Etihad Business Vs Firdt Class Lounge Abu Dhabi Review
After disembarking from our Etihad 787 First Form flight from Malé, Jessy and I briskly proceeded through Abu Dhabi International Airport's transit security, aiming to reach the Etihad Airways Offset Class Lounge as quickly equally possible.
Indeed, I should preface this review by saying that, normally, when I'm visiting the First Class Lounge of one of the world'due south leading airlines, I practise my best to classify at least four or five hours of time – if non more – to fully indulge in all of the lounge's offerings.
Nonetheless, on this trip, we only had a iii-hour layover in Abu Dhabi between our Etihad Airways flights – and after going through security, that left just over two hours of time to sample the Etihad Airways First Class Lounge.
This review may therefore be on the shorter side compared to my experiences in other First Class Lounges around the earth. But don't worry, I've already lined up a 2nd feel on the Etihad Apartments using Aeroplan miles, a journeying which I hope is viable to embark on in April 2021.
For now, enjoy this review of a brusk-but-sugariness visit to Etihad'south flagship Starting time Class footing experience in Abu Dhabi from dorsum in March 2020.
In This Post
- Entry & Access
- Interior & Seating
- Dining
- Gym & Spa
- Shower Rooms
- Conclusion
Etihad Airways Start Class Lounge Abu Dhabi – Entry & Access
The First Form Lounge was easily accessible via the signage in the drome terminal, its entrance marked by the geometric golden triangles that underpins the design identity of Etihad's premium service.
Admission to the Get-go Class Lounge is granted to Etihad Guest Platinum members, passengers parting Abu Dhabi in Etihad Airways First Class, as well as passengers who go far in Abu Dhabi on First Form and are connecting in business class on a flight without Get-go Form. Given the round-the-clock nature of Etihad's global schedule, the Get-go Class Lounge is open 24/seven.
A short distance down the hallway, a lounge representative will check your boarding pass and verify your eligibility. From in that location, it's straight up to the First Course Lounge via either the elevator or the stairs.
Etihad Airways Commencement Class Lounge Abu Dhabi – Interior & Seating
The entryway leads to the lounge's gorgeous lobby, where there's a small spread of flavoured water, Standard arabic coffee, and a choice of dates to assist yourself to.
Compared to some of its peers around the earth, Etihad's Outset Class Lounge is perchance on the smaller side, which is to say that yous could walk around its premises in most ii minutes' time, rather than x (I'm looking at you, Emirates).
The lounge is arranged roughly in the shape of a large rectangle divided up into individual rooms and spaces, so let'due south take a walk through to get a lay of the land.
Turning left from the entrance, y'all make it at the dining expanse, which fills upwardly the unabridged length of the room with ii-person and four-person dining tables. À la carte du jour dining is served around the clock, and you're complimentary to have a seat anywhere and a server volition be on hand to take your guild.
A separate room is walled-off in the centre of the dining expanse. This is the cigar lounge, where I'g told that several top-shelf cigars are available for sampling. As I'yard not much of a cigar person myself (or perhaps I oasis't yet adult a taste for them), this feature was somewhat lost on me, but I impinge it'd certainly exist of interest to many other patrons of the lounge.
In the far corner of the dining surface area, you'll detect one of the lounge'southward 2 gorgeously decorated bars. The soft pinkish lighting of this showtime bar is subtle and heart-searching, as though y'all'd retreat here for a glass of fine aged whiskey while losing yourself in your thoughts.
And so, turning the corner from the dining area, you'll arrive at the second bar of the Etihad Kickoff Class Lounge – in contrast to the other bar, this one is brash and bombastic in its beauty, the sharp triangular blueprint motif one time once more oozing a sense of contemporary luxury. Only look at how those shapes are incorporated into the bar shelves!
While the other bar seemed like a superb spot for savouring some polish scotch, this one seemed built for breaking out a canteen of bubbly instead.
