Etihad has opened its new first class lounge at their Abu Dhabi airport home.
First class passengers no longer need to use the ‘roped off section’ of the Abu Dhabi business class lounge, that’s no really different than the rest of the lounge except that a staff member will bring you drinks (and your spa treatment is free).
They closed the old first class lounge (along with the business class lounge alongside) which was directly ahead of security in Abu Dhabi’s terminal 3.
The combined space was supposed to become a new first class lounge a year ago. But it was perpetually delayed.
I much liked the old lounge with cooked to order food and a spa. It wasn’t as grand as new the Emirates first class terminal level in Dubai or Qatar’s first class al-Safwa lounge in Doha. But it was nice (albeit with poor internet connectivity for PCs).
Now the new Etihad first class lounge is finally open!
Australian Business Traveller has photos. It reminds me of a larger version of Etihad’s new New York JFK lounge.
As at New York JFK there’s a separate section for Residence passengers:
with a dedicated Savoy-trained butler, custom-made Poltrona Frau Italian leather armchairs and sofas, its own shower room stocked with a range of Acqua di Parma products, a prayer room, and private dining.
As with the old first class lounge there’s there’s cooked to order food including a tasting menu.
The bar “is stocked with 75 premium spirits, champagne and aperitifs, including a bespoke cocktail menu headlined by Abu Dhabi mocktail which uses Middle-Eastern flavours such as aromatic cold brew coffee infused with cardamom and sprayed with delicate rose water.”
There’s a cigar lounge (unclear whether cigars are complimentary or paid) with recommendations on pairing each cigar with whiskey or cognac. There’s both a Six Senses Spa and Style & Shave as well as a fitness room.
Access is available to Etihad first and Residence passengers and top tier elite members as well as first class and top tier elites on Etihad’s partner airlines (which will soon be more closely tied together on a common Sabre reservations platform with better frequent flyer program integration).
I would be happy if they did this in all their airports they fly to. The Nottingham airport didn’t really have anything there for them last time I was there.
My little travel tip that I’d like to share with you is;
Keep a little extra cash for real emergencies. Here’s how:
On your carry on bag sew 3-5 really cool patches on to it that look great, represent things you believe in or are from places you’ve been.
Behind on of the patches sew in $100 or $200 and just leave it there.
If you’re ever in a real bind, stuck without cash this can be a life saver.
It’s not sewn on your checked baggage but on your carry on. So, you should never lose it.
@Patrick – for someone who has a ‘passion for travelling’ you sure don’t know much about it. Etihad don’t fly to Nottingham, they offer lounge access for all elite guests at every airport they DO fly to and sewing money into luggage tags is one of the dumbest ideas I have ever heard of.