but I used my Airpods Max connected With my bluetooth adapter And the whining baby did not (almost) bother me.
In conclusion
Very satisfied good product and perfect service. It was not obvious, but I must say. EY on the right track to return to compete with the rest of the carriers in the M.O. area., indeed compared to when there were only three today there are many more and increasingly fierce, and the new terminal plays a key role in this revival.
Pro
- The price
- Dine on demand
Against
- Little storage
- Little privacy