Unfortunately, our short stay in this lounge meant that we didn't have a proper chance to do either, but the next time I visit, I definitely plan on indulging in a scrap of bar-hopping to practise this place justice.
Standing through, we go far at the general seating area, which consists of individual clusters of leather chairs spread out across several zones.
Some seats are more open-air, others are positioned past the windows for optimal tarmac views, while yet others are situated in their own little alcoves for more privacy.
A separate wing contains some more varied seat types, including a row of booths with especially tall seat backs.
Near this wing, you'll detect a simple self-serve spread of h2o, soft drinks, coffee, and tea.
Ane weakness of this lounge is that information technology lacks dedicated nap rooms or individual bedrooms of whatever sort; instead, it offers what'due south called a "relaxation zone", which is really just a row of iv recliner chairs in a walled-off carpeted area with mood lighting and ambient patterns morphing across the screen.
Jessy and I retreated to these seats for most of our fourth dimension in the lounge, although I feel like I'd actually struggle to get any residual if I was really trying to take a nap here.
That concludes our tour of this "side" of the lounge, and the residue of the facilities are accessed by turning right from the entrance. These facilities are mostly focused on wellness, consisting of the bathrooms, shower rooms, spa, and gym (yes, there'southward a gym in this lounge!) We'll take a closer look at these after in the review.
There's also a kids' play room located hither, to go on your little ones occupied equally you go for a workout in the gym (or, permit'south be real, become bar-hopping).
Finally, ane affair y'all'll notice as you lot pass through the lounge is a series of frosted-drinking glass sliding doors dotted around the lounge, almost mysteriously. These doors require special authorization to open, as they provide access to the defended individual lounge for Etihad Residence passengers: lounges-within-a-lounge with a private living room, dining room, shower room, etc. – all for the Residence passenger themselves.
One solar day, one twenty-four hours, I'll have to try out the Etihad Residence. For now, I was but an unwashed plebeian travelling in the Etihad Apartments, and it was on that note of resolute determination mixed with mild envy that I headed to the dining surface area to try out the lounge's pre-flight dining service.
Etihad Airways First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi – Dining
Jessy and I had already eaten a total repast on our 787 First Course flying merely a few hours ago, and fully intended to continue indulging in Etihad's first-class catering onboard our Apartments flight in just a few hours' fourth dimension.
Merely what about the lounge? In that location was no way we could squeeze in a principal course here besides, and all the same I didn't want to get out the lounge without sampling one of its signature services. Therefore, we sat down and each ordered ourselves a drinking glass of Charles Heidsieck rosé – the aforementioned as what Etihad is currently serving onboard – and I too helped myself to a bowl of the lobster and sweet corn soup, just to endeavor ane of the items on the menu.
Here's the total menu in terms of what'south served for lunch and dinner in the lounge:
And hither's the drinks menu:
In add-on to the usual champagne, vino, beer, and spirits, the Etihad Commencement Class Lounge as well had i of the fullest cocktail and mocktail menus I've seen in an airport lounge, which I remember will make for some other welcome finish on my bar-hopping adventure the side by side time I'm hither.
Our server offered united states our choice of still or sparkling h2o, before returning to pour the champagne a few moments subsequently.
And so, the cream of corn soup was served with the individual lobster chunks and veggies deconstructed, followed by the sweet corn soup existence poured straight into my bowl. What a spectacular show of service, which left me wondering what the full multi-form dining experience would be like hither in the lounge.
The soup tasted amazing too, and information technology certainly took a off-white chip of restraint not to be tempted into ordering some other portion.
From my light meal, I was pretty confident that the quality of Etihad's catering on the ground fully matched its impressive offerings in the air, and similar many of the lounge's other features, left me looking frontwards to returning hither in the future to spend some more time savouring everything properly.
