Review: Etihad Airways Airbus A380 First Class Apartment

Wednesday newsletters always feature a hotel or flight review.

I recently enjoyed a phenomenal holiday in the Maldives, where I stayed at the archipelago’s four most exclusive ultra-luxury resorts. You can read my reviews here:

Review: Beond Airlines A319 Business Class from Zürich to the Maldives
Review: One&Only Reethi Rah Maldives
Review: Cheval Blanc Randheli Maldives
Review: Soneva Fushi
Review: Soneva Jani
Review: SO/Maldives
Review: Etihad Airways B787 Business Class from Male to Abu Dhabi
Review: Etihad Airways A380 First Class from Abu Dhabi to London (today)

Today: Etihad Airways A380 First Class (Abu Dhabi to London)

I recently 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 part of the original plan, since I was scheduled to fly out of the Maldives with Beond, the new all-premium airline flying to and from the Maldives. However, two weeks prior to my departure to the Maldives, I was informed by Beond that my flight from Male to Munich was cancelled (since Munich was downgraded from a permanent to a seasonal destination). I was only offered an (unacceptable) option to travel to Zürich instead, either two days prior to or after my originally scheduled travel date. Fortunately, I was able to book a last-minute award flight with Etihad instead (and Beond refunded the return flight).

The seven hours flight from Abu Dhabi to London was operated by Etihad Airways’ flagship plane, the double-decker Airbus A380. The carrier has six A380s in its fleet, deploying them on routes from Abu Dhabi to New York, London, Paris, and Singapore. Etihad Airways pushed luxury to a sky-high new level and revolutionized First Class with the introduction of the ‘Apartment’ concept on its A380 superjumbos in 2014. More than just a seat, the Apartment has a large leather armchair and separate bed. There is even space to walk around after closing the privacy doors. The overall experience was mind-blowing (and at least as good as compared to my last Etihad First Class flight, which took place prior to the pandemic).

Etihad Airways features in my top 10 list of the world’s best airlines for flying First Class.

Have you ever flown with Etihad Airways? If so, what was your experience? Leave a comment below.

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

In this review (more information & photos below my YouTube clip):

Cost of my ticket
Etihad Airways lounge at Abu Dhabi Airport
First Class cabin
First Class seat (+ best & worst seats)
Amenities
Meals
Entertainment
Onboard internet
Onboard bar (‘The Lobby’)
First Class lavatory with shower
Service & cabin crew
My verdict (score)

1. COST OF MY TICKET

I paid this one-way ticket (Business Class from Male Abu Dhabi and First Class from Abu Dhabi to London) with miles & cash: $190 USD + 65,000 miles. The ticket was booked via American Airlines’ frequent flyer program AAdvantage (Etihad is a partner airline of American Airlines). Read my review of AAdvantage (with pros, cons, & tips) here.

2. ETIHAD AIRWAYS LOUNGE AT PARIS CDG AIRPORT

First Class passengers have access to Etihad’s exclusive First Class lounge, which is located on the top floor of the airline’s brand-new lounge complex in Terminal A of Abu Dhabi International Airport. I have previously published a separate review of this lounge (with dozens of photos), which you can read here.

3. FIRST CLASS CABIN

The First Class cabin on Etihad’s Airbus A380 is located on the plane’s forward upper deck. The cabin has a genuinely residential feel and stylish decor, with a neutral color palette of soothing beige tones and some dark wood touches. Two beautifully crafted walls frame the aisle (which leads to the forward staircase) and hold the sliding entrance doors of the Apartments. Lighting patterns in the ceiling projects Arabian motifs on the walls and floor, creating a chic ambiance.

Etihad Airways’ A380 First Class cabin is one of the industry’s few single aisle cabins on a wide body aircraft. It features nine Apartments in total. There are five Apartments on the right side of the cabin (with two lavatories in the front), while the left side features only four Apartments. This asymmetry is explained by the fact that the missing 5th Apartment and lavatories on the left side of the cabin are replaced by The Residence. The latter is the world’s most exclusive airline ‘seat’ and features a private living room, separate en-suite shower room, and a bedroom with a double bed. You can read my review of The Residence here.

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

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

The A380 First Class cabin has nine Apartments in total: five with a rear-facing seat (1H, 3A, 3K, 5C & 5H) and four with a forward-facing seat (2C, 2H, 4A & 4K). The Apartments 3A, 4A, 3K and 4K have their seats located next to the window, while in the other Apartments, the seats are located closer to the aisle away from the window, making it more difficult to enjoy the views during the flight. Six of the Apartments (3A & 4A, 3K & 4K, and 1H & 2H) are interconnecting, with a divider that can be lowered to join rooms, which is perfect for couples or friends traveling together.

Each Apartment features a comfortable armchair and a separate Apartment-wide bench, both upholstered with fine Poltrona Frau leather. The comfortable recliner seat has a pitch of 80 inches (203 cm) and is 29.5 inches (75 cm) wide. It is equipped with in-seat massage and a pneumatic cushion control system. The seat has two arm rests: one holds the bifold tray table, while the other holds the Apartment and inflight entertainment system controls. At the push of a button, you can change the position of the seat, raise or lower the window blinds, and control the light settings for a variety of lamps located within the Apartment.

Next to the seat is a large vanity unit with a lit make-up mirror. Below this cabinet a small storage box, a minibar (stocked with Coke, Sprite and water) and a drawer for blanket stowage.

