Etihad Airways

✅ Verified Review | Dublin to Abu Dhabi. I have flown this airline a number of times in the past, but I will do everything in my power to avoid doing do in future. This airline has been cutting corners for a while now, despite the contention that it is a five star airline. This is a long distance budget airline. It cuts costs by, for example, in Dublin, sharing the budget terminal with Ryanair. Recently, like other budget airlines, it has been enforcing carry on baggage rules - 7kg for a carry on bag, 5kg for a second bag. They will force you to juggle weight around your various hold/ carry-on luggage until you meet the required standards. They quote "safety restrictions' despite the fact that even other 'budget' airlines allow a carry-on limit of 10kg. They won't listen to reason if you point out that the plane will carry all the combined weight of one's luggage in any case. They will insist that you go to the end of the queue to carry out this farce. And finally, if you have anything fragile, they won't, of course, allow you to carry it in the cabin, but will force you to put it in the hold. They broke my guitar in this way. They even forced me to sign a waiver, stating that I was not entitled to any compensation if it should get damaged on route. When I refused to sign the waiver, they said they wouldn't take it. The result, of course, was a cracked and unplayable guitar. Thanks Etihad, thanks for breaking my guitar! If this isn't enough, the old terminal in Abu Dhabi is an outdated, confused mess, with constant queues for malodorous, inadequate toilets, and smoking rooms that resemble old telephone boxes. I will do everything in my power to use their competitors for that route, Qatar Airways, Emirates or Turkish Airlines and urge others to do the same.

✅ Verified Review | Dar Es salaam to Seoul via Abu Dhabi. The experience was impressive, the cabin crew are doing a wonderful job, clean aircraft and toilets, the smiles and service wowed me. The thing that they should improve on is the food - not good at all, the presentation the plating is awful - honestly how do you plate "breakfast" on a foil paper (and that breakfast is a piece of pie). They need to check what other airlines are doing.

✅ Verified Review | Bahrain to Bangkok return via Abu Dhabi in Business. I have been gold with them for some time and always sang their praises. Overall all flights on time and in some cases early. The crews a mix of engaged to those who looked panicky/disorganized to didn't want to be there. Lounge in Abu Dhabi fine, but the airport is creeking at the seems, all flights were by buses with the exception of BKK. Lounge in Bangkok small but fine. It is now evident cost cutting is now severely in place, no more Limos, no more wash bags, cheaper wines and the food onboard is Economy. It was a joke, outbound to BKK was a two egg omelette, with a tomato/ bread and tea. I kid you not, they have reduced the snacks to three offerings being chicken and crisps. The return was soup or mezze, mains were insulting with Biryani (rice), chicken breast with mash or Veg pasta. I must say the outbound crew were super and professional but the return looked like they all hated each other and the atmosphere was evident. Standards are slipping badly but to top it off the attitude of the ground staff has never been good in Abu Dhabi, they all need intense training on customer service and get them engaged or else fire them as they have a rude, lazy, arrogant attitude. One particular was the man boarding the outbound flight to BKK, he snatched my passport, didn't even look at me, was too busy laughing with his colleague and then with out looking at me still, thrust the passport back in my face still laughing with his colleague. That is not acceptable. I was loyal but after this trip not that interested. I'll stick to Emirates or Qatar Airways.

✅ Verified Review | Brisbane to Manchester via Abu Dhabi. I've had a really poor experience with Etihad, I've had to get 4 flights with them over the past week - each flight has been delayed by at least half an hour. My flight from Abu Dhabi to Manchester was delayed by 3 hours and the plane was still being loaded with baggage at the new departure time. I'm still watching the plane being loaded as I do this review but I'm expecting to board at least an hour after this new departure time, I won't be suprised if it's 2. The inflight experience has been average at best. If you're thinking about using Etihad I would suggest that you expect to board at least 20 minutes after take off and don't make plans in the next 24 hours after you arrive, you're bound to be disappointed and it's much easier to manage your expectations this way

