Etihad Airways

Flew Etihad Business from LAX-AUH-BOM while going, and DEL-AUH-LAX while returning. B777-200 was used on round-trip between LAX and AUH. The AUH to BOM route was served by A340-600, and DEL-AUH by A330-200. My two favorite aspects of flying Etihad Business: 1) Personal Food and Beverage Manager. 2) Lie-Flat bed. The food is "restaurant-quality", and you can order anything from the menu at any time. The cabin service on all routes was excellent. In A340-600 and A330-200, there was no overhead compartment in Business Class to stow luggage for passengers in the middle seats (B777-200 doesn't have this problem). The wi-fi on Etihad works like a charm. Etihad's Business Lounge in Abu Dhabi has something for everyone when it comes to dining. Having said that, the operations at Etihad's Abu Dhabi terminal are far from perfect for transit passengers. So, if you can look past the hiccups at Abu Dhabi Airport, flying Etihad Business Class is a special experience.

Bangkok to Manchester via Abu Dhabi. I have flown Etihad Airways many times and noticed that service in business has gone down. Flight attendants failed to offer me a pre flight drink and seemed uninterested. The seats in business are worn and narrow and at 1m 89cm you just can't sleep. For some reason the air quality is poor and I come away from the flight with a runny nose and feeling off colour. Food was good, Inflight entertainment is poor with a limited selection of old and new movies. Compared to other offerings e-box is second rate.

Rome to Sydney via Abu Dhabi on Etihad Airways. The flight attendants were inattentive, seats the most narrow and uncomfortable I have sat on, whilst the aisles are dangerously narrow (I'm shocked it is legal to have aisles that narrow). I had pre-ordered special meals for flights on all legs of my return trip and did not receive one of them - luckily there were vegetarian options on each leg. The toilets were were probably cleaned once on the 14 hour leg from AB to Sydney. The in-flight entertainment system is lacking in variety and quality, not close to Singapore Airlines' entertainment system. If you are flying from Australia to Europe, do yourself a favour and fly another airline!

Etihad Airways seem to have gone off the boil. Pretty much the first business class passenger on and the last one to get offered a drink. Was right at the back of business class and was kept awake/disturbed the majority of the flight by a screaming child. As we were entering the gate someone in front of me got upgraded to Business and managed to get a seat at the front of business class - about 12 rows away from screaming child. First world problem? Maybe? I know I sound like a snob (I guess I am one) but I do think that kids should be at the back of the plane. If I pay a premium for a seat I think I'm entitled to an overall better service. I was detained coming out of UAE as there was a problem with my passport. Etihad ground crew had updated my itinerary with my UK passport which showed I didn't have right of entry to Australia. I have 2 passports. Let me tell you I did have 15 mins of worry - unnecessarily. They need to sharpen up their act. it's the attention to detail that counts and that was just sadly lacking.

Doha to Manila via Abu Dhabi. After realising that there was a title error on my Etihad Airways ticket, which was under MRS and should have been MR, I was shocked to find out that in order to change the title a 75 USD charge will apply. I could not believe that a title mistake could cost so much, I would understand 10 USD, but 75 USD is a complete scam. I feel extremely annoyed with this penalty. I relucantly made the change and paid as I do not want any issues when I fly. Is this really allowed for such a small change of details, this was not a flight change, just a title!

Frankfurt to Bangkok via Abu Dhabi, and I had a very pleasant experience with Etihad. From check in to being greeted in the business lounge. Boarded the flight and found myself upgraded to first class. Onward flight to Bangkok again wonderful service. Return journey was also pleasant and enjoyable. Lovely staff both on ground and air with everything ok. Food on all sectors was great.

Etihad Airways sends an email at 5:18am about a change in our flight. Our flight was originally at 10:45 pm but got changed to 5:15am. Why couldn't they have let us known earlier. Are they that incompetent? What do they expect us to do with less than 12 hrs before departure. When I called to see what they could do all I got was a non-caring shrug and "sorry, we can't do anything please speak to a representative when you land in Abu Dhabi". I mean not even an offer to cover any additional costs that I will be incurring due to their fault. Now I am stuck scrambling to get new flights to my connecting destination. Etihad does not care for their passengers. Thanks for all the stress, Etihad.

Edinburgh to Phuket via Abu Dhabi return with Etihad Airways. On both flights coming and going on holiday, all food choices offered on menus were not available with only the less desirable food on offer. Many comments were made about this on board. Seating not particularly spacious for long haul flights and interaction between staff not very impressive with distinct feeling of disinterest to be helpful with each other noted on two occasions. Luggage went on to Australia instead of Phuket holiday destination, but was delivered to holiday address later that day.

I flew Etihad Airways from Madrid to Phuket via Abu Dhabi. Although the plane was OK and the services seemed average, the problem was in the return. I tried to do the check-in online, even called the call center 10 times because I couldn't do it online and still they told me to do it at the airport in the 1 hour scale I had in Abu Dhabi. When I arrived to Abu Dhabi I had overbooking, had to take another flight and make another stop, and obviously arrived late to Madrid. When I arrived they had lost my luggage and sent it to me 2 days after. The "compensasion" they gave me is a voucher who I can just use in Etihad Airways flights with 1 million conditions I will never have, and obviously implies spending another 1000 euro in their company. Nobody answers my complains and they don't even have a number for it. I'd think twice if you are about to book with this airline.

Athens to Manila via Abu Dhabi with Etihad Airways. Athens to Abu Dhabi my cabin was economy class. Air hostess was cold polite and most of times their behavior become rude. They don’t pay so much attention to serve passenger correctly. From Abu Dhabi to Manila, I was upgraded (paying a very logical amount) to business class. Business class lounge was very convenient, clean, and the food was really nice with a lot of choices. Onboard my the cabin staff serving me was very polite but I had the feeling that he did not understand me well when I ask for something. Food was not in business class level, plus he forgot to serve me the main course dish (tenderloin beef). When realize that was too late. Etihad need to make more improvements, competition is very hard.