Trip review: Etihad A380 First Class Apartment.
Flight: EY018
Aircraft: A380
Class: First Class
Route: London Heathrow – Abu Dhabi ( Return Leg )
Normal price: USD 6,000 / AED 22,000 / ZAR 77,000 per one way
Booking method: Etihad Guest miles + 80 Aed Tax / Zar 266
Putting theory into practical is something TraveLoyalty prides itself on. I’ve documented on how to score this first class redemption for +-R250 since January 2015 in a article: Forget business class, Etihad 1st class for ZAR 250 on A380 and I also wrote: Emirates vs Etihad + 1st class suite booking for R250 in June 2015 with full disclosure how anyone could earn the miles needed through promotions in our newsletters as well as instant Etihad Gold status. I’m glad many readers took advantage of it all.
Exactly what I paid for this flight. There are 2 x Guest 1st allocations for redemptions for each flight at the low mileage option.
Credit card statement for the bookings.
I’ve spent roughly over R1060 for flights worth R308,000. Incredible value.
Leaving London.
You can take the Underground directly into the loop of T4, T2, T3 and T5 at Heathrow or:
Etihad offers complimentary chauffer services. In London they use 7 Series BMW’s. In Abu Dhabi they use Audi A6’s.
Note: You can request to be driven anywhere in the UAE you want. This is worth 800 Aed / Zar 2800 +
Checking in.
Heathrow offers FASTRACK for premium ticket holders. From scanning my boarding pass in a no que line it took me 1 minute 23 seconds to have my bag scanned and I was at the duty free. The fastest I’ve clocked yet.
Etihad took delivery of the A380 only in December 2014 and placed it 1st on the AUH – LHR route. You can choose your seat immediately upon booking 1st class. No need to wait 24 hours before flight departure.
Etihad Premium Lounge Heathrow.
I will have the full review of this lounge complete with food and complimentary Six Senses Spa treatments I undertook in a future newsletter.
Boarding.
This flight was packed in all the classes. There was only one free 1st Apartment and The Residence was empty and locked.
First and Business class passengers board through the same door upstairs on the A380.
The “Apartment”.
The passage with Apartments on each side. A staircase lies at the end down to the lower deck.
My Apartment 4K. Seats are upholstered in Poltrona Frau leather from Italy.
Its ultra spacious. No other 1st class can compete.
32inch swivel HD. In 1st class movies don’t go on pause when announcements or landing happens.
There are 9x 1st class Apartments. 4x forward facing suites and 5 x rear facing suites.
Forward facing suites are: 2C, 2H, 4A and 4K.
Rear facing suites are: 1H, 3A, 3K, 5C and 5H.
4A and 4K have the best window views.
There is no overhead bulk bins. Everything stows away neatly under the sofa / bed.
Hidden in a cupboard is the vanity mirror with a full kit of every amenity you will need + a toiletry bag.
A hanger storage cabinet lies conveniently in the door way.
Tray table lies in the armrest.
Digital everything.
One push and a mini bar comes out.
Bedding cabinet lies under the vanity cabinet.
Slippers are provided as well as organic cotton pyjamas.
IFE controller + HDMI ports and USB charging stations. I have HD videos made on every trip for a Youtube channel I plan to launch soon.
Ample lighting options everywhere.
Welcome drink, hot towel, welcome letter from cabin manager and some dates upon entering.
Le Labo Bergamote. Paraben free.
Cabin Manager’s welcome letter.
The headphones I had gave off a terrible noise, a second one was brought and it did the same.
3rd strike, the butler gave me Bose earphones from the Residence. These were perfect and crisp.
A mocktail and snacks were brought prior to take off.
Good bye London.
The gourmet treat – order anything at any time.
A gourmet stuffed chicken breast starter was served promptly.
7 course meal at 35000 feet awaits.
Fine China and silverwear. Butlers are Savoy trained in England.
I chose the seafood starter.
Apple sorbet palate refresher.
Fish Biryani is a dish I always have on Etihad. One of my all time favourites.
I ordered the latter 2.
Bed time.
The Butler making the bed.
205cm of lie flat bliss on medium or long haul.
Etihad PJ’s
Patchi chocolates on request.
The view of the A380 engines.
A 2nd IFE controller lies on the bed side.
The window blinds are electronic.
One negative thing I found is the charge for the Wifi.
The shower and bathroom.
A digital colour 5minute timer for hot water. Showering at 35,000 feet is an experience.
The lobby.
The Lobby lies between 1st and Business class on the upper deck. It seats 6 people.
I had carrot juice overload here.
This is the staircase at The Residence leading down to the lower deck.
Breakfast.
Disembarking.
From one A380 window to another.
Although it claims Fast Track its not + SA passport holders are still sent back for eye scanning. UAE needs to jack up on their Fast Track lane quantities too.
Complimentary services offered.
A complimentary shave / trim awaits.
The complimentary chauffer service will take you to the end of UAE.
The voucher presented to driver with the booking details of destination.
I chose Waldorf Astoria the Palm in Dubai where 20mins after this pic was taken I received an upgrade to the best suite I have ever had worth Aed 8,800 / Zar 32,000 per night as a Hilton HHonors Diamond member.
Kindly click the link HERE