Just a few months in the past I wrote a few flight in Etihad’s 787 enterprise class. Later within the journey, throughout an extended connection, I acquired to discover the highlights of the airline’s hub in Abu Dhabi.
These highlights included a free resort program for lengthy layovers and a singular US immigration pre-clearance facility. The pièce de résistance was a morning go to to the unbelievable top quality lounge, with a connoisseur breakfast, nice views of the ramp, and even a cigar bar.
Learn on for a walkthrough of Etihad’s Abu Dhabi hub, and for recommendations on how you can take benefit in case you move by way of the airport your self.
Just a few years in the past, Abu Dhabi broke floor on a brand new midfield terminal, however delays and drama pushed the opening date again many instances. Apparently it’s largely completed, however the opening date continues to be a thriller. For now, Etihad’s long-haul operations are based mostly in Terminal 3. The terminal doesn’t really feel that previous, nevertheless it’s older than many of the different Center Japanese mega-hubs, and a bit small for Etihad’s present operations. In consequence, some flights go away from distant stands.
I arrived at a kind of distant stands on my inbound flight, to kick off a twelve-hour layover. Truthfully, as an AvGeek I really like rolling up at a distant stand for the prospect to rise up shut and private with the planes. And there was certainly some nice close-up plane-spotting whereas using the bus to the terminal.
Sleeping Over in Abu Dhabi
Etihad presents a full spectrum of free or discounted stopover choices, relying on the size of your layover (minimal, however cheap fare necessities apply):
- “Better of Abu Dhabi” – When you’ve got as much as 4 nights to kill, you may ebook 4- or 5-star inns at a reduction of as much as 40 p.c.
- “Stopover on Us” – For shorter stays, you may keep totally free at sure 3- and 4-star inns within the metropolis for as much as two nights.
- “Transit Join” – For the shortest stopovers — 10 to 24 hours — the airline presents complimentary resort lodging for vacationers in all cabin courses, so long as you ebook no less than 5 days previous to your arrival (there are another restrictions, so undoubtedly learn the wonderful print). A number of the choices are within the metropolis, however in all probability the most well-liked choice is the Premier Inn resort related on to the terminal. The resort is landside however UAE immigration is speedy.
The Premier Inn rooms have been easy however very clear. Principally it was good to have a free choice to spare me an evening within the terminal, and the entrance desk employees is aware of to maintain check-in and check-out speedy for vacationers on the go.
The Etihad First Class Lounge
No doubt, the most effective a part of my Abu Dhabi stopover was a morning within the airline’s spectacular First Class Lounge. Premium cabin passengers get their very own terminal entrance.
The doorway to the First Class Lounge is simply previous the Terminal 3 safety checkpoint.
The lounge is one stage up from the principle concourse. Popping out of the elevator, the doorway units the precise tone for a firstclass area.
I handed by a enticing bar on the best way into the guts of the lounge.
Throughout from that bar is the principle eating space. As you’d count on, it’s full formal service at your desk.
On the far finish of the restaurant is the signature Etihad lounge bar. The distinctive geometric sample of the backdrop cabinets is beautiful. Up to now, we’ve appreciated related designs at Etihad lounges at LAX and JFK, although the airline has closed numerous its lounges since we wrote these tales.
Planespotters rejoice! There are nice airfield views from this a part of the lounge. You may clearly see the principle runways, and also you get a view throughout to Terminal 1.
Right here’s a have a look at the intensive menu:
The breakfast unfold I attempted was flat-out wonderful.
Etihad’s lounge presents some distinctive options – beginning with the legit cigar and whiskey bar.
Positive, it’s nearly a caricature of what you’d count on in a firstclass airline lounge. However isn’t that kind of the purpose?
There’s a menu to counsel whiskey, espresso, and tea pairings for every cigar.
Despite the fact that I’m not a cigar man, personally, I did love the vibes.
Close by there’s a show highlighting Etihad’s partnership with Breitling.
Down the corridor I explored a couple of different corners of the lounge.
No one was utilizing the gymnasium once I dropped by, however there have been weights and some cardio choices.
In case you want a spot to park children, they have you ever coated. Shout out to you O.G. Scooby-Doo followers on the market (Editor’s observe – my children, and yours, expensive reader, probably don’t know who these of us are).
The bathe rooms have been beautiful.
All in all it’s a classy and well-equipped lounge, masking all the things you’d count on out of a first-class floor expertise.
Crossing the Border Earlier than Taking Off
Possibly essentially the most helpful good thing about the bottom expertise at Abu Dhabi is the U.S. Customs Pre-clearance facility. Worldwide, there are solely a few these services, particularly past widespread American vacationer spots like Mexico and the Caribbean. The thought is that you just clear U.S. immigration and customs earlier than the flight leaves, so you may deplane within the U.S. identical to you’ll from a home flight — and save a bunch of time within the course of. Etihad and the airport are clearly happy with this characteristic.
I didn’t take footage of the checkpoint itself as a result of there have been a zillion indicators forbidding pictures, and a U.S. army jail didn’t seem to be the most effective place to finish my trip. The checkpoint was no less than as quick as most immigration checkpoints stateside, and there was even a premium cabin lounge after the checkpoint so that you don’t really feel you need to reduce it shut in case you’re flying first or enterprise.
So how does Etihad’s floor sport stack up general? The lodging choices for brief stopovers and longer layovers are wonderful, taking the ache out of lengthy connections. Immigration and customs pre-clearance is a singular and helpful benefit. And, after all, the primary class lounge was wonderful.
It’s value mentioning that in its present type, the enterprise class lounge is big however the facilities and meals aren’t significantly memorable. We’re curious to see if Etihad updates any of these facilities as a part of their ongoing “Constellation Assortment” mission to put money into their mushy product. And that new midfield terminal can’t open too quickly, to offer Etihad more room for its operations.
Be aware: We organized our personal enterprise class itinerary for this journey. We reached out to the airline previous to arriving in Abu Dhabi and so they supplied us entry to the primary class lounge for this story. All opinions are our personal.