In front of the seat is an Apartment-wide ottoman, which is multifunctional. It can be used as a footrest when watching TV, or it can be used as an additional seat for “buddy dining’. The bench can also be flattened out into a fully flat bed that is 80.5 inches (205 cm) long. The flight attendants provide luxurious turn-down service, and cover the bed with a decent mattress, duvet, cotton sheets and two pillows. Passengers traveling in one of the interconnecting Apartments can lower a divider to enjoy the comfort of a semi-double bed.

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

Travel partners should select the interconnecting Apartments that can become one space when lowering a divider (3A & 4A, 3K & 4K, or 1H & 2H).
If you like to look out of the window, choose one of the Apartments where the seat is located right next to the window (3A, 3K, 4A or 4K).

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

If you don’t like to be seated in a rear facing seat, avoid Apartments H1, 3A, 3K, 5C and 5 H.

5. AMENITIES

During my First Class flight onboard Etihad Airways’ Airbus A380, I received the following amenities:

A First Class amenity kit, designed by Italian luxury brand Acqua Di Parma. The kit was presented as a yellow pouch and contained socks, eyeshades, toothpaste, toothbrush and Acqua Di Parma skincare products (e.g. lipbalm, body lotion, and fragrance).
High-quality pajamas and slippers designed by “A Friend Of Mine,” an Emirati fashion brand.
Phitek branded noise-cancelling headphones; they were of great quality as they effectively suppressed cabin noise and engine drone.
Sleeping amenities, which comprises a stylish blanket, quilted mattress, and two pillows (turn down service was provided upon request).

FYI, since I took this flight, Etihad has changed their onboard First Class amenities:

Guests flying in First Class now get a Giorgio Armani and Etihad branded large folio bag – one of the largest amenity kits in the sky. Collectable in four colours, the bag can be used post-flight to carry documents, tablets or even a 13” laptop. The large folio bag comes packed with goodies from ESPA.
First Class guests are also gifted bespoke Giorgio Armani and Etihad loungewear and slippers, presented in the large Giorgio Armani folio bag. The charcoal loungewear is soft to the touch, anti-wrinkle, and features a Henley neckline and bespoke tonal print inspired by the modern Abu Dhabi skyline, as well as matching trousers with pockets.

6. MEALS

During this flight, a multi-course lunch was served after takeoff, although First Class passengers could also order other meals later in the flight. The stylish menu card featured a special grill section, available to Etihad’s First Class passengers only, with signature dishes prepared to order (e.g. black cod, beef tenderloin, and chicken breast) and a range of delicate sauces and sides.

I choose the following lunch selection from the menu:

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

Prior to landing, I ordered one of the dishes from the grill menu: steak frites, fillet of beef, frites, tomatoes, béarnaise.

Food was ok and the fine bone chinaware, cutlery and crystal glassware completed the fine dining experience at 40,000 feet. That said, I was not blown away by what I was served, but maybe that’s because I was a bit unlucky with my meal choices. While I love Etihad Airways, I find their meals repetitively to be one of their weaker points and not as sophisticated as compared to the food served by its Asian competitors (e.g. Cathay Pacific, Eva Air, Singapore Airlines).

7. ENTERTAINMENT

Each First Class Apartment has a swiveling 24-inch (60 cm) flat-screen, which can be tilted so passengers can still watch TV when they are lying in their bed. The inflight entertainment features hundreds of hours of on-demand entertainment, with more than 300 TV shows as well as more than 100 movies, ranging from blockbusters to timeless classics and representing all corners from the world (Hollywood, Arabic, European, Indian and Asian Cinemas). Etihad Airways’ inflight entertainment system also features live TV channels (e.g. BBC, CNN).

8. ONBOARD INTERNET

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

9. THE LOBBY

Etihad Airways has installed a lounge on the upper deck of the A380 between First and Business Class, designated ‘The Lobby’. The latter is an intimate space that is more resemblant of a lounge in a boutique hotel than an airplane cabin, and it is the perfect spot to relax or socialize with other passengers. It seats up to six guests and is fitted with seatbelts, power supply, connectivity ports, and a widescreen TV (so you can watch a live game or sporting event with other guests).

10. LAVATORY

Etihad Airways’ First Class cabin on the A380 has two lavatories in the front. Both lavatories have a lovely design and are stocked with Acqua di Parma toiletries. One of the lavatories also features a fully equipped shower room. Each First Class passenger has access to 5 minutes of running water in the shower, although you can turn on and off the water supply as many time as you want.

11. SERVICE & CABIN CREW

The international cabin crew on this flight was professional and friendly (e.g. addressing me by name and presenting themselves individually before take-off). All requests were dealt with promptly and cordially. On a side note, Etihad Airways’ cabin crew wears very stylish uniforms by Italian designer Ettore Bilotta. The chocolate-brown, purple and orange colors reflect the brand of Etihad Airways, which is headed by Australian James Hogan.

12. MY VERDICT

Cabin design: 10/10
Seat comfort (upright position): 9/10
Seat comfort (bed position): 9/10
Seat privacy: 10/10
Food (quality): 9/10
Food (quantity): 10/10
Inflight entertainment : 9/10
WiFi: 9/10
Service: 10/10
Amenities: 10/10
Overall experience: exceptional: 9,5/10

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Francis Bagbey says:
August 21, 2024 at 8:39 pm
I will review all your ETIHAD first class reviews once I’ve decided to splurge on this once in a lifetime treat. I rely on you for honest, objective trip reports that are also entertaining and well edited. You will also be my resource when I plan a Maldives journey. Cheers!