Etihad Airways

Brussels to Phuket via Abu Dhabi. Second time we took Etihad Airways for this trip and second time that our air travel was awful. Especially the legroom in economy is a real disaster for people +1.80m - the Boeing 777 was painful. Awful food and drinks were very poor, only one glass of wine during dinner. On the way home (2x approx. 6.5 hours) only a bag with some snacks and a very small bottle of water and a small breakfast before landing were offered. No alcoholic drinks available although we were given a menu on which several alcoholic drinks were offered.

I normally travel once every year from Dallas to Bangalore either by Emirates or other airlines. This time I tried Etihad Airways but regretted doing so. At the check in counter they weigh your hand baggage and send you back if it is more than 400g. Every person who was travelling was sent back, they had to reshuffle their weight and come back. After all this was done, once you pass security and are about to board the flight, there is an Etihad rep standing there with a weighing machine to weigh your hand baggage again. There were so many upset customers, 1 passenger had reshuffled things between her purse and hand baggage and the weight went up. She was asked to put items back in her purse so her hand carry weight was 7kgs - it didn't make any sense. I didn't have any problem while going but on the way back the Etihad reps at BLR airport gave me a hard time for having a bulky purse. I have never been questioned one time for carrying a bulky purse.

Dublin to Islamabad via Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways. Overall flight was good, inflight nanny and staff service was good. The flight from Abu Dhabi to Islamabad was bit mismanaged. The worst meal service ever experienced, only served 1 proper meal in 13 hours of flight, small sandwich served in next flight from Abu Dhabi to Islamabad.

Manchester to Bangkok via Abu Dhabi. The staff worked hard and were helpful but the plane was so cramped, the aisles very narrow so that people and trolleys constantly bumped into the seats on either side. The seats were small but worse they were so hard. Leg room was cramped and I'm not that tall! Seats 19 A/C, 28 A/B. The food was terrible. They couldn't find my meal and so brought a meal through from business class - quinoa and roasted beetroot which was dry and unappetising (glad I didn't pay to upgrade). Though we did ask at check-in about buying an upgrade we were refused as the ticket we bought through an agent didn't allow them to get into the system to do this. We spent a total of 14 hours plus in Etihad seats and were so fed up with the experience that we booked tickets with another airline to make the return journey. I will never fly with Etihad again. We were constantly told that Etihad have won recommendations and awards - who from I want to ask.

Etihad Airways from Mumbai to Washington via Abu Dhabi. Business Class on the Boeing 787 has a subtler finish giving the cabin a more open, less claustrophobic feel than the 777. Wifi connections to meals and service provided onboard from cabin crew are all superb. My only grouse is the shambolic boarding process for Business Class passengers (at all stations) who board with 300+ Y Class passengers, even as less than a handful of First Class passengers stroll onboard via their own dedicated aerobridge. It doesn't create for a very premium experience for the 20-30 Business Class passengers.

Bad service from Sydney to Dubai and Dubai to Sydney (currently at Etihad Travel Mall). From Sydney to Dubai it take a while when call for assistance on flight. Flight attendant forgotten to come back for tea and waited 10 minutes. As soon as arrived in Abu Dhabi we got to the coach to go to Dubai which is a hassle. They told us that it will be in Dubai international airport drop off zone, but instead got drop off at Etihad Travel Mall, which meant we have to get a taxi to Dubai International Airport to pick up our hire. In general most hotel have service to pick up at Dubai international airport which save $$$$. So if you ever fly to Dubai take an airline which lands in Dubai airport.

Having read some mixed reviews about Etihad business Class I was slightly apprehensive about our trip to Sydney from London Heathrow. I am pleased to say that this was unfounded and I would thoroughly recommend Etihad and their business class offering. The lounges at all airports were excellent with waiter service available at all locations as well as an all day menu. The A380 upper deck is quiet and the business suite is excellent, it is worth noting that if you are traveling as a couple you should book the forward facing centre seats as the other options will not allow you to sit together. Etihad offer the flexible dining option and my only small criticism is that this means service can sometimes be a bit hit or miss however this is easily resolved by requesting a flight attendant who will happily get you whatever you want. The food quality and choice was excellent and the cabin crew were friendly and really did try to make sure that you had everything you needed. On each flight the flight attendant introduced themselves and asked if you had any questions or requirements during the flight, on one leg my wife decided not to eat and they double checked before landing that she didn't want a quick snack, again good attention to detail. The inflight entertainment is good, particularly the live sport, I watched a UK premiership match live in the air, something I wouldn't have been able to do on the ground. In conclusion I would have no hesitation in recommending Etihad and will certainly fly with them again.

Okay so I am a frequent flyer and tend to always go for the cheapest flights where I will still be able to get miles on my flights (partners). On the Johannesburg to Abu Dhabi leg Etihad uses the Jet Airways configured A330-200, I thought that this will be one bad flight, but actually after my flights on the Etihad aircraft preferred the Jet Airways planes, the seat are more comfortable, and entertainment is the same as Etihad. Etihad food is great and I enjoy flying them. The Airport is a downer, but I have visited worse airports. Etihad is a pleasure to fly with, I am a frequent flyer member with them and will fly them again end of March to New York.

I recently completed a return trip from Frankfurt to Bangkok via Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways. On two flights out of four my special meal was catered on two flights only. In addition my luggage was damaged and on arrival in Frankfurt the phone number provided by Etihad to contact the handling agent is no longer in service. None of this is acceptable. Etihad used to be a very decent airline in the past. Too bad their services have deteriorated.

This has got to be the worst plane we have flown on. We flew Manchester to Sydney via Abu Dhabi in October and flew Manchester to Abu Dhabi in February and on all flights it was the Boeing 777 (3-4-3 seating). The seats were rock hard, both me and my husband had to sit on our blankets and cushions for some padding. We are in our early 60s and I weigh 8stone 10lbs and my hubby weighs 12 stone 6lbs, so we are by mo means skinny or overweight and we were uncomfortable on all flights. These planes are old and obviously well worn. The seats are also very narrow so it was very uncomfortable trying to eat our meals. We are well travelled and the meals on these flights were not good quality. In fact we have flown on no frills airlines and have had better meals. I cannot understand how anyone would travel on Etihad if they have the choice of Emirates. To make things worse they now only allow 23kgs in economy instead of the 30kgs pre Sept 2015. I think that is disgusting on long haul flights. Hopefully we will never fly Etihad again.