Etihad business class review. Also on board wellness ambassador

In the past few weeks we reviewed a flight in economy on the same route Malpensa Abu Dhabi, there were 18 passengers on that flight. In this case even fewer: just 8, three in business and five in economy.

Reservation

The best way to book an award flight aboard Etihad is to take advantage of its partnership with Alitalia, at least as long as it remains operational, and then use Millemiglia points. So I did and, a few days before leaving, I detached two round-trip tickets at a cost of 240k Millemiglia points. Also being a holder of American Express Alitalia Green, I immediately received the 48k miles from milesback. So in total I had to use 192k points from the Alitalia loyalty program. Basically 48k Millemiles each way.

To this I had to add little less than 100€ tax, as always the fees charged by non-European companies are marginal compared to the cost of the ticket. Tickets for the same period cost about €5,200. if paid in cash, I feel absolutely satisfied with my conversion especially in light of theuncertainty reigning over the future of Alitalia points.

Ground service

When traveling in business or first class with Etihad you can take advantage of the chauffeur service, when landing or taking off from the Emirates the private driver is free and included to any destination within the UAE. In contrast, when departing from Italy, the service covers a distance of about 80km from the departure airport.

Upon arrival at a deserted airport, we were greeted by EY staff who took our luggage and escorted us to the first class counters, as the biz ones were closed. We waited in comfortable chairs for the check-in paperwork to be completed and then headed to the lounge.

To understand how deserted the airport was and thus also the few departing flights, one only has to see the pictures of the lounge perfectly tidy and with not a single person in it, which was unthinkable before the pandemic.

Those who are used to flying making stopovers in these parts of the world know very well that the flight to Europe is almost always in the night, and mine was no exception.

The EY flight leaves at 4:30 a.m. local time. Normally the lounge would have been more crowded than at 2 p.m. in the afternoon. Instead, at 2:30 a.m., the attendants warned us that the buffet would be unpacked and that, from that time until 6 a.m., it would not be possible to eat anything else in the lounge.

In the pre-pandemic world this would never have happened. Emirates also closed part of its lounge in Dubai and reduced service, but to completely zero it out is not the best. Still, I understand the business decision, although I imagine the savings are really small.

The lounge is huge and I can't wait to come back here and stand in line to get in.

On board

I think this was the closest experience to flying in a private jet. The big difference is. we were on board a Boeing 787/1000 for all intents and purposes the new flagship of Etihad's fleet (after the retirement of the Airbus A380s and the announcement that the 777s will also be grounded).

The business cabin configuration of Etihad's 787s includes a 1-2-1 arrangement, so all passengers have direct access to the aisle, which is not taken for granted. The special feature is that the seats in the middle rows are alternating. Passengers in odd-numbered rows travel seated on the opposite side of the flight. Before choosing the place it is worthwhile to give a look at the aircraft configuration on Seatguru and avoid unpleasant surprises. Personally, I also recommend the seats in the even-numbered rows for those traveling in pairs or with children to keep more under control.

In addition to being rear-facing, the seats in the odd-numbered row are the ones closest to the aisle, thus the ones with the least privacy. Although, flying with only one "stranger" in the cabin, privacy was definitely not an issue on our flight. If you want, you can lift the bulkhead and separate from your seat neighbor, in which case the odd-numbered rows are the ones to choose. The best seats in business, however, are those near the windows, namely rows six, seven, nine and eleven.

The 787/1000 is the latest addition to the EY fleet, and it shows. The aspect that puzzles me most is the choice to cover the seat with fabric rather than leather. Definitely a choice that leaves a feeling of less luxury to the touch, although I must say that the seat was comfortable and with plenty of room to spare.

The legroom was a pleasant surprise. Normally, when the cabin is configured this way, it is less, especially when the seat is spread out in the sleeping position. Instead, I must admit that, compared to many other planes, there is no shortage of space aboard this 787. Because of the Covid, the pillow and blanket are stored in a plastic bag, a solution mandated by anti-contagious regulations that solved one problem: before, one never knew where to put them before using them.

The chair offers plenty of space, usb sockets and power outlets. The folding table also definitely meets the needs for both working and eating.

The seat has no massage function, otherwise it is very comfortable, and the hand control allows you to find your perfect position without much trouble.

A small touch display allows you to manage the chair lighting and change the intensity of various lights.

The service on board

The fact that we were only 3 passengers in the whole cabin made the service especially personalized: it could only be excellent in every way.

Etihad even had a Wellness Ambassador on board who explained all the measures taken by the airline and handed us the travel kit containing masks, gels and other sanitizing products.

Very elegant beauty that is delivered to passengers.

Essential equipment, but quality and "made in Italy" products.

 

Shortly before takeoff we also received the menu. The company has reinstated full in-flight service on its entire fleet since last summer, and I must say that it has not changed at all from how I remember it.

The only difference is that everything is brought in one tray and not a staggered service as was the case before the pandemic. Food quality and wine list are company level.

IFE

The screen size is generous and the offering of movies, TV series, podcasts, games, and any other content is plentiful. Probably not at the levels of the product offered by Emirates, but certainly above the average of many other premium airlines. The only real flaw is the total absence of a webcam to see what is happening outside the airplane.

As usual the whole system is operated with a touch remote control. Again, it does not reach the level of Emirates but it is a small detail, we are still talking about one of the best products in the skies around the world.

In conclusion

The new Etihad, the one that will emerge after the pandemic, will be a very different company from the one we have come to know. Smaller, with no 777 and no A380, with far fewer first-class seats. It has gotten rid of all the satellite companies and will have a much smaller network. If it is not swallowed up by Emirates, it is bound to focus on service. And this seat on the 787 is absolutely among the best seats in all the companies, fabric aside. The service that often left something to be desired in the old Etihad is what will make the difference, of course on my flight with only 8 passengers on board it doesn't count, but the path seems set, let's hope it's the right one.

 

• Success stories