What I liked

• The apartment was large and spacious
• The seat was comfortable
• Friendly crew
• Lots of storage
• Well prepared food
• On board shower
• Stylish design

What could be improved

• The alcohol selection wasn’t super premium

Booking

I used 40,000 Asiana Air miles to book the flight from Abu Dhabi to London Heathrow. No you didn't read that wrong! This is one of the best redemptions in the sky. If you want to boost your mileage balance, read this article on how you can earn more points and miles.

 

We’re honored to call the UAE our home; a nation that has been shaped by values and sacrifice, propelled forward by innovation and inclusivity. Happy 50th National Day UAE.#UAEYearOf #UAENationalDay #UAE50 pic.twitter.com/GhlLQKqBAb

— Etihad Airways (@etihad) December 2, 2021

The apartment

The apartment on the A380 is the best of the Etihad first class seats. The 1st thing you notice as you walk in, is that it’s genuinely an apartment and not a seat. You have your own space and you can walk around. This is different to other first classes. Even if the seat is large, it’s still a seat. Etihad was the 1st airline to have single aisle seating on a widebody aircraft. The apartment has the following features:

• Separate seat and bed
• Under bed storage
• Cupboard for 1 item
• Mirror

The seat

The seat is large, spacious and hard. It reminds me of a seat at a posh movie theatre! I liked it a lot

The bed

I liked the bed. I would’ve preferred it if the bed was wider, but that’s the trade off for having a separate bed and seat. I was able to get 4 hours of sleep, which is pretty good for a flight. I didn’t have any issues with the temperature of the cabin either.

The Cabin

The Etihad first class cabin on the A380 has a really stylish design. The fact that there’s only 1 aisle just makes it feel ultra-exclusive. Not only does the A380 have the best of the Etihad first class seats, it also has the most beautiful cabin in the sky. 
 

Missed the @DubaiAirshow? Watch the highlights of the five-day event in less than 60 seconds. #Etihad #DubaiAirshow pic.twitter.com/nfulseKscF

— Etihad Airways (@etihad) November 21, 2021

In Flight entertainment

The TV is large and high quality – it’s located directly across from the seat. Etihad also has an excellent choice of content. I enjoyed the tail camera and the route map. Check out the slideshow for photos.

Amenity kit

The amenity kit was supplied by Acqua Di Parma, and it was fantastic! It contains:

• Ear plugs
• Cologne
• Lip balm
• Body lotion
• Blindfold
• Toothbrush
• Comb

The cologne was simply awesome. The bag was also very stylish – my wife loved it!

The food

In Etihad’s First Class, the menu is more of a suggested ingredients list - you can mix and match to create your meal. I’ve uploaded the menu in the above slideshow. At the beginning of the flight, the chef came to me, and we had a discussion about what to eat. He was able to create a bespoke meal, which was really cool as I was vegetarian on that day.

I went for the Arabic mezze for starter and halloumi cakes for the main. They were both very good. I am a huge fan of Arabic mezze, so I may be a little biased here!

The Halloumi cakes with green veggies and fries were good as well. It reminds me of the vegetarian option at a steak house!

The drinks

The drinks offering is of the premium variety - I had a rose champagne to start with. I’m not a champagne expert, but it reminded me of the champagne you get in business class. In fact the champagne at the Air France Business Lounge in Paris was far better. I didn't much enjoy the champagne, however I wanted to review it, so I made sure that I finished it!

Overall the alcohol selection was decent. Grey Goose is a premium vodka. But it does lag behind what many other airlines offer in First class. It would be a high quality business class selection.

This is probably the main disappointment with the flight. It doesn't bother me, as I don't drink much alcohol - but it’s important to many people. The full drinks menu is in the above slideshow

The service

The service was good. Three people introduced themselves to me before the flight. Roshan was the in-flight chef. Two members of the First Class cabin crew also came to me. I found them all to be friendly, helpful and attentive. They all addressed me by name.

 

Pet parents rejoice! @etihad https://t.co/52VynE7BuC

— Lovin Dubai | ???? ??? (@lovindubai) November 16, 2021

The shower

An on-board shower is a novelty that never gets old! While not as bling as the Emirates shower, it’s a shower on a plane. Amazing really!

Do you know what else is amazing? View the video below!
 

Conclusion

In an era where airlines are getting rid of First class, the Etihad A380 Apartment is a truly luxury First Class experience in the sky. I really enjoyed writing this review and I had a fantastic time!

The apartment is spacious, the food was fantastic and the service was excellent. I had a terrific trip. After taking the Etihad First Class Apartment, travel will never be the same! I actually wrote an article on what it’s like to fly coach after travelling in Business.

Don’t forget, The latest Etihad sale has landed! There’s excellent offers in economy and business class. As always, I suggest that you book quickly. The best deals will go fast.

On a personal note, I don’t always fly 1st class. I flew business class with Etihad, and it was awesome. The cabin is well designed and classy. The food was also excellent – I probably took in 10,000 calories! 

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