Madrid from Prague for long weekends in January
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Etihad First Class on the A380 (AUH–CDG): a suite, a bed and a shower
After our flight from Singapore in the Etihad Residence, we continue from Abu Dhabi to Paris, still on board the Airbus A380.
This time, however, we won’t be heading right to the very front to our own flying flat. Oh dear. We’ll ‘only’ be travelling in standard First Class 😅
The word ‘standard’ is, of course, very relative. The Etihad First Apartment is one of the most spacious First Class products in the world. It features a separate armchair and bed, its own minibar, and passengers can even have a shower during the flight.
I actually like the apartment itself a little more than Lufthansa’s Allegris First Class. When it comes to the food and the crew’s overall service, however, Lufthansa comes out on top. And it’s not exactly a close contest.
Read also:
- 👉 Review of the Etihad Residence from Singapore to Abu Dhabi
- 👉 Review of Lufthansa Allegris First Class from Tokyo to Munich
Straight from the airport lounge onto the plane
We spend our overnight layover in the very spacious Etihad First Class lounge in Abu Dhabi.
It offers plenty of privacy, which we appreciate perhaps even more than the food or expensive alcohol at this point. It’s been a long journey and we’re both just dozing off.
When it’s time to board, an Etihad member of staff comes to collect us and takes us straight to the gate, which opens directly from the lounge.
No need to search for the departure gate or stand in a queue.
From the lounge sofa, we move almost without waking up to our suite on the plane.
Which seats to choose when travelling as a couple
Etihad has nine First Class suites + 1 Residence on the upper deck of the A380.
We’re travelling as a couple, so I’ve booked seats 3A and 4A in advance. The pair of seats 3K and 4K on the opposite side of the cabin work in the same way.
The seat in the third row faces backwards, whilst the fourth row faces forwards. I’d never tried flying backwards before, so this was a first for me in that respect too.
In the end, though, it wasn’t a big deal. I didn’t notice any difference at all.
A partition can be slid between the suites, so the beds are then partially side by side. However, the partition only opens to approximately head and upper-body height. It doesn’t create a classic double bed like the one in the Residence.
Nevertheless, 3A and 4A or 3K and 4K are clearly the best choice for a couple – we were able to chat for most of the flight.
When you’re getting ready for sleep, you can choose whether you want the partition down or to have complete privacy, so your partner in the adjacent seat won’t even know you’re there.
Armchair and separate bed: First Class Apartment
I already know what the First Class cabin looks like from my previous flight.
Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to a detailed, up-close tour of the First Class Apartment. On the flight with Residence, we only had a quick glance at the ‘standard’ First Class seats as we walked past.
The biggest advantage of the First Apartment is the space. You’re not sitting in a seat that later reclines to a flat position.
You have a comfortable leather armchair and, next to it, a long bench from which the cabin crew will prepare a separate bed at any time during the flight, upon request.
The armchair is extremely comfortable and can be reclined to an almost horizontal position.
The suite also features a minibar, a personal dressing table with a mirror and plenty of storage space.
Once the door is closed, you’re practically invisible from the aisle. However, the walls do not extend from floor to ceiling as they do in Lufthansa’s Allegris First Class.
So privacy isn’t 100 per cent. Let’s say 95 per cent, which is still enough to make you forget that there are other people travelling around you.
Compared with the older version of Emirates First Class of a similar age, Etihad wins hands down. The suite is larger, more spacious, and the separate bed works much better than a traditional seat that folds flat.
- 👉 Review of Emirates First Class on the flight from Bangkok to Hong Kong
Wi-Fi and suite amenities
There is a universal power socket next to the seat, and USB ports are discreetly concealed in the wall above the armrest.
There’s no wireless charging, and this is where the cabin’s age starts to show a little.
We’re given the obligatory, enormous little bag containing an amenity kit, and there are additional toiletries in the mirrored compartment inside the suite itself.
Slippers, a blanket and a full set of bedding are, of course, provided.