Etihad Airways Outset Class Lounge Abu Dhabi – Gym & Spa
As far as I'm aware, the Etihad Airways First Class Lounge in Abu Dhabi is the only airport lounge in the globe that offers a fitness center inside the lounge.
Aye, some airports (like Toronto Pearson) have a GoodLife Fitness within the concourse, while other drome lounges (like Mainland china Pacific's The Span in Hong Kong) offering yoga mats for passengers – just a defended infinite for sneaking in a total workout before your flight? That's a bright idea, and I couldn't help but smile ear-to-ear equally I took a peek at the gym hither.
Okay, maybe a "full workout" is a scrap of a stretch, considering the gym is actually quite tiny, consisting of a single exercise cycle, a unmarried elliptical, 2 treadmills, a small rack of costless weights, and merely near enough flooring space in-between everything to actually use those weights for a workout.
You'd certainly exist able to work up a sweat in here, just at the same time, I don't think two people would be able to use the gym at the same fourth dimension without bumping into each other. (And in the post-pandemic era, I'thou certain that it'd be limited to ane occupant at a time.)
After your conditioning, peradventure information technology'southward time to hitting the Six Senses Spa for a complimentary fifteen-minute handling, which is offered to all Starting time Class passengers.
Alas, while I had stopped by to schedule a spa treatment upon arrival in the lounge, we ended up running out of time and didn't brand utilise of this benefit in the terminate. Yet again, more than to wait forward to for adjacent time.
It's worth noting that this lounge had previously offered nonetheless another unique amenity: a Style & Shave salon, where passengers could cease by for a gratis haircut, shave, manicure, etc. Unfortunately, this perk was eliminated in 2022 as part of ongoing price-cut on Etihad's role, and information technology's a not bad regret of mine that I never got to try it for myself.
Etihad Airways First Class Lounge Abu Dhabi – Shower Rooms
Finally, I also had time to scope out the lounge'southward shower rooms and bathrooms, which are situated further down the same hallway as the gym and spa. Of course, since I'd be travelling on the First Class Apartments on the Airbus A380 later, this wouldn't be the only shower I'd exist taking this evening. 😉
The shower rooms aren't the biggest, but are certainly gorgeously appointed, with stone floors and marble walls combining to accomplish a luxurious look.
Those blueprint elements go on into the bathrooms too, which are fitted with toiletries by Acqua di Parma, the same provider equally the amenity kits on Etihad Airways Start Grade and business class.
Speaking of which, afterwards an all-too-short stay in the First Class Lounge compared to what I usually like, it was time to gather our property and caput downstairs towards the boarding gate, where the latest mammoth item on my First Class saucepan listing awaited me: the Etihad Airways A380 Offset Course Apartments, en route to London.
Decision
The Etihad Airways First Class Lounge is a top-notch First Class ground feel, and it's worth far more of your time than the ii-and-a-one-half-hours or so that I managed to give it on this occasion.
In some ways, this lounge doesn't hit every high note that it possibly could: it's non the largest space compared to the Emirates First Class Lounge or the Lufthansa First Class Terminal, it lacks the private nap rooms of Qatar or Swiss, and its snazzy and modern decor is perhaps a bit on the gaudier side compared to the serenity and elegance of Cathay Pacific'due south The Pier.
All the same, even despite its limited size and some recent rounds of cost-cutting, the Etihad First Class Lounge even so absolutely has no shortage of outstanding amenities to keep you occupied.
Between hitting the gym for a quick pre-flight workout, soothing yourself in the Six Senses spa, freshening upward with a shower, and then enjoying a full sit down-down meal of the highest quality followed by a drink at one of two gorgeous bars, I'm convinced that the Etihad Airways Get-go Class Lounge will never go out you bored, even if you find yourself here for half dozen hours or more. That's exactly my intention the next time I'grand passing through Abu Dhabi onboard the Etihad Apartments.
Source: https://princeoftravel.com/blog/review-etihad-airways-first-class-lounge-abu-dhabi/
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