Etihad A380s were grounded and stored in Teruel, Spain during the pandemic. Earlier this year, the airline made an announcement that 4 of its A380 will be returning to service flying between London and Abu Dhabi.
I was invited to try out the Etihad First Class experience onboard their A380 from London to Abu Dhabi recently.
Video
In my video below, the Captain gave a thorough briefing of the flight and how the crew has to re-qualify to fly on the A380.
Enjoy the takeoff footage from the cockpit.
The Best Seat in First Class
Etihad has 9 First Class apartments in unique seating configurations.
In fact, each First Class Apartment seating is unique with different facing, some allow pairs to be seated across the aisle. This unconventional design makes the Etihad First Class apartment stand out. The best seats are window seat 4A and 4K with forward facing. Some seats have cream beige leather while some others have darker brown leather.
Takeoff Video
Enjoy the takeoff footage from the cockpit.
The Flight - from London to Abu Dhabi
I ordered a glass of mimosa after takeoff and went through the extensive menu which not only featured 5 choices of food, it also has a grill menu. Food and beverage are completely on-demand.
Unique First Class Bedding
The ottoman can be converted into a flatbed while you still have space. This unconventional design makes the Etihad First Class apartment stand out. I was even offered a shower at 39,000 feet before landing.
For couples traveling together, Apartment 3A and 4A, 3K and 4K can be converted into adjacent beds together.
Good Deal on Etihad A380 First Class
I found some great one-way Etihad First Class deals from Bangkok to London throughout the year.
Bangkok – London Etihad First Class Deal (One-way)
Note that the Bangkok (BKK) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) sector will be operated in a Business Class cabin.
Bangkok(BKK) – London(LHR) – From $2,571 One-way
The terms and conditions of the carriage are as below:
- RESERVATION AND TICKETING: RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED FOR ALL SECTORS
- MAXIMUM STAY: NONE UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
- MINIMUM STAY: NONE UNLESS OTHERWISE SPECIFIED
- STOPOVERS: UNLIMITED FREE STOPOVERS PERMITTED ON THE PRICING UNIT
- CANCELLATIONS: CANCELLATIONS PERMITTED FOR CANCEL/REFUND
- CHANGES: CHANGES PERMITTED FOR REISSUE/REVALIDATION
The Residence - Available for Upgrade
Before landing, I had an opportunity to visit The Residence which is a 3-room suite with your own living room, bathroom and bedroom.
With the return of Etihad’s A380 to service, you are now able to book its exclusive ‘The Residence’ cabin located at the front of the First Class cabin. And the best thing is you are now able to make an upgrade if you have a confirmed First Class ticket.
In order to score an upgrade to The Residence, you must first book the First Class fare directly from Etihad’s website. As of now, award tickets redeemed by partner programs are not eligible for the upgrade offer.
There are two ways to upgrade:
- Upgrade at the time of the booking
- Upgrade after you made your booking through the ‘Manage’ tab
From £1,987.90 ($2,564) per person
My Verdict
Etihad A380 First Class Apartment is one of the best First Class products out there at the moment. It offers some of the best premium and exclusive experiences in flying. My favourite part is how they have designed the apartment, using the horizontal space available to have 1 chair and 1 bed with space to move around.
The only caveat is, they have just 4 A380 returning to service and fly only between London and Abu Dhabi. It may be difficult for everyone to experience it.