Free internet is also available to First Class passengers on this flight.
It works quite reliably and is relatively fast. It’s probably not quite up to the task of streaming videos, but it’s sufficient for everyday work.
Service according to our schedule – we’re starting with a welcome drink
Before we start, we’re served Arabic coffee, dates and a welcome drink of our choice from the drinks menu.
The flight attendant immediately asks what sort of service we’d like and when we’d like the individual meals to be served. She also offers to book a shower for us.
There is one shared shower available for the nine first-class passengers. The Residence class has its own bathroom, so its passengers do not use this shower.
I’ve already had a shower from my previous flight in the Residence. Yes, that’s a sentence I probably won’t get to use very often. My girlfriend books the shower straight after dinner.
The service issignificantly faster than on the previous flight from Singapore.
On a short night flight, that’s a big advantage. The crew don’t drag anything out unnecessarily, leaving us more time to sleep.
Caviar, granola and no grand feast
The night-time menu is lighter than on the previous leg. That makes sense, as most passengers just want to eat and fall asleep as quickly as possible.
Even so, of course, I don’t skip the iconic caviar service. If you’re sitting in first class, you should at least have some principles. OK, that sounds a bit snobbish, but I just can’t help myself. That caviar is brilliant!
After that, I go for yoghurt with granola. It doesn’t sound like the sort of meal you’d buy a first-class ticket for, but it was actually brilliant. Just what I wanted on a night flight.
Overall, I’d rate the food as good, but it’s no culinary miracle.
This is partly down to the composition of the night-time menu, yet in this respect, Lufthansa Allegris wins it for me.
Shower and bed preparation
After dinner, my girlfriend goes off to have a shower whilst the cabin crew make up both beds.
We have a drink together and then finally fall asleep.
The bed is wide, comfortable and significantly better than most beds created by folding down a standard sofa seat.
It’s no luxury hotel, but after my previous flight, my standards might be a bit unrealistically high.
We both sleep well, which, on a night flight like this, is ultimately more important than the number of courses at dinner.
Breakfast before Paris
Shortly before landing, we have breakfast served. I choose an omelette, which is good, but once again, it’s nothing I’ll be remembering for years to come.
To finish, we’re given a signature chocolate and a small cup of Arabic coffee bearing the name of one of Etihad’s new destinations.
A nice little touch that pleased me more than yet another generic toiletries bag.
Etihad, Lufthansa or Emirates?
So far, I’ve only tried three proper first-class experiences.
My comparison is fairly clear-cut:
- Etihad First Apartment versus Lufthansa Allegris: Etihad has a more spacious suite, a separate bed and a shower. Lufthansa offers greater privacy, better food and a significantly more personalised service.
- Etihad versus the older Emirates First Class: Etihad wins in practically every respect, particularly in terms of space and the design of the bed.
- Etihad First Apartment versus The Residence: The First Apartment is a fantastic first-class experience. The Residence, however, is in a completely different league.
The Etihad crew were absolutely professional and the service was flawless.
I did, however, miss a bit more naturalness and humanity. With Lufthansa, I felt that the crew genuinely cared about us. With Etihad, everything was perfect, but at the same time a little distant.
Is the Etihad First Apartment worth it?
Yes. If your dream is to fly in First Class, then the Etihad First Apartment is one of the best experiences you can have.
It is exceptionally spacious, the bed is separate from the armchair, and the in-flight shower remains a unique experience.
Search for flights with Etihad Airways
If travelling as a couple, I would definitely choose seats 3A and 4A or 3K and 4K. On the overnight flight, I also appreciated the speedy service and didn’t try to stretch the available time into a five-hour tasting session.
Just make sure to check the aircraft type when booking. The First Apartment is only available on the Airbus A380. Etihad’s First Class on other aircraft types looks different – it’s less spacious.
If you’re flying on an aircraft other than the Airbus A380, it might make more sense to book Business Class, which also offers plenty of privacy:
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