✅ Verified Review | Marseille to Abu Dhabi via Paris. Another bad experience with Etihad which is definitely not on the right track. We flew MRS to AUH via Paris CDG, arriving in AUH at 7.30pm, and in spite of a 2 hours transfer lag our 5 pieces of luggage did not make it to Abu Dhabi, like the luggage of another 20 people, even if our luggage were appearing as loaded in Etihad system. After being asked to wait for an hour or so, as they were confident they would locate the luggage in AUH Airport, we were finally asked to file a report as the luggage were definitely somewhere in Paris CDG Airport. Finally left the airport after 2 hours and a half of confusion and chaos as the baggage claim department is undersized, especially since this was a very busy week end. We had high hopes that our luggage would arrive on the next morning as an Etihad flight arrives daily as well at 6.40am from Paris, but unfortunately we saw in the baggage tracking website that they were planned to arrive only on the 7.30pm flight. So 24 hours after our original flight we rang Etihad who informed us that someone would get in touch this same evening to arrange the delivery of our 5 bags. The next morning, as we had not heard anything from Etihad, I rang the luggage service a dozen of times, before getting an answer, to learn that they finally only had 4 of our 5 bags, in spite of what was told us the night before. After insisting, and shouting a bit, they finally went to look for the 5th bag and rang me back to tell me it was finally found and that we could come and pick our 5 bags. Delivery was not possible due apparently to some new requirements of customs who want people there in case a bag needs to be opened. At 6pm, so nearly 48 hours after our original flight, we reached at the airport to collect our bags and there they tell us they have only 4 bags out of the 5. And the cherry on the cake, is that the missing bag is not the same as the one that was thought missing in the morning! So they had found all 5 and lost one again. After another bit of shouting and a couple of hours, we were promised by the supervisor that they would find the bag and bring it home the same night. Drove back home with the 4 bags, and at 9pm received a call from a guy on his way to deliver the 5th bag, which finally reached us at 10pm. Apparently the "you need to come and pick up because of customs” rule had mysteriously disappeared. I could sincerely not believe to have this type of service and complete lack of professionalism from a so called 5 Star Airline. No information if we had not called (on line tracker has still not been updated 2 days after), understaffed baggage department that never picks up the phone, complete disorganization, poor management and complete lack of customer service. If you add to this the very poor service onboard and the low quality of catering, this leads to a clear decision : never again Etihad.

✅ Verified Review | Riyadh to New York via Abu Dhabi and it was a really bad experience. A 13.5 hours flight with 2 meals only. The first meal was an indian breakfast served after 4 hrs in air with no other options and I don't eat spicy food saying that the second meal will be a 3 options meal. After 11 hours comes the second meal where I was expecting a decent one but Etihad Airways continued to surprise me with a vegetarian meal saying that this is only what is left, which i didnt accept. One of the senior cabin crew members came for appologies and offered me a crew meal saying that Etihad Airways will contact me about this issue but that never happened. My return flight September 4th, I checked in online and chose my seat which was 45D. When i dropped my baggages at the check in counter and i was boarding, i found out that my seat was changed to 67D on the boarding pass. I asked the guy at the gate and he says that seat 45D is a paid seat and he had to move me to 67D. How did you let me check in and choose a paid seat without telling me that or asking for an extra fee? And how do you change my seat without at least notifying me or asking me where i would like to sit? What if i wanted to pay for that seat even though the plane that day was half empty. Shame on Etihad Airways to have such a bad service that i have never seen before even in small airlines companies. Well you really disappointed me and im never booking again thats for sure.

✅ Verified Review | Manchester to Hong Kong via Abu Dhabi. Totally disappointed. When booking made it stated its widebody seats and I was shocked when boarded the plane. Definitely my worse travel experience in my life. Seats are crowded, bad reclining, not enough entertainment. had to suffer without EBOX service in one trip (not only me but also others). Food was poor, do not have sweetner for coffee. I didn't see much of service by air stewards.

✅ Verified Review | Sydney to Delhi via Abu Dhabi in business class. Fantastic food and thats it - nothing more I can comment on expect for the Lounge in Abu Dhabi. Cabin Service was very average; at most times the crew made me feel I should not ask for anything and only eat or drink whats offered. I paid for business and they treat me as if I was flying free. I was asked to get my breakfast right away or the food service was closing, but the crews favourite passenger gets what they want 30 minutes after I finish my breakfast. I wasn't offered coffee or a beverage of my choice.

✅ Verified Review | Really nice ground staff got upgraded from Business class to First class from Abu Dhabi to Washington Dulles. First class is definitely the right place to be when traveling long distance. The "first class suite" makes your travel exceptional. It is really spacious and the closing door offers you privacy. Positive points: Large choice of food and drinks. Comfortable seat which transforms into a full flat bed. The crew sets up your bed by adding additional mattress, pillows, blanket. Nice and friendly onboard staff. Would definitely recommend flying First class with this airline.

✅ Verified Review | Flew Chennai to New York via Abu Dhabi. From the time we were seated the crew were indifferent. They served us food which was vegetarian with no options, and the quality of the food was poor. If asked anything the crew just ignored the request. We left Abu Dhabi at 10.00 am, we were served the first above meal after an hour. After which there was no service for over 6 hours. At which point they served cold frozen cheese sandwich. People were fast asleep but the crew members just dumped the sandwhich. When people asked for snacks or something to eat the crew said that there was nothing other than the cold hard sandwich. We were once again served the same or similar food just an hour before landing which was such an hurried service. After this flight I will stick to Emirates.